Job Corps Staff Development Support

This modification changes the NAICS Code. Refer to the revised NAICS Code below. THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY - Solicitations are not available at this time. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the Government. The National Office of Job Corps has a future requirement for contractor support services in establishing a national system for staff training and development to support Job Corps' standards-based education and training programs for students. The purpose of this five-year contract will be to assist the National Office in the formation and implementation of the national staff training system. This Request for Information (RFI) is to obtain information on the capabilities of prospective offerors to perform the work for this contract. Prospective offerors may be a consortium of organizations. In this case, one of the partners in the consortium will be a university or college-affiliated education research institute or center. Other partners can include small businesses and public or private non-profit organizations that focus on staff training and education improvement. Small businesses are encouraged to apply. The universities and educational institutions, small businesses and other organizations must collectively be skilled in the following areas: Research, development and delivery of teacher training to implement standards-based education and training in secondary and post-secondary academic and career technical training programs; Delivery of integrated academic and career technical training instruction and development of standards-based assessments; Provision of research, and education programs, for low-achieving students and students with learning disabilities; Establishment of instructors' communities of practice and Master Teacher initiatives; Preparation and delivery of youth development programs; Staff training for implementation of academic and career technical training programs for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds; and instructor training in English as a Second Language programs; Capabilities for multiple staff training delivery methods will be required including: online courses, Webinars, classroom training, workshops and conferences; and Capabilities to award teacher certifications. The system to be developed will include establishment of national educational qualifications and training requirements Job Corps instructors; curricula in support of staff training for the delivery of standards-based education and training for students; and provision of expert technical assistance. The system will support training and development for all field staff (numbering approximately 17,000) with an initial focus on three categories of staff who will lead and support the implementation of Job Corps' standards-based education and training system for students: academic teachers, career technical training instructors and training managers; outreach and admissions, career transition services and center counselors; and other support staff including residential advisors and recreational staff. The successful offeror will work closely with other organizations and contractors supporting the Job Corps National Office in development and implementation of standards-based education and training for Job Corps' students. Staff training and development efforts initiated under this contract will enable managers and instructors to deliver Job Corps' standards-based education and training system and will allow counselors and other Job Corps training support staff to promote and support the system. Job Corps is a national residential and non-residential training program for at-risk youth between the ages of 16 and 24, serving approximately 60,000 youth annually. The program is administered by the Department of Labor, Office of Job Corps. The contract period shall consist of an estimated two (2) base years plus three (3) one-year option periods for renewal. A Government solicitation document to provide these services is being developed, and a contract may or may not result. Market research is being conducted to determine interest and capability of potential sources for this requirement. All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary. The Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the Government. The contractor will be expected to provide qualified personnel, services, equipment, facilities and supplies to perform the following tasks: develop minimum staff qualifications and training requirements; design and implement a program of study for staff in standards-based instruction; develop organizational supports for staff; conduct research and recommend improvements in staff qualifications, instructional approaches (particularly for struggling learners and students with learning disabilities) and on-going professional development opportunities for instructors; provide technical assistance to the field through the services of standards-based training experts; organize and manage a Staff Development Advisory Group; and recommend policy changes in support of staff development; and provide technical support for the National Office of Job Corps related to field staff training needs. All activities shall be performed in accordance with applicable DOL/Job Corps regulations and policies. All future information about this sources sought, including solicitation and/or amendments will be distributed solely through the General Services Administrations Federal Business Opportunities website at www.fedbizopps.gov. Interested parties are responsible for monitoring this site to ensure you have the most up-to-date information about this acquisition. Hard copies of the solicitation will NOT be available. The website provides all downloading instructions to obtain a copy of the solicitation. Responses to this RFI will be due no later than 3:00 p.m. local time, October 4, 2010. Please submit all responses to: Attn: Tyrone Wells, Contract Specialist Solicitation No. DOL110RI21143 U. S. Department of Labor - OPS 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room N-4308 Washington, DC 20210 No collect calls will be accepted. No telephone request(s) or written request(s) for the market survey will be accepted. Please note: All prospective offerors interested in obtaining a contract award with the Government must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database. The website for registration is www.ccr.gov.