OHS Regional Training and Technical Assistance Network

Pre-Solicitation Notice Agency/Office: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start Solicitation No: 15-233-SOL-00019 Title: OHS Regional Training and Technical Assistance Network Notice Type: Pre-Solicitation Notice Contracting Office Address Department of Health and Human Services, Acquisition Management Services, Program Support Center, 12501 Ardennes Avenue, Suite 400, Rockville, MD 20857 Description The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start, through the Program Support Center (PSC), has a requirement to procure twelve (12) Regional Training and Technical Assistance contracts that will provide local grantees with high-quality, sustained, and intensive training and technical assistance that, "to the maximum extent practicable," improves the capacity of local programs to deliver services that, at a minimum, meet or exceed the priority areas described in section 641 (A)(a)(1): correction of findings identified through the federal monitoring system; school readiness; and, training/professional development needs of staff. The twelve ACF Regions include the following states and entities: - Region 1 - Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont - Region 2 - New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands - Region 3 - Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia - Region 4 - Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee - Region 5 - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin - Region 6 - Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas - Region 7 - Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska - Region 8 - Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming - Region 9 - Arizona, California, Nevada, and Hawaii/Outer Pacific (American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic of Palau) - Region 10 - Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington - Region 11 -American Indian/Alaska Native grantees in 26 states across the country - Region 12 - Migrant and Seasonal grantees in 37 states across the country Each ACF Region will include several Early Childhood (EC) Specialists, with the number of EC Specialists proportionate with the number of grantees and delegates within that region. The work of these specialists will be directed toward two of the three priority areas: school readiness and the training/career development needs of teaching staff. The Early Childhood (EC) Specialist position requires a minimum of a BA or BS Degree, with a preference for a Master's degree. The degrees for at least 75% of the EC Specialists must be in Early Childhood Education/Development or related field. If the highest degree was awarded more than ten years ago, the resume should be specific regarding courses, conferences, seminars attended that ensure the specialist remains current in the field of early childhood education/development. Individuals proposed as ECs who are infant toddler specialists must have a minimum of a BA or BS Degree, with a preference for a Master's degree, in Early Childhood Education/Development with coursework specific to infant and toddler development. EC Specialists must have a minimum of 5 years' experience in programs for young children with a preference for experience spanning the birth to five continuum. This experience should include the provision of training and technical assistance to teachers/home visitors and/or education managers in early childhood programs. The experience of EC Specialists who are infant toddler specialists must include experience with programs serving infants and toddlers. This experience must include the provision of training and technical assistance to teachers, home visitors, family child care providers, and/or education managers. The experience should include experience related to supporting family engagement and/or family wellbeing. Individuals proposed as birth to five specialists must have experience across the birth to five spectrum. All EC Specialists must obtain CLASS certification before providing TTA to grantees related to CLASS. In addition, the government is seeking to secure the services of several Grantee Specialists for each region. These specialists will be deployed by the regional office to work on the third priority area: deficiencies identified through the monitoring system. In regions with few grantees with identified deficiencies, the grantee specialists may also be deployed to work with grantees with multiple areas of noncompliance, grantees with concerns raised through risk management meetings, or with grantees about which concerns have been raised though other data sources, such as the Program Information Report (PIR). The Grantee Specialist position requires a BA or BS Degree, with a preference for a Master's degree. A minimum of 5 years of experience related to program design and management of fiscal operations in or with Head Start/Early Head Start programs and the development and implementation of comprehensive management systems. In each region, there will be a TTA Coordinator who will work with federal personnel to coordinate the work of the various states and provide ongoing supervision of TTA staff. The TTA Coordinator will also be responsible for the implementation of quality assurance processes to ensure the appropriate provision of TTA and contract deliverables. The TTA Coordinator position requires a BA or BS Degree, with a preference for a Master's degree in a field related to program design and management. A minimum of 7 years' experience is required with 10 years preferred. This experience must include at least 3 years with the provision of high level technical assistance and consultation to Head Start programs; 3-5 years of progressive supervisory/management experience with a preference for experience managing remote-located staff/teams; and expertise and experience in budget oversight and management. The place of performance for all contract staff, with the exception of the TTA Coordinator who will be located in the Regional Office, will be at a physical location within a state in the region for which the awarded contract is providing services. To provide economies of scale, the use of home offices is strongly encouraged. Virtual offices may not be substituted for a physical presence in the region. Services may be provided off-site, on-site, through virtual media, or a combination thereof. Other places of performance include, but are not limited to, contractor physical locations, Head Start grantee facilities, hotel meeting rooms, ACF Regional Offices, at third-party sponsored conferences and other locations throughout the U.S. Twelve cost-reimbursement type contracts will be awarded for a 12 month base period and four 12 month option periods for a total of 60 months. Responses to the Request for Proposal package will be due within 60 calendar days following the actual date of issuance of the RFP. Award of this requirement is anticipated by June 30, 2015. The Government intends to conduct a FAR Part 15 acquisition. For further information, contact Nathaniel Mizzell, Contracting Specialist, Phone 301- 443-4379, Fax 202-594-0736, E-mail nathaniel.mizzell@psc.hhs.gov Contracting Office Address: Department of Health and Human Services, Acquisition Management Services, Program Support Center, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 12501 Ardennes Avenue, Suite 400, Rockville, MD 20857 Place of Performance: See above United States Primary Point of Contact.: Nathaniel Mizzell, Contracts Specialist, Acquisition Management Services, Program Support Center, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 12501 Ardennes Avenue, Suite 400, Rockville, MD 20857, Phone 301- 443-4379, Fax (202- 594-0736, E-mail nathaniel.mizzell@psc.hhs.gov