OSHA Assessment Center Training

1. INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE OSHA Region 1 requires contractor support to help the Agency increase effectiveness and to develop managerial, employee, and organizational capacity within the Agency. This support includes developing an assessment center capability within OSHA. The assessment center method is a way to see and evaluate individual's effectiveness by observing them in action. In an assessment center, participants work through simulations -- realistic, job-related tasks. Specifically trained assessors observe the people at work, and then meet in consensus sessions to evaluate their effectiveness through a structural consensus process. After the consensus evaluations are completed, assessors give detailed feedback to participants on a one-to-one basis, including: demonstrated strengths, areas in which less effectiveness was observed, and ideas for how to strengthen skills. Both the giving of this feedback and the receiving of it has great developmental impact on assessment center assessors and participants. There are two main reasons to conduct assessment centers. The first is for selection -- the assessment center develops information on people's skills that selection officials use to distinguish among otherwise equally qualified candidates for the job. The second reason is for development -- the assessment center feedback process helps assessors and participants alike strengthen key management skills. Most OSHA assessment centers are for development only, not as part of a selection process. This means that the feedback participants receive at the assessment center is for their use only. It is not shared with others at the center, and no record of the feedback is shared with agency leadership. The skills examined in assessment centers are essential in jobs throughout OSHA. They are: o Communicating skills o Communicating orally o Communicating in writing o Interpersonal skills o Teambuilding o Motivating others o Thinking skills o Planning and organizing o Problem solving o Thinking creatively These skills have been identified through surveys and consensus processes with previous work with OSHA staff. An assessment center offers people a chance to demonstrate how they solve problems and to get feedback on their strengths along with ideas for improving their effectiveness. The process is not designed to look for mistakes people make, or what they might do "wrong". It examines foremost what people demonstrate they can do, and because of this positive orientation, has a very powerful effect on people's motivation to develop and make better use of their leadership skills. 2. TYPE OF AWARD This award is for a firm, fixed price based upon anticipated labor hours (approximately 32 hrs). All costs to provide the assessment center training, including costs for all associated travel, are not to exceed $6,000. 3. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY AND REQUIRED DELIVERABLES The following deliverables will be required from the contractor for completion of this agreement: Task 1: Conduct one assessment center training: Working with OSHA staff, the contractor will plan and conduct the assessment center training. The assessment center training will be four days in duration and will be held in Springfield, MA. The training is planned to start on Tuesday, September 4, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. and end Friday, September 7, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. The contractor will plan and provide training for 12 participants. The contractor will provide at least one trainer for the assessment center. OSHA will provide a liaison for the length of the process to assist the contractor through on-site support. All training materials, including recording materials and equipment, required for the assessment center will be provided by the contractor. 4. ACCEPTABLE QUALITY LEVEL AND METHOD OF SURVEILLANCE Government oversight of the Contractor will be provided. OSHA staff interfacing with the Contractor shall continually keep the agency POC apprised of progress, quality and assessment of the Contractor's performance. 5. GENERAL ACCEPTANCE AND INSPECTION CRITERIA Inspection and acceptance of all work, reports and other deliverables completed at the OSHA Boston Regional Office, located at the J.F.K. Federal Building, 25 New Sudbury St, Room E-340, Boston, MA 02203. General quality measures include accuracy, clarity, format and timeliness. 6. PAYMENT SCHEDULE Full payment (including reimbursed travel costs) will be provided upon successful completion of the training/assessment process. Invoices would be submitted to the attention of Jeremy Dondlinger (dondlinger.jeremy@dol.gov; 617-565-9841) at the US DOL-OSHA, Boston Regional Office, J.F.K. Federal Building, 25 New Sudbury St, Room E-340, Boston, MA 02203. 7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE The management assessment center training will be held at the OSHA Area Office building in Springfield, MA (1441 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103) beginning on September 4, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. and ending September 7, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. 8. CONTRACT COST LIMIT All costs to provide the assessment center training, including costs for all associated travel, are not to exceed $6,000.