Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification Training

A market survey is being conducted to determine if there are adequate Small Businesses, SBA-certified HUBZone, SBA-certified 8(a), or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) contractors available for a proposed project who meet the specific criteria outlined below. This is not a Solicitation Announcement or Request for Proposal. It does not constitute any commitment by the Government. No award will result from this notice. The purpose is to conduct market research to gain knowledge of potentially qualified sources. Responses to this Sources Sought Notice will be used by the Government to make an appropriate acquisition decision. The ARS will not award a contract on the basis of responses or pay for the preparation of any information submitted. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this notice. After completing an analysis of the responses, the Government will determine whether to limit competition to 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or small business firms, or to proceed with issuing an unrestricted solicitation, inviting full and open competition. 1. INTRODUCTION The Office of Capacity Building and Development (OCBD) is a program office located within the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). OCBD seeks to provide Project Management Professional (PMP) certification to its staff of international project managers. The goal of this training is to provide OCBD team leaders, program and project managers with PMP certification that enables them to have a consistent approach to planning, organizing and managing resources across numerous and diverse agricultural-related projects. 2. BACKGROUND OCBD is one of five program offices in FAS. It is comprised of approximately 150 individuals based at, and nearby USDA's main headquarters in Washington, DC. Characteristic of the unique work of the program area, OCBD employs a mix of career service, Foreign Service and excepted service employees. Excepted service or schedule-B employees currently make up the greater number of OCBD staff. They are direct-hires appointed for up to 5-years at a time to a specific project or assignment. As such, they possess varying levels of Project Management knowledge and skills. See the OCBD organization chart for the structure and staff size of OCBD's program area. OCBD is dedicated to advancing global trade, agricultural development and food security. Programs that help to reduce food insecurity, strengthen agricultural economic growth in targeted developing countries along the full value chain of development, build their capacity to integrate into the global economy, and become viable agricultural trading partners with the United States. Key focus areas are food assistance; trade, science, and regulatory capacity building; agriculture and rural development, and support to USDA's post-conflict and post-disaster reconstruction efforts. OCBD programs are implemented in developing countries around the world including in fragile market economies such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Haiti and Iraq. OCBD works with foreign governments in developing countries to enhance agricultural productivity, natural resources management, and trade and investment, thereby increasing the supply and affordability of food. OCBD works to strengthen private sector participation in the agricultural value chain by linking producers to markets with improved transportation, storage, food processing, and market information. OCBD also works with foreign counterparts to advance market-based policies and institutions and expand international trade through trade capacity building. This helps countries meet their WTO obligations, avoid or eliminate barriers to trade, and strengthen policy and regulatory frameworks, with an emphasis on sanitary and phytosanitary systems (food safety, animal and plant health) and biotechnology. In FY 2012, OCBD contracted with an experienced trainer to provide introductory project management training to 120 staff members. Since then, the staff has also received Monitoring and Evaluation training which incorporated results-oriented management (ROM) into OCBD. ROM is a management approach that places emphasis on program level results and utilizes results frameworks, performance indicators, and performance monitoring plans to facilitate results-based strategic planning and decision making. 2.1 Customer Base OCBD works with an array of partners, both internal and external, to USDA to implement its program objectives. External implementing partners include Universities, private voluntary organizations, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and Ministry level officials of foreign governments. OCBD coordinates its program efforts with other federal agencies such as U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development. 2.2 Program Tools OCBD's portfolio contains a number of tools for implementing and managing capacity building programs across the globe. These include: Food Aid programs such as the Food for Progress program which aims to help developing countries and emerging democracies introduce and expand free enterprise in the agricultural sector by increasing agricultural productivity and expanding trade of agricultural products. USDA has over 100 active FFPr agreements in over 35 countries around the world. These projects are being implemented by 27 different organizations and 17 national governments. The McGovern Dole International Food for Education & Child Nutrition program aims to reduce hunger and improve literacy and primary education, especially for girls. USDA is currently funding over 36 McGovern-Dole projects in over 25 countries. OCBD's Trade and Science Capacity Building programs utilize the knowledge of USDA advisors and experts from other food regulatory agencies to help foreign policy makers, regulators, scientists, and the private sector to address complex, trade-related issues such as SPS compliance, and applications of agricultural biotechnology while building capacity within governments to implement open, market-and science-based trade policies; accede to and meet obligations under the WTO; and implement Free Trade Agreements with the U.S. that enhance participation in international trade. OCBD also administers Fellowships and Scientific Exchanges programs such as Cochran Fellowship and the Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellows programs. These programs target developing and middle-income countries and train foreign government and private-sector participants from about 75 different countries at land-grant colleges and universities and other public and private-sector facilities on a variety of agricultural-related topics each year. 3. SCOPE In summary, the contractor shall assist OCBD in developing certified project managers by conducting the following activities: - Participate in a Post Award Meeting - Submit a Quality Assurance Plan at Post Award Meeting - Develop and submit a draft and final work plan - Conduct 35 hours of project management training for up to 120 employees - Conduct project management certification testing of qualified employees - Conduct an evaluation of the project management training - Deliver Monthly Performance Reports 4. REQUIREMENTS 4.1 Post Award Meeting Within two weeks of contract award, the contractor shall coordinate with the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) to meet to discuss the contract requirements, meet the senior management of OCBD, discuss the contractor's proposed plan for training, and obtain any needed clarification on the requirements in this section. The contractor shall also provide its Quality Assurance Plan as detailed in section 5 below to the COR. 4.2 Work Plan Following the post award meeting but prior to training, the contractor shall submit a draft Project Work Plan that incorporates all of the tasks identified in section 4 of this task order. The contractor shall discuss the training plan with the COR and obtain the COR's approval of the plan. Within one week of receipt of approval from the COR, the contractor shall submit a final work plan. 4.3 Project Management Training The contractor will design and deliver 35 hours of Project Management training to approximately 120 staff in OCBD. The contractor will deliver training sessions with a maximum of 25 students per session. The COR will provide the contractor with a registry of staff by name for each session in advance of the training date for that session. At least 2 weeks prior to the start of training, the contractor shall submit to the COR in writing the names of its training team members that will conduct each of the training sessions. The COR or her designee, shall manage participant sign-in for each training session. Workbooks and other training materials shall be provided by the Contractor for each training participant. The contractor will start training each day at 9:00am. 4.4 Project Management Certification The contractor will administer certification testing to OCBD staff who meet the PMP certification requirements. Proof of PMP certification will be provided by the contractor. USDA will provide appropriate testing facilities onsite. 4.5 Post Training Evaluation The contractor shall evaluate the PMP certificate training using Kirkpatrick's four-level model for evaluating training. This may require that the contractor also conduct a pre-training evaluation. The Kirkpatrick model measures the effectiveness and efficiency of the training by examining participant's reaction, learning, behavior, and results. The contractor shall submit a draft evaluation plan to the COR prior to starting the training. The contractor shall not proceed with training until the COR has issued approval of the contractor's evaluation plan. Following the completion of the evaluation, the contractor shall submit a draft training evaluation report of no more than 10 pages for the COR's approval. Following approval from the COR, the contractor shall work with the COR to convene a meeting to orally present the results of the evaluation to OCBD management in a roundtable discussion. Following the oral presentation, the contractor shall deliver six (6) copies of the final evaluation report to the COR. 5. REPORTING 5.1 Quality Assurance Plan At the Post Award meeting, the contractor shall provide to the COR a written Quality Assurance Plan that defines the activities, role and responsibilities planned to ensure successful completion and performance in accordance with the Government's requirements. The plan should identify how the contractor will ensure the timeliness and acceptability of deliverables; monitor and track productivity, and resolve problems in a timely manner. 5.2 Monthly Performance Report On the last working day of each month, the contractor shall submit to the COR a written monthly performance report that tracks progress toward completion of all tasks identified in section 4 above and deliverables identified in section 6 below. The report shall also identify any challenges or problems incurred and a description of how the contractor will address these. The contractor shall communicate with the COR monthly, orally or in writing so that perceived challenges or issues that arise are transparent to both parties to prevent escalation of outstanding issues. 6. DELIVERABLES Deliverable Description SOW Reference Frequency/Timing Post Award Meeting Section 4.1 Within 2 weeks of contract award Quality Assurance Plan Section 5.1 Post Award Meeting Draft Work Plan Section 4.2 Prior to the conduct of training Final Work Plan Section 4.2 Upon approval of draft work plan Deliver PMP Training Section 4.3 Upon approval of final work plan Deliver PMP certification testing Section 4.4 According to approved work plan Post Training Evaluation Section 4.5 As required in this SOW Monthly Performance Report Section 5.2 Last day of each month 7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The period of performance for this requirement will begin on award date an end by April 15, 2016. 8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE The Contractor shall perform all duties within the Washington Metropolitan Area, unless mutually agreed otherwise. The contractor will provide on-site training at a USDA facility in Washington, D.C. USDA will provide the exact site location at the Post Award Meeting. 9. TRAVEL The contractor will not be required to travel outside the Washington Metropolitan Area. 10. STAFF REQUIREMENTS The contractor shall provide staff to perform the requirements within this statement of work in whatever mix of labor categories and whatever quantity of man-hours it determines to be appropriate to optimally meet the requirements stated herein. The only mandatory labor category requirement is the Trainer (see below). This category is designated as "key personnel". The individuals performing in key categories are considered by OCBD to be essential to performance. The Contracting Officer must be notified in writing at least 30 days prior to the contractor removing these individuals from the order. The contractor shall submit a resume for key personnel. The contractor shall demonstrate that each key personnel proposed meets the required experience. All personnel must meet minimum security requirements. After award, all key personnel changes must have the Contracting Officer's approval. Any proposed replacement must possess similar and comparable knowledge and expertise as the original proposed key person. Hence, all key personnel resumes must be reviewed and approved prior to new key personnel beginning work under this contract. Instructor Capabilities The contractor shall ensure that one of the key personnel will be a Trainer who is a Project Management Institute (PMI) Registered Education Provider. He or she must have at least 10 years of experience in delivering project management training in a classroom setting to an audience of at least 20 or more. The Trainer shall be an expert with experience in designing project management curriculum that is tailored to the client's needs. The trainer's instruction must be consistent with the principles and terminology of the Guide to Project Management Body of Knowledge, better known as the PMBOK Guide. The instructor should review the general description of the types of programs OCBD manages provided in section 2 of this statement of work to be able to provide relevant examples or class exercises during instruction, where possible. 11. CONTRACT TYPE This is a fixed-price contract. Companies who have the experience, as well as an interest in doing business with ARS, should submit a Capabilities Statement which, for this notice, is not expected to be a proposal, but rather short statements regarding the company's ability to demonstrate their expertise and experience in relation to the areas specified in this notice. Companies should also indicate whether they are a Small Businesses, SBA-certified HUBZone, SBA-certified 8(a), or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB). Responses should be submitted by March 25, 2015, 05:00 P.M. EST to the attention of Banchiamlak Gizachew and Vincent Palmer at the address above. Questions should be directed to Banchiamlak.gizachew@wdc.usda.gov and Vincent.palmer@wdc.usda.gov.