VA National Center for PTSD: EVALUATION CRITERIAStatement of Work Project: Improved Educational Materials for Veterans and Family Members Returning from the War Zone: A Course for Families of Military Personnel DESCRIPTION OF WORK The VA National Center for PTSD currently has a PDF titled "Returning from the War Zone: A guide for families of military personnel" posted on http://www.ncptsd.va.gov. This guide has been downloaded approximately 12,000 times over the last 6 months. This acquisition is expected to range from $25,000.00 to $100,000.00. For the full RFP document please contact Stacy Sullivan at
contact@example.gov. The goal is to adapt the War Zone guide into an online, interactive educational course that is more engaging than a written document and better suited to appeal to today's veterans and their families. The most effective online courses today take advantage of a full range of multimedia techniques including color, movement, sound, video, and in a case like this should also engage the learner on an emotional level. We seek a contractor who can satisfy these stated goals. Specifically the course will be designed to reach family members in dispersed locations. The course will provide information on: " Common reactions that occur following deployment to a war zone " How expectations about homecoming may differ for service members and family members " Ways to talk and listen to one another in order to re-establish trust, closeness and openness " Information about potential problems " How to offer and find assistance for loved ones " What help is available, what it involves, and information on support resources The course must be 508 compliant per VA regulation 6102. It must also meet technical specifications in order to be uploaded to our website. In addition it must be targeted to a lay audience such that it is comprehendible to readers at a 7th grade level. We expect that the amount of time it will take to complete the course will be less than one hour in length. We believe that many of the elements listed below will be necessary in order to satisfy the stated goal, but look to the contractor to specify how to best meet the goals. Possible elements include: " Audio voice-over narration " Photo images and flash-animated collages of still images to personalize and humanize the content and render it more accessible to users " Interactive exercises (e.g., on recognizing combat stress reactions) to engage the user and ensure content mastery (NOTE: no persistent cookies allowed by VA) " Modules that are specifically designed to address caregivers in the various stages of the emotional cycle of deployment (pre, during, post and redeploying) " Links to resources providing "real-time" access to support and information, in order to enhance the user's motivation to help their family service member immediately The course should be tested with potential users to ensure that the module is relevant, accessible, and easy to navigate and then revise based on this feedback. DELIVERABLES: Contractor will provide final revised educational materials in web-ready format. Electronic files will be supplied that can be uploaded to the NCPTSD Website and will meet all of the requirements as specified in the description of work above. SKILLS NEEDED The contractor must have expertise in creating engaging educational trainings and curricula that are web based. Experience in creating trainings in the area of health promotion is preferred. Understanding public information campaigns and branding preferred. Additional expertise in traditional and emerging technologies is required to insure that the course is disseminated effectively. The contractor must have experience with e-learning and web-based trainings. Experience translating science into practice preferred. The online Course will be hosted on the VA NCPTSD website accessible to the public at large. Website and server specifications are listed below. Website applications: See site at www.ncptsd.va.gov " Java 5.0 or later (see above) " Tomcat- version 5.5 " Apache 1.3 " Struts version 1 framework and code " MySQL 4.0 databases " CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), html, java scripts " Support for both mac and pc " Movable type for content management EVALUATION CRITERIA The government will award a contract based on technical experience, past performance and cost/price. FACTOR 1: EXPERIENCE AND TECHNICAL APPROACH a) Demonstrate your understanding of the solicitation requirements and submit a proposed approach to meeting and/or exceeding contract specification and deadlines. b) Demonstrate that you are currently and regularly engaged in creating interactive courses specializing in educational content focused on health/mental health for a lay audience. c) Demonstrate proficiency in the use of learning principles and use of technology to create innovative educational programs d) Describe the proposed Project Team for this effort and provide a brief resume of key personnel e) Describe how you plan to accomplish this work including completion dates. FACTOR 2: PAST PERFORMANCE a) Describe your past experience creating online courses using innovative approaches to learning and retention as specified in the scope of work. FACTOR 3: COST/PRICE a) The pricing proposal should be specific and separate from the technical proposal. It shall contain supporting cost information in sufficient detail to indicate how the offeror arrived at the proposed prices. Factor 1: Experience and technical approach Mandatory items satisfied Total Maximum Points Rating Comments Sub factors: a) Ability to create engaging educational materials b) Knowledge in creating web-ready materials as per Center's website specifications c) Description of how work will be accomplished including deadlines d) Submit a link to an example of an interactive course you have created. e) Create a plan to accomplish work including completion dates Factor 2: Past Performance Sub factors: a) Fully describe your past experience with creating and revising educational content as specified in the scope of work.
