Sources Sought for Instructor Qualification Course in Leadership

The responses to the above sources sought have been reviewed by the United States Coast Guard and it has been determined that this solicitation will be issued as a small business set aside on or about 16 March 2009. A Pre-Soliciation Notice will be issued prior to the Request for Quote and will be issued under the number HSCG84-09-Q-AAS155. The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, Maintenance and Logistics Command Atlantic, Norfolk, VA and the United States Coast Guard Academy, Leadership Development Center (LDC), in New London, Connecticut are seeking interested sources to provide all labor, supervision, transportation, training aids and training materials, except for facilities furnished by the government, for (1) an innovative Instructor Qualification Course (IQC) in leadership and (2) leadership course training materials for IQC trained instructors to use in subsequent LDC courses. During the first year of this contract, the courses will be taught at the Leadership Development Center (LDC). In subsequent years, the government may utilize additional locations. The audience for the IQC will be Coast Guard officers, enlisted, Auxiliary, and civilian personnel currently assigned to the LDC, New London, CT. Instructors certified through attendance at the IQC will subsequently teach LDC leadership courses and use the training materials purchased under the resultant contract. The contracted instructors should have as a minimum, an earned master's degree, however, an earned doctorate is preferred, and a minimum of three years experience in a leadership position. BACKGROUND: The LDC is located at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT. The LDC's Leadership and Quality Institute (LQI) is responsible for teaching and facilitating courses equivalent to civilian adult continuing professional education. Over 4,000 students are taught each year in the LQI's Leadership and Management School; one of six major schools within the LDC. Many of the officer, enlisted, civilian, and Auxiliary members of the Coast Guard will attend training provided by the LDC's LQI. Omnipresent issues related to national security require that the Coast Guard's leadership training be at the highest possible level appropriate to student experience and responsibilities. It is necessary to approach Coast Guard leadership training in the same way that civilian corporations advance their employees leadership skills. Rarely do successful civilian corporations have the manpower or materials to identify, design, and deliver their own state-of-the-art leadership curricula. Civilian corporations contract out for sophisticated leadership training. The Coast Guard cannot afford to purchase leadership training for all its personnel. The next best option is to obtain a commercially prepared IQC to meet both the instructor-training requirement and the urgent need for quality in leadership training. The Coast Guard is currently in the process of developing specific requirements for this course. It is anticipated that this will be a fixed price contract for the majority of the requirements with travel being performed on a cost reimbursement basis. The Coast Guard envisions the future contractor having an intricate network of resources to provide all aspects of the leadership training course and materials as described. No solicitation exists for this requirement, therefore DO NOT REQUEST A COPY OF THE SOLICITATION. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on FEDBIZOPS. It is the potential offeror's responsibility to monitor this site for release of any future solicitation or synopsis. CONTRACTOR INFORMATION FOR SUBMISSION: Interested contractors shall describe how they possess the experience and capabilities necessary to meet or exceed the requirements of providing the following: 1. Instructor Qualification Course in Leadership: a. Innovative Methods, b. Hands on Learning, c. Out of Seat Training, d. Problem Solving Methods, e. Student Centered Learning, f. Exercised Focused Training g. Interactive Scenarios and Role Playing. 2. Instructors: Demonstrate that instructors possess at a minimum an earned master's degree, however, an earned doctorate is preferred, and a minimum of three years experience in a leadership position is required. 3. LDC Instructors at the completion of the IQC will be certified to teach the training materials purchased under the resultant contract in LDC leadership classes. 4. Leadership Course Training Materials: a. describe your course syllabus, course outline or course curriculum to be utilized. b. Describe how you have prepared reusable instructor visual aids that reinforce the learning objectives in your course curriculum. c. Describe innovative student-training aids that will be effective in helping LDC students remember and implement learning objectives at their job sites. d. Describe student textbooks/workbooks that can be used by students who will be attending the LDC classes taught by the IQC trained instructors. 5. Provide a project plan timeline or methodology outlining the necessary steps or milestones needed to implement an innovative and effective IQC. DEMONSTRATION OF THE FOLLOWING IS RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT REQUIRED. 6. Past experience in providing an instructor qualification course in leadership training for other Government Agencies. 7. Past experience in providing an instructor qualification course in leadership training for other Universities or Colleges. 8. Past experience in providing an instructor qualification course in leadership training for other Coast Guard Commands. 9. Past experience in providing an instructor qualification course in leadership training for other organizations. The above information can be forwarded to the Contract Specialist via e-mail at wendy.j.culbreth@uscg.mil. Responses should also include the following information: company name, address, point of contact, phone number; DUNS number, business size to include status ( 8(a), SDB, HUBZONE, SDVOSB, etc), corporate affiliations, potential joint venture partners, teaming partners, or major subcontractors, GSA Contract information if applicable. All relevant input is encouraged. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited; no basis for claim against the Government shall arise as a result from a response to this Sources Sought or Government use of any information provided. The Government reserves the right to consider a small business, 8(a) or any other set aside arrangement as deemed appropriate for this procurement.