Updated 2/13, 1/17, 1/12, 1/9 and 12/28: Questions and Answers appended
The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) is soliciting proposals from organizations, groups, or individuals to enter into an 18-month cooperative agreement to provide for the revision of Strategic Development of the Executive Woman, and to plan and deliver the program in 2013. NIC continues to build upon the success of its women’s-only programming, where gender barriers are eliminated and acceleration of learning is possible. The award recipient will become familiar with the work currently being done at NIC that provides for an understanding of the history and future development goals for this series.
The award includes responsibility for the updated Instructional Theory into Practice (ITIP) formatted curriculum, and in collaboration with the NIC Research and Information Services Division, an evaluation of the initial program delivery using the NIC training evaluation protocol. This should represent a minimal cost to the award recipient. The project will also address strategies for additional learning and networking upon training completion.
Required Expertise: The successful applicant and/or project staff will possess knowledge, skills, and experience in the following areas: program design, strategic processes, correctional organizational culture, team dynamics, and change management. Demonstrated knowledge and experience with the dynamics affecting women in corrections is necessary. The applicant will provide an example of recent involvement in leadership development programming specific to women and possess knowledge and experience in curriculum development based on adult learning theory and the Instructional Theory into Practice (ITIP) format. Knowledge and expertise in a variety of instructional delivery strategies should utilize, but are not limited to, 360 assessment certification, asynchronous computer/Web-based instructor led, synchronous Web-based, and social learning networks, etc. Skill in designing training curriculum linked to training objectives, knowledge of available training evaluation methods, and effective written and oral communication skills are necessary.
DEADLINE: Applications must be received by 2:00 p.m. EDT, Thursday, March 15, 2012.
Download the Full Solicitation
Questions and Answers:
1. Question: Is there an incumbent awardee and who is that firm?
Answer: There is not an incumbent.
2. Question: (A) Is this solicitation an expansion of the pilot program that was solicited in 2010 (FON 10P12)? Or is this program entirely separate from that solicitation? (B) Moreover, could the current cooperative agreement recipient apply for funding under the 12PR02 solicitation?
Answer: (A) No, this is not an expansion. The 2010 solicitation was not awarded, but is being replaced by this one. (B) No, there is no linkage to funding under 12PR02.
3. Question: Does the program still provide regional trainings, and is this curriculum envisioned for use in those programs, as well as the national program?
Answer: This curriculum will be devoted to Executive level women and not used regionally.
4. Question: If new curriculum development is requested, does NIC have a recent environmental scan or literature review to assist in development?
Answer: No, there is no recent literature review or environment scan.
5. Question: Is there any flexibility in the time frames as presented?
Answer: Yes, there is, but the training program must occur by June 1, 2013.
6. Question: Is there a preferred training site/location? Are there criteria for any non-NIC location?
Answer: Site should be congruent with the research on women in a preferred learning environment.
7. Question: Is there a source for the data on page 3 of the proposal [women in the workplace]? Does NIC have data regarding women in the corrections workplace, specifically women in mid-management or executive positions?
Answer: All sources for data have been researched from public records and articles. The NIC Library may be a resource for additional data.
8. Question: Will a survey &/or needs assessment to determine existing barriers for women in corrections management be a part of this process? Has it already been done? How are student needs being evaluated?
Answer: Recipient will determine if survey or needs assessment is needed. None done recently.
9. Question: Will this program need to be hosted as well as built? Do you have existing servers for this to be deployed on? Do you have a technical team supporting server deployments? Do you have a server support team? How many initial users should we expect? Do you have security requirements? Specific security guidelines? Do you have specific technology requirements?
Answer: NIC will supply the server and the technical support necessary for the web based hosting of the blended learning.
10. Question: What LMS is being considered?
Answer: NIC will provide the LMS to be utilized.
11. Question: Are metrics for pre-test already built?
Answer: No
12. Question: It seems you want a hybrid model based on this: "The use of blended learning tools, such as a live Web-based training environment or supplemental online information transfer, is expected." It also seems that face-to-face training is a large component. Is this correct?
Answer: There is a 32 hr. classroom training component.
13. Question: Will training be self-paced? Instructor led? If instructor led, who will instructors be?
Answer: Classroom will need instructors. Solicitation invites you to select and recommend instructors.
14. Question: Is there an ongoing budget for maintenance of online components? We found with a previous army project, they had special requirements for the content they wanted developed and they did not factor in the ongoing support of those elements - we recommend either having someone to hand the project over to who knows how to deal with course cloning and basic LMS skills, or that you have a budget for those pieces that persist once building has concluded. Do you have a need for helpdesk support in the LMS?
Answer: NIC will use current resources to provide online component needs associated with the project and they do not need to be built into the budget.
15. Question: I am sending a clarification to the question regarding media-rich content. We were wondering is the expectation for primarily text based online content, or will there be a need for content that is animated or interactive on some level? Will there be a need for video or audio in the content? Are there any other media needs that might be envisioned for the courses?
Answer: NIC will provide the platform for webinars and you may use whatever activity/interactivity it can accomodate.
16. Question: Judging from the RFA, it looks like this is an open competitive application and is not a single source solicitation. Will the authors/curricular developers of the 1992 curriculum be given priority for award consideration? Or do all applicants have equal chance for an award?
Answer: It is open competitive and there is equal chances for all.
17. Question: What is the timeline for producing, testing and delivering the curriculum? Is DOJ expecting the production of the curriculum to be completed by July 1, 2012? If so, what is the timeline for testing and delivering the training? Any clarification would be greatly appreciated.
Answer: The full curriculum must be ready sixty days before the training which is to be delivered in FY 2013.
18. Question: Does DOJ expect the curriculum to be designed an delivered using blended pedagogy (online and in-class)? If so, is there a particular preference for the division between online and face-to-face hours?
Answer: There is a 32 hr. class time requirement. The online will be pre-work and post-work.
19. Question: It is our understanding that DOJ will have intellectual rights over the products of this effort. Will the authors be allowed to publish/use the curriculum elsewhere with appropriate credits given to DOJ for sponsoring its development? Or does DOJ bar any dissemination use of the products?
Answer: All products developed entirely with Federal funds are in the public domain. Anyone can use them as they wish, but giving us credit for the original funding and development. They can't copyright the material unless they have , with non-Federal funding, made some significant changes to the original product.
20. Question: What is the anticipated award date?
Answer: April 15, 2012
21. Question: Is the travel in this cooperative agreement subject to the new DOJ's requirements for pre-approval? Will NIC be required to use the NIC Training Academy (e.g. federal facilities) based on the new DOJ regulations?
Answer: It is not the travel, but the use of federal facilities which have been set in place. It is unknown (if federal facilities required) at this time although the possibility exists.
22. Question: As this is noted as a revision to the program, where can we now get access to review the current curriculum?
Answer: We have posted program materials as they exist, on the NIC website (linked above as Program 2009).
23. Question: Were any of the recommendations from the 2003 evaluation of this program implemented? If so, which recommendations?
Answer: Unknown
24. Question: What are anticipated/requested work products and/or activities for the 18-month period of the cooperative agreement after delivery of the program FY 2013? For example, will NIC expect the successful bidder to modify the curriculum based on the feedback on the inaugural class?
Answer: Post classroom webinars and potential program modifications. The time frame can be shortened if all parties are in agreement that the work is complete.
25. Question: The revised solicitation requires, under Products and Deliverables, that the training curriculum must be delivered to NIC no later than July 1, 2012. In NIC's response to question #17, prompted, by the initial solicitation, NIC states "The full curriculum must be ready sixty days before the training which is to be delivered in FY 2013." Our question: if the training is proposed, for example, to begin on May 1, 2013, can the completed curriculum be delivered to NIC on March 1, 2013 (60 days before the training is to be delivered)?
Answer: It is anticipated that the initial curriculum will be subject to revisions; the short answer is yes to the example.
26. Question: Can NIC clarify the definitions of "level 1 and level 2" evaluations?
Answer: Based on Kirkpatrick model: Level one is considered is completed at the class conclusion for immediate feedback; Level two is a follow-up to see if any behavioral difference has occurred in the opinion of the participant.
27. Question: I was wondering if you could clarify the due date for this proposal? On one set of paperwork, it indicates 2/10 and on another in Grants.gov it indicates 2/15. Could you kindly verify which is correct?
Answer: Applications must be received by 2:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday, March 15, 2012.
Points of view or opinions stated in this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.