Professional Training and Development Special Notice

Notice of Intent to Sole Source for Professional Training and  Development. 

Special Notice # NIHODSS 071423

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Acquisitions,  on behalf of the  NIH’s Office of the Director Executive Office (ODE),  intends to negotiate a contract with  W COLSTON LEIGH INC for Professional Training and Development Support Services.

In accordance with FAR Part 6.302-1, the Contractor was found to be  the only known responsible source that is qualified to  provide the specific services at the level required by the program office. 

The contractor will be required to  provide professional training to fulfill the program office’s  mission and which includes professional training and development to staff.

This notice is not a request for competitive quotes. However, any party that believes it can provide the services as  stated herein may submit a written capability statement that clearly supports and demonstrates their ability to satisfy the requirement. A determination by the Government to compete this proposed award based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. No questions will be taken at this time.

 Respondents must submit their capabilities  by 10:00 a.m. EST on July 17, 2023. The period of performance is expected to be from date of award through December 2023.

It is anticipated that an award will be issued approximately 3 days after the date of this notice unless the Government determines that another organization has the capability to meet this requirement.

 

Scope of Work

ODEO anticipates the need for professional training to fulfill its mission and provide professional development to staff. Deliverables are listed at the end of this document and include work products related to professional development.

III. Details of Required Services

To support and enhance communication, collaboration, and awareness for Senior NIH Leaders the ODEO requires professional instruction and assessments based on The Art of Woo: Using Strategic Persuasion to Sell Your Ideas. The workshop shall be held virtually and shall consist of (2) 4-hour sessions.

The session and subjects will employ strategies and techniques that will help the organization advance toward a more cohesive, collaborative, inclusive culture and address specific challenges associated with that. Subjects covered during the session may include (1) Five barriers to communication and collaboration, and methods for overcoming the barriers, (2) Kaizen Like Event to develop action steps for improving collaboration, communication, and awareness, (3) Ways to build momentum for ideas and communication, (4) Techniques for motivating others to take action, and (5) Winning support for culture change.

Session activities shall include (1) Work with planning committee on specific learning objectives and the agenda, creating customized materials, and managing follow-up activities,  (2) Writing scenarios or role-plays about typical situations facing the participants; drafting slides that reflect issues you want to highlight; and creating exercises related to particular problems you want to consider, (3) Discussions and scenario-based interactive exercises to help participants develop solutions for challenges facing the organization and improve efficiency, (4) Hold two progress review meetings, (5) Provide staff questions for NIH review, (6) Interview select OD leaders via focus groups and 1:1 interviews to develop a clear understanding of the organization and the challenges they face and issues they’d like to address as an organization, (7) Provide input into NIH-specific scenarios for the interactive and Kaizen exercises (8) Provide communication style assessments to participants in advance of the session.

Deliverables are specified in the table below.

IV. Deliverables and Reporting Requirements

During the performance period, deliverables will be turned in on a rolling basis as needed and no later than the due date listed for the deliverables listed below. All deliverables must meet the requirements of the SOW and additional guidance provided by the COR. Table and schedule of deliverables:

Deliverables

Due date

Kick-off call with NIH staff to review session goals and attendees, identify staff to interview and process for arranging, schedule checkpoint meetings

No later than 10 days following award

Development of pre-Session interview questions and information gathering questions for selected NIH staff and review with NIH 

No later than 14 days following Kick-off

Conduct information gathering

No later than 14 days following submission of questions

Provide written report to planning staff summarizing interviews and proposed scenarios 

No later than 14 days following information gathering

Agenda planning session(s) with NIH staff and receive NIH feedback on scenarios and structure

No later than 14 days following submission of report

Finalize agenda, scenarios, and associated materials, hold final call with planning staff

No later than 14 days following agenda planning sessions

Send attendees information, surveys, and prework

No later than 14 days following finalization

Provide electronic copies of agenda and associated materials to NIH

No later than 10 days following information, surveys, and prework submission to attendees

Leadership sessions

No later than 3 days following agenda and material distribution to attendees. Materials should be sent to the attendees a week in advance of the workshops.

Debrief and follow-up activities, to include a final report summary of activities and recommendations.

No later than 10  days following sessions

V. Place of Performance

The contractor will facilitate the sessions in person.

VII. Period of Performance

Date of Award – December 21, 2023

VIII. Government Furnished Equipment

The government will not furnish equipment.

IX. Travel

Travel is required.