SOLICITATION NOTICE
U -- Investigative interviewing training
- Notice Date
- 11/3/2005
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 611430
— Professional and Management Development Training
- Contracting Office
- Office of Personnel Management, Center for Contracting, Facilities & Administrative Services, Contracting Group, 1900 E Street, N.W., Room 1342, Washington, DC, 20415-7710
- ZIP Code
- 20415-7710
- Solicitation Number
- SOL060000005BAH
- Response Due
- 11/14/2005
- Archive Date
- 11/19/2005
- Description
- OPM-Federal Investative Services Division (FISD) has a requirement for the following investigative interview training. Interested contractors that are familiar with Federal background investigative procedures and invited to submitt responses to the Request for Quotations. This is considered a commerical requirment under Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)Part 12. All certifacations and representations that apply to FAR part 12 (52.212-1 througn 52.212-5) shall be submitted with contractor responses. All clauses and required submissions that apply to FAR Part 12 can be found and printed by visiting www.arnet.gov. A. BACKGROUND The OPM Federal Investigative Services Division (FISD) provides Federal agencies with background investigative services to evaluate an individual?s eligibility for employment with access to classified information, assignment to or retention in positions with sensitive duties, or other designated duties requiring such investigations. Approximately 6,000 civil service and contractor FISD investigators throughout the country conduct personal interviews with millions of subjects, subject-provided references, and developed sources from employers, educational institutions, residences, government agencies, and other sources. Investigators must thoroughly review subject case information and be persistent in seeking details, examples, and justification for comments made by the subject and references throughout the course of these investigations. All investigations must be compliant with FISD policies and procedures. The information obtained during these background investigations form the basis for an agency's decision to accept or reject candidates for employment. The OPM training model consists of four phases. These phases consist of a variety of learning experiences including distance learning, shadowing, classroom training, On-The- Job training, and advanced training. The Agent will progress through these phases over the course of one year. The two phases in which FISD desires to incorporate interview training are as follows: Pre-Academy Training ? During this phase, the new Agent will gain an understanding of the basic skills, regulations and policies used by Agents when conducting investigations. The Agent must complete necessary Units within the Pre-Academy Training program as well as shadow his/her mentor during live investigations. During this phase of training, FISD would like to insert a training product on interviewing that is consistent with the training FISD employees will receive during the BAT phase. This material should introduce the general concepts and methods that will provided during Basic Agent Training (BAT). Basic Agent Training (BAT) ? This phase will consist of Instructor Led Training (ILT) as well as challenging investigation simulations. The Instructor Led Training portion of BAT will provide a brief overview of Units covered during the Pre-Academy training and in-depth training of topics not yet covered. The simulations will challenge Agents by placing them in advanced live scenarios. Throughout BAT the Agent will be tested through numerous comprehensive examinations. During this phase of training FISD desires an interviewing class, that covers basic and advanced techniques. B. PURPOSE Through this solicitation, FISD is seeking experts in the field of investigative interviewing and behavioral assessment to conduct specialized training for its investigative personnel. The training curriculum shall provide basic and advanced methods to help investigators: conduct more productive interviews to maximize the collection of information, recognize verbal and non-verbal body language that may reveal possible deception, and employ questioning techniques to elicit additional, adverse, or contradictory information. These approaches should help investigators strengthen their communication skills with interviewees, which in turn, could improve their ability to detect issues relating to the subject?s loyalty to the United States, criminal conduct, dishonesty, foreign associations, and employment, financial, educational, or behavioral problems. The additional information gathered during the background interviewing process will help to ensure that informed judgments are made about the veracity of individuals subject to investigation for employment with the Federal government. All interviewing techniques must be fully compliant with FISD policies and procedures to include FOI/PA regulations. C. MAJOR TASKS AND DELIVERABLES Training will provide attendees with comprehensive knowledge of interviewing and elicitation techniques for conducting personal background interviews and collecting pertinent testimony relating to subject cases. Curriculum shall consist of an interactive training product and a course to include instructional presentation with computer slideshows, audience participation, and practical exercises to create a productive learning environment. Course can consist of a 1or 2-day period of classroom training as recommended by contractor and approved by OPM officials. Course will supplement existing OPM investigator training, and be tailored to the special standards and requirements outlined in the OPM Investigator?s Handbook, OPM-FISD Security Manual, and applicable OPM contracts and directives. Specific tasks are described below. Task 1 ? Course Planning a. Conduct an initial teleconference with OPM officials to discuss existing and desired interviewing skills of investigators and how course will fulfill objectives of this RFQ. b. Provide copies of course syllabus, training manual, training video, instructional media, interactive exercises, and pertinent reference materials for advance review by OPM officials no later than two weeks prior to the first training class. Task 2 ? Interactive Training Product and or Pre-Course materials Develop and distribute OPM-approved training video or distance learning component of no longer than eight training hours for viewing by attendees two weeks before the date of the first training class. Materials will highlight key concepts that instructor will present in class, to include discussion on methods of strategic interviewing, detecting deception, and non-coercive questioning and elicitation. Contractor will produce a pre-coursework product training product that is custom-designed for OPM investigators, or use an existing proprietary pre course work material that must address these key concepts. Task 3 ? Classroom Instruction Contractor will conduct a course on effective interviewing and behavioral assessment methods in relating to subjects and their personal and professional references. Instructional delivery, practical exercises, and materials relevant to OPM background investigations will be custom-designed for OPM attendees. Instruction will encourage active participation of course attendees, and emphasize the following skill-sets to help investigators maximize information collection, improve question formulation, and probe into sensitive issues in a non-confrontational manner. 1. Structured Interviewing: Instruction should focus on efficient methods of collecting relevant information during personal interviews to ensure successful communication and make accurate security determinations. Topics should include interview preparation, asking pertinent questions, and recording case notes in reports that are informative yet brief as possible. 2. Detecting Deception: Instructor will identify active listening skills that can help investigators recognize dishonest behavior that requires further questioning. Session should help investigators become aware of verbal and nonverbal cues that could reveal deceptive testimony during face-to-face interviews, and how to address or refer possible security issues disclosed during the interview session. 3. Non-Coercive Elicitation: Instruction will focus on techniques used to elicit information and clarify vague or contradictory responses. Investigators should formulate questions that are relevant to OPM security issues (i.e., alcohol/drug use, financial irresponsibility, criminal or immoral conduct, dishonesty, employment misconduct, use of firearms, emotional and behavioral instability, loyalty issues, etc.) and interact with subjects and their references in a non-threatening manner. 4. Practice and Demonstration: As time permits, attendees should be given practical exercises to use the skills observed from the video and classroom to build competency in each skill set. Instructor will provide opportunities to observe experienced interviewers, participate in classroom instruction, and get coaching from instructors. If there is insufficient time to complete in-class exercises, instructor will provide follow-up exercises to OPM officials that they can use in future training programs. D. ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIFICATIONS Instructor Requirements: Instructors will be expert in training government investigative personnel in advanced methods of strategic interviewing, behavioral assessment and analysis, detection of deception, elicitation, and non-coercive interrogation in personnel security cases. Target Audience: Attendees will consist of contractor and government investigators working in designated OPM field organizations throughout the country. Contract Duration: Contract will consist of a one-year base contract to include two 6-month options. A minimum of 2 to maximum of 6 classes will be conducted during a fiscal year or approximately 1 class per quarter). Estimated number of individuals per class: 30 or less Location of training (TBD),: DC Metro Area or Boyers, PA , or Shepherdstown, WV. The location will be at one of the three above locations Estimated start date: August 2005 Location and Access: OPM will provide training facility. Designated contractor must identify in advance of the training the names of instructors and staff who will need to access facility. If it is determined that security clearances are required to enter this facility, OPM will request that contractor verify that its instructor personnel hold the requisite clearances to access OPM facility, to include clearance type, date, and agency granting clearance. Administrative Support and Related Costs: Contractor is responsible for instructor, all instructional materials (handouts must be three hole punched), administrative, and travel expenditures. Contractor will furnish instructional audio/visual hardware (laptop computers), software, and equipment compatible with OPM facility to conduct all aspects of the training course. Contractor will notify OPM of need for any additional support or services, such as projector, projection screen, cables, ports, pointer device, network access to Internet, etc. at least two weeks prior to the first classroom session. Feedback and Assessment: Following each period of classroom training, OPM will distribute course assessment sheets for completion by attendees. As requested by OPM, contractor will provide periodic briefings with OPM officials to discuss feedback from attendees, overall performance in meeting training objectives, and areas for future improvements. E. SUBMISSION PROCESS Contractor must provide proposal explaining how your company can fulfill the requirements of this RFQ. Note that if your company opts to produce a new OPM-specific interactive training product, the estimated production costs should be included in contractor proposal as start-up costs, and OPM will maintain ownership after the contract is over. If your company recommends use of an existing proprietary interactive training product, OPM will only pay for costs of reproduction for distribution to attendees. Since all other training materials must be custom-designed for OPM, all development and reproduction costs will be included in cost estimate and OPM will maintain ownership of these materials after contract is over. Evaluation: Evaluation will be based on Best Value Criteria. In addition to price, the following criteria will be evaluated. Price breakdown shall be shown per training class (each). 1. proposed training approach with course outline addressing major tasks and deliverables outlined above in Section C, and includes contractor?s recommendations for interactive training product, course materials, and classroom instruction in meeting; 2. statement of corporate capability to include brief summary of contractor?s past performance in providing best value to government, customer references addressing timeliness and satisfaction quality factors, and qualifications of proposed personnel and knowledge of the Federal background investigation process.; 3. if requested, an oral demonstration of contractor?s training approach before a panel of OPM officials. Contractors within the competitive range after proposal reviews may be requested to provide an oral presentation on their training capabilities and methodologies. firm fixed pricing shall be submitted in the following format: price for 1 class; price each for 2 classes and grand total; price each for 3 classes and grand total; price each for 4 classes and grand total; price each for 5 classes and grand total; price each for 6 classes and grand total.
- Place of Performance
- Address: OPM-FISD -, one of three location:, Boyers, PA, Washington, DC, Sheppardstown, WV
- Zip Code: 16018-0618
- Country: U.S.
- Zip Code: 16018-0618
- Record
- SN00926099-W 20051105/051103212354 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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