Homeland Security Institute (HSI) Seminar Services

1. Description Section

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services prepared in accordance with part 12. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Offers are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued.

Solicitation number W912SV26RA003 is issued as a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Homeland Security Institute (HSI) Seminar Services, specifically the General and Flag Officers Homeland Security Executive Seminar (GFOS) and the Leadership in Homeland Security (LHS) Seminar, which include integrated Case Study Development.

This acquisition is not set-aside for small business concerns (it is unrestricted). This solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: For complete details, please refer to the full solicitation document. Specific instructions for proposal submission are provided in the Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Products and Commercial Services. The Government's evaluation criteria are set forth in FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation—Commercial Products and Commercial Services.

2. Line Item Numbers, Items, Quantities, and Units of Measure

Please see the detailed Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs) schedule provided in Section B of the SF 1449 (Solicitation W912SV26RA003).

3. Description of Requirements

The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, and quality control necessary to perform HSI Seminar Services as defined in the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

A. Special Qualifications & Contractor Credentials (PWS 1.4.7)

Accredited Institution: Must be an accredited educational institute of higher learning that awards degrees at the bachelor, master, and Ph.D. levels.

Established Program: Must have established Executive Education courses or certificate programs in topics relevant to disaster planning, homeland security, emergency management, or crisis leadership taught at the senior executive level.

Faculty Requirements: Main instructors must be Ph.D.-level tenured faculty of the institution who specialize in relevant domains, are active researchers with published works, and have a minimum of 10 years of experience instructing at the senior executive level.

B. Course Structure and Content (PWS 5.1 & 5.2)

GFOS (General and Flag Officer Seminar):

Duration: 4 to 5 days, from 0800 to 1700 daily.

Syllabus: Academic course using "participant-centered learning" (Socratic Method). Based on a target of 10 case studies (minimum of 8 required).

Guest Instructors: Target of 5 guest instructors (minimum of 3) who possess professional strategic-level experience leading national-level responses (e.g., Boston Marathon Bombing, Superstorm Sandy, Baltimore Riot).

Capacity: Up to 65 participants (minimum of 40). Paid seats include 40 pre-paid National Guard personnel and 25 seats for non-NG participants paying fees directly to the contractor.

LHS (Leadership in Homeland Security Seminar):

Duration: Comprised of 5 to 6 days of instruction (per PWS Section 5.2), but also summarized as 4 to 5 days in Section 5.2.2.1.

Syllabus: Comparable to an executive-level academic course focused on operational concepts. Same target of 10 case studies (minimum of 8) and target of 5 guest instructors (minimum of 3).

Capacity: Up to 65 operational/executive leader participants (40 pre-paid NG personnel, 25 non-NG participants paying directly).

Case Study Research & Development (PWS 5.1.2.4):

Must cover an actual event in the past 5 years in which the National Guard played a multi-day role.

The case study must support a 2-hour block of facilitated academic instruction.

Timeline: 10 months from award to deliver the final product (not to exceed 12 months). Must be reviewed by HSI at the 50% and 75% completion points.

C. Facilities & Logistics (PWS 1.4.7.2 & 5.4)

Facilities: Off-site brick-and-mortar facilities capable of comfortably seating up to 65 participants and 5 HSI support staff. Must feature state-of-the-art AV, desks with electric power for each seat, WiFi, and separate physical meeting spaces for small group breakouts.

Meals & Beverages: Fully authorized as an integrated component of the program. Cost must be built into the prepaid tuition/fixed seminar fee; no separate attendee itemization or reimbursement is permitted.

4. Provisions and Clauses Statement

All applicable Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition and are incorporated in full text or by reference within the accompanying SF 1449 (Solicitation W912SV26RA003).