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SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVY This is a Sources Sought synopsis being conducted pursuant to FAR Part 10, Market Research. Thi... SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVY This is a Sources Sought synopsis being conducted pursuant to FAR Part 10, Market Research. This is for planning purposes only and there is no solicitation available at this time. INTRODUCTION This is an initial step in the planning process for the development of partnerships between the Department of the Navy (DON) and fully accredited not-for-profit schools across the United States that can provide several services to include, but not limited to: providing complete distance education program in certain areas of study; recognition and acceptance of ACE recommendations for military training and credit recognition; estimate and plan for the growing capacity of the United States Naval Community College (USNCC) student population; modify and produce new course to meet Naval education interests; confer Associates of Arts or Science degrees as an accredited institution; and operate under a common or integrated enrollment and registration system allowing cross enrollment of the USNCC students among participating institutions without having to enter multiple systems. BACKGROUND In February 2019, the Secretary of the Navy directed the establishment of the United States Naval Community College (USNCC). This recommendation was based on the exhaustive Education For Seapower study, which found that the Naval Services were not utilizing fully the talent and intellectual potential of America's enlisted Sailors and Marines. The USNCC will be the primary means for the Naval Services to provide educational opportunities to the entire enlisted workforce to prepare for future challenges. At full operating capability, the USNCC will: •· Confer transferable, and recognized associate level academic degrees and certifications as a fully accredited institution, •· Provide flexible delivery methods to account for operational demands and technological constraints of a globally distributed workforce, •· Automatically enroll all Sailors and Marines from the moment of enlistment, •· Develop academic programs in alignment with the needs of the Navy and Marine Corps, •· Recognize and accredit numerous forms of learning, including learning obtained through military technical and leadership training. It will take a minimum of 3-5 years to achieve the full operational capability and to accredit the USNCC. Therefore, to begin providing immediate education opportunities to Sailors and Marines, the Department of the Navy (DON) seeks to partner with top schools in the United States during an initial implementation phase, and possibly to form enduring partnerships based on the results of the initial performance. DON also wants to gather insight as to the benefit and transition steps required to take advantage of forming these partnerships. PURPOSE The Department of Navy believes that partnerships with fully accredited not-for-profit schools could deliver some or all of the following services as part of a naval education consortium: •1. Provide complete distance education programs in desired areas of study, such as computer science, data analytics, organization and management studies and American political science. Other technical and liberal arts fields will also be desired as the USNCC develops. •2. Enable single sign-on for registration and access to course catalogs and course materials. •3. Recognize and accept ACE recommendations for military training, and offer a generous credit recognition policy for college-level coursework completed prior to or while on active duty. •4. Scale capacity to meet the growing demands of the USNCC student population. •5. Modify existing courses or produce new customized courses to meet Naval education interests, where appropriate. •6. Enroll all Naval personnel interested in participating without a competitive application process. •7. Confer Associate of Arts or Science degrees as an accredited institution in partnership with the USNCC. •8. Operate under a common or integrated enrollment and registration system allowing cross enrollment of USNCC students among participating institutions without having to directly enter multiple systems. DON also will utilize feedback received from industry to: Determine industry capabilities to meet future anticipated requirements Determine extent of small business capability and participation in any resulting solicitations Determine possible locations Develop an acquisition strategy that will achieve competition and satisfy Government requirements in an efficient and effective manner Improve or clarify Government requirements documents, as necessary REQUESTED INFORMATION As described below, interested colleges are requested to respond to this sources sought synopsis by providing information that identifies the capability and ability to provide above-listed services, or other services they believe would be relevant to the USNCC mission. DON requests that interested institutions provide responses addressing: 1. Accreditation information; including policies and constraints concerning residency requirements and recognition of transfer credits; 2. Types of distance education programs currently offered, current and prospective capacity for distance education programs, and experience or expertise in supporting distance education programs for large numbers of students and/or a globally distributed student body; 3. Existing delivery methods, learning management systems and student information systems; 4. Estimated cost per credit hour and associated administrative fees; 5. Experience partnering with other institutions to offer degrees; especially new institutions pursuing accreditation; 6. Experience in establishing or assisting in the establishment of a distance education based school or program; 7. Experience providing education to active-duty or veteran students, and current or past participation or involvement in Federal military education programs, agreements or MOUs; 8. A short synopsis of how the submitting institution can integrate into a naval education consortium to meet the requirements of the USNCC; 9. Any other useful information, knowledge, or best practices that may be relevant to the establishment of USNCC or its mission. Respondents are responsible for including sufficient details to respond to this sources sought synopsis. Unnecessarily elaborate responses beyond that sufficient to be complete and effective are not desired. Likewise, respondents are cautioned against general, vague, or unsubstantiated statements. PROPRIETARY MARKINGS Please be advised that any proprietary information must be marked as such on a page-by-page basis. The Government will not assume that any of the information provided by a respondent is proprietary unless it is conspicuously marked on a page-by-page basis. Moreover, the Government does not assume any duty to contact a respondent and inquire whether any unmarked information submitted in response to this RFI is proprietary. QUESTIONS Questions or comments regarding this notice may be submitted via email to: Frances Malson-Williams, Contract Specialist, at frances.malson@navy.mil. All correspondence shall reference "USNCC" in the subject line of your email. The deadline to submit a question regarding this notice is: 3:00 PM EST on 15 November 2019. INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS All fully accredited not-for-profit institutions capable of providing these services are invited to respond. Any information provided to the Government as a result of this sources sought synopsis is voluntary and the Government will not pay for any information submitted. Respondents are requested to submit capability packages electronically, as described below: 1) Requested information listed below must be received no later than 3:00 PM EST on 22 November 2019. 2) Information package responses shall be sent via email to frances.malson@navy.mil and donaa_cmd_rqmts@navy.mil 3) Information Package: Respondents must include the following information a) Company name b) Address c) Point of contact with e-mail address and telephone number d) Federal CAGE Code e) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) f) Small business category The North American Industrial Classification Systems (NAICS) code is 611310, Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools, which has a small business standard of $27.5 M. This notice is NOT a request for proposals (RFP), but is an invitation for potential offerors to express interest and provide information regarding their relevant knowledge, skills and capabilities. Information submitted in response to this sources sought synopsis and may be used to assist DON in finalizing its acquisition strategy. GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY This Sources Sought Notice is not a solicitation, and should not be construed as a commitment by the Government for any purpose, nor does it restrict the Government to an ultimate acquisition approach. Any information submitted by respondents to this sources sought is strictly voluntary and any offer submitted by such a firm will be evaluated without prejudice. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred in responding to this synopsis or furnishing the requested information. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of contractor submissions or the Government's use of such information. The Government reserves the right to reject in whole or in part, any Vendor's input resulting from this synopsis. All questions and comments on this notice shall be submitted via e-mail to only the contacts listed below: PRIMARY CONTACT: Frances Malson-Williams, Contract Specialist, frances.malson@navy.mil, (703) 692-7459. SECONDARY CONTACT: Mimi Robinson, Contracting Officer, mimi.robinson1@navy.mil, (703) 614-9382.