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For Official Use Only REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) Employee Training Program Response Date: November 15, 2019 TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES 1.0 GOALS OF THIS RFI 1.1 Introduction The Internal Revenue Ser... For Official Use Only REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) Employee Training Program Response Date: November 15, 2019 TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES 1.0 GOALS OF THIS RFI 1.1 Introduction The Internal Revenue Service, Section 508 Program Office is seeking information from interested and qualified vendors to create, coordinate and conduct the implementation of a training program solution. The selected vendor will develop an appropriate training solution and methodology to implement, customize, and train IRS staff. 1.2 Purpose The primary focus of this request is to develop Employee Training Program. 1.3 Scope of Work Develop program with detailed syllabus (course outline) to equip staff in the Technical Assistance components for 2 learning competencies - Technology and 508 Testing. The details should include learning paths from introduction to expert levels with written course descriptions in the form of goals and objective upon completion of each course. Each training course in the program must demonstrate the understanding through an exam with success achieved at least 85% proficiency to obtain credit for completing the course. Learning Competencies: Technical Assistance Components Technology course subject: 1. SharePoint 2013 or higher Intro/Development (InfoPath, Nintex) 2. Web Design/Development: HTML/HTML5, ARIA, XML/Web Services (REST/SOAP), JavaScript 3. Software (Oracle Forms) 4. Documentation (PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) - knowledge of built-in Microsoft (MS) features. 5. Introduction Mobile Operating Systems (on Apple and Android Smartphone) 6. Cloud Computing 7. VMware software 8. Leading Telecommunications Equipment with interfaces (browser/software console, keypads, voice over IP/soft phone, TTY) 9. Business Analytics/Data Visualization Tools (Business Objects, Tableau, Elastic Elk Kibana) 10. Infrastructure (Intro to Windows) 11. Mainframe (AttachMate InfoConnect/Micro Focus, Informatica) 12. Knowledge of Assistive Technology (AT) Tools (JAWS, Dragon, ZoomText, Fusion) 508 Testing course subjects: 1. Section 508 ? 508 compliance Refresh Testing Standards 2. WCAG ? WCAG 2.0/2.1 Success Criterion and testing techniques 3. Testing ? Intro to Software Testing. Writing a Test Summary Report (IRS version is called End of Test Completion Report (EOTCR)), including Risk Impact Assessment for 508 identity impact for affected users (Blind, Low Vision and Mobility Impaired). ? 508 within an Agile IT Operation • 508 how-to create User Stories/Cases 508 how-to create User Stories ? 508 within a Waterfall IT Operation • 508 how-to create Test Cases • 508 how-to create Test Scripts ? 508 Remediation life cycle for any SDLC environment (Agile, Waterfall, DevOps). ? How to apply 508 testing within a DevOps IT Operation ? 508 Usability Testing using Assistive Technology (AT) Tools (JAWS, Dragon, ZoomText, Fusion) ? Testing Web/SharePoint (HTML/5, ARIA, Web Parts, Master Page, etc.) ? Testing Software (Shortcut/Hot Keys, Menu, Controls (radio, dropdown box, combo boxes, submit buttons) ? Testing of Documentation of PDF, Word, Excel and PPT (using MS built-in accessibility features and manual inspection) - Images, Tables, Titles ? 508 Testing of Cloud Computing ? 508 Testing of VMware environment ? 508 Testing of Mobile applications ? (Automated/Manual) 508 Testing Tools (Web Accessibility Toolbar (WAT), Java Ferret, Color Contrast Analyzer (CCA), Inspect Objects, ANDI) best practices. 1.4 Qualifications Vendor qualifications: Proven Proficiency and expertise in developing training programs Instructor Qualifications: Section 508 expertise, WCAG 2.0 and 2.1, Expertise in refresh standards as well as legacy, Section 508 testing, 508 remediation, application development, Software quality assurance, SDLC (agile and dev ops), windows environment. 2.0 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. 2.1 Sources Sought - THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) IS RELEASED PURSUANT TO FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (FAR) PART 10, MARKET RESEARCH. 2.2 Disclaimer - This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supplies or services. Further, the IRS is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Respondees are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. 3.0 SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES Vendors MUST provide responses for the following information, in the requested sequence: 1. Vendor shall provide a detail syllabus for training program (course outline for each topic) to train staff in 2 learning competencies (Technical Assistance Components and 508 Testing course subjects listed above) 2. Questions: • How long would it take to develop individual courses? • What is your experience in the Accessibility space? • Do you currently have experienced staff that can develop these courses? • Do you have any experience working on similar projects within the Federal Government? • Do you have any references for established training programs developed for other organizations? • What is your capability in recruiting experienced SME's or consultants in the above subjects (include reference to the requirements) • Do you have any examples of the training programs developed for other organizations? • How adaptable are your capabilities to the changing IT environment? Responses must be submitted complete and in writing. All requests for information in all sections of this document must be answered as concisely as possible while providing all information necessary to understand the process. Any deviations from requirements, or requirements that cannot be satisfied by the vendor, must be clearly identified. Responses must include a statement that indicates that the vendor understands the requirements of the RFI and accepts the terms and conditions under which the RFI was issued to the vendor. The original response and two (2) complete copies must be signed under the corporate seal by an authorized officer. The original and all copies, including all supplementary literature, must be forwarded to the point of contact below: Responses to this notice shall be submitted electronically to Sandra.R.Anderson@irs.gov no later than 4:00 pm, Friday, November 15, 2019 EST. All emails submissions must be less than 5MB. Responses shall not contain any brochures, advertising or any other type of extraneous, graphic literature or documents that have not been requested and are not relevant or essential in demonstrating the company's ability to provide the required services. Vendors may provide links to relevant websites, as appropriate. NOTE: Extensions to the responses due date cannot be granted. Any information of a confidential or proprietary nature contained in a vendor response should be clearly marked ‘PROPRIETARY' or ‘CONFIDENTIAL' by item or at the top of each page. Reasonable precautions will be taken to safeguard any part of the response identified by a vendor as being confidential or proprietary. All responses, once delivered, become the property of The Internal Revenue Service. 4.0 QUESTIONS Questions regarding this RFI shall be submitted in writing by e-mail to the Contracting Officer, Sandra R. Anderson at Sandra.R.Anderson@irs.gov. 5.0 SUMMARY THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY to identify sources that can provide IRS Employee Training. The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. The Government has not made a commitment to procure any of the RFI requirements discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned. NOTE: Vendors shall reference "2019_IRS_Employee_Training_Program" in the subject line of their response as well as in the subject line of any other e-mail correspondence referencing this notice. ** THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT RESPOND TO PHONE CALLS. **