Inactive Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Set-Aside (FAR 19.14)

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)/ Sources Sought ONLY (as defined in FAR 15.201(e)), this is not a solicitation. Solicitations are not available at this time. Requests for a solicitation will n... THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)/ Sources Sought ONLY (as defined in FAR 15.201(e)), this is not a solicitation. Solicitations are not available at this time. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received, provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted, or respond to any questions or comments that may be submitted in response to this RFI/Sources Sought. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the United States Government and does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI/Sources Sought. The purpose of this Request for information (RFI)/Sources Sought is for Market Research purposes only. The VA requires access to an on-line eLearning Library and off-the-shelf virtual instructor-led training courses to provide EEO training to ORM EEO Counselors, Investigators, Case Managers, VA supervisors, managers, and employees; as well as VA employees named as Responding Management Officials (RMOs) in EEO cases that result in findings of discrimination. The eLearning and off-the-shelf virtual instructor-led courses must be available on demand, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and on short notice. The off-the-shelf eLearning (web-based courses) and off-the-shelf virtual instructor-led courses must be developed by federal employment law experts and offer reliable, authoritative, and up-to-date content that merges federal employment law and real-world application. Content in the on-line eLearning Library and the off-the-shelf virtual instructor-led courses must be updated routinely to stay abreast with changes in the law, advances in technology, and available both in micro-learning (small, content-specific modules/lessons) and full competency/skill-set learning development. The training must focus on the laws and regulations that govern the Federal EEO Complaint process. VA Instructional Systems Designers will use the courses as part of blended learning solutions that address training requirements specified by EEOC Administrative Judges and Agency EEO Complaint adjudicators in findings of discrimination. The courses must address a myriad of EEO related topics and designed to increase VA EEO Professionals and RMOs knowledge of EEO laws and regulations and to equip them with skills necessary to avoid future EEO findings of discrimination. VA must be able to download and assign eLearning Courses to users depending upon requirements specified in EEOC Administrative Judges or VA Adjudicators decisions. Courses must cover a variety of federal human resource topics from a legal regulatory and compliance training aspect and must provide employees with accurate, effective and legally compliant training necessary to ensure they understand the nuances of legal requirements to avoid findings of workplace discrimination. The Courses must include interactive activities and assessments that increase learning comprehension and retention and provide immediate feedback to learners to gauge how well they are mastering the material. The eLearning Courses and virtual, Instructor-Led training sessions do not target the entire VA and therefore, must not be accessible through the VA s Talent Management System. Instead, the courses target specific employees across the VA enterprise and will be an integral part of ORM blended learning solutions. The contractor must host the eLearning courses on their Learning Management System and provide VA with 24/7 access and the ability to assign to learners designated by the VA. All courseware and training materials must be compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The courses mentioned below contain critical content and should be included in the eLearning online library: Critical Subject Areas: Discriminatory Harassment: Understanding and Applying the Law The Nuts and Bolts of the Reasonable Accommodation Process Race, Color and National Origin Discrimination: How to Recognize and Address it in the Federal Process Recognizing and Addressing EEO Retaliation in the Federal Workplace Sex Discrimination: How it Occurs and How to Stop it Sexual Harassment: Understanding and Responding to Claims in the Federal Workplace. The EEO Process: Step-by-Step Guidance for Federal Managers Evolving Law: LGBT Issues in the Federal Workplace A Federal Manager s Role in Accommodating Physical Disabilities A Federal Manager's Role in Limiting Religious Discrimination and Harassment Harassment in the Federal Workplace: A Manager s Role and Responsibilities Recognizing and Responding to Race, Color and National Origin Discrimination in the Federal Workplace Recognizing and Responding to Sexual Harassment: What Federal Managers Must Know and Do All responsible sources may identify their interest. Please also identify your size designation/small business category as well as your ability to offer the services for a base period plus option periods. In addition to providing a capability statement as discussed above, a series of questions regarding capability must be answered. Please ensure the question number/letter is referenced within the RFI response. Below are the capability questions: Given the high visibility of EEO discrimination complaint adjudication within the Federal Government and the short timelines allotted by EEOC Administrative Judges and Agency adjudicators, VA must operate in a fast-paced environment and often are tasked with delivering training mandated by on short notice with stringent deadlines. What are your experiences with the following? Do you have an on-line library accessible to customers of eLearning courses related to EEO courseware that addresses the laws, regulations and procedures that govern the Federal EEO complaint process? Specifically, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), as amended, which prohibits discrimination based upon race, color, national origin, sex, and religion; Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehab Act), which prohibits discrimination based upon disability; Section 15 of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), which prohibits discrimination based upon age (40 years and over); the Equal Pay Act (EPA) which prohibits sex based wage discrimination; and Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 which prohibits genetic information discrimination in employment. Do the courses comply with Mandatory Training Requirements, including the 32 hour training requirement for new EEO counselors and investigators as well as the annual 8-hour updated training for EEO professionals as required by the EEOC? What is your capability to host the eLearning courses on your Learning Management System (servers) and provide VA with access and the ability to assign to learners designated by the VA? Describe security features of your Learning Management System to ensure student information is not being exposed to unauthorized individuals. Describe your Learning Management Systems capability of generating usage reports to include certificates of completion. Can you provide VA with access to assign these eLearning courses to users whenever needed? Please describe system requirements for eLearners to take your courses. What is your capability to quickly update EEO eLearning courses as described above when there is a change in EEO laws, regulations, or EEOC Guidance and make them available to customers with minimal direction? How quickly can you add new eLearning courses to your online library when EEOC publishes new laws, regulations, guidance and procedures? Are your eLearning courses created by federal employment attorneys and EEO Subject Matter Experts to offer the highest quality training that covers a variety of federal human resource topics from a legal regulatory and compliance training aspect? Is your company also capable of providing virtual instructor-led training on EEO related topics? If so, what virtual learning platform do you use? Is your company currently performing similar services to another government agency? If so, please provide the following: What government agency(s) are you currently supporting in a similar capacity? How does the work you are performing for this/these agencies align with the support requirements outlined in this RFI/Sources Sought? Describe your knowledge, familiarity, and direct experience supporting The Department of Veterans Affairs EEOC, OEDCA, ORM etc, This RFI/Sources Sought is for informational purposes only. This is NOT a solicitation. It does not constitute a request for quote and must not be construed as a commitment by the Government. Responses in any form are not quotes and the Government is under no obligation to award a contract/task order as a result of this announcement. The results of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement. Please provide all capability statements to Cedric Jackson, at cedric.jackson@va.gov by the closing date of this Request for Information/Sources Sought. No telephone calls will be accepted.