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Request for Information This is a Request for Information for Blackboard® Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). If your company is capable and interested in providing this service, please review the St... Request for Information This is a Request for Information for Blackboard® Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). If your company is capable and interested in providing this service, please review the Statement of Work and respond to the below questions by April 19th, 2023 at 2:00 PM CDT. Responses should be sent via email to haley.huff@va.gov. What is your firm s information: Company Name SAM UEI Socioeconomic Status (ex: VOSB, WOSB, Small Business) Contact Information Is your company capable of providing the below services? How would your company comply with FAR 52.219-14(e) Limitation on Subcontracting? STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW) Title of Project: Blackboard® Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) for Revenue Operations (RO) Authority of Project: Revenue Operations (RO) requires web-based classroom system known as Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) e.g. Blackboard® training solution to support employee development efforts, and to provide a dynamic means of knowledge transfer and interactivity for an ever-growing employee base, geographically located across the United States. A VLE solution will provide a more cost effective and efficient way to train. VLE solutions have helped VA educators to become more effective with the offering of various online training solutions. This web-based training solution will keep everyone informed, involved, collaborating, and meeting the high expectations of today s learners. Introduction/Background: It is critical the VA and RO supports a culture where application of new skills acquired from a training event is transferred to the worksite. Linking learning to worksite performance requires a high degree of learner interactivity during the learning process. Web-based classrooms offer an environment where interactivity among participants, facilitators, and content experts is available. Through this platform, training is enhanced through encouraging participants active reflection on content and problem solving via facilitated discussion, action learning projects, coaching, mentoring, and continuous peer interactions. As the VA puts forth efforts for retaining and recruiting the next generation of VA employees who possess a high degree of technical competence, supporting and offering web-based classroom training and e-Learning will be critical to mee the learning needs and styles of current and future employees. Currently, there are approximately 6 other VA contracts that use Blackboard® VLE. This contract will support our local learning efforts as well as our newly broadened employee base, located across the United States. Web-based virtual classrooms provide an integrated mix of synchronous and asynchronous learning activities in combination with dynamic opportunities for collaboration with experts and peers. Asynchronous participation in a virtual course means that the learning process is not conducted in real time. This allows participants to collaborate in online discussions, access learning resources and study curriculum materials or review project assignments anytime during the workday, 24/7. Participation in scheduled synchronous learning opportunities is also available where learners can collaborate at the same time in a VLE to be exported and used across the system will be essential to ensure cost effective strategies and sharing of resources. This is possible from VA entity to VA entity, working collaboratively on learning goals. The software platform is managed and hosted by Blackboard® and supports a virtual, distance learning environment. This learning platform allows RO employees secure access to online classes, the ability to manage courses, author content, create assignments, and foster collaboration. Objective: The intent of this contract is to continue web-based training solutions, a hosted classroom platform, to provide 24/7 access to knowledge and information, and provide innovative ways to foster learning anywhere at any time. The software application is used to virtually train RO employees. Employees will use their Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) computers or home computers to log into web-based classrooms which are virtual, interactive learning environments that offer online training platforms. Programs are delivered via the virtual learning environment, program participants have 24/7 internet access to communicate with training staff, to engage in curriculum content in a self-paced manner, to collaborate with peers and to call up just-in-time job aids when executing project assignments. Use of the virtual environments enable RO to maximize the use of one VLE with different content areas (i.e. Non-VA Care training, Packaging of coordinated curriculums for virtual and local staff to work independently, Collaborative Learning Community, New Employee Onboarding, etc) which decreases the cost of travel and time away from the dedicated worksite to engage in strategic learning opportunities, and to take full advantage of technology that promotes facilitated collaboration and coaching on work situated projects and assignments. The VLE is constructed to be interactive; learners are more likely to transfer learning into usable behavioral skill sets. In a VLE, the instructional designers can tap a wide array of subject matter experts who can moderate discussion boards and offer modular learning content. Without VLE, the subject matter experts would more than likely not be available to offer varied learning styles, offer participants self-paced chunks of information, promoting a high degree of learning activities that fosters the development of the VA Core Competencies for employees and management. VLE also offers technology that enables the CLE coordinator to manage or administer carious aspects of learning; delivery of learning materials, learner tracking, assessment, learner communication and outside-hosted technical support. The other virtual learning environment features that are mandatory are: the vendor hosts the software and provide learners with an adequate level of technical support. Blackboard® has no impact on VA OIT staff, programs, or systems. It is a stand-alone system similar to TMS, accessed through a direct web browser. Major requirements: In order for the contractor to accomplish the work under this task order, it shall be necessary for the contractor to complete the following tasks: Identify stakeholders and their needs as it relates to implementation, identify, and mitigate implementation risks. Establish course migration requirements, including conversion needs and priorities (if applies). Establish a comprehensive understanding of system implications, integration, features, and functions. Develop a detailed project plan that incorporates the specific tasks and dependencies compromising the work streams and phases of the VLE implementation; define governance and change management rules of managing VLE system. The government and the contractor understand and agree that the services to be delivered under this contract by the contractor to the government are non-personal services and the parties recognize and agree that no employer-employee or master-servant relationships exist or will exist under the contract between the government and the contractor s employees. Resource Requirements: Role Responsibilities Project Manager Facilitates communication with learning platform and with RO related to this engagement, and coordinates contractor s activities for the project. Technical Lead Owns the delivery of the solution from a technical standpoint and is accountable for the overall quality of the end-product. The architect works closely with the project manager to coordinate the implementation, testing and delivery of the solution. ICM Team Distribute Solution to RO, set up Q&A session to assist with install. QA Analyst Responsible for quality assurance of deliverables. RO WFD Responsibilities: Blackboard® consulting model assumes active participation from the RO WFD team. RO is responsible for staffing resources on the projects that have the necessary functional and technical knowledge to successfully execute required tasks. RO will staff the resources below. Role Phase Responsibilities RO Operations Director As needed As needed RO WFD Representative (COR) Entire project POC for the Blackboard® Project Manager. Shall have full authority to make all decisions regarding project scope, overall timeline, and related project costs, as well as ensuring necessary RO project personnel, resources, etc. are available to successfully complete the project. Integration and Single Sign On deployment - Assist with deployment of extensions to support integration (if needed) Integration and Single Sign On deployment - Assists with implementation and testing of integration components (if needed) RO WFD Blackboard® Project Manager Throughout contract Implementation, deployment, QA, and overall tasks as WFD Blackboard Administrator. RO WFD Representative Throughout contract Provide support and SME assistance as needed. RO WFD Representative Throughout contract Provide support and SME assistance as needed. Meetings and Reviews: The Contractor shall deliver the mandatory items and provide the specific deliverables described below within the due date stated in this Statement of Work (SOW). If, for any reason, any deliverable cannot be delivered on time according to the below schedule, the Contractor shall provide a written explanation to the Program Manager (PM)/Contracting Officer s Representative (COR) three days prior to deliverable due date. This written transmittal shall include a firm commitment of when the work shall be completed. This transmittal to the PM/OR shall cite the reasons for the delay and the impact on the overall project. Travel Requirements: N/A Contracting Officer s Representative (COR): No Government personnel, other than the Contracting Officer, have the authority to change or alter these requirements. The COR shall clarify technical points or supply relevant technical information, but no requirements in this scope of work may be altered as a sole result of such verbal clarification. Reports and Deliverables The Contractor shall deliver the mandatory items and provide the specific deliverables described below within the due date stated in this Statement of Work (SOW). If, for any reason, any deliverable cannot be delivered on time according to the below schedule, the Contractor shall provide a written explanation to the Program Manager (PM)/Contracting Officer s Representative (COR) three days prior to deliverable due date. This written transmittal shall include a firm commitment of when the work shall be completed. This transmittal to the PM/OR shall cite the reasons for the delay and the impact on the overall project. The contractor shall provide services from a hosted VLE that includes technical support services for administrators daily from 6AM to 8PM Central Standard Time (CST). Hosted virtual learning systems supports 600 active users. (Users may increase during option years. Please see optional task increases in Appendix A for additional information.) Synchronous system administration training and system use instructor training for up to 3 events as needed per year. The contractor shall provide the following core features with the VLE: A mechanism for delivery of a variety of educational materials: Microsoft Office (.doc, ppt, xls, etc) Adobe Acrobat PDF, HTML, digital images, digital audio/video files, and interactive multimedia assets such as Flash. Hosting environment needs o be web based encrypted site (https) Capacity to accommodate 600 active users in both synchronous and asynchronous online environments at any point in time (Users may increase during option years. Please see optional task increases in Appendix A for additional information.) Access control that is password based 24/7/365 user availability except for scheduled maintenance downtime. Vendor must have a customer notification system in place that notifies RO of any pending software outages, or other issues that may cause an interruption to training Administration: learning tracking, collation of grades and records of progress (grade book). Schedule and automate release and recall of content for specific times and dates Assessment: online surveys and testing options Communication: one to one, one to many, synchronous and asynchronous with sophisticated levels of threaded discussion capabilities by learner, by lecture topic and by date. Course management that includes the following responsibilities, creating and editing courses, setting default course properties to use as a basis for new courses, enrolling and removing users from courses, creating the course catalog, managing course files, backing up, archiving, and restoring courses, announcements, syllabus/schedule, lectures, test/quizzes, discussion boards, student grades, performance dashboard, grade center, messages, virtual asynchronous classroom, survey creation and administration. Managed Hosting Services infrastructure, deployment, and day to day maintenance of the physical hardware and other supporting IT components User access must be role based (Instructor, Student, Teaching Assistant, Administrator, Guest, etc) Timetabling facilities, some explicit means of pacing materials The contractor maintains responsibility for, supporting application of administrators, managing application and infrastructure security, redundant data backup, system application upgrades and maintenance, application tuning, and all other aspects of a complete enterprise management solution. Coordinating interoperability between VLE and TMS Customizable instructional design features, create sequential learning modules that establish paths through content and assessments, create folder structures to organize content, and announcement capabilities Training and support requirements, virtual training workshops for both instructors and administrators, support functions, online administrator, and student user guides. Continual access to some form of an on demand learning center by all product users and administrators. Technical support for administration 24/7/365. Advances system reporting, student activity, course activity, active enrollment by month, system storage usage by month. A resource base, a section for frequently asked questions, or a data base accessed by keyword search Online course delivery includes the following responsibilities, creating and editing course materials, allow multi-media presentations that include file sharing, share desktop, application sharing, annotate documents, raise hand/change status, polling questions, live chat during meetings, record meetings, support multi line audio conference calls for at least 750 people during a single training event. Post files online so that they can be accessed by any user in the system, record training presentations and allow the recordings to be viewed online through VLE, create registrations and monitor attendance for live and recorded training sessions. Support facilities, for instance, online help about the environment User friendly design, offers learners ease of navigation and pop-up site maps. The vendor shall provide the COR with written directions for use of the VLE along with written documentation for developing and managing training within the VLE. Content SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004 (2nd through 4th edition) conformant. Synchronous online collaboration tools that include the capability to allow instructors and participants to hold audio and video conferences to share documents, applications, and presentations. Delivery Schedule: The vendor shall provide the services as described in approval and in this section in the performance standards. The COR will approve or reject all deliverables and documentation. The vendor shall submit all deliverables within time limits specified in the performance standards. The COR will notify vendor of approval, conditional approval, or disapproval. The vendor shall submit all deliverables by a method that provides a receipt for deliverables. The COR will notify the vendor of approval or disapproval of submittal. The vendor shall submit any required corrections within 10 days unless otherwise specified in writing by the COR. Administrator Function Support: Vendor will provide training and support on the skills necessary to successfully set up and manage the hosted system for course delivery and administration in the graphical user interface (GUI). Through readings, recordings, activities, discussions, and tests, the course will prepare client participants to manage users, courses, settings, and system tools. This support will provide specific guidance on how to run system reports and locate helpful administrative support information. The course will provide opportunities to discuss best practices for managing the vendor hosted system. Administrator Function Support will include the following: DISCLAIMER This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.