SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Request for Information - Virtual Learning Lowest Price Technically acceptable proposal
- Notice Date
- 1/23/2013
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 541513
— Computer Facilities Management Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Veterans Affairs;VISN 23, Purchase and Contract Section;4101 Woolworth Avenue, Bldg C;Omaha NE 68105
- ZIP Code
- 68105
- Solicitation Number
- VA26313Q0434
- Response Due
- 2/6/2012
- Archive Date
- 4/6/2012
- Point of Contact
- Sharon A Spohn
- E-Mail Address
-
5-4510<br
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Executive Summary Virtual learning initiatives have become increasingly prevalent in the last few years, as the Veterans Administration (VA) has looked for innovative ways to utilize the benefits of technology and increase the effectiveness of education. Web-based classrooms offer a paradigm shift in the field of learning that provides high speed access to knowledge and information where training can occur anywhere resulting in substantial travel and time cost savings. Simply put, virtual learning brings learning to people. More importantly, it is critical that the VA 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. Web-based classrooms which are virtual, interactive learning environments offer online training that can be accessed anytime, anywhere. They are typically hosted websites designed to manage or administer various aspects of learning: delivery of learning materials, learner tracking, assessment and evaluation functions and support student and faculty communication and collaboration. Virtual Collaborative environments enhance and extend the current capabilities of existing Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) environments. Enhancements include the ability to conduct distributed real-time learning, support small group learning activities in a virtual environment, and record and make available recordings classroom presentations for viewing at a later time. The Midwest Mountain Veterans Engineering Resource Center (MWM VERC) has developed web-based classrooms for a number of VA programs and hosted them in a Blackboard Learn environment. The VLE system is hosted on Blackboard servers using the Blackboard Learn and Collaborate software. The MWM VERC currently has a 1000 user license. Several of our classes are based on a methodology called "Flipping the Classroom" where our presentations are split into 1 to 10 minute videos which the students review prior to signing into a virtual collaborative learning session. The students use the collaborative session to interactively work on exercises. The VERC uses Microsoft Powerpoint and Adobe Captivate on PC's and other Apps on IPads to develop the videos. Although our current VLE is Blackboard based the MWM VERC is interested in determining what additional capabilities and approaches may be available for Web-Based learning environments. Technology is advancing at a furious rate and the VA/VERC would like to leverage all new technology available for a Web Based learning environment. However, the VERC will continue to develop and deploy training media using "Flip the Classroom" methodologies. The goal of the VERC is to provide a 100% virtual training environment that allows real time interaction between the student and instructor. This environment should have the look and feel of a face-to-face classroom setting. Core Requirements The VERC currently has a set of core capabilities and would like to determine what VLE systems meet these capabilities and perhaps provide new technologies and methodologies. The core capabilities of our current system are; Security Requirements 1.Access control that is UserID / password based, 2.Hosting environment needs to be a web base encrypted site (HTTPS), 3.User access must be role based (Instructor, Student, Teaching Assistant, Administrator, Guest, etc.), Hosting Requirements 4.Capacity to accommodate up to 1,000 users at any point in time, 5.Managed Hosting Services - Infrastructure, deployment, and day-to-day maintenance of the physical hardware and other supporting IT components, 6.Include all costs related to hardware, licenses and software necessary for an enterprise solution, 7.24 x 7 user availability except for scheduled maintenance downtime. 8.Provider maintains responsibility for: 8.1.supporting application administrators 8.2.managing application and infrastructure security 8.3.redundant data backup 8.4.system application upgrades and maintenance 8.5.application tuning 8.6.all other aspects of a complete enterprise management solution Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)/Learning Management System (LMS) Requirements 9.Web-based virtual classroom with interactive learning environment that offers online training that can be accessed anytime, anywhere, 10.A mechanism for delivery of materials: Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat PDF, HTML, digital images, digital audio files, digital video files and multimedia such as Flash, Shockwave or Dream Weaver Course builder, 11.The ability to create learning spaces that organize learning related materials in a manner that is easily and readily accessible by the learner 12.Provide the administrative and support team with a set of tools that allow creation of learning space templates that give instructors a variety of ways to organize materials consistent with the way courses are organized 13.Provide instructors with a rich, intuitive interface that facilitates creation and organization of content within learning spaces 14.One-to-one, one-to-many, Communication synchronous and asynchronous, by learner, by lecture topic and by date. The strength of the communication feature is one of the most critical factors. Communication functions include: 14.1.Discussion Boards 14.2.Blogs 14.3.Wikis 14.4.Enhanced e-mail support (Instructors, fellow classmates, etc.) 15.Grade book 15.1.LMS Attendance 15.2.Integration of virtual collaboration session attendance into grade book 15.3.Support instructor feedback on course activities 15.4.Integration of class components (discussion forums, assignments, exercises, tests, quizzes, etc.) into grade book 15.5.Provide rubric support VLE/Collaborate Requirements 16.Ability to create interactive exercises that allow instructors to see student mastery of key tools and concepts (e.g., 5S exercise, fishbone, etc.) 16.1.Interactive, persistent whiteboards that encourage group interaction with enhanced annotation tools and expandable clipart libraries that allow placing and rearranging individual objects on the whiteboard. 16.2.Ability to save and reuse whiteboards with all objects maintaining their individual object nature. 16.3.Ability to print and create PDFs of whiteboards. 17.Two-way audio, multi-point video, interactive whiteboard, enhanced annotation tools including expandable clipart libraries, application and desktop sharing, web tours and rich media, 18.Break out rooms with full VOIP audio support, 19.Session recording that includes video recording of application sharing, 20.Ability to organize and script session content ahead of time, automating routine tasks so that instructor can focus on facilitating real time interaction, 21.Publish function for creating stand alone recordings and/or industry standard video files from session recordings to meet the needs of on-demand mobile learners, Training and Support Requirements 22.Virtual training workshops for both instructors and administrators,Support functions: 22.1.Online Administrator and Student User Guides 22.2.Continual access to some form of an 'on demand learning center' by all product users and Administrators 22.3.Technical support for administrator, 7x24x365 23.Advanced system reporting: 23.1.Student Activity 23.2.Course Activity 23.3.Active enrollment by month 23.4.System Storage usage by month Evaluation will be made based on the lowest-price technically acceptable proposal. The core requirements are the elements for a technically acceptable proposal. All evaluation factors except price, are in effect evaluated based on a "Go, No Go" basis. Your proposal either meets the minimum requirements or fails to meet.
- Web Link
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FBO.gov Permalink
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- Record
- SN02971109-W 20130125/130123234913-8bcd215b89bcb36c39d966998b9ea521 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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