Social Security Administration, Deputy Commissioner for Finance, Assessment and Management, Office of Acquisition and Grants, 1710 Gwynn Oak Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21207-5279

U -- WEB-BASED TRAINING FOR SSA EMPLOYEES SOL Reference-Number-0501-00-0007 DUE 051800 POC Andrew Klimas, Contract Specialist, Phone 410-965-9493, Fax 410-966-5982, Email andrew.klimas@ssa.gov -- Andrew Klimas, Contract Specialist, Phone 410-965-9493, Fax 410-966-5982, Email WEB: Visit this URL for the latest information about this, http://www.eps.gov/cgi-bin/WebObjects/EPS?ACode=P&ProjID=Reference-Num ber-0501-00-0007&LocID=2422. E-MAIL: Andrew Klimas, andrew.klimas@ssa.gov. The Social Security Administration (SSA) intends to issue a sole source purchase order under Simplified Acquisition procedures to Skillsoft Corporation, 4 Whitehall Court, Silver Spring, Maryland 20901, to lease web-based interactive training courses for one year. SSA believes that Skillsoft is the only vendor able to provide these courses for the following reasons. SSA_s Office of Training has continually searched for web-based programs to ensure that they will run on the IWS/LAN Windows NT operating system, be easily accessed by the user and meet our training objectives, which include 47 competencies that have been identified for SSA employees. The following are SSA_s requirements for web based training: 1. Assessments. Pre-tests should be available that help users target their learning needs. Pre-tests should avoid wasting student time by enabling the user to skip information the user already knows. Post-tests should be available to determine that users have learned the desired skills. Questions should be randomized to ensure unique assessment experiences. 2. Objectives. Course objectives should be clearly presented. Course objectives tell users what they will learn in the course and help set user expectations. 3. Instructional Design. Courses should be designed so users can easily absorb the information. They should include course objectives, a glossary of terms, a high-level of interactivity, and feedback for the student. Courses should include printable documents that help users incorporate new knowledge into the workplace. 4. Just in Time Support. Users should be able to search for content based on key words. 5. Navigation. Clear labels and hyperlinks should be utilized so users can easily navigate around or out of content without being forced to follow a particular structure. 6. Use of Media. The program should effectively employ high-resolution graphics and photographic images with optional audio to provide effective behavior modeling without straining network and workstation resources. There should be no video, and plug-ins should not be required. 7. Record Keeping. Data on student progress should be recorded. This data should include course access and completion as well as pre and post course assessment results. 8. Browser Requirements. Courses should support the majority of browsers in use today. Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 and Netscape 3.04 and above should be supported. Additionally, the vendor must be able to provide training that supports the objectives of each of SSA's 47 leadership and core curriculum competencies. The vendor must also be able to provide technical support to SSA throughout the term of the agreement and provide program implementation support or assist in the implementation planning, execution and on-going monitoring of program usage. SSA has found only one vendor, Skillsoft that meets our stated requirements and provides high quality, highly interactive training on all of the 47 competencies.The Skillsoft web-based training has been evaluated and tested for compatibility and functionality on SSA_s IWS/LAN [Windows NT] platform and it works smoothly. It is primarily text-based software that does not require plug-ins, nor sound cards. It can be installed on SSA_s training web server and be made available immediately to SSA employees via the SSA Intranet. There is no additional hardware or software needed to deploy this training. This is an announcement of SSA_s intent to issue an order to Skillsoft for a one year lease of web based training; SSA will not issue a solicitation. SSA will not respond to requests for solicitation copies and will not pay for information received in response to this announcement. Responses must provide sufficient information for SSA to determine that a firm other than Skillsoft can provide the web-based training as described above. If SSA does not receive an acceptable response to this announcement within 5 days of its publication, it will issue a purchase order to Skillsoft for the training. Respondents should refer to Web-Based Training. Posted 05/08/00 (D-SN452522). (0129)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0087 20000510\U-0001.SOL)