SOURCES SOUGHT
D -- VIRTUAL CAPABILITIES FOR THE ARMY CAREER AND ALUMNI PROGRAM (ACAP)
- Notice Date
- 1/13/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- Fort Knox Contracting Center, Directorate of Contracting, Building 1109B, Fort Knox, KY 40121-5000
- ZIP Code
- 40121-5000
- Solicitation Number
- W9124D-11-X-XXXX
- Response Due
- 1/21/2011
- Archive Date
- 3/22/2011
- Point of Contact
- monica.clemons, 502-624-1004
- E-Mail Address
-
Fort Knox Contracting Center
(monica.clemons@us.army.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The Mission and Installation Contracting Command - Fort Knox is conducting market research to add virtual capabilities to the Army Career and Alumni Program. The market research is to determine the capabilities of all businesses (large and small) interested in the opportunity described below. THIS SOURCE SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL AND THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT COMMITTED TO AWARD A CONTRACT PURSUANT TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. It is a marketing research tool being used to determine procurement strategy. Appropriate procurement strategy will be determined after consideration of industry response to this sources sought announcement. The Government is not obligated to, and will not pay for any information received from potential sources as a result of this notice. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT Dynamic information, communication and learning tools, such as World Wide Web, electronic mail networks, social media, and distance learning networks provide the ability to modernize delivery of ACAP services as well as mitigate access concerns and improve usage rates and operational reach. The creative marriage between Internet tools and other methods such as face-to-face workshops, discussion forums, and geographically distributed video provide the linkage for improved information dissemination and feedback systems. Several studies related to online learning environments suggest that retention rates and depth of knowledge are better for online students versus traditional face to face methods. CONCEPT: Through the use of an Industry Vendor, transition ACAP services from an option based program of brick and mortar ACAP centers to a choice based program through the use of virtual tools IOT improve the "Where of ACAP" through "Virtually-There" Solutions. The virtual learning and information sharing in an asynchronous environment will mitigate time and distance constraints, resource constraints and improve usage. The virtual tools are intended to be mutually supportive of existing capabilities. The tools will replicate face-to-face services; provide an interactive media, and non-interactive information or briefings. The industry vendor will provide an enterprise solution to bring the virtual capabilities. Virtual Capability 1: Virtual Learning Management System CAPABILITY: Provide a web-based e-learning platform utilizing Microsoft office share point platform. Provide a net-based application that is designed to be scalable, reliable, and secure. The ability to import/create rapid E-learning tools based on changes in benefits or assistance information. Users are able to download off the shelf packages. BENEFITS Integrated Learning and Performance Management - provides a closed-loop process to fill employee performance and development gaps with targeted learning activities. Comprehensive Capabilities- delivers the tools required for developing organizational learning strategies. Robust Support- manages all learning activities from defining and developing courses and content to deploying and tracking learning. Provides a foundation and framework for Life Cycle transition training. PURPOSE: Provide the management tools to deploy and track training and administer surveys Virtual Capability 2: Virtual Classroom. CAPABILITY: Replicate the experience of attending DOL/TAP workshops, VA Benefits, or transition services on-site were participants can attend from the comfort of their office, home or remote locations of choice. The virtual classroom should have live video streaming, animated slide presentations (audio slide presentation content), Q&A sessions where attendees can ask a question via textbox for later response, event registration to collect government required information about attendees, downloadable course content for later viewing or reference, polling and post event surveys. PURPOSE: Provide choices from the menu BENEFITS Distant delivery of lecture or course material (anywhere there is internet); addresses deployment cycle support and remote community concerns. Flexibility- can be accessed anytime; not a one shot per week schedule Convenient - available when and where the customer needs it - students can learn from their homes, at work, on lunch breaks, or while deployed. Allows attendees to interact with each other (facilitates networking) Allows for checks on learning through quizzes - can produce certificates Allows communication with the instructor Cost savings to the customer and the Army. Savings in fuel costs, time required to travel. Virtual Capability 3: Social Network. CAPABILITY: A business-oriented social networking site (similar to LinkedIn) which[update] allows users to create a personal profile, add other users as friends, exchange messages, receive automatic notifications about job or assistance information, Allow users to join common interest user groups which are organized by region, workplace, school, or college, or other characteristics. The social network is intended to be used to network, with the possible outcome of finding a new job, or other business opportunities through recommendation by members in one's contact network. Employers can list jobs and search for potential candidates. Job seekers can review the profile of hiring managers and discover which of their existing contacts can introduce them. Users can post their own photos and view photos of others to aid in identification. Users can follow different companies and can get notification about the new joining companies and offers available. Users can save (i.e. bookmark) jobs which they would like to apply for. Users can upload resumes, build a digital profile, view relevant information on key industries, connect with jobs anywhere in the country, access while deployed or throughout their careers. PURPOSE: Provide a business focused social network where Soldiers can discuss issues, find employment and make professional contacts. Alumni can serve as key contacts and mentors to job seekers. Network will include Army organization centric (101st, 82nd, 1st CAV, Special Forces), branch affiliation, rank, and veterans service organizations. BENEFITS Provides a mechanism to foster networking toward employment Provides a platform for an alumni network to assist transitioning service members Provides a tool to monitor ACAP customer "live" feedback Provides a "live" tool for recommendations for improvement from customers Provides a more personal and interactive job search Provides a "one-stop" place for employers to search for veterans and veterans to search for employers Links Soldiers to companies who are already utilizing this forum for HR needs; the DOL reports more than 80% of companies are using social media forums as a primary tool to find employees. Virtual Capability 4: 24/7 Call/Chat Center. Provide a customer focus call center in direct link to our web services to assist Soldiers with locating transition services on the website, referring Soldiers to appropriate agencies, and resolving customer issues. Utilize prediction, analytics and operations to reduce calls and provides customized chat and self service. Provide top issues of specific visitors on the website and presents a resolution specific to the visitor's problem. The call center, aside from handling live calls, can also process emails, web-based queries, instant messaging, and other means of communication. PURPOSE: Resolve veteran's transition related issues or refer to an appropriate agency. Provide information via phone or email to customers. BENEFITS Enhance customer relation Improve efficiency Minimize expenses Capture/display statistics Improved communication handling Virtual Capability 5: Teleconference/Voice over internet protocol (VOIP). This capability is to provide instant messaging, file transfer, and video conferencing capabilities. This should replicate other services and information for mobile users with required smart phone applications. Collect data on customers to improve marketing efforts. Instant message capability to drive customers to target events. PURPOSE: Provide a mechanism for direct marketing and contact to the customer. Provide video/teleconferencing capability. BENEFITS Direct marketing capability A direct link to customer It is "familiar" to our customer base Alternate source to relay information - redundancy system For planning purposes, the Government requests input on the following items: 1.Estimated start up costs for this type of requirement 2.Estimated yearly maintenance costs 3.Additional components or tasks to improve this requirement All responses must include, at a minimum, the following information: 1.Business information a.Company name and address b.DUNS number c.Socio-economic classification of company (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, etc.) d.Size (gross revenue, number of employees) e.Company point of contact - name, phone, email 2.Vendor's Capabilities - description of vendor's capabilities to provide a solution to add virtual capabilities to the Army Career and Alumni Program. Responses to this announcement are due at 10:00 AM, Eastern Time, on Friday 21 January 2011 and shall be sent electronically to Monica Clemons at monica.clemons@us.army.mil
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/edd0f6ede4348b788bc6bdd380cbc845)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Fort Knox Contracting Center Directorate of Contracting, Building 1109B Fort Knox KY
- Zip Code: 40121-5000
- Zip Code: 40121-5000
- Record
- SN02360003-W 20110115/110113234637-edd0f6ede4348b788bc6bdd380cbc845 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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