Notice of Intent to Sole Source

The requirement is to provide an Enterprise Subscription for the - Rise utility manufactured by Articulate Global LLC (DBA Rise) for up to 2500 users for a base year and two (2) option years. The licenses will be funded and used by R/PPR/OLU. As the Public Diplomacy (PD) workforce transitions to using new tools and new approaches to carry out its mission, PD practitioners need access to timely and accurate resources for developing their skills, learning the latest in PD tradecraft, and accessing resources related to their work. Only a well-developed, managed, and maintained asynchronous Learning Management System (LMS) can successfully facilitate this type of organizational learning. Therefore, R/PPR, in conjunction with the rest of the R Family and with FSI/SPAS/PD, is leading an initiative to provide a LMS that serves as a centralized asynchronous training hub for PD Practitioners. In 2019, R/PPR identified the need for a Learning Management System (LMS), as described above. Critical functions for the LMS include: System that can store and serve a variety of material types, including text, audio, video, quizzes and other interactive learning methodologies - including cloud-based storage for those materials; Functionality that enables the creation of interactive, self-directed training materials asynchronously or on-demand for users assigned to those modules; Logic, paths or branching that directs users to build upon previous training for that specific user's needs; Clean, accessible user experience and design, while balancing security and availability on OpenNet; User management backend to assess a student's progress and actions; Reporting functionality on the use and completion of training materials to ensure the tools and materials are meeting user's needs. The Government identified Rise as the only product that satisfies the criteria described under #3 above. Rise has powerful course authoring capabilities, which are unique in the LMS market. Unlike its competitors, it is built around an HTML-based course creator that enables individuals with limited experience in course authoring to create interactive courses; it also supports learning paths, knowledge checks, course assignment, and user analytics. Should potential offerors believe they have a product that can meet all of R/PPR's specifications, respond to this Notice by submitting written capabilities/specifications of the products to the Acquisitions contact at the email address provided. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes; however, all responses received by the deadline located in this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government whether a competitive procurement is feasible may be based upon responses to this notice and is solely at the discretion of the Government. If no affirmative responses are received by the deadline to determine whether a qualified source is more advantageous to the Government, an award will be negotiated with Articulate Global Inc (DBA Rise). The resulting purchase order is to be processed using Simplified Acquisition Procedures (FAR 13) in conjunction with FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items.