R--Web-Based Virtual Classroom with Interactive Learning Environment

Web-Based Virtual Classroom with Interactive Learning Environment SF 30 Amendment Continuation Sheet: C. Page 41, Paragraph E.2, FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation - Additional evaluation criteria is added. Determination of whether a proposed system is technically acceptable at a core requirement or sub-requirements level can be demonstrated in a number of ways: access to a sandbox class (sample on-line class) in a test system for viewing compliance with the requirement, independent evaluation or narrative vendor description, for example. However, the technical review committee will place heaviest reliance on the evidentiary material that can be independently verified by the committee, such as a sandbox review. The proposals may be submitted in either by mail or email and in either Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format. The technical and cost proposals should be in separate documents. The technical proposal should not exceed 30 pages and the pricing proposal should not exceed 3 pages. The pricing proposal should provide detail of all costs associated with the system as proposed in the RFP. The proposals will be evaluated based on lowest price technically acceptable proposals. All evaluation factors (core requirements) except price, are in effect, evaluated on a "Go, No Go" basis. Your proposal will either meet ALL core requirements or fail. Technical and past performance, when combined, are equal to price. D. Instead of using the SF1449, block 20, to include prices, use the attached bid schedule defined as Attachment 1. E. All questions and answers to this solicitation so far are summarized and are included as Attachment 2. F. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged. ? Attachment 1 Pricing Schedule Line Item Description Quantity Unit Unit Price Amount 0001 Base 4/1/2013 thru 3/31/2014 1 Year 0002 Option 1 4/1/2014 thru 3/31/2015 1 Year 0003 Option 2 4/1/2015 thru 3/31/2016 1 Year 0004 Option 3 4/1/2016 thru 3/31/2017 1 Year Totals ? Attachment 2 Questions: 1) Current usage levels for the platform in place at VA Nebraska are 1,000 users. Our experience is that usage typically grows over time. 2) The solicitation indicates the following requirement, "Capacity to accommodate up to 1,000 users at any point in time." Does this statement meant that: a) the system must be able to handle 1,000 concurrent users - i.e. 100 users online simultaneously; b) the system will have over the course of year; or c) both of these requirements? ANSWER: The system needs to handle up to 1000 actively enrolled users and the system must accommodate up to 1000 concurrent (logged in) users. Your proposal should address 1,000 concurrent users. There is talk of the possibility of growth. If you wish, you may submit an additional alternate proposal that discusses additional users, which may be submitted in MS Word or Adobe PDF document format. It will not be used in the RFP evaluation. 3) We have found that customers want to expand to other modules such as the Community Engagement module or the Content Management module. Is there a specific format we should use for this? ANSWER: Alternate proposals may be submitted in MS Word or Adobe PDF document format but will not be used in the RFP evaluation. Alternate proposals must be a separate document from the main proposal. 4) We will plan to submit our response as a digital/email copy. Is Word format acceptable? Is PDF format acceptable? What time would you like responses submitted by? ANSWER: Either Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format is acceptable, although MS Word is the preferred document format. Proposal submission may be either hardcopy or softcopy (digital/email) although softcopy is preferred. 5) We understand the current due date is January 31st. We would like to request a small extension - ideally to February 5th, so that we have adequate time to develop a full response. Will you be able to extend the due date and if yes, can you please let us know what date/time? ANSWER: Amendment A00001 extends the proposal date until Feb 6, 2013 at 2 PM CST (Central Standard Time). 6) Who is the current hosting provider of the Blackboard based VLE currently in use by the MWM VERC? ANSWER: Blackboard Corporation currently hosts the VA/VERC VLE education system. 7) Is there a requirement to migrate existing VLE artifacts and data to the new VLE- classroom material, interactive training, and/or user information to include previous student activity? If so, can you provide general requirements of the migration needs. ANSWER: The current VLE education system (currently hosted by Blackboard) has Classroom curriculum for 32 classes. These classes have study videos, powerpoints, quizzes, exercises, discussion forums, blogs, journals, Wikis, document libraries, grade books, and grading rubrics. Several of the classes have links to upcoming collaborate sessions for virtual training and recordings of past sessions. These classes and all associated content will need to be migrated to the VLE education system if it is not the incumbent. The migration process must be such that the VHA does not have to rewrite, reformat or manually enter information that is in the current VLE system. A number of sessions of those classes will be in-progress and must be migrated in a manner that does not interrupt the education process. 8) Will this virtual learning environment be subject to Section 508 Compliance requirements? ANSWER: Yes - This VLE education system must be Section 508 Compliant. 9) For the base year effort, when within that time period would you expect the solution to be deployed? We are trying to determine how much time we will have to modify our product to meet the VA requirements before it is deployed. ANSWER: The current VLE system contract terminates March 31st 2013. We will have active classes during this time period. A new VLE system, meeting all core requirements, including training and support would need to be available at date of submission. 10) The original posting date was 1/23/2013 with a response date of 1/24/2013. This looks to be an error. If so, can you provide the actual date you're needing responses by? ANSWER: The solicitation states issued 1/18/2013 with a response date of 1/31/2013 at 2:00 pm. It has been extended by Amendment A00001, copy attached. 11) Is this a Request for Information (RFI) or Request for proposal (RFP) and whether or not there are any desired or required elements for the response? For example, page limits, format, web addresses for demonstration, etc. ANSWER: It is a Request for Proposal (RFP) and the requirements are defined in the solicitation VA263-13-Q-0434. If you have not been able to download a copy from FedBizOps, please contact the Contracting Officer for an emailed copy. Further description is provided in Amendment A00001. 12) Let us know how many total FTE's (Key Personnel) are required under this requirement? Do you need resumes? ANSWER: Your key personnel are as many as you need to meet the core requirements. Prove that you can perform ALL of the core requirements. The proposal is lowest price technically acceptable. Amendment A00001 changes the phrase, "technical and past performance, when compared with price, are of equal importance." 13) What are the things, do we need to submit with the Quotes? ANSWER: Determination of whether a proposed system is technically acceptable at a core requirement or sub-requirements level can be demonstrated in a number of ways: access to a sandbox class in a test system for viewing compliance with the requirement, independent evaluations or narrative vendor description, for example. However, the technical review committee will place heaviest reliance on the evidentiary material that can be independently verified by the committee, such as a sandbox review. Additional evaluation criteria added in Amendment A00001. 14) What would be the place of performance? ANSWER: Since the requirement is web-based virtual classroom training with interactive learning environment, your staff will be at your location of business. 15) Is this solicitation to replace a current system or to add new capabilities to an existing LMS deployment. ANSWER: The existing contract expires March 31, 2013. This contract will replace/allow on line classes to continue.