This Sources Sought Notice is not a Request for Quote and does not constitute a commitment by the Government. The Government is currently conducting market research in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 to identify potential sources to fulfill the requirement and gather information on current capabilities of businesses within the market. All information submitted in response to this Sources Sought Notice is voluntary and the Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the Government. Proprietary information submitted should be marked appropriately. All submitted information shall remain with the U.S. Government and will not be returned. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Eastern Acquisition Division (EAD), Norfolk, VA on behalf of the National Ocean Service (NOS), Office for Coastal Management (OCM) is conducting market research to determine a potential commercial item and source to furnish the below Draft Technical Specifications. The anticipated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 511210, Software Publishers. The size standard for this NAICS is $41.5M. Background : OCM requires an online meeting, event, and training capability to meet its need to convene, collaborate, and train with internal and external partners and audiences in geographically dispersed locations. OCM must regularly deliver technically reliable, high-quality online training opportunities, workshops, meetings, and conference events to coastal managers across the country. OCM requires a hosted, cloud-based application that provides real-time access for participants across devices (e.g., desktop computers, tablets, phones) and operating systems (Mac, IOS, Android, Windows), as well as the ability to share media, integrate audio, set-up multiple virtual meeting and breakout rooms, and designate multiple hosts and presenters within a single meeting. The online training requirements may also include event management functionality (event promotion and registration), analytics on management of events and engagement of participants, and online course creation and management. Draft Technical Specifications Licenses for 12 hosts for live meetings; Each meeting room/virtual classroom accommodates at least 200 participants ; Ability to split primary classroom into up to 20 breakout rooms , with either predetermined groupings or random/automatic splits; Collaborative whiteboards ; Ability to launch collaborative topical chat functionality in addition to main chat area; Q&A moderated chat functionality; Participant polling functionality; Ability to share and play videos with live participants; Ability to share PDFs with participants; User controls to include hand raising and others such as current status (stepped away), feedback (emoticons, thumb up, applause); Full functionality for event participants with no app or download required ; Accessible by users on desktops, laptops, tablets and phones, Android or Apple; Accessibility functions for live events, chats, or shared documents; Session closed captioning that works the Relay Conference Captioning service; Seamlessly supports VOIP, conference lines, and phone call-in participants; Ability to record and download live events into edited learning assets for other uses (e.g., hide some of the live functionality, make participants anonymous, format conversions, closed captioning); Ability to create customized classroom templates ; Virtual backstage for multiple hosts , presenters to collaborate discreetly and add/edit the onstage experience for participants on the fly; Integration with LMS for blended learning offerings; Event Management to include 12 named event manager licenses ; Capabilities for event registration, email promotion, confirmation, and reminders ; Participant tracking and Reporting functionality; A secure, stable, and reliable platform solution ; On-demand technical support for administrators to address performance and connectivity issues ; Administrator-support interface, such as in-meeting analytics, real-time user/server performance metrics, and/or troubleshooting tools ; and All functionality must provide security, communication, and policy controls, and Section 508 accessibility for participants. Standard brochures will not be considered a sufficient response to this notice. Submitted Capability Statements shall include the following: 1. Company name and address 2. DUNS number 3. Type of business (e.g. large, small, 8(a), veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, woman owned small business, and/or economically disadvantaged woman owned small business) as validated in the System for Award Management (SAM) including the business size standard applicable to the NAICS code referenced in this Sources Sought Notice. 4. Company point of contact – name, phone number, and email address 5. Strategically sourced vehicle that could satisfy this requirement (e.g. GSA, NASA SEWP, etc.) 6. Demonstrate capability of providing a commercial product that meets the Draft Technical Specifications 7. Capability of conducting a demonstration of the product referenced in the Capability Statements after execution of a NOAA Vendor Demonstration Agreement 8. Availability for the product demonstration after May 4, 2021. Provide point of contact – name, phone number, and email address Respondents are encouraged to provide any feedback, comments, and questions regarding the Draft Technical Specifications. Responses to this Sources Sought Notice shall not exceed eight (8) pages, including graphics, and shall be typed in Times New Roman 12 pt. font. Responses shall be submitted to Hillary Stansfield at
[email protected] no later than that 5:00 PM ET on May 7, 2021 . QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Ability to launch collaborative topical chat functionality in addition to main chat area. Question: Does this mean that hosts can selectively chat with one another without all participants viewing the chat conversation? ANSWER: This is about being able to create and share separate chat pods for engaging participants on specific topics that all participants can view and contribute to, and hosts have ability to save post-meeting. Hosts and/or participants should also be able to chat with one another separately and privately. Session closed captioning that works with Relay Conference Capturing service. Question: Relay Conference Captioning service is a real time closed captioning service. Is the requirement that the contractor enable the captioning to be active for live sessions and captured for recorded sessions? Is the government going to manage the scheduling or is the intent for the contractor to do so? ANSWER: The contractor product should be able to connect with this real time captioning service. The government will manage scheduling for the service. Administrator-support interface, such as in-meeting analytics, real-time user/server performance metrics, and/or troubleshooting tools. Question: Can the government clarify “server performance metrics”? Can the government clarify “troubleshooting tools”? ANSWER: Performance metrics refers to the ability to measure engagement of participants during a live session. Troubleshooting tools includes resources provided by the platform that assist administrators, facilitators, and trainers in troubleshooting issues the participants my experience (e.g., downloading the device-appropriate software or how to properly connect a microphone to the system). Capabilities for event registration, email promotion, confirmation, and reminders. Question: Can the government clarify the expected result of “email promotion”? ANSWER: Contractors’ product can send email notifications, reminders, and follow-up correspondence to registrants. Integration with LMS for blended learning offerings. Question: What Learning Management System (LMS) is being used? ANSWER: OCM is currently using Moodle LMS. Question: Is WebEx being used, or does the contractor need to furnish such capabilities? ANSWER: No, Webex is not being used. OCM currently uses Adobe Connect Virtual Classroom. The Government is seeking information on other live communication, engagement, and training capabilities via this RFI.