Automated Essay Scoring for USCIS Field Operations Directorate

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing this Sources Sought, Request for Information (SS-RFI) for planning purposes in support of USCIS market research on Automated Essay Scoring (AES) services. USCIS is seeking to gather information on respondents' ability to meet the requirements outlined in the draft Statement of Work (SOW) and the specific questions identified on page 1. The Field Operations Directorate (FOD) within USCIS is seeking a contract to AES services to assist with the hiring goals for the USCIS FOD offices. USCIS requires a consistent, non-subjective, logic-based approach to evaluate and automatically score an applicant’s essay. USCIS seeks an AES capability for essay writing skills of applicants applying for employment within FOD and other organizations. The method of assessment must be judged on validity, fairness, and reliability. USCIS requires AES written essay categories to assess applicants for specific positions. This notice is issued solely for the purpose of conducting market research in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 and does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, Request for Proposal, or Request for Quotations. No solicitation is being issued at this time and the Government makes no assertion that a solicitation will be issued. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract, nor do they affect a potential offeror's ability to respond to any future synopsis/solicitation which may or may not follow or restrict the U.S. Government's eventual acquisition approach. Additionally, the U.S. Government is not obligated to, and will not provide reimbursement for any information that may be submitted in response to this notice. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding.