NOTICE: THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE IS HEREBY CANCELLED EFFECTIVE 01/30/2009 NOTICE: THE CLOSING DATE FOR THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE IS HEREBY AMENDED TO FEBRUARY 2, 2009. This sources sought notice is issued for information and planning purposes only. The Government is soliciting information to determine the availability of all socioeconomic small business groups capable of performing the requirement indicated below. No final commitment has been made to procure the stated requirement; therefore, this sources sought notice should not be construed as a commitment or authorization to incur costs in anticipation of such procurement. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code applicable to this requirement is 611430, size standard is $7.0M Professional and Management Development Training. The requirement is for services to support the Manufacturing Extension Partnership University (MEPU) including, but not limited to Program of Study Management and University Operation Services functions. This is a follow-on effort to contract SB1341-03-80743. The proposed acquisition strategy for this requirement is for a firm fixed-price contract with a one year base period and four one-year options. The MEP University (MEPU) is the academic function of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) system. MEPU is a virtual university that provides training and professional development for the MEP center staff and their clients. These training offerings enable the MEP Centers across the United States to impart relevant technical and strategic knowledge and high quality services to smaller manufacturing companies in their local region (typically those with less than 500 employees). MEPU presently offers three major programs of study: Transformation Management and Growth Services, Lean Manufacturing, and Supply Chain. The contractor’s responsibilities will include, but not be limited to, the following: PROGRAM OF STUDY MANAGEMENT: Providing approximately 100 classroom style courses annually; Maintaining and updating existing courses and expanding course offerings; Developing new methods of course delivery for distance learning; Curriculum planning and providing development assistance to instructors; Using only MEPU-approved instructors; Ensuring all course are learner-centered; Measuring the effectiveness of each course in meeting MEP program objectives UNIVERSITY OPERATION SERVICES: All operations of MEPU; Course management; Scheduling and on-line registration; Customer support services; Providing and maintaining an on-line learning management system (LMS) for registration and tracking of student attendance and records progress towards qualification to deliver various services and products. The LMS allows MEPU to offer distance learning/on-line courses; Desktop publishing logistics; Fee collection, accounting and reporting revenue and expenses from course offerings; Operating an on-line store to provide materials, instructional aids, student/participant guides, and kit products in support instructors, trainers, the courses, and students; Processing all store purchases and payment of course registration fees via on-line secure credit card transactions Interested parties are requested to provide information on their ability to satisfy all requirements outlined above. At a minimum, responses should include company name and address, size of business, point of contact (including telephone number, facsimile number and e-mail address), and a list of contracts within the past five (5) years under which the interested party has performed the same or similar work. All responses shall be written; telephone responses will not be considered. Interested parties capable of performing this requirement should send email to Randy Schroyer at
[email protected] All information provided will become property of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and will not be returned. Contractors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR), accessed via the Internet at http://www.ccr.gov. Contracting Office Address: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1640