Plain Language Assessment Software

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The Office of Communication Science (OCS), Office of the Associate Director for Communication (OADC), intends to award a sole source firm fixed price purchase order to Visible Thread, LLC, Baltimore, MD. CDC wishes to purchase Visible Thread, LLC plain language assessment software so that CDC can use the software to bring the agency's public-facing web pages, documents, and other communication products into compliance with the requirements of the Plain Writing Act of 2010. Visible Thread, LLC has Security/deployment options through the Visible Thread Writer which is already deployed on-premises at the CDC. Other similar software offerings on the market are available only in cloud versions therefore they do not meet governmental safety requirements . Part of the package Visible Thread is offering CDC includes access to Visible Thread Insights. This allows leadership/administrators access to view all content uploaded by users and to monitor the quality of writing across the entire organization. The CDC has a need for a software/license product that will assess web pages so that we can identify existing cdc.gov web pages that may not adhere to plain language principles and then revise the pages so that they do. Visible Thread is the only vendor that can provide this requirement for CDC. This contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 13.106-l(b) (SAP) and 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(l). Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit capabilities. This product must provide the following needs: It will assess content on a web page, in a Microsoft Word document, in a PDF file, or in a snippet of text; It will flag all of the following features for violation of plain language principles: passive voice, hidden verbs, adverbs, long sentences, long words/jargon, and grammar issues; It will allow CDC to create a list of words we do not want the software to flag; It will allow CDC to create a list of watch words, i.e., words we want to avoid using. For example, we want to avoid using the term "target audience" and instead say "audience of focus," because the word "target" has connotations of people being targeted for race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.; It will calculate readability scores than assess plain language features; It will not look for passive voice, hidden verbs, adverbs, and other features that should be avoided when writing for plain language; It will assess web pages so that CDC can identify existing cdc.gov web pages that may not adhere to plain language principles and then revise the pages so that they do. PoP: 5/2/22 – 5/1/24 Anticipated award date: subject to change 5/2/22 Estimated $ 92,000 Type acquisition: FFP ( small business) NAIC code: 511210 Software Publisher Reference number: 2022-63757 This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, all quotations/responses received within seven (7) days of the issuance of this notice will be considered by the government. A determination by the government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Any quotation/response should be emailed to the contract specialist, Paula Taylor at [email protected] by April 28, 2022 @ 3:00 pm, EST.