RFI LIS - 10 Jul 2023.docx

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Agency/Office: Defense Human Resources Activity (DHRA) Enterprise Acquisition Division for Defense Support Services Center, Defense Language and National Security Education Office

Type of Notice: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Title: Language Instruction Services

RFI Response Time and Date: 27 July 2023 at 1700 EDT

1.0 DISCLAIMER

1.1 THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) OR A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS (RFQ); IT IS STRICTLY A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) TO INVITE INDUSTRY AND OTHER POTENTIAL VENDORS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ACADEMIA, SMALL BUSINESSES, LARGE BUSINESSES, AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE A WHITE PAPER IN RESPONSE TO THE SUBJECT TOPIC.

1.2 THIS IS A RFI ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for market research information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, DSSC/DLNSEO is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Responders are advised the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued.

2.1 BACKGROUND

2.1 DLNSEO leads the nation in recruiting, training, sustaining, and enhancing language and culture capabilities to ensure national security and defense readiness. DLNSEO manages several language training initiatives, one of which is the Language Training Center (LTC) Program. The LTC Program was established in 2011 under Section 529 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2010 to accelerate the development of foundational or higher-level expertise in strategic languages and regional studies for DoD personnel by leveraging U.S. institutions of higher education (IHEs) to meet the existing and demonstrated training needs of DoD units, offices or agencies.

2.3 Over the past five years, the LTC program has provided grants to higher education institutions that delivered over 1,400 language, regional studies, and culture courses to more than 10,000 Department of Defense employees, including Active Duty military, National Guard, Reserve, and civilian personnel. Over 2,500 DoD personnel completed intensive language training, consisting of 120 or more hours of instruction resulting in increased language proficiency. Additionally, the number of languages taught has increased, demonstrating the capacity of the LTCs to utilize local resources in meeting DoD training needs. Each of the LTCs provide training to DoD personnel that yields measurable language skills in reading, listening, and speaking; training to DoD personnel in critical and strategic languages that are tailored to meet operational readiness requirements, and alternative training of delivery systems and approaches to meet language and regional area studies requirements of DoD personnel, whether pre-, during, or post-deployment.

2.4 The LTC Program awards IHE grants for the purpose of exploring the instructional model and building a curricular foundation. These IHEs are experienced with the LTC pedagogical approach, and developed models to provide critical foreign language instruction to DoD military and civilian personnel can be found at https://www.dodltc.org/. LTCs are experienced in teaching adults using proficiency-oriented methods and materials aimed at all ILR skill levels, and have four years or more of experience in teaching the target language to adult learners in an intensive, proficiency-oriented environment.

2.5 This Language Instruction Services requirement builds upon the LTC model, and allows DLNSEO to provide DoD components the opportunity to further expand and offer additional features that are not presently offered through the LTC Program.

3.0 RFI; QUESTIONS TO INDUSTRY:

3.1 The Government is specifically performing market research to determine if there are potential vendors who can provide cost effective and demonstrable solutions for Language Instruction Services. Vendors who wish to respond to this RFI must submit their responses in the form of a white paper, addressing the following topics:

3.1.1 Describe your organization's breadth of expertise/competency to respond to or support (collaborate on) a broad range of complex requirements in the Attached Draft PWS.

3.1.2 Provide a short description of a collaborative partnership(s) with a DoD unit, office, or agency, and describe how the proposed training meets/met a DoD mission requirement.

3.1.3 Describe your experience with delivering instructional methodologies, including class discussions, experiential learning activities, individual and small group exercises and simulations to enhance learning and address current DoD and government-wide issues.

3.1.4 Describe your experience in the development and execution of language, regional, and cultural training?

3.1.5 Describe your experience in partnering with Universities to provide language training?

3.4 Provide feedback on the Performance Work Statement (PWS) requirements (located at Attachment I). Please list any challenges or potential performance roadblocks related to fulfilling the PWS requirements and any suggestions for improving the PWS requirements language.

3.5 The proposed identified North American Industry Classification System Codes (NAICS) for this is 611430. Recommendations for NAICS Code, with supporting rationale, are welcomed and may be included in your response in Part 1, described below at paragraph 4.1.

4.0 RESPONSES

4.1 Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a white paper. The white paper should contain two parts. Part 1 should provide administrative information. The number of pages in Part 1 of the white paper are not included in the 10-page limitation. Part 2 of the white paper shall answer the issues addressed in Section 3.0 of this RFI and shall be limited to 10 pages. Note that responses should not include completing the Attachment II.

4.2 Responses shall be submitted via e-mail to:

charles.m.carnley.civ@mail.mil jada.a.weaver.civ@mail.mil

4.3 Proprietary information, if any, MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

4.4 Contents for Part 1 of the white paper. Provide the following:

4.4.1 Vendor name, address, website, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code.

4.4.2 Point of contact to include e-mail address and telephone number.

4.4.3 Type of business, including socio-economic category (e.g. Large, Small, 8(a) Participant, Small Disadvantaged Business, HUBZone, Woman-Owned Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, Non Profit).

4.4.3.1 If applicable, GSA contract number and applicable schedule(s). Also include any other existing contract vehicles within or outside of GSA that would be available to the Government for the procurement of product and/or service. This information is for market research only and does not preclude your company from responding to this notice.

4.4.3.2 Recommendations and supporting rationale for the NAICS that best fits a requirement such as this.

5.0 INDUSTRY DISCUSSIONS

Government subject matter experts may or may not choose to meet with responding vendors. Such discussions would only be intended to get further clarification of potential capability to meet the outlined requirements.

6.0 QUESTIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT

6.1 Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted in writing by e-mail to the e-mail address provided in paragraph 4.2. Verbal questions (i.e. telephone calls) will NOT be accepted. The Government does not guarantee questions received after closing date of this RFI will be answered.

6.2 Interested vendors may additionally contact the DHRA, Office of Small Business Programs for general inquiries: Ms. Tammy Proffitt, tammy.j.proffitt2.civ@mail.mil.

7.0 SUMMARY

7.1 THIS IS A RFI to request white papers ONLY. The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. There is no planned acquisition and the Government has not made a commitment to procure any item or service associated with this request. Release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

7.2 There is an incumbent for services relating to this RFI, and a contract has been previously issued by DHRA.

Attachments:

Attachment I – Performance Work Statement Requirements Document Attachment II – Language Instruction Service Pricing Guide Template