Sources Sought Notice -DoD Online Youth Encyclopedia.pdf

Sources Sought 773 Enterprise Sourcing Squadron DoD Online Youth Encyclopedia

This is a Sources Sought Synopsis published by the United States Air Force (the Government or USAF).

There is no solicitation available at this time. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. The purpose of this Sources Sought notice is to conduct market research to determine whether there are businesses available capable of providing an alternative product that meets the characteristics below. The Air Force anticipates procuring this product as a FY24 base period with three (3) 12-months option periods. The projected Period of Performance (PoP) for this subscription is:

Base Period: 30 September 2024 – 29 September 2025 Option Period 1: 30 September 2025 – 29 September 2026 Option Period 2: 30 September 2026 – 29 September 2027 Option Period 3: 30 September 2027 – 29 September 2028

Responses to this Sources Sought notice will assist in a determination of whether it is in the best interest of the Government to proceed with a competition.

PSC: 7630

NAICS: 519290– Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services Size Standard: 1000 employees Subscription name: DoD Online Youth Encyclopedia

Description: DoD Libraries seek an already established library marketplace online encyclopedia geared towards youth but also accommodates adults, that engages learners with thousands of articles, primary sources, and online books designed to support personalized learning and enhance digital citizenship. Must provide online research tools from professionally and authoritative curated sources that offer trusted information for a balanced, global perspective and insights with age-appropriate information for PreK to Adults.

This online youth encyclopedia must provide access to worldwide news, publications, government links from numerous countries, and multimedia reference materials. The content must provide historical timeline of events that lets youth search several hundred pre-generated historical events in a highly interactive and customizable database. Investigate the chronological significance of world events and the lives of notable historical figures. Build, save, and share timeless for an authentic learning experience and integrate content easily. Must captivate even the most reluctant reader with unique visual engagements, rich multimedia content, and an abundance of educational games, activities, and projects.

This online youth encyclopedia must be designed to encourage the young learner to be curious. The carefully curated content also supports STEM/STEAM instructional initiatives. Emergent learners will engage in an interactive and playful environment that encourages reading comprehension and mastery of phonetic skills. The content must be full of stories, videos, songs, dramas, and games. Must assist differentiated learners and adults with a research database that offers a practical life skills section. Must include a collection of unique videos, featuring expert answers to often asked questions, and a visual dictionary to make content more accessible for readers of all levels. Must support classroom instruction and library reading initiatives with multitude of titles, including additional content to include classic literature (novels, plays, poems, and nonfiction). With 24/7 unlimited, simultaneous access and unlimited renewals per book per user, eBooks must be available anytime, anywhere, and feature a free downloadable app compatible with Apple, Windows, and Android devices.

Product Characteristics an equal item must meet to be considered:

• Must be able to provide online research tools from professionally curated sources that offer trusted information for a balanced, global perspective and insights with age-appropriate information for PreK to Adults.

• Must be an online youth encyclopedia geared towards PreK-Adults.

• Provide materials for eBooks, advanced readers, and online access for children. Additionally, offer content for online learning for students that fosters enhanced learning, including activity centers, drama, discovery, early learning, and historical knowledge, specifically designed for elementary-aged students.

• Must be able to support classroom instruction and library reading initiatives with a multitude of titles, including additional content to include classic literature (novels, plays, poems, and nonfiction). With 24/7 unlimited, simultaneous access and unlimited renewals per book per user

• Must be able for emergent learners to engage in an interactive and playful environment of topical content worlds with bursts of information to support microlearning. Guided reading program with stories spread across Lexile Levels provide building blocks for early learners.

Read-aloud option across all functions of the database promotes a personalized learning experience.

• Must contain thousands of cross-curricular, low-cost, fun yet educational projects for the classroom, after school programs, and library programming enabling users to browse, save, and create activities for all ages.

• Must promote independent learning and group collaboration through the production of classic and contemporary plays. Activities should be tied to cross-curricular instruction and enhance learning by including mini-inquiry projects, self-assessment tools, and teaching aids to facilitate instruction.

• The content must provide historical timeline of events that lets youth search several hundred pre-generated historical events in a highly interactive and customizable database. Investigate the chronological significance of world events and the lives of notable historical figures.

Build, save, and share timeless for an authentic learning experience and integrate content easily from other databases and outside sources.

• Must assist learners with a research database that offers a practical life skills section. A collection of unique videos, featuring expert answers to often asked questions, and a visual dictionary make content more accessible for readers of all levels.

• Primary sources can be accessed directly from the articles.

• Must provide free staff training and complimentary marketing services.

• Must be able to interface with all 4-service branch library and Other/Military OneSource websites using industry standard authentication methods to ensure only eligible patrons can access resources from any internet connected computer browsers and mobile devices.

The Government will consider responses received within 10 days of issuance of this notice. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct a full and open competitive procurement or a small business set aside competitive procurement. The Government will not pay for any information received in response to this announcement.

If the Government competes this requirement, a synopsis shall be issued utilizing the combined synopsis/solicitation procedure identified in FAR 12.603. If this effort becomes a Small Business Set- Aside, FAR 52.219-14, Limitation on Subcontracting, will apply. Therefore, small businesses that want to be considered for a small business set-aside should demonstrate how they intend to comply. A determination not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is an administrative decision by the Government that is solely within its discretion.

Contractors should be aware of the following information:

1. Contractors must include the following information:

a. Company name, points of contact, email addresses, phone numbers, company address, website, CAGE Code and UEI.

b. Identification as a large U.S. business, a small U.S. business, or a foreign business. Please note that size indicated should be based on the NAICS code for this effort listed above.

c. Identification of any other socioeconomic status including: Women-Owned Small Business, Economically Disadvantaged Small Business, 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, Veteran Owned Small Business or HUBZone.

d. Would your firm propose on this project as a prime contractor, prime contractor with subcontractor(s), prime contractor with team member subcontractor(s), or a joint venture? If you have proposed a joint venture, identify to the extent possible, your team members. Identify the business size of your team members or joint venture firms. If a teaming arrangement is planned, give details to the extent practicable on how the team likely will be composed. See FAR subpart

9.6 for Government policy on teaming arrangements and 8(a) Program regulations described in

13 CFR 124.513.

e. Capabilities Statement.

f. Identify any projects completed in the past three (3) years for the same or similar items to help determine your firm’s capability in meeting the requirement for the items listed in the product characteristics above. Include any government contracts (Federal, State, or local) that you have been awarded for this type of requirement. Also, include the contract number and a government point of contact.

2. This requirement is not intended for specific brand name products. Offerors are encouraged to suggest products other than those that may be specifically referenced by brand name. Responses must address how alternate product meet the product characteristics specified above.

3. Submitted information shall be UNCLASSIFIED.

4. Responses are limited to 10 pages in an Adobe PDF format.

Any information submitted by respondents to this Sources Sought notice is strictly voluntary. The Government will not reimburse the respondents for any costs associated with their response. This synopsis does not constitute a Request for Proposals nor does its issuance restrict the Government as to its ultimate acquisition approach. The Government reserves the right to contact the submitting parties, on an as required basis, for further clarification on material provided. Respondents should not construe this notice as a commitment by the Air Force for any purpose.

Responses shall be emailed to Contract Specialists, Jackelin Guerrero Funes at jackelin.guerrero_funes@us.af.mil and Gustavo Guadron at gustavo.guadron@us.af.mil no later than 19 August 2024, 4:00 PM CDT. Any questions should be sent via email to the aforementioned Contract Specialists.