USF+Technical+Specifications+final.pdf

USF TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Table of Contents

Description Page

4. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

4.1. Scope of Work

4.2. Evaluation Criteria

4.3. Understanding and Approach

4.4. Project Budget

4.5. Timeline, Key Tasks and Deliverables

4.6. Staffing

4.7. Project Administration

4. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

4.1. Scope of Work

4.1.1. Purpose Statement

The University of South Florida is seeking Transfer Articulation technology that will provide transparent transfer course equivalency information that will, permit transfer students and constituents to make better informed decisions about transferring to USF. This technology addresses an identified gap/barrier to improving transfer success at USF. The technology will enhance the ability to reduce duplicate credit, decrease the occurrence of excess credit hours, and increase the time to completion for transfer students.

USF is seeking to identify a company that can (1) deliver a comprehensive database of transfer course information, (2) create a public facing interface to include upload capabilities so students can request transfer course reviews, and (3) develop a tool to estimate time-to-completion by major.

4.1.2. Primary Required Features

The University of South Florida (USF) is seeking technology that can provide easily accessible transfer course equivalency information so that students can explicitly determine how non-USF courses will transfer to USF without first having to go through the full USF admission process. The technology must:

4.2.1.1. Include a comprehensive database, utilizing internal and external data, both public and private post-secondary institutions within Florida and the U.S.

42.1.2. Include a publicly facing interface (no login required) for student and constituent users (both mobile and desktop friendly).

4.1.2.3. Provide a means for admitted and prospective students to request a course review for a transfer course equivalency if an approved course equivalency does not currently exist.

4.1.2.3.1. Technology must be able to interface with existing USF curricular data, and the transfer course equivalency data to determine an estimated time to completion based on the completion of 30 credit in an academic year.

a. USF currently has CSV curriculum files in Box. We also use Curricular Analytics which houses our curriculum details.

b. We are seeking technology which has the ability to: 1) “Read” the requirements for the selected bachelor degree major, 2) Determine what courses have already been completed prior to transfer, and 3) Determine an estimated time to complete the remaining course requirements based on the completion of approximately 30 credits in one academic year.

4.1.2.3.2. The transfer equivalency review request feature must have upload capabilities to ensure the students can submit for review any course syllabi, course descriptions, and applicable supporting documentation.

4.1.2.4. Determine estimated time to complete all course requirements of desired USF undergraduate major. The technology must be able to read the existing USF curriculum data files, which include all course requirements for each undergraduate major. Please note: this is not an estimated time to graduation as baccalaureate degree requirements may include more than successful completion course credits.

4.1.3. Secondary Preferred Feature

4.1.3.1. Estimate the full cost of obtaining a USF degree by pulling information from The Office of Financial Aid, Cost of Attendance webpage.

Additional Notes

The funding for this technology was awarded to the Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities. The three FCRMU member (USF, FIU, and UCF) each have transfer equivalency data of approved transfer courses; meaning that students have submitted course information from prior institutions, and these courses have been vetted and approved as being equivalent to established, internal courses thus students may transfer these courses in for credit. Once in the database, these courses are recognized automatically for subsequent students seeking to transfer in the same course from the same institution. For this ITN https://curricularanalytics.org/ https://www.usf.edu/financial-aid/cost-of-attendance/ https://floridaconsortium.com/ technology request, after appropriate approvals at all levels are complete the proposed technology will utilize the transfer equivalency databases from FIU, UCF, and USF and merge those data into one place. Please note, the technology does not need to interface with all three member schools.

SCENARIO: A student wants to transfer a course from a prior institution to USF. USF does not currently have an equivalency rule for this course from this institution. However, a check in the accessible technology/system shows that FIU has reviewed this course, and an approved equivalency exists. USF will now be able to easily retrieve the FIU equivalency information and use it to request

USF faculty to approve based on the FIU data obtained from the system.

Additional Info

Transfer students, faculty, and academic support staff need readily available access to transfer course equivalency data. It is important to have a clear understanding both of what credits will transfer as degree applicable and when transfer to another institution is appropriate. Without this information, students are at an increased risk of taking unnecessary courses, duplicating credit hours, jeopardizing persistence, and increasing time to graduation. Delayed time to completion often increases student debt and prolongs entry into chosen career paths. This delay impacts short- and long-term earnings.

Although this is not a shared services solicitation, the Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities (FCRMU) has forged a common commitment to transforming students’ lives and the metropolitan areas that we serve. The combination of resources, expertise, and commitment allow the FCRMU to launch and complete initiatives at a speed and scale that none of our universities could attain separately.

4.2. Evaluation Criteria

4.2.3. Supplier must have a minimum five (5) years relevant experience and be licensed to do business in the State of Florida, and provide licensing documentation;

4.2.4. Supplier must provide list of a minimum of three (3) customers of similar size and scope as USF has described in this solicitation.

4.2.5. Supplier’s Rates;

4.2.6. Content of Supplier Statement provided with Supplier Bid.

4.2.7. Financial Viability of Supplier

4.3. Understanding and Approach

Note: Supplier responses to Sections 4.3.1., 4.3.2., and 4.3.3. when combined are not to exceed four pages, doubled-spaced.

4.3.1. Understanding of the Problem

4.3.1.1. Provide a narrative that describes your knowledge and understanding of the scope of work described in the ITN, as well as a description of your ability to achieve the objectives of this ITN.

4.3.2. Technical Approach

4.3.1.2. Provide a narrative that describes your approach or methodology to achieve the objective(s) and deliverables described in the RFP. The narrative response shall include the quality, comprehensiveness, and feasibility of methods and plans proposed to accomplish the required tasks.

4.3.3. Relevant Experience/Capabilities

4.3.3.1. Provide a narrative that describes your relevant experiences and capabilities related to the objective(s) described in the

RFP. Highlight your previous experience offering similar services or capabilities. Include references and primary point of contact in this section.

4.4. Project Budget

Provide a proposed detailed and itemized budget, including labor and all other direct costs. Sample budget template provided below.

It is not required that you use this template, but please ensure a complete and clear budget is submitted that matches the proposed technical approach. A copy of the available Budget Template can be found in the Buyer Attachment section of this Solicitation.

4.5. Project Timeline, Key Tasks and Deliverables

Provide a proposed timeline, including key tasks and deliverables related to completing the engagement. Sample timeline template https://usf.box.com/s/054dmbdvjaddxfvhmcedczmesjaijvho provided below. It is not required that you use this template, but please ensure a complete and clear timeline is submitted that matches the proposed technical approach.]

Timeline

Week beginning:

[date] [date] [date] [date] [date] [date] [date] [date]

Task/Deliverable

4.6. Staffing

Describe/list proposed staff, including their relevant capabilities and a biographical statement or resume for each. If staff member names are included in the budget section of this response, then those names should also be included in this section.

4.7. Project Administration

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