Kuder Career Planning System – Galaxy, Navigator, and Journey

Sources Sought Synopsis

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 FY20 base effort with two (2) option years. The period of performance for this subscription is 15 September 2020 – 14 September 2023. Responses to this sources sought notice will assist a determination of whether it is in the best interest of the Government to proceed with a competition.

PSC: 7630

NAICS: 519130

Size Standard: 1,000 employees

Subscription name: Kuder Career Planning System – Galaxy, Navigator, and Journey

Supplier name: Kuder

Product description: Kuder's all-in-one online education and career planning system helps Pre-K thru Adult career exploration and planning system visualize their futures, make the plans to get there, and changes in careers. Galaxy will set the foundation for a true PreK-12 comprehensive college and career planning solution.  Designed by career guidance experts, Navigator helps students in grades 6-12 visualize their futures and make the most effective and efficient plans to get there.  Journey is a tool specifically designed for postsecondary students, job-seeking adults, those making military-to-civilian transitions, and the like. Journey supports students' exploration of career interests and occupations, selection of majors and programs, preparation for the workforce, and job-seeking.

Product characteristics an equal item must meet to be considered:

- Must provide assessments are based on psychometric, evidence-based, normed career assessment.

-Must provide Pre-K thru Adult career exploration and planning system that utilizes the assessments and seamlessly transitions users from Pre-K-5th grade, to 6th-12th grade and Adult.

-Must provide a portfolio creation allowing users to maintain lifetime access to their account and electronic portfolio with annual login.

-Must provide elementary career awareness and exploration, rooted in the Holland Theory of Vocational Choice, that utilizes the power of play to help students uncover and understand their individual interests, develop a sense of self, explore work environments, and learn how what they’re doing in school connects to what they could do later in life. 

-Must provide Robust Age-Appropriate College and Career Exploration, plus College Prep and Planning Tools:  College Match tool, Application & Scholarship Tracking, and Graduation Plan (Grad Plan) tool.

-Must provide a resume builder and cover letter builder, a sharable e-Profile.

-Must include Financial Literacy Resources: age-appropriate, provide accurate information, introduce concepts and ideas of banking and credit.

-Must be able to provide a career portfolio to aid system users in achieving their career and education goals to include Military Career Exploration and Information.

-Must be able to provide assessments on career interests, skills confidence, and work values assessment.

-Needs to be able to provide assessments are subject to ongoing research to ensure their reliability and validity and freedom from ethnic, gender, cultural, and linguistic bias.

-Assessments must be reviewed by the National Career Development Association.

-Needs to provide marketing, training and website for online access.

-Needs to have a mobile application that allows users to access their account.

The Government will consider responses received within 14 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. Points of contact, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers.

                     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. Company CAGE Code or DUNS Number. 

       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 of 10 pages in a Microsoft Word compatible format.

Any information submitted by respondents to this sources sought synopsis 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 should be emailed to Ashley Collins at ashley.collins.5@us.af.mil and Jennifer Solanics at Jennifer.solanics@us.af.mil no later than 30 June 2020, 2:00 PM EST.  Any questions should be directed to Ashley Collins through email. 

All responses should be received no later than 30 June 2020, 2:00 PM (Eastern).