3202500039 Career Exploration Assessment Services

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is seeking a Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) online career exploration assessment solution to support its Vocational Rehabilitation Division, with a goal of providing approximately 1,000 annual career assessments for customers with disabilities. The procurement, identified as RFO #3202500039, requires a comprehensive system that can evaluate behavioral traits, motivations, stress behaviors, and occupational interests through accessible online assessments. Key deliverables include a project kick-off meeting, project management plan, monthly status reports, career assessment services, usage reports, training materials, and system deployment. The solution must be hosted in the Texas Department of Information Resources Data Center Services cloud environment, with requirements for FedRAMP (Moderate) or TX-RAMP Level 2 certification, WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility compliance, and robust data privacy and cybersecurity protections. Evaluation criteria will be weighted as follows: pricing (40 points), business and reporting requirements (30 points), technology solution (20 points), and experience/references (10 points). The RFO was posted on December 19, 2024, with an optional pre-offer conference scheduled for December 27, 2024, and proposal responses due on February 4, 2025, at 10:00 AM CST. The initial contract term is one year, with four potential one-year renewal options.

The procurement includes a 26% Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) subcontracting goal, requiring vendors to submit a comprehensive HUB Subcontracting Plan that demonstrates good faith efforts to engage certified HUB vendors. Respondents must notify at least three Texas certified HUB vendors and two trade organizations at least seven working days prior to submitting their proposal. Insurance requirements include a fidelity bond for the total contract value and cyber liability insurance of at least $1 million. The solicitation is open to vendors capable of providing a software solution that meets strict accessibility, security, and performance standards, with liquidated damages provisions of $400 per day for delayed implementation and $50 per hour for system unavailability. While no specific total contract value is explicitly stated, the pricing worksheet and deliverables suggest a substantial investment in a comprehensive career assessment platform. Vendors must demonstrate compliance with numerous technical requirements, including multi-factor authentication, FIPS 140-2 or FIPS 140-3 compliant encryption, and adherence to federal and state data privacy regulations such as HIPAA and FERPA.