Notice of Non-Competitive Purchase Global Knowledge

The State of North Dakota's Information Technology Department (NDIT) is pursuing a non-competitive procurement with Global Knowledge/Skillsoft to provide comprehensive cyber security training services for its cyber security team. The contract will enable thirteen staff members to access over 90 certification courses and 400 non-certification instructor-led training courses, with each employee expected to complete 3-4 classes annually. The procurement is specifically focused on delivering advanced cyber security training and certification paths, with an emphasis on cost-effective and comprehensive learning solutions. The solicitation was posted on January 15, 2025, with responses due by January 22, 2025, through the State Procurement Office Online system. The procurement aims to provide flexible training options that cover various cyber security skill development areas, with a preference for a solution that offers broad course coverage at a competitive per-class cost.

The procurement appears to be open to all qualified vendors, with no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on organizational types mentioned in the available documentation. The contract has a proposed two-year term with an estimated annual cost of $122,433.66, resulting in a total contract value of $244,867.32. Skillsoft (US) LLC is the intended sole-source provider, with the state justifying this approach by highlighting the vendor's comprehensive course offerings at a significantly lower per-class cost compared to alternative providers like SANS Institute, ISC2, CompTIA, and ISACA. The procurement documentation indicates that while the contract is specifically for thirteen current staff members, there is no limit on the number of employees or classes that can be accessed. The state has determined that this procurement represents a cost-effective approach to cyber security training, with the proposed contract providing substantial training resources at approximately $2,782 per class, which is considerably lower than comparable individual course pricing from alternative training providers.