[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 84 (Wednesday, April 30, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23496-23498]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9455]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute of Corrections


Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement--Administrative Support 
for the NIC Learning Center

AGENCY: National Institute of Corrections, Department of Justice.

ACTION: Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) has implemented 
Learn.com's Learn Center learning management system (LMS) to manage the 
NIC Learning Center. NIC has used this LMS for the past four years to 
manage its Web-based training (WBT). Through this cooperative 
agreement, services offered through the Learning Center will be 
expanded to bring access

[[Page 23497]]

to all NIC training opportunities available through this system.

DATES: Application must be received by 4 p.m. EDST on Tuesday May 20, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: Mailed applications must be sent to: Director, National 
Institute of Corrections, 320 First Street, NW., Room 5007, Washington, 
DC 20534. Applicants are encouraged to use Federal Express, UPS, or 
similar service to ensure delivery by the due date.
    Hand delivered applications should be brought to 500 First Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20534. At the front desk, call (202) 307-3106, 
extension 0 for pickup.
    Faxed or e-mailed applications will not be accepted. Electronic 
applications can be submitted via http://www.grants.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A copy of this announcement and the 
required application forms can be downloaded from the NIC Web page at 
http://www.nicic.gov.
    All technical or programmatic questions concerning this 
announcement should be directed to Steven Swisher, Correctional Program 
Specialist, National Institute of Corrections. Mr. Swisher can be 
reached by calling 800-995-6429 extension x 4416 or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: While NIC has effectively managed Web-based training 
(WBT) in the NIC Learning Center, current plans call the expansion of 
training and services available within the NIC Learning Center to 
include numerous other functions such as: management of NIC virtual 
instructor-led training and online registration for NIC instructor-led 
training. NIC does not presently have adequate in-house human resources 
and technical expertise to build out and administer the increased 
functional capabilities within the LMS. NIC requests a dedicated, off-
site resource to provide needed administrative support to the NIC 
project manager to build out and manage new functionality within the 
LMS to complete project targets.
    Purpose: Provide administrative support to build and manage NIC's 
virtual instructional led training integration, build and manage NIC 
online registration integration, and create and manage other advanced 
functionalities in the Learn Center.
    Scope of Work: Specifically, this request calls for a dedicated 
off-site Systems Administrator to support and fulfill the day-to-day 
requirements of the Learn Center LMS. Within this proposal and 
associated tasks, the awardee shall provide System Administrator 
support and project coordination in conjunction with, and as guided by 
NIC to support the Learn Center learning management system at the 
National Institute of Corrections.
    NIC requires 32 hours of administrative support per week for 26 
weeks, beginning with the effective date of the award. Work shall be 
performed off-site at a workplace provided by the awardee, Monday 
through Friday during normal business hours, except for official 
Government Holidays. The awardee, in cooperation with NIC, will 
establish a fixed weekly working schedule for these services.
    Specific Requirements: The awardee shall perform the following 
administrative support tasks:
    Provide excellent knowledge, experience and skills with all 
administrative functions of the Learn.com Learn Center.
    Routinely provide guidance and suggestions to NIC regarding 
functional improvements to the NIC Learning Center.
    Act as a functional liaison between NIC and Learn.Com. Provide 
daily status updates verbally to the NIC project manager (PM) of all 
ongoing projects and provide written input for the weekly written 
status report and project schedule.
    Work directly with NIC's project management on current and future 
projects and develop a timeline project schedule to accomplish said 
tasks. (Tasks and actions to be defined by NIC)
    Analyze current learning management system functionality. Review 
the NIC learning management system for capabilities and data 
structures.
    Assist other key NIC/Learn.com staff wherever possible to populate 
the NIC Learning Center with content, working with the Learn.Com GUI/
System Design team. Data may be populated through data export/import, 
manual key entry, or bulk data upload facilities. Specifically, the 
content should focus first on NIC Instructor-Led Training (ILT) 
offerings.
    Coordinate with Learn.com project manager and other key Learn.com 
staff, as necessary, to ensure the successful completion of all NIC 
projects.
    Address and/or coordinate the timely resolution of all technical 
questions before, during, and after implementation.
    In collaboration with NIC project manager, assist in the 
development of training curricula and materials for NIC system users.
    Provide additional administrative support not previously 
articulated in this agreement to assure the effective function and 
success of the NIC Learning Center.
    Application Requirements: The application package must include OMB 
Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance and a cover 
letter that identifies the audit agency responsible for the applicant's 
financial accounts as well as the audit period or fiscal year that the 
applicant operates under (e.g., July 1 through June 30); and an outline 
of projected costs. The following additional forms must also be 
included: OMB Standard Form 424A, Budget information--Non-Construction 
Programs; OMB Standard Form 424B, Assurances--Non-Construction Programs 
(available on http://www.grants.gov) and DOJ/NIC Certification 
Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility 
Matters; and the Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (available at http://www.nicic.gov/Downloads/PDF/certif-frm.pdf.) The applications should be 
concisely written, typed double spaced and referenced to the project by 
the ``NIC Application Number'' and Title in this announcement.
    Submit an original and five copies. The original should have the 
applicant's signature in blue ink.
    Authority: Public Law 93-415.
    Funds Available: NIC is seeking the applicant's best ideas 
regarding accomplishment of the scope of work and the related costs for 
achieving the goals of this solicitation. The final budget and award 
amount will be negotiated between NIC and the successful applicant. 
Funds may only be used for the activities that are linked to the 
desired outcome of the project. No funds are transferred to state or 
local governments.
    Eligibility of Applicants: An eligible applicant is any agency, 
educational institution, organization, individual or team with the 
expertise in the described areas.
    Review Considerations: Applications received under this 
announcement will be subjected to a 3 to 5 person NIC Peer Review 
Process.
    Number of Awards: One.
    NIC Application Number: 08A48. This number should appear as a 
reference line in the cover letter, in box 4a of Standard Form 424, and 
outside of the envelope in which the application is sent.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 16.601.

[[Page 23498]]

    Executive Order 12372: This project is not subject to the 
provisions of Executive Order 12372.

Morris L. Thigpen,
Director, National Institute of Corrections.
 [FR Doc. E8-9455 Filed 4-29-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-36-P