TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
COMMITTEE ON PROCUREMENT
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Issue purchase order and enter into an agreement for Contract 14-RFP-24 E-Learning Courseware/Learning Management System for a Five-Year Period with Skillsoft Corporation in an amount not to exceed $282,000.00, Accounts 101-25000-612820 and 101-27000-612820, Requisition 1378814
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to issue a purchase order and enter into an agreement with Skillsoft Corporation to provide e-learning courseware/learning management system for a five-year period. The e-learning courses will reside on the learning management system, and will be available to all employees 24 hours/7 days a week from any computer.
On June 11, 2014, Request for Proposal 14-RFP-24, E-Learning Courseware/Learning Management System for a Five-Year Period was publicly advertised. Two hundred thirty-nine (239) firms were notified and forty-seven (47) requested proposal documents. On July 11, 2014, the District received four (4) responsive proposals from the following vendors: Cornerstone on Demand, ePath Learning, Inc., Reflection Software, Inc., and Skillsoft Corporation.
The proposals were evaluated by staff from the Human Resources Department, Procurement and Materials Management Department, and the Information Technology Department. The criteria for these evaluations were outlined in Request for Proposal 14-RFP-24 and included: understanding of the project, approach to work, technical capability, financial stability, cost of services, compliance with insurance requirements and submission of all necessary licenses and permits. Following the preliminary evaluation of proposals, three (3) proposers were deemed to be finalists and were interviewed on August 13, 2014. A solicitation was sent to each finalist on August 15, 2014 for an unqualified "best and final" offer. The "best and final" offers were returned to the Director of Procurement and Materials Management on August 20, 2014.
Based on the evaluation of proposals and interviews, it is recommended that a purchase order be awarded to Skillsoft Corporation (Skillsoft). Skillsoft had the highest rated proposal and the lowest overall cost. Skillsoft was the only proposer that designs, develops and delivers its own content (e-learning courses). The two other proposers provide the platform (learning management system), but contracts with vendors for the e-learning courses. Skillsoft offered approximately 2,800 courses compared to the next highest ranked proposer that offered 1,190 courses.
Skillsoft's robust learning management system will be used to schedule training, track attendance, generate reports, and provide employees with a user-friendly home page to navigate and track their training objectives. As the District continues its efforts in creating a learning organization, technology-enabled learning solutions become an economical and efficient means to develop employees.
In addition to the required services, Skillsoft included a Certified Learning Consultant at no additional cost. The consultant is a valuable resource that applies best practices to help clients develop strategies to meet business objectives, promote e-learning, map competencies to relevant courses, and establish performance metrics.
Skillsoft is one of the few companies that provide both platform and content and has been a leader in the field since 1997; it has been the District's e-learning provider since 2011. Skillsoft has approximately 6,000 clients and more than 19 million end users globally, including public sector organizations such as the State governments of Illinois, Minnesota and Ohio. It also received numerous awards for excellence and a rating of 95% from current clients who would recommend or purchase Skillsoft again.
The Diversity Section reviewed the request for proposal and concluded that Appendix A should not be included because this is a furnish-and-deliver request for proposal.
In view of the foregoing, it is requested that the Director of Procurement and Materials Management be authorized to award a contract to Skillsoft Corporation in the amount of $282,000.00. Funds are available in Account 101-25000-612820 in an amount of $15,000.00 for 2014. Funds for 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 will be available in Account 101-27000-612820. The estimated expenditure
for 2015 is $76,650.00, 2016 is $51,860.00, 2017 is $50,360.00, 2018 is $50,360.00 and 2019 is $37,770.00. Funds for 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 are contingent on the Board of Commissioners' approval of the District's budget for those years.
Requested, Denice E. Korcal, Director of Human Resources, Ellen Barry, Acting Director of Information Technology
Recommended, Darlene A. LoCascio, Director of Procurement and Materials Management
Respectfully Submitted, Barbara J. McGowan, Chairman Committee on Procurement
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for September 4, 2014.