Administrative Support for Independent Study Program at EMI

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has a requirement for administrative support services for the Independent Study (IS) Program of the Distance Learning Branch of the Emergency Management Institute (EMI) located at the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The purpose of this requirement is to obtain the necessary support to effectively and efficiently manage and administer the IS program and award college credit through a Regionally Accredited college or university for each successfully completed independent study course as requested by the individual student, at the student's expense. The primary services to be performed are: provide customer support to web-based training course users; implement and maintain a Standard Operating Procedures (SOP); process mail, electronic and otherwise; provide responses to routine requests regarding general program information, course materials, and student status; application processing for individuals and group enrollments; data entry services; scoring, grading, and recording student data; student records management; process college credit applications and award the credit through the accredited college or university for successful course completions; maintain a system of inventory control for courses; manage a bulk distribution program, where course materials are sent to various organizations; report program activities and statistics on a weekly and monthly basis in writing; provide program completion data to organizations; review new and revised course materials for college credit requirements; maintain program brochures; and develop and deliver presentations on the program. The resulting contract will have a Base Period, plus four (4) one-year option periods. Award of a firm-fixed price contract is contemplated. The RFP RELEASE DATE WILL BE ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 15, 2008 and will only be provided electronically through FedBizOpps' web page as discussed below. Interested parties may obtain a copy of the solicitation by accessing the following web page: https://www.fbo.gov. QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE RESPONDED TO UNTIL THE DATE(S) SET FORTH IN THE SOLICITATION PACKAGE, OR ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS. Proposals will be due 30 days after the release date of the RFP. All responsible sources may submit a proposal, which will be considered. This acquisition will be procured on an unrestricted basis. FEMA posts all required notices of its contracting opportunities on the FBO site. Potential offerors who download copies of solicitations may register at FBO to automatically receive e-mail notification concerning issued amendments to the applicable solicitation. Registration is optional. You may still view plans/specifications and amendments without registering. If you register for the solicitation, you will receive a courtesy email from FBO notifying you of all amendments to the solicitation, all of which will be posted to the website. Registration for the solicitation, however, does not release bidders/offerors from the responsibility of checking the FBO website for solicitation amendments.