Master Contract for Online Discussion Platform with Intelligent Tutoring functions

Project Overview Minnesota State is requesting proposals for a Software as a Service (SaaS) discussion platform that includes the capabilities found in an intelligent tutoring system. The desired platform should not only facilitate discussions but also offer functionalities to assist instructors with providing support to students during and/or after the text composition process. These supportive features may include, but are not limited to, modeling/demonstrating, generating prompts, and/or providing feedback to students during an online discussion. The selected respondent(s) will operate under a systemwide master agreement, allowing individual colleges, universities, and system office within Minnesota State to benefit. Technical/Functional Requirements The colleges and universities of Minnesota State are committed to a standards-based, interoperable teaching and learning technology ecosystem. The solution(s) procured through this RFP must meet conformance certification requirements

as outlined in the specification documents for the 1EdTech Consortium standard Learning Tools Interoperability® (LTI®) version 1.3 or higher. Evaluation Factors The following factors and their identified weight will be used to evaluate the responses: • 35% - Functional Capabilities • 15% - Accessibility, Security, and Interoperability • 50% - Pricing Minnesota State reserves the right to name a date which all responding Respondents will be invited to present demonstrations or participate in an interview. Minnesota State does not agree to reach a decision by any certain date although it is hoped the evaluation and selection will be completed by the contract terms. Selection Process The selection process includes at least two staff members from the Educational Development and Technology Unit of the Minnesota State System office and at least two staff members representing institutions searching for this solution. This group will evaluate the proposals and make the final decision. Contract Terms Minnesota State desires to enter into a contract with the successful Respondent(s) effective July 15, 2024 or on the date the last recognized signature is obtained, whichever occurs later. The length of such contract(s) will be five (5) years. If Minnesota State and Respondent are unable to negotiate and sign a contract by June 15, 2024, then Minnesota State reserves the right to seek an alternative Respondent(s). Description Required to View Event Prerequisites Required to Enter Bid 27 March 2024 1. Please review the background of Minnesota State 2. Please review the Notice and Authority 3. This RFx includes and incorporates Minnesota State Terms and Conditions. Responders should be aware of the terms and conditions in preparing responses to this event. Much of the language reflected in any resulting contract with Minnesota State is required by statute. If you take exception to any of the language in the terms and conditions, you must indicate those exceptions in your response to the RFx; certain exceptions may result in your proposal being disqualified from further review and evaluation. Only those exceptions indicated in your response to the RFx will be available for discussion or negotiation. 4. Please review the Definitions to the RFx 5. Please review the Organizational Conflict of Interest policy 6. Please review and accept the Authorized Response Certification Statement. 7. Please review and agree to the Duration of Offer agreement 8. Please review the Terms of Payment 9. Required Documentation: Affidavit of Non-Collusion. Please download the attached document, complete, sign, notarize, and upload completed form with response. 10. Affirmative Action Requirements: Please review and download declaration page, complete, sign, and upload completed from with response. 11. If applicable, please download, complete and sign, upload completed form and attach certification with response. Responders claiming Supplier Diversity must complete this form. Others can skip. 12. If applicable, please download, complete and sign, upload completed form and attach certification with response. Responders claiming TG/ED/VO preference must complete this form. Others can skip. 27 March 202427 March 202427 March 202427 March 202427 March 202427 March 202427 March 2024 Buyer Attachments 1. Sample P/T Contract 27 March 202427 March 202427 March 202427 March 202427 March 202427 March 2024 https://www.minnstate.edu/system/templates/docs/4_PTServices-Template.docx Questions Required Questions Group 1.1: Adherence to Minnesota State Terms and Conditions Instructions: 1.1.1 Minnesota State presumes a responder agrees to the terms and conditions as listed in the prerequisites of this solicitation unless a responder takes specific exceptions. The responders must explicitly list all exceptions to the terms and conditions. If no exceptions exist, type in "None" in the space provided. If exceptions exist, please include the Clause, Page Number, Suggested Change to the Clause and Explanation. 1.1.2 Conflicts of Interest. Responders must provide a list of all entities with which it has relationships that create, or appear to create, a conflict of interest with the work that is contemplated in this RFx. The responder must explicitly list all the name of the entity, the relationship and the conflict. If no conflict exist, type in "None" in the space provided. 1.1.3 Provide a sample software license agreement, maintenance agreements, or any other documents pertinent to your product. Legal counsel review and approval is required prior to a final award. Failure to provide any pertinent documents may result in the disqualification of the response. Group 1.2: Company Profile Instructions: 1.2.1 Please provide the history of your organization or company 1.2.2 Please describe your staffed office business hours? Group 1.3: Supplier Diversity Instructions: Suppliers must complete and upload Supplier Diversity Form and certifications as defined by Minnesota State in the Prerequisites Section. 1.3.1 Does your company, partner or sub-contractor qualify as a diverse supplier as defined by Minnesota State in the Prerequisites section? 1.3.2 Does your company qualify for preference points as defined by Minnesota State in the Prerequisites section Group 2.1: Functional Capabilities Instructions: Minnesota State is in search of a discussion platform that includes the capabilities found in an intelligent tutoring systems. The desired platform should not only facilitate discussions but also offer functionalities to assist instructors with providing support to students during and/or after the text composition process. These supportive features may include, but are not limited to, modelling/demonstrating, generating prompts, and/or providing feedback to students during an online discussion. 2.1.1 Describe how your solution evaluates text to support students *before* a message is posted. 2.1.2 Which attributes from the text does your solution use to perform this evaluation *before* the a message is posted? 2.1.3 Describe how the attributes listed above can be modified/manipulated by an instructor? 2.1.4 Describe how your solution evaluates text to support students *after* a message is posted. 2.1.5 Which attributes from the text does your solution use to perform this evaluation *after* the a message is posted? 2.1.6 Describe how the attributes listed above can be modified/manipulated by an instructor? Group 2.2: Composition Functions Instructions: 2.2.1 Which of the following message composition functions does your solution provide users? Group 2.3: Configuration/Settings for Discussions Posts Instructions: 2.3.1 Which of the following conditions/setting does a moderator have the ability to disable for a discussion? Group 2.4: Organization, Search, and Navigation Instructions: 2.4.1 Replies to posts can organized in a hierarc'.hical manner (e.g. threaded) at least 3 levels deep 2.4.2 Describe the manner in which posts can be rated by others (e.g. *upvote," "like; etc.) 27 March 202427 March 202427 March 202427 March 202427 March 2024 2.4.3 Which of the search and/or navigation functions does your product have to allow users to find specific discussions or topics? Group 2.5: Moderation Instructions: 2.5.1 Does your solution allow users to report/flag posts for moderation? 2.5.2 Which users can delete a post? 2.5.3 Are deleted posts archived and/or available to review by moderators/instructors? 2.5.4 Are deleted posts archived and/or available to review by moderators/instructors? 2.5.5 Are deleted posts archived and/or available to review by moderators/instructors? 2.5.6 Which users can edit posts? 2.5.7 Are edited posts archived and/or available to review by moderators/instructors? 2.5.8 Are edited posts archived and/or available to review by moderators/instructors? 2.5.9 Are edited posts archived and/or available to review by moderators/instructors? Group 2.6: Scoring Posts Instructions: 2.6.1 Can instructors assign scores to the posts of users within your solution? 2.6.2 There is an automated process for sending scores assigned by an instructor to our LMS (D2l.'.s Brightspace) grading system? Group 2.7: Notifications Instructions: 2.7.1 For which actions does your solution allow users to receive *email* notifications? 2.7.2 For which actions does your solution allow users to receive *sms* notifications? 2.7.3 For which actions does your solution allow users to receive notifications while "on the platform" (e.g. alerts, etc.) 2.7.4 For which actions does your solution allow users to receive *in app* notifications? Group 3.1: Interoperability Instructions: The colleges and universities of Minnesota State are committed to a standards-based, interoperable teaching and learning technology ecosystem. The solution(s) procured through this RFP must meet conformance certification requirements as outlined in the specification documents for the 1EdTech Consortium standard Learning Tools Interoperability® (LTI®) version 1.3 or higher. 3.1.1 Has your organization obtained conformance certification for the 1EdTech Consortium standard Learning Tools Interoperability® (LTI®) version 1.3 or higher for use in D2L's Brightspace Learning Management System? 3.1.2 We are requesting each vendor obtain conformance certification by 1EdTech Consortium standard Learning Tools Interoperability® (LTI®) version 1.3 for D2L's Brightspace Learning Management Systemno later than May 15, 2024. Does your organization agree to obtain this certification? 3.1.3 Minnesota State requires the solution provided by each vendor support LTI core and LTI Advantage. Specify the LTI extensions (Deep Linking, Names and Role Provisioning Service, and Grades and Assignment Services) for use in D2L's Brightspace Learning Management System that your solution supports and holds certification. 3.1.4 Each vendor is required to disclose what parameters, variables, and services their solution requires so it can be matched and supported by the tool consumer (D2L's Brightspace Learning Management System) and your solution according to Learning Tools Interoperability® (LTI®) version 1.3. Please disclose any additional services (e.g. application programming interface) your solution may use to interact with D2L's Brightspace Learning Management System. Group 3.2: Accessibility Instructions: 3.2.1 Does your company meet the guidelines of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Web Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 (https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/#new-features-in-wcag-2-1)? 3.2.2 A completed response to the linked Voluntary Product/Service Accessibility Template(s)®(VPAT) for all software, hardware, and websites as applicable (https://mn.gov/mnit/about-mnit/accessibility/it-procurement.jsp guidance available in the ‘Products’ tab). The response must contain adequate information to evaluate the responsiveness to the accessibility standards. Complete the attached VPAT form or equivalent on your solutions accessibility. 27 March 202427 March 202427 March 202427 March 202427 March 2024 3.2.3 Describe any limitations and/or modifications for users with *vision disabilities* who use your solution? Please identify which platforms to which this applies (e.g. desktop OS web browser, mobile OS display, app) 3.2.4 Describe any limitations and/or modifications for users with *hearing disabilities* who use your solution? Please identify which platforms to which this applies (e.g. desktop OS web browser, mobile OS display, app) 3.2.5 Describe any limitations and/or modifications for users with *cognitive, learning, and/or neurological disabilities* who use your solution? Please identify which platforms to which this applies (e.g. desktop OS web browser, mobile OS display, app) 3.2.6 Describe any limitations and/or modifications for users with *physical/mobility disabilities* who use your solution? Please identify which platforms to which this applies (e.g. desktop OS web browser, mobile OS display, app) 3.2.7 Describe any limitations and/or modifications for users with *mental health disabilities* who use your solution? Please identify which platforms to which this applies (e.g. desktop OS web browser, mobile OS display, app) Group 3.3: Security Instructions: 3.3.1 Please complete and upload a copy of your companies Higher Education Community Vendor Assessment Toolkit (HECVAT) to confirm that information, data, and cybersecurity policies are in place to protect your sensitive institutional information. Group 4.1: Pricing Proposal Instructions: 4.1.1 Please review the attached document for specifications by which your pricing proposal should conform. Upload your pricing proposal. 27 March 202427 March 202427 March 202427 March 202427 March 2024 Product Line Items Product Line Items There are no Items added to this event. 27 March 202427 March 202427 March 202427 March 2024