Enterprise Applications Training and Certification Services

AMENDMENT 00001: The Notice of Contract Action (NCA) is hereby amended by incoporating a copy of the the Performance Work Statement (PWS) Atch 1, Course Information. This information was previously provided under the RFI notice. The Amendment to this NCA notice does not change the closing date for responses as described herein. All terms and conditions remain the same.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Office of Business Solutions Acquisition (OBSA), Treasury Operations Branch, on behalf of the Department of Treasury's Enterprise Applications office intends to negotiate a sole source acquisition with The Escal Institute of Advanced Technologies, Inc. /dba SANS Institute for training and certification services. The anticipated period of performance for this acquisition is from July 10, 2023 - July 9, 2024, plus four (4) 12-month option periods. This requirement also includes FAR 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services and allows up to a six-month extension. This is a new requirement, with no previous contractual history for this customer.

The Treasury Enterprise Applications office has identified a need to procure specialized cybersecurity training courses and certifications for Treasury-wide use. These courses will help facilitate the development of current federal EAC employees, future EAC employees, and other DO offices requiring specialized cybersecurity training and certifications. The following provides additional details regarding the training requirements, which may be required in performance under this contract, as follows: Enterprise Applications has identified a need to establish an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract for specialized cybersecurity training courses & certifications from leading industry provider per Treasury Directive 85-01 (TREASURY DIRECTIVE 85-01 | U.S. Department of the Treasury). These courses will help facilitate the development of current Treasury employees, future Treasury employees, and other DO offices requiring specialized cybersecurity training and certifications.

The authority permitting a sole source acquisition is FAR 6.302-1– “Only one responsible source.” The Escal Institute of Advanced Technologies, Inc. provides an overall, exceptional program management and the most current, up-to-date courses authored by the best in cyber security to provide specialized cybersecurity training courses and certifications for Treasury-wide use. These courses will help facilitate the development of current federal Employee Application Cybersecurity (EAC) employees, future EAC employees, and other Treasury Departmental Offices (DO) offices requiring specialized cybersecurity training and certifications. The vendor continues to improve their course curriculum, and should they develop new courses will apprise the government in order to maintain an ops tempo of growing and changing cyber threats. Additional benefits of the vendor’s solution include that courses are full of important and immediately useful techniques that students may utilize as soon as they return to their office; curriculum is developed by real-world practitioners, addressing a range of cybersecurity topics from basic security fundamentals and awareness to in-depth technical aspects of the most crucial areas of information security; courses are offered in multiple modalities: Virtual Self-paced (OnDemand), Virtual Live (Live Online), Live In-person; all modalities offered in private (customer specific) or public (open to all of the vendor’s customers) venues; and courses and their associated certifications are job specific. The Escal Institute of Advanced Technologies, Inc. provides unparalleled access to the required training and certifications needed by Treasury and its’ departmental offices.

No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent to sole source is not a request for competitive quotations; however, the Government will consider responses received no later than May 22, 2023, Eastern at 3PM. Responses shall be submitted to Contracting Officer, Ramona.L.Hanson@irs.gov. Responses shall include, at a minimum, the following information:

1. The name of your company;

2. Company UEISAM No.;

3. POC name and contact information (address, phone numbers, emails);

4. The specific services that your company offers for training and certifications as the items to be included on the proposed contract or evidence that your company is capable of providing the services referenced above; and,

5. A description of that service (training and certifications) and its' overall capabilities.

6. A discussion of your business status, size, and recognized category (e.g. small, 8(a), Woman-owned, etc.).

It is your company’s responsibility to demonstrate how your training and certification services are equivalent or exceed those offered by The SANS Institute LLC. The Government will not seek additional information from your company if you fail to provide sufficient evidence to support providing the required services in order to meet the Government's needs.

A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government's Contracting Officer. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement or proceed with a sole source.

A draft copy of the Performance Work Statement is attached to this notice.