ARM Institute Issues Two RFPs

ARM Institute Issues Two Requests for Proposal (RFPs) in Support of RoboticsCareer.org

Date: November 8, 2024

The ARM Institute has received funding from Congress to expand capabilities and awareness of the ARM Institute’s national workforce resource, RoboticsCareer.org. To execute upon this funding, the ARM Institute has issued two requests for proposal (RFPs) to execute upon the tasks outlined in the funding agreement. Read more about each RFP below.

Outreach Support RFP

Summary

The ARM (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) Institute is a non-profit organization, based in Pittsburgh, PA, with a mission is to transform US Manufacturing through innovations and education in robotics and related automation technologies.

The ARM Institute is seeking the services of a marketing firm to provide SEO support and paid outreach support to support our national workforce resource, RoboticsCareer.org. RoboticsCareer.org connects students and workers with opportunities for robotics in manufacturing through (a) a database of training programs that teach robotics skills for manufacturing (2) job listings for robotics careers in manufacturing (3) an Endorsement program that recognizes the nation’s most effective training programs. Educators, students, instructors, and employers are able to create accounts on RoboticsCareer.org.

This RFP solicits for digital outreach support to raise awareness for this free workforce resource.

Proposals are due on November 26, 2024.

RFP Point of Contact:

Livia Rice

ARM Institute Director of Outreach & Engagement

livia.rice[at]arminstitute.org

FAQ for the Outreach Support RFP: Updated November 19, 2024

We would look to the selected firm to help us discover key keywords that we should target, however, examples include: Robotics Careers, Robotics Jobs, Manufacturing Jobs, Manufacturing Careers, Robotics Schools, Best Robotics Programs, Robotics Universities, Robotics Training, and similar.

You can see topics that we have covered in the past here. Topics along these lines would be of interest. In addition, topics that featured our Endorsed Programs and topics related to best practices for building, hiring, upskilling, and supporting a manufacturing workforce through the lense of an employer would be of particular interest.

Download the RFP here

Software Development & Support RFP

Summary

The ARM Institute has created an easily searchable and highly usable website that contains information about educational resources located throughout the United States specific to robotics/AI/advanced technology roles in manufacturing. This website launched in April 2021 as www.roboticscareer.org.

The ARM Institute recently received funding from Congress to add capabilities (described in more detail in this RFP) for integration of additional competency frameworks, user enhancements, endorsement updates and integration of third-party tools.

Per the guidelines from Congress, the ARM Institute is putting this software development project out for competitive bid. ARM is requesting proposals for the creation and implementation of additional functionality for the www.roboticscareer.org website, which is specified in the project description section below.

Note that respondents must be a U.S. based organization with all software development occurring in the United States.

Proposals are due on November 26, 2024

RFP Point of Contact

John Zappa

ARM Institute Director of Product Development

john.zappa[at]arminstitute.org

Download the RFP here

FAQ for the Software Development & Support Budget: Updated Nov. 21, 2024

As we receive questions about our RFPs, we will update our FAQ located below. Additional questions may be directed to john.zappa[at]arminstitute.org.

1. Can the ARM Institute prioritize the scope items/features over the duration of the contract? Are there any target dates by which certain features have to be released into production by?

The ARM Institute is specifying the following proposed priority of the scope/features; target dates would be established after a contract is awarded.

Year 1

• • Enhance the endorsement program functionality including revised administrative features for endorsees and auditors. Enhance the presentation of information on the public-facing portion of roboticscareer.org to showcase the value of endorsed programs. Develop additional enhancements as identified during the funding timeframe. Please access the following link for more information on the ARM Endorsement program.

• • Support updates to existing Robotics Competency Framework as well as potentially integrate new frameworks for Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity and Additive Manufacturing. The support includes updates to matching algorithms for training programs and job listings, as well presentation of the competencies on the website. Please access the following link for more information on the ARM Robotics Competency Framework.
  • Work with ARM Institute-specified third-party providers to ensure seamless integration of training and job content. In conjunction with ARM team, refine and optimize the quality of the content for training programs and jobs.
  • Revise homepage to support:
  • additional manufacturing roles informed by the new competency frameworks for AI, Cybersecurity, and Additive Manufacturing.
  • multiple audiences including high school and college students as they pursue next steps in their education/career journey, upskilling of individuals already within manufacturing. individuals transitioning from other industries.
    • Gain familiarity with the existing codebase, make recommendations and implement improvements to ensure optimal performance of the RoboticsCareer platform. It is important that the ARM Institute delivers high-quality user experience and support most favorable SEO status.

Year 2

• • Enhance the email capabilities within the platform to support increased outreach and user engagement.
  • Integrate career adjacency model from CMU Block Center to provide guidance to individuals outside of manufacturing that are seeking information on potential, appropriate roles within manufacturing.
  • Implement AI technologies to provide better user experience on RoboticsCareer.org including chat functionality.
  • Improve the functionality to the education matching to include support for digital credentials; update user profiles to support integration and display of digital credentials.

Year 3

• • Work with ARM Institute-specified third-party providers to ensure seamless integration of training and job content. In conjunction with ARM team, refine and optimize the quality of the content for training programs and jobs.
  • Potentially integrate with a learning management system or similar systems to provide broader outreach and impact, and accessibility to training resources.

2. Can the ARM Institute provide additional details/requirements for the features in the list of scope items (i.e., can you elaborate on what integrating with CMU Block Center Career Agency Model entails or what capabilities you are looking to achieve with AI-based chat functionality)?

• • The CMU Block Center Model Career Adjacency Model (aka Workforce Insights Tool) is part of the CMU Block Center Workforce Supply Chains Initiative, which is accessible through the link. The Workforce Insights Tool quantifies the supply of different types of skills in the U.S. labor market and the potential readiness of workers in one occupation to transition into another. ARM Institute is seeking the capability for a user to enter their current occupation into RoboticsCareer to determine the potential for transferring to a role in advanced manufacturing. This determination is based on skills attained the in current role and skills required in the potential role. Part of the effort of integration will include identifying mechanisms for accessing the tool and returning outputs to RoboticsCareer.
  • AI-based chat – The ARM Institute is interested in a chat feature on RoboticsCareer that provides support to end-users. The chat could answers questions about potential career pathways and refer the user to resources on the site.

3. Is there a target budget set for each year of the contract?

• • No target budget is specified. The ARM Institute is asking the potential suppliers to provide a budget based on the scope/features specified in Question #1.

4. Could you clarify the primary outcomes the ARM Institute aims to achieve with the enhanced job matching and competency integration? Are there specific metrics or KPIs that will be used to evaluate the success of the new features?

• • As part of the project scope, ARM Institute is adding three new competency frameworks, in addition to the existing ARM Institute Robotics competency framework, to RoboticsCareer. Within each of these new frameworks are employer-specified skills (competencies) that are integral to roles in advanced manufacturing. An important outcome is to match job seekers with job listings across the U.S. that specify these skills. Additional there is a need to match education seekers with training/education programs that teach these skills. Providing coverage for matching jobs and education/training across the US is an important evaluator of success. A matching algorithm that ensures users are connected to the most appropriate jobs/training options is critical.

5. Could you provide more details on the specific third-party tools the ARM Institute  intends to integrate with RoboticsCareer.org?

• • The RoboticsCareer platform is currently integrates a job feed from Draup, Inc. We anticipate a need to expand the integration to include jobs that match skills with the additional competency frameworks. We currently do not have a third-party integrator for training program. However, ARM anticipates a partnership for education/training content during the term of the agreement. ARM Institute is open to suggestion for integrating training/education programs.

6. Are there preferred providers or existing partnerships with third-party content providers that need to be considered in this integration?

• • See answer above

7. What level of access or data sharing will be available between RoboticsCareer.org and the third-party systems?

• • We anticipate an automated batch process for the integration of content from both job and training providers.

8. Could you specify how the new competency frameworks (AI, Cybersecurity, and Additive Manufacturing) should align with the existing ARM-defined competencies?

• • The ARM Institute , along with partner organizations, is currently developing the content for these frameworks. We anticipate each framework will include their own competencies however, there is some potential for overlap with the existing ARM defined competencies.

9. Is the ARM Institute looking for support in developing these new frameworks, or is it expected that they will be provided and only need to be integrated?

• • The ARM Institute will manage development of the content of new frameworks and provide them for integration into the RoboticsCareer platform.  Today the platform only supports one framework so the capability to support multiple frameworks will need to be added.

10. Are there specific user personas or target audiences ARM would like us to prioritize in the redesign?

• • The ARM Institute is interest in engaging the following audiences: High school and college-age individuals seeking the next step in their education/career journeys. Individuals within manufacturing that are interested in upskilling their capabilities. Individuals outside of manufacturing that are interested in exploring potential roles in advanced manufacturing.

11. Does the ARM Institute have any existing UI/UX guidelines, brand guidelines, or accessibility standards that we should follow?

• • The ARM Institute does not have published branding/accessibility guidelines for RoboticsCareer. However, we want the design of the winner bidder to be cohesive with our existing platform (font, colors, etc.) and to adhere to general accessibility guidelines.

12. Could you clarify the scope of the endorsement program enhancements? Are there specific administrative features or user-facing functionalities that need improvement?

• • There are two main areas for enhancements. The administrative interface will need to be updated as ARM refines the metrics for evaluating endorsement candidates. This will include both data and user interface improvements. On the public site, users currently see an endorsement badge associated with endorsed programs. The display of these programs is given preference in training search results. ARM anticipates there are other attributes associated with the endorsed programs (e.g. associated certifications) to showcase in the results. We would work with the selected vendor to identify these attributes and determine the best way to display the information for users.

13. Is the ARM Institute looking for new endorsement criteria or additional functionality to increase the program’s value for training providers?

• • No, the ARM Institute will specific the endorsement criteria. We are looking for suggestions to promote the value of endorsed programs on the RoboticsCareer website.

14. Are there preferred digital credentialing platforms or standards ARM wants to use?

• • The ARM Institute has not determined a specific credentialing platform or standard at this time. The ARM Institute is open to suggestions.

15. How should credentials be verified and displayed within user profiles, and what permissions should users have regarding credential sharing?

• • The ARM Institute does not have specific data security or compliance standards for the RoboticsCareer platform. However, we do expect the winner bidder will provide generally accepted practices for a safe, secure operating  environment.

16. Are there any data retention, archiving, or backup requirements for the RoboticsCareer.org platform?

• • The ARM Institute is responsible for maintaining the hosting environment including data retention, archiving and backup.

17. Are there any critical milestones or phased releases ARM envisions for the project, such as early delivery of specific features?

• • There is a sequence for the delivery of features. Please see the ARM Institute responses to questions posted on Nov. 13^th.

18. What is the ARM Institute’s preferred process for periodic reviews and feedback sessions throughout the project?

• • We anticipate weekly check-in meeting for the project. Specific design and review session would be scheduled as needed.

19. Could you clarify the expected level of ongoing support post-launch? Should we plan for 24/7 support, or will business hours support suffice?

• • The ARM Institute maintains first level support with users. If the case requires a second level of technical support, we will engage our software and support partner as necessary. We anticipate regular business hours, unless an exceptional situation occurs such as a site outage.

20. Are there specific SLAs (Service Level Agreements) or response times ARM expects for resolving user issues?

• • The ARM Institute expects an answer to level 2 inquiries within 24-48 hours.

21. What level of training does ARM expect for its staff, and would this include in-person training, virtual sessions, or both?

• • Training would be conducted virtually. It may include a review of user and administrative functions.

22. Is the ARM Institute looking for specific documentation formats (e.g., technical manuals, user guides) that should be included as part of the project deliverables?

• • No, the ARM Institute is seeking documentation that explains the operation of features/functionality on both the user and administrative side of RoboticsCareer.

23. Does the ARM Institute have a preferred payment schedule (e.g., milestone-based, monthly) for managing project funds?

• • The ARM Institute anticipates a monthly billing and payment schedule for work completed.

24. Can ARM expand on the requirements/objectives associated with the request to integrate with a learning management system (or something similar)? Does ARM have any LMS/similar systems that they would like to target integrating with as a part of this request?

• • The ARM Institute has not selected an LMS/similar system for integration. Over the course of the contract, the ARM Institute will identify the most appropriate platform to meet our needs.

ABOUT THE ARM INSTITUTE

The ARM (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) Institute is a Manufacturing Innovation Institute (MII) funded by the Office of the Secretary of Defense under Agreement Number W911NF-17-3-0004 and is part of the Manufacturing USA® network. The ARM Institute leverages a unique, robust, and diverse ecosystem of over 400 consortium members and partners across industry, academia, and government to make robotics, autonomy, and artificial intelligence more accessible to U.S. manufacturers large and small, train and empower the manufacturing workforce, strengthen our economy and global competitiveness, and elevate national security and resilience.  Based in Pittsburgh, PA since 2017, with a regional office in St. Petersburg, FL, the ARM Institute is leading the way to a future where people and robots work together to respond to our nation’s greatest challenges and to produce the world’s most desired products. For more information, visit www.arminstitute.org and follow the ARM Institute on LinkedIn and X(Twitter).