System compatibility and requirements

This section covers the technical specifications required to run the system efficiently. It includes details on supported operating systems, browsers, database systems, and other software requirements to ensure smooth deployment and use.


Provide mobile accessibility through apps for iOS and Android devices, ensuring key features are accessible on mobile

Answer

Mobile accessibility: Moodle offers official mobile apps for iOS and Android, allowing users to access courses, complete activities, receive notifications, and interact with peers and instructors.

Key accessible features: Users can view course materials, participate in discussions, take quizzes, submit assignments, track progress, and receive push notifications.

Limitations: Some advanced admin settings, plugin-based customizations, and complex SCORM interactions may not be fully supported in the mobile app and require access via a web browser.


Guarantee compatibility with various browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge) and platforms (Windows, Apple)

Answer

Browser compatibility: Moodle is compatible with modern browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. It is regularly tested to ensure full functionality across these platforms.

Platform compatibility: Moodle runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux and is accessible on desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobile devices.

Limitations: Older browsers like Internet Explorer and outdated operating systems may experience reduced functionality or compatibility issues.


Enable instructors to create, organize, and publish content (text, video, PowerPoint)

Answer

Content creation: Instructors can create and organize courses using text, video, PowerPoint, quizzes, and interactive activities. Moodle supports multiple file formats, embedded media, and external content integrations.

Storage limits: Moodle’s course storage limit depends on the hosting environment. Administrators can configure maximum file upload sizes per course or site-wide. For self-hosted instances, limits are based on server capacity.

Course creation limits: There is no fixed limit on how many courses an instructor can create.


Enable content creation in various formats such as SCORM, xAPI, or HTML5

Answer

Moodle supports content creation in multiple formats:


Allow course scheduling of both in-person, instructor-led and virtual/hybrid courses with reminders and notifications for upcoming sessions or due dates

Answer

Moodle allows course scheduling for both in-person, instructor-led, and virtual/hybrid courses. Administrators can set up course sessions with start dates, times, and durations, and configure reminders and notifications to alert learners about upcoming sessions or due dates.

For in-person courses, administrators can specify physical locations, while virtual/hybrid courses can be linked to video conferencing tools like Zoom. Automated notifications can be sent to learners before the session starts, ensuring they are reminded of upcoming events or deadlines. Additionally, Moodle can send reminders for assignments, assessments, and other course activities, keeping learners informed and engaged.


Provide training plans for administrators, course owners, and technical staff

Answer

Our objective is to teach and learn with the administrators and super users at the client how to make our system the most effective for their work. This also directly identifies hard and soft requirements, and more detail than is captured in the RFP document.

The aim of this task is to offer virtual training that enables client staff to become proficient with MTS, aiding in system decision-making and platform administration. Implementation readiness training is designed for staff involved in system decisions and those who will manage the LMS. Participants will acquire a comprehensive understanding of the system functions, navigation, and site administrator features.

Additionally, the educational consulting component provides flexibility for clients to explore specific areas or topics related to their business workflows in more detail.

A table is attached to the original response.


Provide a clear uptime guarantee, with access to real-time uptime statistics

Answer

Clients have 24/7 access to their production LMS environment. MTS guarantees a 99.5% uptime availability, ensuring that unscheduled downtime remains below 0.5% per month.

A 90-day ramp-up period from the go-live date is provided before the uptime guarantee officially takes effect.


Implement a disaster recovery plan with a defined Recovery Time Objective (RTO) for system reliability during peak periods

Answer

Our disaster recovery plans for cloud-based systems include:

Our main infrastructure vendor is FranTech, which is multi-homed across several global regions. They maintain an active Discord channel where staff and customers discuss system operations, promoting open and honest communication.

We’ve witnessed their successful recovery from incidents such as:


SCORM compliant (supports ability to score training modules and track completion)

Answer

Moodle is SCORM-compliant and supports uploading, delivering, scoring, and tracking SCORM 1.2 and 2004 training modules. It records user progress, completion status, and scores in the gradebook and reports.


Maintains 24/7 accessibility by employees, supervisors, department heads, and instructors

Answer

Moodle is accessible 24/7 for employees, supervisors, department heads, and instructors, provided the hosting server is available. Role-based permissions ensure appropriate access to courses, reports, and management features.


Do you deliver an Application Service Provider (ASP), hosted or internally installed solution

Answer

Yes, we provide a hosted ASP solution.


Does the proposed solution efficiently function on tablets or mobile devices

Answer

Yes, the proposed solution, Moodle, is highly optimized for tablets and mobile devices. Moodle offers a responsive design and a dedicated mobile app available for iOS and Android. The app supports offline learning, notifications, and intuitive navigation, ensuring a seamless user experience across devices. Additionally, Moodle’s responsive interface adapts to various screen sizes for enhanced usability.


What languages are supported

Answer

Our team at Pacific Medical Training will be working in U.S. English. Moodle supports over 100 languages, allowing users to select their preferred language for the interface.


Describe how your system supports video

Answer

Moodle supports video in various ways to enhance learning. It allows embedding videos from external platforms like YouTube and Vimeo using the built-in multimedia plugin. Users can also upload video files directly to the system for use in course materials. Additionally, Moodle supports SCORM packages that can include videos, and videos can be embedded in forums, quizzes, and assignments. Moodle’s mobile app also supports video playback, ensuring students can access videos on any device.


Does the system provide support for all training mediums (i.e. ILT, synchronous or asynchronous, self-paced)

Answer

Yes, Moodle supports all major training mediums, including Instructor-Led Training (ILT), synchronous, and asynchronous learning. For ILT, instructors can use Moodle’s Virtual Classroom integrations with tools like Zoom or BigBlueButton for live sessions. Asynchronous learning is supported through self-paced courses, where learners can access materials at their convenience. Moodle also supports blended learning, combining both live and self-paced training, and offers flexibility for various learning styles and needs.


What are the hardware/software requirements for your product

Answer

For users, Moodle runs directly in a web browser, requiring no special software other than a modern browser like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. The hosted product is supported by a server with the following requirements: Apache, Nginx, or IIS as the web server, MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, or Microsoft SQL Server for the database, PHP version 7.4 or later, and at least 512MB of RAM (1GB or more recommended). Additional disk space is required for course content, and the system can run on Linux, Windows, or macOS.


Are the devices (servers, routers and firewalls) that host client data dedicated to us or do they host other client data as well

Answer

It depends on your definition of “device”.

Yes. Your client data is hosted on a dedicated and isolated virtual machine which is separate from any other clients’ data.

No. This virtual machine is on a virtualization server that runs other separation applications that you, and we, do not have access to which is managed by our cloud provider.


How much storage space is provided

Answer

The storage provided will be 200GiB storage (monthly). Additional storage can be added at any time during the initial term or renewal terms at MTS’s then current pricing.


How are product upgrades handled? How often are upgrades released

Answer

Moodle releases major upgrades twice a year, typically in May and November, with minor updates as needed for security and bug fixes. Upgrades can be managed manually by administrators, ensuring compatibility with customizations and plugins. We assist with the upgrade process to ensure a smooth transition.


Is your proposed product or service considered a medical device subject to regulation by the Food and Drug Administration? If yes, provide a Manufacturer Disclosure Statement for Medical Device Security (MDS2) for each proposed product/service

Answer

No, our proposed service is not considered a medical device subject to regulation by the Food and Drug Administration.


Does your proposed product or service require access and use of JPS confidential data? If yes, please identify the necessary data elements. “Confidential data” refers to Protected Health Information (HIPAA), Cardholder Data (PCI), or other data intended for restricted access or use

Answer

No, our proposed service does not require access to or use of JPS confidential data, including Protected Health Information (HIPAA) or Cardholder Data (PCI).


Are non-production environments used for development and testing, prior to deployment in production

Answer

Yes, we use a separate Moodle development server for testing and development before deployment in production.


Does your organization require authentication for remote access to server environments

Answer

We don’t allow remote access to server environments. Access is only permitted through the application interface.


Is your organizations’ customer data stored in a hosted “cloud” environment? If yes, identify your cloud service provider

Answer

Yes, customer data is stored in a hosted cloud environment. We use BuyVM.net for our cloud hosting services, with data centers located in the United States, specifically in Las Vegas and New York.


Product delivery capabilities for 24 hours, 7 days a week (24x7) use primarily over the internet with other delivery options available

Answer

Our product delivery ensures 24/7 accessibility via a robust, cloud-based LMS, offering reliable performance and high availability. For alternative needs, we provide offline options like downloadable content or on-premise integrations, ensuring flexible, uninterrupted learning experiences.


AICC/SCORM conformant courseware that can be integrated with an LMS using the prescribed API requirements

Answer

SCORM is the newer version of AICC. Moodle is fully SCORM conformant, supporting the integration of courseware using these industry-standard formats. It can seamlessly integrate with an LMS using the prescribed API requirements, enabling the tracking of learner progress, completion, and scores. Moodle supports both SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004 versions, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of courseware.


Downloadable capability for standalone use of courseware and upload capability of AICC compliant data (scores, bookmarks, etc.) synched with internet scores

Answer

SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) is the modern version of AICC (Aviation Industry Computer-Based Training Committee), and Moodle fully supports SCORM-compliant courseware. This allows for the downloading of course content for offline use, while also enabling the upload and synchronization of course data, such as scores and bookmarks, between offline and online environments once internet connectivity is restored.


Secure files transfer

Answer

Provides secure file transfer capabilities through encrypted protocols for uploading, downloading, and managing files. Files uploaded to the platform are stored securely on the server, and administrators can set permissions to control who can access, download, or modify files. Moodle supports SSL encryption for secure data transmission and allows restricted access to sensitive content based on user roles.


Can you search for topics or definitions within a course, across courses, across a catalog, and/or through the internet? Is this included in the cost of the license

Answer

Yes, our platform offers robust search functionality that allows learners to search for topics, definitions, and keywords within individual courses, across multiple courses, and throughout the entire course catalog. This makes it easy for learners to quickly find relevant information, enhancing their learning experience.

Additionally, the search capabilities extend to integrating external content, allowing learners to search across the internet for related resources. This feature is included in the cost of the license, providing a comprehensive and efficient way for users to access and explore content both within the courseware and beyond.


Are all components of your e-Learning solution accessible from one list/navigation frame? If not, describe student interface. Is only one logon required

Answer

Yes, all components of our e-Learning solution are accessible from a single, unified navigation frame. The student interface is designed to be intuitive, allowing learners to easily access courses, assignments, assessments, forums, and other resources from a central dashboard. The interface is customizable to suit individual or organizational preferences, ensuring a seamless learning experience.

Additionally, only one logon is required to access the entire system. Once logged in, learners can navigate through various course materials, track their progress, and participate in any required activities without needing to log in again. This single sign-on system simplifies access and ensures a streamlined user experience.


Are there interactive processes that can be done without the actual application software

Answer

Yes, our courses include interactive processes that allow learners to practice and apply concepts without needing the actual application software. These may include simulations, scenario-based exercises, and virtual labs that replicate real-world environments or tasks. For example, learners can engage in drag-and-drop exercises, decision-making scenarios, and interactive case studies that mimic the workflow of various applications or processes.

These interactive elements are designed to provide learners with a hands-on learning experience and help them build skills in a controlled, risk-free environment. By using these tools, learners can practice essential tasks, troubleshoot problems, and test their knowledge before applying their skills in real-world situations or with actual software. This approach ensures that learners are better prepared and confident in their abilities when they move on to using the actual application software.


What are the minimum technical requirements to run your courseware

Answer

Our courseware is accessed over the web, and we support the latest versions of the following platforms and browsers: for desktop, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Safari. On mobile devices, we support the latest versions of Google Chrome and Safari browsers. Additionally, we offer mobile apps for iOS and Android through the free Moodle plan, which can be downloaded from the respective app stores. For the best user experience, we recommend using the most recent versions of these browsers and apps.


Do your courses require a separate viewer or player? If so, please explain

Answer

No, our courses do not require a separate viewer or player. They are designed to run directly within supported web browsers (Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari) and mobile apps (iOS and Android Moodle apps). All course materials, including videos, quizzes, and interactive content, are fully integrated into the course platform and can be accessed seamlessly through these browsers and apps without the need for additional software or plugins.


What plug-ins, if any, does your courseware require? Can your courseware run normally without plug-ins

Answer

Our courseware does not require any specific plug-ins to function. It is designed to run smoothly within modern web browsers such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Safari, as well as mobile apps like the iOS and Android Moodle apps. All course materials, including multimedia content, quizzes, and interactive elements, are built to work natively within these platforms. Therefore, the courseware can operate normally without the need for additional plug-ins, ensuring a streamlined and user-friendly experience for learners.


Answer

Our e-Learning solution is fully compliant with the newer version of AICC (Aviation Industry Computer-Based Training Committee) and the SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) standards, ensuring seamless integration with a wide range of Learning Management Systems (LMS).

For AICC/SCORM compliance, our courses are designed to work with SCORM-compliant systems, enabling the tracking of learner progress, completion, and scores. This allows for interoperability between the courseware and LMS, providing a smooth experience for learners and administrators.

In terms of SCORM compliance, we support SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004 standards, enabling the packaging and sharing of learning content across different systems. SCORM ensures that our courses are trackable, offering features such as progress tracking, quiz results, and time spent on lessons. Our content can be easily uploaded, launched, and tracked within SCORM-compliant LMS platforms, providing accurate reporting and data collection on learner activities.

AICC/SCORM compliance provides flexibility and ensures that our e-Learning courses can be effectively integrated into various LMS platforms, enhancing the overall learning and tracking experience.


Has your courseware been tested with Learning Management Systems (LMS)? Please provide a list of all Learning Management Systems your product has been successfully tested for usability

Answer

Yes, our courseware has been tested and optimized for use with Moodle. We ensure full compatibility with Moodle’s features, including course delivery, tracking, reporting, and assessment functionalities. Our courses meet SCORM and AICC compliance standards, ensuring seamless integration with Moodle’s Learning Management System. This allows for smooth user experiences, accurate tracking of learner progress, and reliable reporting of course completion and assessment results within Moodle’s environment.


Are you a partner with any Learning Management Systems? If so, which ones

Answer

Yes, we are partnered with various Learning Management Systems (LMS) to ensure seamless integration and optimal performance of our courseware. Our primary partnership is with Moodle, which allows for easy deployment, tracking, and reporting. Additionally, we support integration with other leading LMS platforms. These partnerships enable us to provide flexible and scalable e-Learning solutions, ensuring compatibility across different systems for our clients.


Do you offer a downloadable option for your courses? Are scores and bookmarks uploaded and synched with other courseware data taken online

Answer

Moodle supports limited offline access to course content through downloadable resources, such as files or packaged SCORM content, which can be accessed without an internet connection. While Moodle does not natively provide full course offline functionality, plugins like the Moodle Mobile app or third-party tools allow learners to download specific course materials. Scores and bookmarks from offline activities are synchronized with Moodle once an internet connection is re-established, ensuring seamless data integration.


How often is your product upgraded? How often are new releases available

Answer

Our product is regularly upgraded to ensure it stays current with technological advancements, industry standards, and user needs. Typically, we release updates on a quarterly basis, with major new releases occurring annually. These updates include improvements to the user interface, new features, bug fixes, and enhancements for better compatibility with various devices and Learning Management Systems (LMS). We also ensure that the courseware content is updated as needed to reflect the latest industry trends and best practices, providing learners with the most relevant and up-to-date learning materials.


How do you manage the system upgrades to your ASP service? How far in advance are administrators notified of the system upgrades

Answer

System upgrades to our ASP (Application Service Provider) service are carefully managed to ensure minimal disruption to users. We follow a structured upgrade process that includes rigorous testing and staging before deployment. Administrators are notified of upcoming system upgrades at least two weeks in advance through email notifications and announcements on the admin dashboard. This allows administrators to prepare for any changes, review any new features or updates, and communicate with end users if necessary. Additionally, we provide detailed release notes with each upgrade, outlining the changes, improvements, and any actions required from administrators or users.


Are your servers co-located? Please discuss your co-location and the uptime of your ASP service over the past year

Answer

Yes, our servers are co-located in secure, state-of-the-art data centers that adhere to industry best practices for reliability and security. These data centers are equipped with redundant power supplies, cooling systems, and robust security measures to ensure the continuous operation of our ASP service. Over the past year, our service has maintained an uptime of 99.9%, reflecting our commitment to providing a stable and reliable platform for our users. Regular monitoring and proactive maintenance ensure that potential issues are identified and resolved promptly to minimize any service disruptions.


Do you have a reporting and tracking system that works with all courses and products? Please describe

Answer

Yes, we have a comprehensive reporting and tracking system that works seamlessly across all courses and products. This system tracks learner progress, performance, and engagement, providing administrators and instructors with detailed insights. It monitors course completion, assessment results, time spent on each section, and overall learner activity. Administrators can generate customizable reports to analyze metrics such as completion rates, quiz performance, and learner engagement, with the ability to export data in various formats like PDF and CSV. The system integrates with Learning Management Systems (LMS), ensuring consistent tracking and reporting across platforms such as Moodle, SCORM, and AICC-compliant systems, providing a unified and efficient tool for managing and optimizing the learning experience.


Does your reporting and tracking have Learning Management System functionality? Therefore, can it be used as a stand-alone system? Explain briefly

Answer

Yes, our reporting and tracking system has Learning Management System (LMS) functionality, allowing it to be used as a stand-alone system if desired. It includes features such as course enrollment, progress tracking, assessments, and learner management. While it can integrate seamlessly with external LMS platforms like Moodle or others, the system itself is fully functional for managing courses, tracking learner progress, and generating reports independently. This stand-alone capability makes it flexible for organizations that may not use a separate LMS but still require comprehensive tracking and reporting.


Can your system launch other AICC and/or SCORM content hosted elsewhere (such as proprietary, in-house developed, other vendors, etc.)

Answer

Yes, our system supports the launch of AICC and SCORM content hosted elsewhere, such as proprietary, in-house developed, or content from other vendors. The system is designed to be compatible with SCORM standards, which ensures interoperability with external content hosted outside our platform. This allows administrators to integrate and track external learning modules seamlessly alongside our own courseware, maintaining a unified learning experience and consistent tracking and reporting across all content. Whether the content is hosted internally or externally, it can be launched, tracked, and managed within our system if it adheres to AICC or SCORM standards.


Is your system compatible with various web browsers (e.g., Edge, Firefox, Chrome)

Answer

Moodle is fully compatible with major web browsers, including Edge, Firefox, and Chrome, ensuring a consistent experience across different platforms.


Does your system conform to accessibility standards for users with disabilities

Answer

Moodle is designed to be WCAG 2.1 compliant, ensuring accessibility for users with disabilities, including support for screen readers, keyboard navigation, and customizable themes.


Can your system handle a growing number of users and courses

Answer

Moodle is highly scalable, capable of handling a growing number of users and courses with proper server configuration, load balancing, and database optimization.


Is your system compatible with the Windows operating system

Answer

Moodle is fully compatible with Windows operating systems, both for server installation and client access via web browsers.


Does your system support common database management systems (SQL)

Answer

Moodle supports common SQL database management systems such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MariaDB, providing an efficient structure for managing user data, course content, and interactions.


Does your system implement an API to communicate with other computer programs

Answer

Moodle provides a robust API (web services) for integration with other software programs, enabling data exchange and communication with external systems.


Does your system include security protections for sensitive information

Answer

Moodle includes security features such as SSL encryption, user role management, data privacy settings, and compliance with standards like GDPR to protect sensitive information.


What authentication protocols does your system support to prevent unauthorized access

Answer

Moodle supports various authentication protocols such as OAuth, LDAP, SAML, and Moodle’s internal authentication, ensuring secure login, preventing unauthorized access, and reducing data breach risks.


Does your system include regular automated data backups and disaster recovery measures

Answer

Moodle supports automated backups of courses, user data, and configurations, and includes disaster recovery options for system restoration in case of failures.