70 -- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION - Software Development Support

This is a REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) for Software Development Support Services being released by General Services Administration (GSA) on behalf of the Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC), the Requestor. This RFI is being issued for planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a Request for Proposal (RFP) or as an obligation on the part of the Requestor to acquire any products or services. If an RFP is issued, it will be officially issued by the appropriate government contracting office. The requestor does not intend to pay for the information requested. All information provided is for government planning use only. If proprietary information is provided, please mark as Proprietary for Government use Only.Background a. The General Services Administration (GSA) is soliciting input from industry for on-site and off-site technical, functional and analytical support in: software planning, DoD Automated Information System Life Cycle Management (AIS-LCM) documentation, software development, software integration, software maintenance, unit/integration/system testing, and associated support functions. The information obtained as a result of this RFI is intended to be utilized in the development of a future acquisition that may or may not require the products and services as described. b. Vendors are requested to submit the following information regarding technical capabilities, industry information and industry recommendations: i. What personnel would be proposed and considered to be ?Key Personnel.? ii. As part of the final solicitation, there is a strong consideration for providing incentives for performance under a Firm Fixed Price cost structure. What level and type of incentives, including non-monetary incentives, would be most suitable under this Task Order to promote superior performance? iii. Disincentives for poor performance are also under strong consideration for contractor failure to perform up to an Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) for all tasks. What AQLs would be appropriate for the defined tasks and how would you propose that they be monitored? iv. It is anticipated that a transition period will be necessary should the incumbent contractor not be selected. During this transition period, among other things, it would be expected that the new contractor would work with the incumbent to transfer responsibilities. How would you propose to work with the incumbent to effectively manage this transition? How long of a period would be adequate to ensure a smooth transition? v. What possible constraints or boundaries, if any do you envision in performing this requirement. vi. Based on this PWS do you feel there is sufficient information to respond to a formal solicitation? If not what additional information do you recommend be incorporated in the PWS. vii. Do you believe the stated goals and desired results are obtainable? If not, do you have any recommendations in tailoring these goals? viii. How many days (including weekends and holidays) do you feel is required to respond to a formal solicitation? General Requirements: a. The requirements are: Task 1 (Software Development): Enhancement of existing processes, applications and related databases, as well as developing new applications, as required to support DMDC program initiatives that relate to DEERS, DEERS applications, DBIDS, CAC, or other DMDC automated tool or application. Development of detailed designs and specifications for continuing software development. Implementation of these enhancements, ongoing maintenance of the existing processes, and the associated knowledge bases, applications, applets, and satellite databases. Provide life cycle software application development support. Task 2 (Research and Analysis): Provide analytical support, develop data extracts, identify trend and construct required reports, ensure uniformity where possible, establish and maintain in-house archival procedures, and graphical presentations for use by DMDC, DoD Officials or others as requested. Assist DMDC in determining how to field the new applications. Support may include tasks related to life cycle cost estimates, New Equipment Training (NET) resource estimates, build vs. buy decision analyses, business process reengineering (BPR) studies and COTS analyses, as needed. Provide Technical Writing (TW) activities to support DMDC program initiatives. Support application testing and evaluation, and answer ad hoc research requests from the DMDC Division Chiefs. Specific tasks may include, but not be limited to, performing special studies, conducting data research, and responding to inquiries for outside organizations when required. Task 3 (Program Management): Provide services associated with the functional area of Program Management. The Contractor shall assist DMDC in providing program and project management. Assist DMDC in developing and delivering the materials needed to sustain the funding levels required to ensure an adequately funded development program. Support may include demo web-sites, conference and trade fair participation, meeting attendance and presentations, coordination visits, live supported technology demonstrations, and virtual demonstrations as directed. Task 4 (Quality Assurance and Configuration Management): Provide support services to include Change Management (CM), Technical Writing (TW), Quality Assurance (QA), and QA activities to support DMDC program initiatives that relate to DEERS, DEERS applications, DBIDS, CAC, or other DMDC automated tools or applications. Task 5 (Security Infrastructure): Meet DMDC security requirements in three areas: Authentication, Authorization, and Auditing. In addition the Contractor will provide support for security program inception, elaboration, construction, and maintenance. Task 6 (Production Support): The contractor shall be responsible for providing developers with the services and tools to monitor, identify and conduct problem resolution; support scheduled/unscheduled, on-line request and end-user initiated processing of all DMDC business applications. Task 7 (Technical Writing): The contractor shall be responsible for providing documentation and technical writing services that are typical to IT software projects. Specifically, tasks will include but not be limited to: 1) developing and maintaining documentation related to the hardware, software application, and/or on-line (web-site) sources of data; 2) developing training materials and documentation; and 3) document key meetings. Task 8 (Implementation Support): The contractor shall be responsible for providing DMDC with best practices to ensure that each client?s implementation is seamless and successful. The contractor shall provide practical assistance, industry knowledge and expertise, and a high level of technical support, during and after implementation. Task 9 (Database Support): Provide services associated with the functional area of Database Management and Support. The Contractor shall assist DMDC in modifying both the tools and the underlying database to maintain operational effectiveness. All Tasks (1-9) are required to be performed under the same contract vehicle. b. The draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) is provided for industry comment. Request vendors make suggested changes to the document using ?Track Changes? for suggested enhancements and recommendations for changes. Submitted changes/additions may or may not be included in the final solicitation. Please contact Debra Bouchard, DMDC Project Manager via email at debra.bouchard@gsa.gov for copies of the PWS and appendices. c. Questions regarding this RFI are to be addressed via email to Debra Bouchard at debra.bouchard@gsa.gov no later than 12:00PM EST 8/14/07. The government response will be distributed on 8/16/07. d. Interested parties shall submit their responses by email to todd.tekesky@gsa.gov and debra.bouchard@gsa.gov no later than 4:00PM 8/21/07. Acceptable file formats are Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and/or .PDF. ALL inquiries and responses must be submitted as instructed above ? Telephone and FAX inquiries will not be accepted. Anticipated Place of Performance ? Address: Primary location of work - Defense Manpower Data Center ?Seaside, DoD Center Monterey Bay, 400 Gigling Road Seaside, CA 93955-6771, Secondary location of work: Defense Manpower Data Center ? Arlington,1600 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22209 or other locations within the Monterey area and in the Washington Metropolitan area, as determined by DMDC on an as needed basis) FOR COMPLETE SET OF RFI DOCUMENTS CONTACT THE PROJECT MANAGER AT: debra.bouchard@gsa.gov NOTE: This RFI is also being issued via EBuy under RFQ # 225508