D -- VIRTUAL DATA CENTER (VDC) SUPPORT

The U.S. Department of Education (ED), Federal Student Aid (FSA) is conducting a competitive procurement for a Virtual Data Center (VDC). This effort will include data center processing infrastructure and related services in support of FSA's programs. The VDC solution will support a diverse set of information services and FSA needs, including but not limited to hosting of mainframe applications and mid-tier applications. The scope of the services will fall within three main categories: Data Center Services, Data Network Services and Cross-Functional Services. The solution will be procured through one solicitation. FSA's anticipated contractual needs are available in a Statement of Objectives (SOO) posted on the website: (http://www.fsaextranet.ed.gov/) All offerors responding to the VDC Phase I solicitation must follow the instructions contained in the "Instructions and Evaluation Criteria." The U.S. Department of Education (ED) intends to award a contract for a VDC, for a term up to 10 years, including optional periods. The award will be a performance-based incentive type contract. ED is conducting the procurement competitively using a two-phase procedure, in accordance with applicable Federal procurement laws and regulations and FSA's procurement flexibility statute (20 U.S.C. 1018a(d)). Under Phase I, offerors submit basic information. ED will announce the Phase I results and issue a Draft Request for Proposals (RFP) to the offerors selected under Phase I in early September 2005. Only the offerors selected under Phase I of the process are eligible to participate in Phase II. ED anticipates that proposals under Phase II will be due mid November. Useful information to assist offerors, including an electronic public library, may be found on the VDC website: (http://www.fsaextranet.ed.gov/). All questions or comments should be e-mailed to Contracting Officers, Carolyn Dickens and Richard Segich at Carolyn.Dickens@ed.gov and Richard.Segich@ed.gov, respectively. Interested parties should submit Phase I submissions on or before 10:30 AM local time (Washington, DC) August 15, 2005 to the following address: U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid, Acquisition Planning and Contract Management, 830 First Street NE, 91D4, Washington, DC 20202-5405, Attention: Richard Segich and Carolyn Dickens.