EBT Gateway

SNAP ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER (EBT) GATEWAY SERVICES INTRODUCTION This SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE is to determine the availability of potential small businesses (e.g., 8(a), service-disabled veteran owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, veteran-owned small business, and women-owned small business) that can provide: SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Gateway Services The information from this market research will help USDA/Food Nutrition Service plan their acquisition strategy. Please be sure to indicate if you have a GSA schedule contract, a contract on GSA 8(a) STARS, GSA VETS GWAC, or none. THIS IS STRICTLY MARKET RESEARCH. USDA/ Procurement Operations Division WILL NOT ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS MARKET RESEARCH. BACKGROUND FNS is responsible for policy related to SNAP retailer management and EBT benefit issuance; systems and contracts used to manage retailer participation and compliance; the operational and technical aspects of EBT issuance; and performing the final USDA administrative review of appeals on SNAP retailer-related decisions. The ability to see transactions in real time through access to the EBT Gateways would enhance FNS's ability to detect and fight fraud, assist in disaster relief efforts, and give FNS visibility into system outages. FNS is referring to this access to EBT Gateways as Gateway Access Terminals (GATs). Currently, FNS is unable to see individual transactions until two days after they occur. Post pilot assessment, a GAT would provide FNS the ability to reject potentially fraudulent transactions as they occur, as opposed to reviewing data after the fact to identify fraud. Additionally, FNS's disaster relief efforts would benefit from seeing real-time activity by allowing FNS to see when stores have stopped conducting transactions, as well as when they are once again able to resume transacting. RESPONSE INFORMATION In order to respond to this notice, contractors must be able to clearly convey its experience and/or ability to perform the following tasks identified. Provide FNS with EBT Gateway Administrative Terminal (GAT) access, which will include EBT transaction monitoring capabilities, monthly reports, and ability to export/pull data and reports detailed in Section 3 - Scope. The full requirements for these tasks are defined in the RTM in Attachment A (attachment to Sources Sought). Each response should include the following Business Information: a. UEI SAM. b. Company Name. c. Company Address. d. Indicate if the company has a Current GSA Schedules or no contract vehicle in accordance with this Sources Sought. f. Type of Company (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, veteran owned, etc.) as validated via the System for Award Management (https://sam.gov/content/home ) g. Company Point of Contact, Phone and Email address Teaming Arrangements: All teaming arrangements should also include the above-cited information and certifications for each entity on the proposed team. Teaming arrangements are encouraged. Responses must be submitted not later than 12pm MST, 7/24/2023. Capability statements will not be returned and will not be accepted after the due date. The maximum number of pages for submission is 8 pages. They must be emailed to Jessica.Massey@usda.gov with the SS# JMSS01 on the subject line. GENERAL INFORMATION This Sources Sought Notice is for information and planning purposes only and should not be construed as a commitment by the Government. This is not a solicitation announcement for proposals and no contract will be awarded from this Notice. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this Notice. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this evaluation. Capability statements will not be returned and will not be accepted after the due date. As previously stated, the Government will not entertain questions regarding this Market Research; however, general questions may be forwarded to the following: Contracting Officer: Jessica Massey Email Address: Jessica.Massey@usda.gov