ECMS expansion

The FBI intends to sole source this effort to AT Solutions. Justification and Authorization posted below. Proposals are due AUg 25, 2010 by 12pm est by soft copy. JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE 41 U.S.C. 253 (c)(1) - 1. IDENTIFICATION OF THE AGENCY AND THE CONTRACTING ACTIVITY The agency is the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), specifically, the Evidence Response Team (ERT) Unit (ERTU), Operational Response Section (ORS), Laboratory Division (LD). The contracting activity is the Information Technology Contracts Unit, Procurement Section, Finance Division. - 2. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING APPROVED The continued development and enhancement of a new Evidence Collection and Management (ECM) system to be utilized by field ERTs, which will include a total turnkey system capable of working in a multi-user, wireless environment. The contract will include analysis, design, development, testing, implementation, enhancement and documentation of the ECM package as well as the maintenance and upgrade of Asymmetric Threat & Tactical Analysis Casebook (ATTAC) software licenses. The contract will be a Firm Fixed price contract for a base period of one year with four option years. - 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET AGENCY'S NEEDS The ERTU's mission is to enable FBI field office ERTs to collect evidence supporting FBI priority investigations, including crime scene documentation. One of the most critical elements of proper crime scene exploitation is accurate and detailed documentation of the scene to include descriptions of the scene, the conditions upon arrival, the individuals present, and the location and description of all items of evidence seized. Currently, the vast majority of this documentation is conducted by the crime scene personnel filling out paperwork. ERT members also have an electronic version of this paperwork which is built upon an Access Database engine. The main drawback to this program is that the user interface is difficult to manipulate and the program is very printer specific. This database program is designed such that only one individual is able to access the system. The proposed ECM system will consist of multiple components to include: a drawing/drafting tool which operates upon a wireless-enabled, tablet style, touchscreen, ruggedized laptop; a photographic management tool which will operate upon a small, wireless-enabled, handheld, Windows-based, PDA-type device; an evidence seizing tool which will operate upon a small wireless-enabled, handheld, Windows-based, PDA-type device; and a data management tool which operates upon a wireless-enabled, ruggedized, touchscreen laptop. The ECM will allow the users to wirelessly communicate information within a crime scene in a real-time format. The system will be designed to increase the speed, efficiency, and accuracy with which ERT teams collect and record evidence as well as decrease the effort and time from collection to inclusion in the Evidence Control Database. The system will also be designed to minimize and/or eliminate double and triple typing of data. In October 2008, ERTU entered into a contract with A-T Solutions to design and build this software. To date, the development has resulted in a robust software package that operates on a standalone laptop system. It includes a complete ERT form set and the ATTAC high speed diagramming tool. This package has been deployed fieldwide and has been very well received by the field ERT teams. As the tool gets more and more use in the field, additional possibilities are being realized. ERTU would like to continue enhancing the capabilities of this software and provide additional benefit and service to the field teams they support. The first year development efforts will be focused on bringing the wireless system up to fully operational as well as fixing procedural issues observed in the prior releases. The first year development will also provide for enhanced reporting capabilities and label printing. Subsequent years of development will include continued enhancement of the capabilities of the system and integration/migration of datasets into Sentinel. The initial year of development is estimated at $600,000 which includes labor for the database analysis, design, development, implementation, testing, documentation, and travel. The contract includes four option years for further development of the ECM system by providing enhanced capabilities. The cost of these option years is estimated at $600,000 each. The total estimated cost of the contract is $3 million. - 4. IDENTIFICATION OF THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION The statutory authority for conducting this acquisition is 41 U.S.C. 253 (c)(1). The regulatory authority is FAR 6.302-1 (a)(ii), in the sense that services may be deemed to be available only from the original source in the case of a follow-on contract for the continued provision of highly specialized services when it is likely that award to any other would result in duplication of cost and unacceptable delays. 5. DEMONSTRATION THAT THE CONTRACTOR'S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS OR THE NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION REQUIRES USE OF THE AUTHORITY CITED The ATTAC software was developed by Trancite Logic Systems. Trancite Logic Systems is the sole-source code owner of ATTAC as well as the vector-based diagramming engine it is developed on. In late 2009, Trancite merged with A-T Solutions and they are the sole-source provider of ATTAC software. The ATTAC diagramming engine is the only vector-based diagramming engine in the world that is not based upon a CAD platform; was engineered specifically for and used by the state, federal, and military law enforcement community; and has a native file size less than 10KB which allows for rapid transmission over virtually any communication platform. Vector graphics are not made up of a grid of pixels. Instead, they are comprised of paths which are defined by a start and an end point. Because vector-based images are not made up of a specific number of dots, they can be scaled to a larger size and not lose any image quality. If you blow up a raster graphic image, it will look blocky, or pixilated. When you blow up a vector graphic image, the image remains crisp and clear. AutoCAD is a very powerful vector based diagramming package. Unfortunately, it is also a very complex program requiring extensive training and regular use in order to utilize its full potential. Utilizing ATTAC as the diagramming tool gives ERT teams the advantages of a vector based diagramming tool without extensive training requirements of an AutoCAD package. ATTAC is the backbone of the ECM system. The ECM software package has been customized for the FBI by A-T Solutions. The ECM software has been designed around the ATTAC software to ensure the other forms and data subsets will merge seamlessly with the diagramming tool so that everything in the file is cross referenced. - 6. DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS MADE TO ENSURE THAT OFFERS WERE SOLICITED FROM AS MANY POTENTIAL SOURCES AS WAS PRACTICABLE Over the past ten years, the ERTU has researched the internet, trade journals, and other sources to identify potential products to meet their needs. ERTU has reviewed products such as AutoCAD, AutoSketch, 3D Home Design, and other diagramming software. None of these products have all the capabilities needed to meet ERTU's needs. In an effort to locate other potential sources, the ERTU contacted the FBI's Explosive Unit as well as Department of Defense and both recommended A-T Solutions. In addition, this product is being utilized by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; the U. S. Secret Service; and a multitude of other Federal, state, and local law enforcement entities. Although other potential products were identified, the A-T Solutions product was deemed to be the best product to meet the requirements based upon the speed of the product and the uniqueness of the drawing package. There are an unlimited number of companies who can build form sets, but this type and level of drawing capability is unique. The package works seamlessly in a secure wireless environment, which can be used in the field at crime scenes. Development of a turnkey system will prevent the need to use multiple different packages which require an operating system capable of running multiple packages, merging the data real time, and producing yet a third set of parameters. A-T Solutions will also develop an entire form set into the package, which will prevent the need to use various software packages to develop different forms and the need for retyping the same information in different formats. With the development to date and the fact we are utilizing ATTAC as the diagramming tool, moving the software development to another vendor would be an extremely costly and time consuming affair. The ATTAC diagramming tool is a proprietary piece of software and all field ERT teams have received training on this package. Utilization of a different vendor would require the complete redesign/reverse engineering of the diagramming package as well as the re-training of all ERT Field teams. The development of the ERT form sets which are built around the diagramming tool have been in process since 2008. If another vendor were to be selected, it is believed it would cost the government in excess of $4 million and 3 years in development time just to get back to the point we are at today. A-T Solutions has produced a solid package to date which is very reliable and user friendly. A-T Solutions has a proven track record with the FBI as well as DOD. The FBI's intent to award the follow-on contract to A-T Solutions will be advertised in Fedbizopps and other interested vendors will be given the opportunity to express their ability to meet the requirement. If another source expresses an ability to meet the requirement and is determined to be capable, consideration will be made as to whether to open the acquisition to competition. 7. DETERMINATION OF THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE ANTICIPATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE FAIR AND REASONABLE The Contracting Officer will make a determination, in accordance with FAR 15.404-1, that proposed costs are fair and reasonable. 8. A DESCRIPTION OF THE MARKET SURVEY CONDUCTED AND THE RESULTS OR A STATEMENT OF THE REASONS A MARKET SURVEY WAS NOT CONDUCTED The ERTU has identified and utilized packages in the past such as AutoCAD, 3D Home Design, etc., to produce accurate sketches of crime scenes. When looking for a product with a diagramming tool, the ATTAC software was recommended by the Explosives Unit as well as DOD. Through ERTU's research, this product and the customization was the item found to fully fit ERTU's needs as well as providing the high-speed, fully integrated and intelligent form sets required and ability to work seamlessly in a secure wireless environment. 9. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION In an era where information sharing is being mandated by Congress and other Government entities, should this product be acquired, the FBI will be able to fully share information to all levels of Government when required to do so. In addition, the purpose of this product will alleviate the need to have one package do the drawing and a completely separate package to do the form set. Having two separate products defeats the whole purpose of the ECM and is not cost effective. 10. A LISTING OF SOURCES, IF ANY, THAT EXPRESSED IN WRITING AN INTEREST IN THE ACQUISITION To date, no other source has expressed an interest in the acquisition. However, upon advertisement in Fedbizopps, if any other source identifies an interest and proves capability to meet the requirements, their interest will be taken into consideration. - 11. A STATEMENT OF THE ACTIONS, IF ANY, THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS TO COMPETITION BEFORE ANY SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITION FOR THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES ARE REQUIRED ERTU will continue to monitor the marketplace, trade journals, other Government entities to identify other sources and products to meet future requirements.