End-User Infrastructure as-a-Service (IaaS) and Office Automation Software as-a-Service (SaaS)

*Please see attachment for complete Sources Sought Announcement with diagram. Notice Type: Request for Information Solicitation: HQ0034-10-TM31110 Agency/Office: Washington Headquarters Service Location: WHS Acquisition and Procurement Office Title: Department of Defense (DoD) End-User Infrastructure as-a-Service (IaaS) and Office Automation Software as-a-Service (SaaS) This is a Request For Information (RFI), to receive responses, including ideas, comments, and recommendations, with respect to Business & Pricing Models, Operational & Technical Concepts, and Capability Statements for End-User Infrastructure as-a-Service (IaaS) and Office Automation Software as-a-Service (SaaS). Responses should be from vendors capable of providing one or more portions of the envisioned services. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS. The Government DOES NOT intend to award a contract on the basis of the responses to this RFI. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this synopsis or any follow-up information requests. This RFI is for planning purposes only and to gain knowledge regarding current capabilities with respect to IaaS and SaaS. Responses to this RFI will not be returned. Information received in response to this RFI may be used to assess alternatives available in determining how to proceed in future acquisitions, and members of the DoD Chief Information Officer (CIO) may follow up to learn more about submissions of interest. Not responding to the RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP. If a solicitation is released, it will be issued via the Federal Business Opportunities website (www.fbo.gov). It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor this website for any information that may pertain to this RFI. The information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. (a) The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this solicitation or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). (b) Although - proposal, - contractor, and - offeror are used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal. (c) This solicitation is issued for the purpose of gaining information to be used in determining the scope of future IaaS and SaaS contracts. This RFI is a part of Market Research in accordance with FAR Part 10, FAR 12.101 and FAR 12.202. Any proprietary information submitted in response to this RFI, if marked with a restrictive legend, will not be disclosed outside the Government or its support contractors except with the permission of the responder. If proprietary information is included in the response, please indicate this in the document. I. Technical and Operational Concept The following diagram depicts a notional technical and operational concept for DoD personnel to replace traditional computing devices with diskless nodes. Each diagram number represents a separate technical and operational concept and is further described below. Responses may include ideas, comments and/or recommendations on any combination of technical solutions. Responses do not have to encompass a holistic solution. Figure 1. DoD Enterprise SaaS/IaaS End State The following requirements define a proposed baseline functionality. Technical responses should include additional recommended features, further definition of performance metrics, and cost parameters. 1. End User Device: The government envisions multiple types of end-user devices will be supplied by commercial vendor(s) meeting the following requirements: - The device will be a diskless node with embedded Common Access Card (CAC) reader configured to PXE (Preboot eXecution Environment) boot, utilizing vendor provided DHCP and TFTP servers to locate and download device Operating System (OS); - The device OS will be capable of network load via assorted transmission media to include commercial wireless services (e.g. 2G, 3G, WiMax, WiFi, etc.) and be optimized for browser-based software and services; - The device will use Common Access Card (CAC) / Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) for user authentication; - The device will be approved for use according to all applicable DoD Information Assurance (IA) security standards; and - The device will be Energy Star 5.0 Compliant 2. Transmission Media: End-User connectivity will be provided by DoD in the users primary work location. Vendor will provide wireless connectivity (e.g. 2G, 3G, 4G/WiMax, etc.) for diskless nodes with wireless capability. Technical responses should address security precautions, cost structures, and network performance. 3. Secure Access: The diskless node will use an approved VPN tunnel upon CAC authentication to ensure secure access throughout use in accordance with all applicable DoD IA security standards. 4. DoD SaaS Entry Point: As the most visible component of the offering, the Entry point should incorporate the following: - Allow easy access to hosted office automation software applications (defined below); - Facilitate rapid proficiency by incorporating a familiar structure (e.g. Windows, iGoogle, Apple OS, etc.); - Allow access to existing DoD web portals such as Defense Connect Online (DCO), Defense Knowledge Online (DKO), Intelink, etc. - DoD Entry Portal must be interoperable with multiple web browsers such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and Chrome. 5. DoD Office Automation SaaS Suite: Vendor will provide and host browser-based software-as-a-service, office automation software (e.g., word processing, spreadsheets, email, etc.) - Office automation software must be interoperable with the network publishing service defined below with all other options for saving files disabled. - Software must save all documents in an open format (e.g. xml) with user attributes automatically populated in the metadata 6. Storage as-a-Service: A commercial vender will provide storage service in accordance with all applicable DoD IA security standards and interoperate with the network publishing service defined below. 7. Network Publishing Service: The network publishing service will operate within the office automation software to properly tag (often automatically) documents, spreadsheets, etc., with proper metadata. This metadata will include, but is not limited to: - Document Identifier, - Classification, - Community of Interest, - Author, - Date, - Subject Tags (i.e. counter-narcotics, IED Defeat, etc.) II. Business & Pricing Model To fully benefit from the rapid scalability of IaaS and SaaS the government requires a contract structure that reflects the dynamic nature of hosted services. In addition to responding to the technical aspect of this RFI, the government requests the vendor to provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) that will provide an estimate and categorization of the various types of costs associated with their technical solution.. Instructions for Responses to this Request for Information (RFI) a. Firms should respond to this Request for Information by addressing the topics listed above. The total page number should not exceed twenty-five (25) pages. Vendors are encouraged to provide detailed responses that speak directly to the conceptual framework laid out below. Additional material that does not speak specifically to the RFI such as capability statements that describe the respondent's corporate capabilities, website URLs, etc., may also be submitted and will not count towards the page limit. All responses must be submitted ELECTRONICALLY. No paper submissions will be accepted. WHS will not acknowledge receipt of responses to this RFI. b. Questions must be submitted not later than 5:00 PM EST, November 18, 2009. All responses should be submitted via e-mail address to kellie.buck.ctr@whs.mil or thomas.bordone@whs.mil. no later than 5:00 PM on November 30, 2009. c. Points of Contact: Kellie Buck, Contract Specialist/Contractor, Phone 703-588-1329, Fax 703-588-1990, Thomas Bordone, Contracting Officer, Phone 703-588-1109, Fax 703-588-1990.