External Emergency Notification System

This is a pre-solicitation notice for commercial items prepared in accordance with Subpart 5.203, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. A solicitation will be issued on May 4, 2009. In accordance with FAR 11.104, this posting serves as notice of the U.S. Department of Education's (ED) intent to procure a brand name or equal item peculiar to one manufacturer, Emergency Management Telecommunications, Inc. (EMTEL), on a competitive basis. EMTEL is the sole provider of software license and maintenance and is the manufacturer and exclusive licensee of SchoolCall911. No authorized resellers of this software exist; thus, no other vendors can provide maintenance for the above-referenced software. However, the Department will accept proposals for products that are equal to the functional and operational characteristics described below. Once the minimal technical capabilities are met, price will be the determining factor for award. The minimal salient characteristics that must be met are as follows: 1. Develop and enhance a web-accessible database of primary telephone, fax, cellular, TTY and e-mail contacts for all SEAs, LEAs, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)-funded schools, and institutions of higher education in the nation and that allows web-based updates from authorized contacts. 2. Provide the mobile and wireless communication system to operate the portable activation and notification system that can: (1) receive alert notices from a variety of sources (i.e. external sensors, hazard notifications, and communication systems), (2) provide a means to administer and activate the notification system, (3) send outbound calls and alert notifications to a user-generated call list of contacts via numerous methods, including but not limited to: telephone, fax, cellular, TTY, e-mail, pagers, fire alarms, campus siren and intercom systems, Radio Frequency (RF), Short Message Service (SMS) text, and Internet; and (4) receive real-time feedback from the alerted systems and end-points. 3. Provide the security features for to ensure safeguard of the wireless system i.e. secured token access, and full FISMA certification and accreditation of main operating system from which the information is originated. 4. Develop, operate and maintain the system consistent with federal security requirements (e.g., Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), NIST guidelines and industry best practices) and ensure that system has real time response and communication capability along with remote activation and tracking capability. 5. Provides the ability to access the Internet and is capable of allowing the use of SSL and IPSec VPN technology (e.g., Citrix MetaFrame) to remotely access internal ED information technology resources. 6. Develop and enhance statewide and regional maps identifying all elementary, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education in specific geographic areas. 7. Deliver emergency or otherwise deemed necessary information to all SEAs, LEAs, BIA-funded schools, and institutions of higher education within a specific geographic region or nationwide. Please contact contact@example.gov via email or at +1 (555) 000-0000, should additional information be required.