Independent Verification &Validation (IV&V) Service

CONTRACT INFORMATION: This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with FAR Subpart 12.6. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a paper solicitation will not be issued. The combined synopsis/solicitation number is MCC-10-0102-RFP-45, and is issued as a Request for Proposal (RFP), with incorporated provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-41. A firm-fixed price (FFP) contract is anticipated. The period of performance is three (3) months. This requirement is being synopsized under the North American Industry Classification System code 541519 - Other Computer Related Services, and the size standard is $25M. This requirement is also set-aside to Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses pursuant to FAR 6.206 and 19.1405. This is a requirement for Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V) Services. Offerors need to be aware that the requirements of IV&V on this project do not necessarily conform to industry standard practices for verification and validation as defined in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standard for Software Verification and Validation (IEEE Standard 1012-2004). The IEEE standard describes software verification & validation (V&V) processes as generally determining if development products of a given activity conform to the requirements of that activity, and if the software satisfies the intended use and user needs. In other words, the IEEE standard answers the dual question, "... did we build the product right, and did we build the right product?" As defined in the IEEE standards, V&V processes include activities such as assessment, analysis, measurement, inspection, and testing of software products and processes. These IV&V processes further include assessing software in the context of the system, including the operational environment, hardware, interfacing software, operators, and users. The IEEE standard seeks to assure that software V&V is performed in parallel with software development, not intermittently or at the conclusion of the software development. However, the requirements for the MCC Integrated Data Analysis System (MIDAS) system are limited in their scope from the industry standard IEEE definition for V&V in two (2) key regards: a. IV&V of the MIDAS project is not considered to be an integral process within the larger development project. Rather, it is considered to be an adjunct activity that does not fall within the managerial oversight or control of the day-to-day operation of the project's management structure. The IV&V Service Provider must maintain organizational independence and autonomy from the project's organization, and therefore has a reduced role from that normally associated with full IV&V services. b. In performing the "audit" of the MIDAS program, the IV&V Service Provider shall provide its' detailed, structured reports of findings of deficiencies and recommendations to MCC. This reporting process includes not only final report issuance, but all draft report submissions as well. PROJECT INFORMATION: See attached SF-1449. SELECTION CRITERIA: See attached SF-1449 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: See attached SF-1449