MESSAGE SWITCH SYSTEM (MSS)/HOT FILE SYSTEM (HFS) SOLUTION

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is seeking a qualified contractor to modernize and replace its legacy Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunication System (TLETS) and Texas Crime Information Center (TCIC) with a cloud-hosted Message Switch System (MSS) and Hot File System (HFS) solution. This contract, solicited under number 405-24R0020846, requires the vendor to deliver a secure, compliant system that integrates with statewide, national, and international criminal justice databases including Nlets, ensuring seamless information exchange with other states, Canada, Interpol, and private entities. The procurement is structured as a negotiated request for offers with a submission deadline of June 5, 2025, and is open to all respondents without a specified small business set aside. Performance will occur primarily within DPS infrastructure in Austin, Texas, with all system components required to reside in a cloud environment that meets stringent FBI CJIS Security Policy, Texas DPS IT and Cyber Security Exhibits, and NCIC standards. The system must support multi-factor authentication, audit logging, disaster recovery, and accessibility compliance under Section 508 and WCAG 2.0 AA. The contractor will be responsible for the full lifecycle of the solution, including planning, discovery, design, development, data migration, testing, training, deployment, and closeout, with defined deliverables such as the Project Management Plan, System Requirements Specification, Test and Evaluation Master Plan, Configuration Management Plan, and Final Acceptance Documentation. Evaluation for award is based on a best value approach, with technical capability weighted at 40%, past performance and vendor responsibility at 30%, and cost at 30%. Proposals must be submitted in four clearly organized volumes with strict formatting requirements including 12-point sans serif font and a complete table of contents, and must include certifications on HUB status, foreign ownership, NDAA compliance, cybersecurity, and child support obligations. All personnel must pass a DPS-administered fingerprint-based background check and obtain security clearance prior to work commencement, and must wear issued identification while on state premises. The contract includes a five-year term with an optional six-month extension and ongoing annual maintenance and hosting services, with enhancement work available through negotiated hourly rates. Payment is contingent upon approval by the DPS Contract Monitor, invoicing is not via WAWF or IPP, and no specific accounting codes are provided. The Contract Administrator, Blair Gossett, and Contract Monitor, Robin Keiffer, serve as