SNAP Quality Control System (SNAP-QCS) Program Transition

This SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE is for small businesses only. The purpose of this Sources Sought notice is to determine the interest and feasibility of small business set-asides. This notice is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the US Government, nor will the US Government pay for information solicited. The information from this notice will help the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) plan their acquisition strategy. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is conducting a market survey to determine the availability and technical capability of qualified small businesses, including small business set-asides, small disadvantaged businesses (SDB), 8(a) small businesses, woman-owned small businesses (WOSB), veteran owned small businesses (VOSB), service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB), and Historically Under-utilized Business Zone (HUBZone) small businesses who are capable of providing a transition from the mainframe interface and FORTRAN and COBOL programs to a PC SAS based set of programs, that will need to interface with a secure SQL server. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, NO SOLICITATION EXISTS AT THIS TIME. All responding small business firms are requested to identify their firm's size and type of business to the anticipated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code. For the subject SNAP QCS Program Transition acquisition, the NAICS code is 541511, and the Small Business Standard is $25.5 Million. Teaming arrangements and joint ventures will be considered for any subsequent procurement based on the Government's market research, provided the prime contract is awarded to an applicable small business and that small businesses provide fifty percent or more of the technical services support. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) seeks a Contractor to convert/transition SNAP Quality Control (QC) Regression programs that calculate both Payment Error Rate and Negative Error Rate from COBOL and FORTRAN programs to a PC SAS based set of programs, that will need to interface with a secure SQL server. FNS is conducting market research to identify sources that can demonstrate their experience, skills, and qualifications with projects of similar scope and size completed to meet the following objectives: OBJECTIVE 1: Create high level objectives for the SNAP Quality Control System (QCS) SAS Project. OBJECTIVE 2: Develop programming and code in SAS to replace existing processes. OBJECTIVE 3: Run SAS program in parallel with existing mainframe processes in May 2014 to validate accuracy. OBJECTIVE 4: Support SAS code during May 2014 process to help identify, address, and resolve bugs or inconsistencies in the results when compared to existing process. OBJECTIVE 5: Fully document the final SAS programming and code, providing to FNS as a deliverable within 30 days of accepted test results that match existing process. OBJECTIVE 6: Provide training and documentation for two (2) SNAP QC Statisticians in the National Office regarding the new SAS process. Submission requirements: Interested firms responding to this market survey shall provide a capability statement demonstrating their technical experience, skills and capability to fulfill the Governments requirements for the above in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 19.502-2(b). The capability statement shall be in sufficient enough detail, so that the Government can determine the experience and capability of your firm to provide the objectives above. The Government technical team will then assess the experience & capabilities based on: 1) technical expertise relevant to the objectives; 2) corporate/organizational experience relevant to the objectives, and 3) relevant past performance. Please specify one primary and one alternate Point of Contact (POC) within your firm, including telephone numbers and email addresses. Also, please provide your GSA Schedule Contract number if applicable. Only electronic copies of capability statements will be accepted and should be emailed to: jeremiah.keenan@fns.usda.gov. The e-mail shall contain the following subject line: Response to Sources Sought Notice - SNAP Quality Control System (SNAP-QCS) Program Transition. A determination by the Government to proceed with the acquisition as a set-aside is within the discretion of the Government. Please submit all information to Jeremiah Keenan at jeremiah.keenan@fns.usda.gov by July 17, 2013 by 2:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time. NO TELEPHONE REQUESTS WILL BE ACCEPTED