SUBSCRIPTION TO A SCANNER DATA BASE

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) is soliciting for a subscription to an Information Retrieval System containing Sales/Movement Data for scanned products sold by DeCA Commissaries and commercial supermarkets. This includes a need for on-site contractor provided services. Customer and/or demographic data may also be added to this requirement. DeCA is a Department of Defense (DoD) Agency responsible for the operation of approximately 250 military commissaries throughout the world. A commissary is the equivalent of a commercial grocery store. The Information Retrieval System database must include sales/movement data for all scanned products sold by DeCA commissaries both within and outside the Continental United States (CONUS - defined as the 48 contiguous States); comparable, statistically significant sales data from a majority of supermarket chains throughout the United States; and sales movement data from supermarkets within the same geographical (metro) areas as commissaries. In this context, supermarkets are defined as traditional grocery stores with annual volume over $2 million and Supercenter/mass merchant formats operated by Mass Merchandisers. Access to any available causal data and data the contractor provides to other retailers is also required. Available data should include the current month and the previous 24 months. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE that DeCA front-end scanner data is not readily available to the general public. As mandated by statute (10 U.S.C. 2487b), DeCA makes this data available to interested firms for an annual subscription fee (currently per year). Execution of the requisite subscription agreement application and advance payment of $944,484 per year of data requested will entitle the subscriber to all available DeCA front-end scanner data for the years purchased. The purchase of DeCA front-end scanner data IS NOT A GUARANTEE OF AN AWARD. Respondents to this notice MUST be able to purchase not only DeCA front-end data but also the comparable commercial grocery store data for the same 24-month period. Commercial grocery store chains offer their front-end data to interested firms on a fee basis. DeCA is not interested in a contractor database that does not include front-end scanner data from both DeCA and comparable commercial sources, to include historical data. Prior to DeCA awarding a contract for an Information Retrieval System, the successful offeror must execute an annual subscription agreement with DeCA, to include procuring the previous 24 months of DeCA front-end scanner data (if applicable). The Preferred Data retrieval method will be accomplished by access to the contractor's database system through the World Wide Web. The proposed hardware/software solution must include a user-friendly, menu-based drag and click type application that will allow for significant data manipulation and report building capabilities, to include ad-hoc reporting, by DeCA personnel. Access to the web-based application must be compatible with the current DeCA network, shall not conflict with existing programs or capabilities, and shall not impede current operations. If the web-based application does not allow for the ability to produce ad-hoc reports, contractor shall submit alternative method for access to database that includes the same characteristics as outlined above. As a minimum, either method of access must enable the operator to generate reports, to include ad-hoc reports, based on any number of parameters, to include, but not limited to: (1) Geographic Areas (DeCA areas, zones within DeCA areas, stores, and commercially defined markets); (2) Products (departments, categories, sub-categories and/or segments, brands, manufacturers, and a full range of product attributes such as UPC, selling unit size, selling unit type (can, bottle, etc.), selling unit flavor, and other well-defined product characteristics; (3) Measures and Derivative Calculations (dollar sales, unit sales, volume sales, Average Cumulative Volume (ACV) percent, average pricing (promotional, non-promotional), lift percentages, sales per point of distribution, etc); and (4) Time Periods (weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for this Government requirement is 541910 and the Business Size Standard is $7.0 Million. A solicitation will be issued as unrestricted for this requirement on or about April 12, 2012 with an anticipated closing date of May 14, 2012. Contractors must be registered with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) under this NAICS Code in order to be eligible for a contract award. CCR information may be obtained at www.ccr.gov or by calling +1 (555) 000-0000. Online representations and certifications application (ORCA) must also be completed at https://orca.bpn.gov Solicitation HDEC05-12-R-0006 and any amendments will be available at www.fedbizopps.gov under ODA (OTHER DEFENSE AGENCIES), DEFENSE COMMISSARY AGENCY. Potential offerors must use this web site to obtain a copy of this solicitation. All responsible sources may submit a proposal, which shall be considered.