SUPPLIER DIVERSITY DATABASE

The U.S. Department of commerce, NOAA issued a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in subpart 12. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format set forth in Federal Acquisitions Regulation Part 12, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation: proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation issued as Reference DG1352-09-RQ0931(GJB). This solicitation document incorporates Statement of Work, provisions and clauses. The provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-30. NAICS number is 541511 Small Business Size Standard $25.0. The Government intent to award a Firm Fixed Price order. STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES Supplier Diversity Database I. OVERVIEW Currently, the MBDA Phoenix Opportunity application has a data base of minority businesses and provides complete and comprehensive profiles on minority business enterprises (MBE's). This information is sometimes used to track and facilitate singular or collaborative client communication with respect to business to business linkages. This system is a self certifying system and contains no validation on the information that is entered on a voluntary basis. There are over forty five thousand (45,000) MBE's in this system. This represents just a small fraction of the number of minority firms nationally. Given MBDA's mission to enhance the growth and expansion of minority business enterprises, it is imperative that outreach be to the vast majority of the MBE's. MBDA funds approximately 45 centers nationally. Please visit www.mbda.gov for a detailed listing and additional information. The funded centers are operated independently by non-profit, for-profit, tribal entities and state/local governments. MBDA's funded centers are an extension of MBDA. The centers provide a wide range of services for the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and support the reconstruction efforts. The funded centers are required; as part of their performance measures; to promote linking Minority Owned business with opportunities, encourage joint ventures, strategic alliances and partnerships there is limited ability for the funded centers, MBDA Headquarters (HQ) and the National Enterprise Centers (NEC) to source for Minority Businesses. Access to the Supplier Locator would give MBDA a method for locating, sharing and storing MBE Data in one comprehensive data base. Information that is shared through face-to-face meetings, emails and telephony is not readily captured and shared within MBDA's intra-network. No common data repository exists that is viewable and accessible by the stakeholder community. The MBDA Web Portal while accessible to the Centers has limited capabilities and limited information, while the Supplier Locator has information from all local state and federal and corporate supplier registration sites nation wide. The Supplier Locator will allow MBDA to have access to approximately two million Minority Business Profiles. If a funded center's grant is not renewed and their clients still have need for MBDA services, MBDA has no way of finding those clients for future opportunities; with the Supplier Locator those clients would be available to MBDA as long as they have been registered in any of the systems that links with. MBDA's current method of collecting Minority Business profiles is depended on the Web Portal and Performance Reporting System. The systems are not user friendly or intuitive and do not meet the reporting needs of the diverse user community. Anomalies were also introduced. Having access to the Supplier Locator with business profiles would: 1. Improve organizational efficiency, effectiveness and responsiveness within the MBDA intra-network. 2. Increase customer satisfaction scores. 3. Promote Minority business for business linkages, joint ventures, strategic alliances and partnering relationships. II. SCOPE MBDA seeks to purchase and implement access to a Supplier diversity data base that far exceeds the number of firms currently in our systems and is the best in class with respect to the related technology. The database should contain information on firms both nationally and globally. The solution should be hosted and serve as software as a service minimizing the resources required by MBDA. This out of the box web based solution should provide reporting and customization with up to date information/data. It should support a minimum of 30 users nationally. The data will be used to meet the mission and goals of MBDA. III. DETAIL OF SERVICES REQUIRED The Supplier Locator solution must support approximately 75 MBDA users at Headquarters and the five National Enterprise Centers. The Supplier Locator system must be accessed via a secured internet website. Upgrades to the database should be done as a continuous process and must not require any resources from MBDA. The Supplier Locater must meet Federal Information Security standards and other Federal guidelines listed below. The solution shall support the following capabilities: Comprehensive Information: - Access to data from local, state, and federal government agencies into one repository. - Access to certified diverse businesses. Accurate and Real-Time Data Verification: - Access to data that is updated and maintained on a daily basis for real-time verification of supplier status. - Certification information is updated on an aggressive schedule to ensure the latest data is available. Integration with Supplier Portal: - Capability and/or access as a stand alone sourcing directory or as integrated with the Supplier portal, provided that both are being implemented at the same time. - A merged search capability within the portal. Training and Support for MBDA staff and access to online helpdesk support. IV. CONSTRAINTS The solutions developed for this proposal shall conform to, at a minimum: - DOC applicable policy (DOC Administrative Order 200-0 is the official source for IT policy), most importantly the IT Security Policy; - Standard Operating Procedures and Change Management Policies and Procedures; - Data protection and policy outlined in the Privacy Impact Assessments required by the E-Government Act of 2002; - The Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996; - The Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994; - The Government Performance and Results Act (G PRA) of 1993; - Applicability with Section 508; V. DELIVERABLES The Supplier Locator shall provide the following capabilities: - General Features o A single, cohesive data repository updated in real-time o Workflow automation - Reporting Features o Standard reports o Ad-hoc and customization of reports - Integration Features o Ability to import leads from spreadsheets o Microsoft Office and Outlook integration o Leverage marketing databases to insert contact information into documents such as letters or mailing labels - Accessibility Features o Secure web or remote access options o Role based security and permissions - Vendor Support o The vendor provides a "train the trainer" program as part of its standard training services. The vendor can train the Client Administrator or personnel designated to administer the system or the program for the Client. The vendor provides four web-based training sessions (up to 2 hours each) for each module, which in our experience has been sufficient to make the vast majority of users/trainers comfortable with the system. Each web session using the vendor web tool can support up to 25 users. The vendor can also provide onsite training services or engaged for additional training and training of buyers, purchasing managers or suppliers, at a cost, if so desired. Additionally, there are User and Administrator guides and quick references available. o The vendor provides level 1 technical support for applications to ensure smooth operations. Each implementation comes bundled with a support contract that provides phone, email and web based support options. Phone support is available Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:30 AM CST and 6:00 PM CST. Further, for the duration of the contract, all bug fixes, minor and major upgrades are provided to the client at no additional charge except for data and software migration or associated implementation cost for upgrade. VI. DELIVERABLE TABLE The Period of Performance: May 1, 2009 through April 30, 2010. Deliverable Description Delivery Date(s) General Features Access to database. Annual Subscription 5/1/09 - 4/30/10 Reporting Features - Customization of reports 5/1/09 1352.237-71 SECURITY PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTRACTOR/SUBCONTRACTOR PERSONNEL WORKING ON A DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE SITE OR IT SYSTEM (HIGH OR MODERATE RISK CONTRACTS) (DEC 2006) Within 10 days of award VII. LOCATIONS The solution will be accessed by MBDA employees via a secure Internet connection at by MBDA employees at headquarters and regional sites. HQ-Office of Business Development,,14th and Constitution Ave, N.W.,Washington, DC 20230 Atlanta NEC, 401 W. Peachtree Street, NW, Suite 1715 Atlanta, GA 30308 Chicago NEC 55 East Monroe Street, Suite 2810 Chicago, IL 60603 Dallas NEC, 1100 Commerce Street, Room 726 Dallas, TX 75242 New York NEC, 5612 Federal Plaza, Room 3270 New York, NY 10278 VIII. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE The place of performance is 1401 Constitution Ave, Washington, DC 20230, and off-sites identified by the COTR during performance of this effort. The award shall be made on a best value factors include the following: 1) Approach - The likelihood of effectively meeting the requirements; 2) Past Performance - The relevance and quality of prior performance; and 3) Price - The amount, realism and consistency of the evaluated price. The evaluation shall be based on use of the adjectival scheme as follows: (O) -Conspicuously striking in eminence; Excellent (E) - Very good of its kind; eminently good; superior or first class; Good (G) - Beneficial and worthwhile; sound and valid; Adequate (A) - Reasonably sufficient and suitable; Marginal (M) - Minimally suitable at the lower limit; and Unsatisfactory (U) - Unacceptable; not adequate to carry out. The solicitation document and incorporated clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular Number 2005-30. The provisions and clauses may be down loaded at http://arnet.gov.far. The following provision and clauses shall apply to this solicitation, FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items. The Government reserves the right to award without discussion; therefore each offeror is encouraged to submit their best terms with their proposal. Special attention is directed to FAR 52.212-1 (b). Failure to submit the required information for evaluation may render the offer non-responsive. Offerors shall include a fully executed copy of the FAR provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, with their offer. FAR clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. FAR clause 52.212.-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition, along with the following additional FAR clauses: 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity, 52.222-35, Affirmative Action for Special Disabled and Vietnam Era Veterans, 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers, 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of Vietnam Era, 52.232-33 Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration, 52.222-41 Service Contract Act of 1965, As Amended. 52.227-14 Rights in Data General (Jun 1987). The following Department of Commerce provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition: 1352.231-70, Duplication of Effort; 1352.233-70, Harmless from Liability; 1352.209-73 Compliance with the Laws; 1352.208-70,Printing; 1352.252-70, Regulatory Notice; 1352.209-71, Organizational Conflict of Interests. 1352-237-71 Security Processing Requirements for Contractor/Subcontractor Personnel Working on a DOC site (low and moderate risk contracts); Complete 1352.239-73 (OCT 2003) Security Requirement Information Technology Resources (October 2006). Offerors are advised to submit all questions via in writing only in an email to G. Jean Barrett no later then 10:00 am Eastern Standard Time, Thursday, April 3, 2009. Answers to questions received within the specified date/time will be posted to FedbizOpps. Submit response to this RFQ via email to: contact@example.gov on or before 10:00am Eastern Standard Time, Monday, April 6, 2009. Please note, it is the offeror's responsibility to ensure/verify the Government receives their submission on or before the time specified. Reference # DG1352-09-RQ0931(GJB).