70 -- Blaise Software

The Bureau of the Census (BOC) intends to negotiate a single source contract with Westat, Inc. of Rockville, MD for the purchase and support of the Blaise automated questionnaire-authoring software. The BOC has a requirement to produce highly complex demographic and longitudinal automated survey questionnaires using Microsoft Windows based questionnaire-authoring software. The software requirements are as follows: The software must be Graphical User Interface (GUI) based; the system architecture must be open so that it can be integrated easily with existing systems and software; it must be fully integrated so that multiple software packages do not need to be used in the development environment in order for the product to function properly; it must be able to support multiple languages; it must have a user friendly development environment; it must be a widely used package by other large statistical agencies; it must be able to handle complex navigation both forward and back; it must be able to support dynamic fills of text; it must be able to handle complex edit rules; it must have the ability to manage grids; it must support multi-mode surveys (CATI, CAPI, CADE etc.); it must provide screen layouts that can be customized; it must provide the ability to break up authoring into modules and allow for the re-use of code; complete documentation must be available, that is updated on a regular basis; training and support services must be available; and the product must be backed with long-term, committed development plan that adapts to changes in technology. It is the Government's belief that the only the Blaise software can satisfy the BOC's requirement and Westat is the only supplier in the USA. The period of performance of this contract will be for the period September 1, 2003 - August 31, 2004 with the option to extend for four 12 month option periods. This is not a request for competitive proposals; however, responses received within the required time will be reviewed and evaluated. Interested companies having the capability to provide the above described services should submit, in writing, their capability statement with cost information to the above address, Attn.: Gloria Smith, email to [email protected], or fax @ (301) 457-1785 within 15 days of this notice. No telephone requests will be honored. No contract will be awarded on the basis of offers received in response to this notice, but offers will be used to determine if a comparable source is available and more advantageous to the Government. If no responses are received within 15 days from the date of this notice, a sole source contract with Westat, Inc. will be pursued without further notice.