Request for Information Project Number 38452A1 National Business Center - Information Technology (IT) Modernization Analysis For a Word version of this Amendment to the Request for Information, please refer to GovWorks web site at: http://www.govworks.gov/vendor/csolicit.asp The purpose of this Amendment is to extend the response date to December 5, 2005. Request for Information Project Number 38452-01 National Business Center - Information Technology (IT) Modernization Analysis For a Word version of this Request for Information, please refer to GovWorks web site at: http://www.govworks.gov/vendor/csolicit.asp The following is a Request for Information (RFI) on a Modernization Analysis for the Department of Interior's National Business Center. This RFI is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a Request for Proposal. Responses to this RFI must: " Be submitted electronically to the Contracting Officer at the below email address no later than 2:00 PM Eastern Time, December 5, 2005 to:
[email protected] SUBJECT LINE "38452--NBC IT Mod. Analysis" Anita Tolliver Phone: (703) 787-1092 Fax: (703) 787-1106 " Identify the name of the firm and contact information (name, telephone, email) for questions about the comments. " Be submitted in Microsoft Word and/or Adobe PDF format. " Be submitted in electronic form. Any questions on this RFI should be submitted to:
[email protected] SUBJECT LINE "NBC IT Modernization Analysis" Anita Tolliver Phone: (703) 787-1092 Fax: (703) 787-1106 Background The National Business Center (NBC) is the Department of the Interior (DOI) designated administrative support facility that provides common administrative services to DOI bureaus and other Federal agencies, as negotiated through cross servicing agreements. Currently the NBC has offices in Washington, D, C.; Reston, VA; Denver, CO; Fort Huachuca, AZ; Sacramento, CA; Atlanta, GA, Albuquerque, NM, and Boise, ID. The NBC's service offerings are provided on a fee for service basis, and include. " Financial Management (FM) Services - as one of the Centers of Excellence (COEs) selected by OMB for the federal-wide FM Line of Business. Provides customers with an array of Financial Management Systems Support and Accounting Operation Services; " Human Resource (HR) Services - as one of the COEs selected by OMB for the federal-wide HR Line of Business. Provides an extensive set of services for assisting in managing human capital, including: Core HR Services, Payroll, Expanded Services (Operational Servicing) and Random Drug and Alcohol Testing; " Training Services - The DOI University offers several training programs, focusing on Leadership and Performance, Online Learning Systems, and Cultural Resources and Events; " Acquisition Services - Provides lifecycle acquisition services including Contract Support, Charge Card Oversight Services, Leasing Services and Indirect Rate Negotiations; " Appraisal Services - Provides appraisal services to DOI Bureaus. The services offered include General Appraisal Services, Appraisal Review Services, Appraisal Consulting and Concession Valuations for customers; " Aviation Services - Provides aviation policy and oversight for supporting all DOI aviation functions; " Other DOI Support Services - A wide variety of services are provided including Creative Communication Services, Employee Services, Facilities Management, Property and Asset Management Services, Mandated Services, and DOI IT Support Services; and " Information Technology (IT) Services - Premier provider of IT Services to the NBC, including Infrastructure, Integration, Disaster Recovery, Web Development, and IT Security in support of the NBC. To support these service offerings, the NBC procures, manages, operates, and, in many cases, has developed a portfolio of complex administrative and mission-oriented software applications. These applications are supported by a heterogeneous IT environment that includes mainframe, client/server, and web architectures running on z/OS, UNIX, and Windows based platforms. As is the case with many large enterprises, these applications and information systems have evolved independently over time and do not currently adhere to a consistent architecture. This reduces the ability of the NBC to optimize the efficiency, effectiveness, and interoperability of its IT environment, and thus its ability to competitively support its DOI and cross agency customers. For example, a significant portion of the work that is currently performed on one of the NBC's three IBM mainframes is moving to a server technology base in 2006. This leaves the remaining services on the mainframe with a disproportionate cost allocation, and thus reduces the NBC's capability to competitively support its customers. Competition and choice are essential to the delivery of quality service, and the NBC recognizes that it must earn its customers by providing better service than other government COEs and private sector providers. To meet this goal, it is imperative that the NBC resolve this immediate mainframe utilization issue while developing a forward looking strategy that will optimize performance across the enterprise, and provide an overall IT architecture that is cost efficient, flexible and scalable for future growth. Request for Information The purpose of this RFI is to afford industry an opportunity to comment on best practices and critical elements that the government should incorporate in structuring an Information Technology Modernization Analysis for the NBC. The effectiveness, efficiency, and timeliness of the Technology Modernization Analysis, will be a key contributor to the success of the NBC IT Modernization and of the NBC's ability to competitively serve its customers. Any comments provided should not be viewed as a vehicle for presenting a specific approach or product intended to be proposed, but as an opportunity to improve an eventual solicitation package. Comments are solicited regarding the following. 1. The NBC is considering a scope of work that includes developing an enterprise architecture for NBC (as-is, to-be, transition), identification and evaluation of alternatives for addressing the mainframe and overall IT environment, and a business case for the recommended alternative. For the IT Modernization Analysis to provide a solid foundation for the modernization initiative, what are the key elements the government should ask for in terms of: a. Scope b. Critical success factors/performance measures (for the analysis) c. Major tasks/steps d. Schedule (time frames), including start up period between award and performance e. Deliverables and their key characteristics f. IT Modernization Analysis acquisition risks that must be managed/mitigated. 2. The NBC is considering a negotiated firm-fixed price performance-based contract with an objective and performance measures. Based on past experience and knowledge of Government competitive sourcing procedures: a. Is this the best contract approach for an IT Modernization Analysis of this sort? What are the plusses and minuses of alternative approaches? b. What performance measures would be most effective in ensuring a successful IT Modernization Analysis? c. What is the size standard for the industry for this type of analysis, and whether the responding firm is below that size standard? d. What are the best practices for commercial terms and conditions for this type of project? 3. Selection will be made on a best-value basis. What are the key factors the NBC should include in evaluating: a. Approach and methodology b. Past performance c. Organizational experience d. Personnel experience - what are the appropriate roles and the key qualifications for those roles? 4. A statement of interest from all firms that respond to the RFI. Comments, whether supportive or critical, are earnestly solicited regarding every aspect of the proposed initiative. Replies are not mandatory. Replies will be separated from, and have no bearing on, subsequent evaluations of proposals submitted in response to any resulting formal Request for Proposals. The use of comments received from industry to complete final statements of work and resulting solicitation documents will be at the discretion of the NBC. Any subsequent solicitation will be synopsized prior to its release. Eligibility in participating in a future acquisition does not depend upon a response to this notice. The Government will not critique a potential offeror's comments and the RFI should not be used by offerors to market their products/services. The Government does not intend to pay for the information solicited and will not recognize any costs associated with submission of the RFI. Proprietary information is not being solicited. Information considered proprietary, if any, should be identified as such.