Integrated Industry Database for use with Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank)’s Corporate Risk Rating Model

Solicitation Number: EXIM-17-S-0002 Notice Type: Sources Sought Name of the Project: Integrated Industry Database for use with Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank)'s Corporate Risk Rating Model PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, NO SOLICITATION EXISTS AT THIS TIME. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government, nor will the U.S. Government pay for information solicited. The information from this notice will help the Export-Import Bank of the United States plan their acquisition strategy. EXIM Bank is conducting market research for potential procurement of an Integrated Industry Database for use with EXIM Bank's Corporate Risk Rating Model. This market research is to determine the availability and technical capability of qualified businesses capable of providing such a database. EXIM Bank is seeking statements of capability from potential offerors. Vendors should be capable of showing experience and staffing to perform the requirement as demonstrated in their capability statement. EXIM Bank will also have One-on-One Meetings which can be conducted either on-site or through a webinar for vendors capable of providing this type of interaction. One-on-One meetings are not required but are for companies to provide additional information in an open forum with a Questions and Answer (Q&A) period. The Government may have questions in advance that will be sent to the POC that requests the meeting. Background EXIM Bank is in the process of evaluating and implementing risk rating model improvement recommendations that were provided in FY 2015 as part of a validation review of the Bank's risk rating models. In line with the recommendations, EXIM Bank is pursuing the integration of an industry database for use with its existing Long-term Corporate Risk Rating Model. SCOPE EXIM Bank plans to purchase an industry database for integration into its existing Long-term Corporate Risk Rating Model, which is used to risk rate corporate obligors. The integrated industry database purpose is to address model recommendations: (1) provide emerging market focused, industry-specific financial ratio benchmarks for comparison with specific obligors and (2) within each financial ratio benchmark, have defined weights and ranges that are validated and linked to indicative risk ratings to incorporate better defined objective scoring criteria. Given the intent to build in objective scoring criteria, the modified Long-term Corporate Model, as described above, would also be expected to replace the Bank's quantitatively-driven short and medium-term risk rating models, allowing for the transition to a single corporate risk rating model. The industry database should also include validated industry benchmarks for the commercial airline sector. OBJECTIVES (NATURE OF WORK) Desired Outcome: EXIM Bank's existing Long-term Corporate Model (currently Excel based) would be modified with an integrated industry database to enhance this model with emerging market focused, industry-specific financial ratio benchmarks with defined weighting and ranges that are validated and linked to indicative risk ratings for better defined objective scoring criteria. The end-product should enhance the existing long-term corporate model, per the model improvement recommendations, and be a sufficient replacement for the Bank's existing short and medium-term risk rating models, thereby allowing the transition to a single corporate model. The industry database should also include validated industry benchmarks for the commercial airline sector that could be used to update the Bank's Airline Model as well as validated industry benchmarks for the financial institution sector that could be used to update the Bank's Financial Institution Model. Constraints: The modified corporate model needs to retain sufficient flexibility to allow for objective indicative risk scores to be adjusted by qualitative underwriter judgment. The intent of the integrated industry database and model modification is not to purchase or create a purely mechanical risk rating model. Characteristics of the Requirements: Integrated Industry Database for use with EXIM Bank's Corporate Risk Rating Model During the Market Research Phase: Vendor shall present EXIM Bank with information on an integrated industry database and must clearly provide: (i) the composition of the industry database that shall be used for benchmarking purposes, including a breakdown of geographic and sector concentrations; (ii) how financial ratio benchmark rating weights and ranges are set and validated; (iii) the industry benchmarks for the commercial airline sector and the financial institution sector, if included in the industry database; and (iv) how an industry database would be actually integrated into the existing Long-term Corporate Model and how the integrated industry database would function within the model. In particular, it must be addressed (i) how EXIM Bank's internal country risk assessment would be integrated with the vendor's industry financial ratio benchmarks and weights and (ii) how default rates associated with industry benchmark ratings can be integrated with EXIM Bank's internal default experience. If possible at no cost to the government during this market research: • Vendor shall present EXIM Bank with the draft risk rating results that would be produced by an integrated database. o Results must show the ratings associated with each financial ratio benchmark, including the relevant weighting. After award of contract vendor would: • Upon government's acceptance that the rating results of model are in line with results produced by existing model, the vendor shall work with EXIM Bank members to be identified after award, to integrate the industry base into the Bank's existing Long-term Corporate model. • Vendor shall provide EXIM Bank with documentation regarding the industry database including at a minimum its composition, development and operational use guidelines. • Vendor shall provide training for integration of industry database into the Bank's existing Long-term Corporate model, including relevant training of Bank staff. o Vendor will provide anticipated training agenda. • Once database is accepted and training complete, vendor shall provide updates to industry database on an as needed basis to ensure database is up-to-date, for the remainder of a 12 month period after date of award. • Four (4) one year option periods will include: o Database updates to be completed at a minimum of annually. Additional updates to be performed during each option period on an as needed basis to ensure database is up-to-date. o Validation of the financial ratio benchmark rating ranges to be completed at a minimum of annually. Additional validations to be performed during each option period on an as needed basis to ensure database is up-to-date. o Training to be provided to new EXIM Bank model users gaining employment during each option period. This training shall be consolidated to not exceed one (1) training session per option period. CAPABILITY STATEMENT 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 this acquisition, the NAICS code is 522293 - International Trade Financing and the Small Business Standard is $38.5 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 support. Please submit the following information in response to the capabilities above and pre- requisites listed above: Submission requirements: 1. Interested firms responding to this market survey must provide a capability statement demonstrating their experience, skills and capability to fulfill the Governments requirements for the above. Statements must clearly identify business size to assist in requirements under 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. 2. Capability responses should be based upon the characteristic pre-requisites listed above. 3. Please specify one primary and one alternate Point of Contact (POC) within your firm, including telephone numbers and email addresses. 4. Identify if you have a GSA Schedule contract and if applicable, the contract number. 5. Indicate whether your firm registered in SAM. 6. Identify your business size for the referenced NAICS code. 7. Relevant past performance shall include the following information: • Contract name • Contracting Agency or Department • Total contract value (in $) • Period of performance • Description of work and how it relates to the requirements 8. There is a 20 page limit on capability statement responses, but 1 cover page or 1 letter of introduction page and resumes and writing samples may be submitted and will not count toward the 20 page limit. 9. Use 1 inch margins (top, bottom, and sides) and Times New Roman font - 12 point. 10. Do not include promotional materials. Your capability statement needs to include a list of three customers (Government/non-Government) within the past 3-years highlighting similar work in nature, scope, complexity, and difficulty and a brief description of the scope of work. Only electronic copies of capability statements will be accepted and should be emailed to: Ms. Robyn Moore at [email protected] and "cc" Ms. Thu Vo at [email protected]. The e-mail shall contain the following subject line: Response to Sources Sought Notice - EXIM-17-S-0002 Integrated Industry Database for use with EXIM Bank's Corporate Risk Rating Model. A determination by the Government to proceed with the acquisition as a set-aside is within the discretion of the Government. If capability statements are not received from at least two responsible small businesses or if the Government determines that no two small businesses are capable of performing this requirement based upon an assessment of the capability statements submitted, the Government may proceed with a full and open competition. ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS WITH INDUSTRY Scheduling: All participation in this event shall be on a voluntary basis and all participants are responsible for bearing all costs associated with doing so. Contact Robyn Moore at [email protected] and "cc" Thu Vo at [email protected] to schedule your 1-hour (maximum) One-on-One Meeting. Available time slots will be scheduled on a first come, first serve basis and will take place between the hours of 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, EST time (last time slot will be scheduled for 4:00 PM). All scheduling requests for participation must be received no later than Thursday, 11 May 2017. Interested companies shall observe the following: • Groups are limited to 5 individuals; • Groups and members of groups must be escorted 100% of the time by Government personnel; • Parties will have access to a television to display presentation if needed. If access to EXIM Bank Corporate Model is needed, vendor must identify this when requesting time block; however, photographs or video recordings are prohibited. • Foreign Nationals may not attend this event. Should a foreign company have an interest in the event, it shall send representatives with US citizenship only. To request a time block, interested companies shall e-mail the following information to Robyn Moore, at [email protected] and "cc" Thu Vo at [email protected]: • First and last names of all individuals attending the event; • Date requested (June 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, or 9th, 2017). Dates and time slots will be assigned by availability on a first come, first serve basis; • Company Name & Cage Code; • Main Point of Contact for the Company; • All contactors will be asked to provide suggestions for what could make them competitive for requirements. • The One-on-One Meeting process is intended to preclude the Government from entering into any conversations which could be perceived as providing an unfair competitive advantage. Any new information provided during the meetings will be provided via email to all attendees. • The Government will not provide assessment on merits of company information or technology discussed. • The One-on-One Meetings will remain at the UNCLASSIFIED level. These meetings will not include any classified information from either the Government or companies. • Meetings will be limited to ONE request per company as a potential prime contractor. Companies are allowed to bring potential subcontractors and teammates. Subcontractors or teammates will not be allowed to have a separate meeting with the Government. Meetings are limited to no more than 5 individuals. • To the maximum extent, the Government will provide answers to questions, however, if the answer(s) require the Government to provide further depth or information), those answers will be distributed via email to the main POCs provided. Questions and answers issued via email will exclude any information that may disclose a contractor's proprietary or confidential business strategy information. The Government will make its best effort to inform contractors on answers that the Government determines will be included in the email distribution prior to providing the answer in order to allow the question to be retracted. Q&A's will be distributed to the contractors via email after 9 June 2017. • Providing written questions during the One-on-One Meeting is optional, and encouraged, but should be limited to prioritized questions that can be addressed during the meeting. • Questions and comments can be submitted via email to [email protected] and "cc" Thu Vo at [email protected]. The government will use the results of this announcement to determine whether the acquisition of the above described requirement should be solicited as a small business set-aside, or whether full and open competitive procedures should be utilized. The Government will not pay or provide reimbursement for any costs incurred in the preparation or delivery of the request for information. Interested parties should send all capability statements via email to Robyn Moore at [email protected] and "cc" Thu Vo at [email protected] All questions and capability statements be sent via Email to Robyn Moore at: [email protected] and "cc" Thu Vo at [email protected] by May 11, 2017 by 2:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time. NO TELEPHONE REQUESTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.