Small Business Sources Sought: National Library of Medicine Internet Monitoring Services NIHLM2012235 This Sources Sought Notice is for informational and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation or commitment by the Government. This notice is intended strictly for Market Research. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Library of Medicine (NLM) is conducting a market survey to help determine the availability and technical capability of qualified small businesses, veteran-owned small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and/or HUBZone small businesses capable of serving the needs identified below. Background Information: The Internet and World Wide Web (WWW or web) play a critical role in dissemination of NLM information services. Availability of, and access to the NLM databases via the Internet and Internet 2 is critical for the NLM mission. These factors combined require the need for a comprehensive and dynamic NLM web monitoring process. The immediate requirements of the NLM Internet Monitoring Services include: (a) taking measurements of customer perception and use of NLM web sites, as well as (b) monitoring of the quality and availability of Internet connections by which users access NLM information services. Objectives The contractor shall support NLM in the above efforts. This is a contract request for a commercial service to provide NLM with monitoring of its selected web sites from various locations domestically and internationally and from various network providers. This information will be used to help NLM monitor the performance of its information services from an end user perspective, and will also be used to alert NLM technical staff when performance or availability of the services fall below established thresholds of performance. Scope The scope of this procurement is the acquisition of Internet and Internet2 monitoring services for selected NLM web sites. Description of Work The contractor shall provide NLM with the following services, which provides comprehensive performance data on NLM online business and applications - all from the end-user¿s perspective. The following are the measurement requirements: Emulate an Internet browser to generate and measure scripted transactions from locations on the vendor¿s global network. Measurements are from a combination of at least 16 domestic and international cities, and one Internet provider backbone from each city. Frequency is at least four per hour. Number of NLM web sites to monitor: Initial Quantity = 15 sites Base year = 5-20 sites Option years 1 thru 4 = 0-20 sites Measure the quality of NLM streaming media using the latest media players in the market for true end user representation. From single site locations, streaming data checks (901kbps - 1.200 kbps). Frequency of checks is at least two per hour. Initial Quantity = 2 sites Base year = 1-5 sites Option years 1 thru 4 = 0-10 sites Provide hardware appliances that measure application performance from NLM-specified private networks (e.g. regional libraries on Internet2). These appliances hardware and software must be supported by the vendor. The private agents must use a real embedded Internet Explorer browser with caching which simulates a real word scenario of a user returning to the monitored site. Number of appliances: Initial Quantity = 10 appliances Base year = 5-15 appliances Option years 1 thru 4 = 0-20 appliances; Number of measurements per agent = up to 10 measurements per agent @ 15 minute frequency A Data-feed Service. This provides the capability to export the collected performance data from the provider's repository to an NLM server which can then analyze and display the information into NLM developed custom views. The contractor shall provide Technical Support services for the above specified monitoring services at the level of one incident per month. The vendor will provide NLM with two accounts for managing the above services via the web. These accounts will be used to manage two groupings of NLM-managed web sites. NLM can elect to exercise additional quantities of these items during the base and option years of the contract. Sources Sought Response Details The proposed acquisition will be procured under FAR Part 13.5. The period of performance will be for one year from the date of the award plus three option years. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement which will be considered by the National Library of Medicine. This Sources Sought notice is not a Request for Quotes (RFQ), nor is an RFQ available. Interested firms responding to this sources sought notice must adhere to the following: (a) Provide a capability statement demonstrating relevant experience, skills and ability to fulfill the Government's requirements for the above. The capability statement should contain enough sufficient detail for the Government to make an informed decision regarding your capabilities, however, the statement should not exceed 10 pages. (b) The capability statement must identify the responder's small business type and size. (c) All capability statements must be submitted electronically no later than 3:00pm eastern standard time on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 to Ryan Singletary
[email protected] A draft of the statement of work is attached.