MODIFICATION
D -- Interactive Design Engineering Support Services
- Notice Date
- 5/23/2005
- Notice Type
- Modification
- NAICS
- 518111
— Internet Service Providers
- Contracting Office
- United States Postal Service, Supplies and Services Purchasing, Information Technology CMC, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW Room 4541, Washington, DC, 20260-6238
- ZIP Code
- 20260-6238
- Solicitation Number
- 1BITTL-05-A-3003
- Response Due
- 5/31/2005
- Archive Date
- 6/15/2005
- Point of Contact
- Donald Hadley, Purchasing and Supply Management Specialist, Phone 202-268-3698, Fax 202-268-3677, - Dega Hussen, Purchasing and Supply Management Specialist, Phone 202-268-4371, Fax 202-268-2826,
- E-Mail Address
-
donald.w.hadley@usps.gov, dega.a.hussen@usps.gov
- Description
- This modification is to answer IDE provider questions. 1. The United States Postal Service (USPS) operates a corporate website, www.usps.com, as its primary internet channel. USPS.com provides consumers and businesses with 24-hour access to Po 1. Q. How is testing of USPS websites performed? A. Focus groups, usability labs, user behavior analysis from site metrics, and customer acceptance testing for new functional applications. 2. Q. Would USPS benefit from having testing of their websites conducted on a regular basis and results of this testing be used to create future development requirements? A. Yes, on a regular and ad-hoc basis. Continuous measurement of user behavior is required. Testing must be focused and actionable. 3. Q. Would the USPS be interested in having a software testing company provide input on a separate testing or V&V effort for USPS websites? A. V&V is undefined. Third party testing from a subcontractor is acceptable as long as it does not require that the USPS invest in particular software to perform the V&V. 4. Reference: Section 2.2.3 Task #3: Manage Promotion Planning & Affiliates/Alliance Programs Description USPS requires the IDE provider(s) to manage advertising space throughout the site, using existing ad server tool. The ad server tool generates banners and monitors its performance. In addition, the IDE provider(s) shall manage the Affiliates & Alliance program to enhance revenue opportunities and seek opportunities to leverage our brand and assets in order to create new products and services with minimal investment. Inputs Direction of USPS Program Manager or his/her designee USPS Standards & Guidelines Time Frame Duration of task order Deliverables Deliverable #10: Banner Placement Schedule (Due Monthly) ? include estimated duration to complete initiative Q. Clarification: Given that the deliverable is the ?Banner Placement Schedule?, can the vendor assume that this task excludes the need for the vendor to seek opportunities and manage relationships with advertisers? A. No, both internal and external business drivers may be involved. Banner placement primarily relates to banners on USPS online properties however both Affiliate and Merchant affiliate banner placements on and off Postal properties may be required. 5. Reference: Section 4.3 Key Personnel Resumes, Paragraph 3, ?Incumbents assigned to the key personnel positions below, should be full-time employees.? Q. Clarification: What are the key personnel positions? A. Key personnel are individuals defined as being critical to the successful performance of task activities. 6. Reference: Section 2.2.2, Task #1: Research, Develop and Deliver Web Strategy Q. Clarification: With regard to the Internet Channel Strategic Plan 1, 3 and 5 year outlook, does USPS have possession of these documents, or are these new documents that USPS would want developed starting from the signing of the contract? A. These would be new documents that USPS would like developed once the contract has been awarded. 7. Reference: Section 2.2.4, Task #4: Establish and Maintain Extranet Website Q. Clarification: The vendor assumes that this task requires the IDE provider to establish and host a web site. Does this site currently exist? If so, what is the hardware configuration? Since the requirements state that only the physical environment needs to be created, would the code be available for installation at the new IDE provider?s location? If this assumption is not true, does USPS expect the IDE provider to develop the site? A. The extranet site does not exist outside of the current proprietary site provided by the current provider. The USPS expects the IDE provider awarded contract to create, host, and maintain the extranet site for use as a limited program central reference site. The provider may select the platform and tools as long as the result is usable and accessible from the Postal environment. 8. Reference: Section 2.3.1, Task #5: Conduct Site Engineering, Design, and Information Architecture Services Q. Clarification: Do any of the deliverables requested in this task exist in some form today or will they need to be developed from scratch? A. Yes, they exist today however this does not prevent the selected provider from developing new/better formats and deliverables with agreement from the USPS program office. 9. Q. Section 3.2.1 Staffing, indicates Key Personnel are defined as personnel assigned to the labor categories that the USPS has designated as essential to the work to be performed. Section 4.3, Key Personnel Resumes, only specifically identifies the Program Manager and Technical Lead labor categories. Is it correct to interpret this to mean that the Program Manager and Technical Lead are the only two key personnel labor categories for this procurement? A. No, please see answer to question 5 and the charts following question 33. 10. Q. Please confirm that a vendor would not be deemed non-compliant if they only responded to a portion of the proposal (e.g. Task group A only). USPS indicates that they would like to award all tasks to a single IDE provider, but reserve the right to award each task group separately. A. Confirmed. 11. Q. Several tasks (e.g. tasks 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9), are dependant on the number of new Internet Channel initiatives/efforts undertaken in a given year ? In order to support pricing of these tasks, please provide assumptions as to the number of individual initiatives per year. A. A good estimate would be approximately 40-50 website initiatives annually. 12. Q. Would USPS consider a 3-week extension in order to allow sufficient time to compile pricing information (based on the USPS response to the question regarding the number of new initiatives/efforts that the Internet Channel completes in a given year)? A. The deadline will not be extended. 13. Q. Can you provide current staffing levels by labor category for the past 2 years what would fall within the solicitation?s scope of work and further, estimate growth by year over the period of performance? A. Please see the charts following question 33. 14. Q. Can you provide the most recent customer satisfaction metrics and trends for USPS.com? A. No. Customer satisfaction will be discussed with the selected provider(s) post-award. 15. Q. Can you provide some background metrics on the revenue by business area that is driven directly by USPS.com? A. No. USPS.com supports the corporate strategic plans. The corporate web site is expected to generate direct sales revenue and produce opportunities for operational cost savings. Additional metrics will be discussed with the successful provider post-award. 16. Q. Can you provide the most recent weekly or monthly project status report from the incumbent? A. No. This information is proprietary and will be provided and discussed with the selected provider(s) post-award. 17. Q. Does USPS expect to select and award to a single provider for each Lot? A. If ?Lot? is synonymous with ?Task Groups?, the USPS prefers to make award to a single provider given that the selected provider(s) strengths, demonstrates the best value. Based on industry knowledge and market research, USPS anticipates that it may be necessary to award to multiple providers. 18. Q. Page 6 ? Section 2.2.2 - Task #1 - Five deliverables are listed. If this contract is awarded to a competitor other than the incumbent is it the expectation of the USPS that completely new work products be developed to replace/update what you currently have? If it is your intention to handle more as a continuum can you share copies of the existing Trend & Forecast Report, Internet Strategic Plans (1, 3 and 5 year outlook)? Are there documented training materials in place? If so can you share an example? A. Existing past deliverables, templates, and source documents would be provided to selected providers after award to create consistency. There are no training materials in place. The selected provider will be expected to continuously provide input and recommendations to update these deliverables. 19. Q. Page 8 ? Section 2.2.3 - Task 3 - Is USPS hoping to increase their use of ads on the site, or are they comfortable with the current amount? How do you refer to your internal businesses that advertise (e.g., Click-N-Ship)? Can you supply a copy of the current Ad Server reports so that we may gauge how deeply the applications capabilities are being utilized to USPS' benefit? A. ?Ads? can be further defined to include short term or topical notices about products or services within the relevant content. Internal business drivers need to announce product and service enhancements or to create contextual cross-sales. The amount of ?ad? information is not relevant; placement considerations must be based on relevancy, space availability, and page functionality. Ad Server reporting will not be shared prior to award. The selected provider will be encouraged to suggest changes to the use of ?ads? to improve usability, and the value of the available ?ad? space in general. 20. Q. Page 9 ? Section 2.3.1 , Item #2 in Description - How does USPS distinguish between the "information architecture" and "content information architecture?" A. For the sake of this request, they are one and the same. The terms are meant to describe the relative position of information within the site?s hierarchical page structure as well as on individual pages and/or content pieces. 21. Q. Page 9 ? Section 2.3.1 , Item #2 in Description - Can USPS be more specific about what they mean when they refer to "enable a segmented version of the site'? A. Segmentation represents how the internal channel groups divide/segment its customers. They can be categorized into certain ?buckets?. Further detail and clarification will be discussed with the selected provider post-award. 22. Q. Page 11 - Deliverable #21 - What does the term "Copy Deck?" mean? A. A ?Copy Deck? is the pre-proofed copy suggested by a copy writer for a particular item (web pages, banner ads, pop-ups etc.) where textual copy will be used. For example; if a section of related content is proposed as a content area on a web site, the ?copy deck? would include all the written text for that section and would serve as the basis for the text used in production. 23. Q. Page 11 - Item #2 - Can USPS be more specific about the desired format of the "multiple prototypes." Are they to static, HTML? Flash?, etc. A. The form of the prototype will be determined by the functional need of the prototype. All the suggested formats may be used from time to time. 24. Q. Page 8 ? Section 2.2.3 Task #3 - Please define the term "Affiliates." What business entities and relationships are included in the "Affiliates" of USPS.com? What is the difference between an "Affiliate" and an "Alliance"? A. From the perspective of the USPS, the USPS has an ?Affiliate? relationship with a third party if they link-in to a USPS online property. In some cases, these relationships require legal agreements. If a third party is placed within the USPS content, the third party is a ?Merchant? affiliate to the USPS. Affiliate relationships may or may not include an exchange of value between the parties. B. Affiliate relationships are largely tactical whereas Alliance relationships are more complicated and synergistic with the core capabilities and offerings of both parties. The program management offices for USPS.com will mostly enable Strategic Alliances vs. manage the business aspects of them. 25. Q. How many pages of content are included in USPS.com? How many are contained in the 2.5 version and how many in 2.7? Do you anticipate migrating the 2.5 pages into the newer version? What percentage of the total page count gets most of the hits? A. USPS.com consists of over 250,000 pages with approximately 55% receiving the most traffic (give or take with advertising). The breakdown of pages and direction in terms of version will be discussed with the selected provider post-award. 26. Q. Will USPS consider an extension to the proposal due date if answers are not provided by May 20th? A. No, as all questions will be answered by May 20th. 27. Q. Transition activities. There are deliverables identified that appear to be worded as tasks for the incumbent, is it USPS expectation that a successful new contractor would include only the time anticipated for turnover/training received from the incumbent? A Yes 28. Q. Can USPS provide information, data and/or reports concerning the following areas: a) Existing requirements, use cases or key user scenarios b) Results and feedback from previous user research, surveys and usability testing A. No. These documents will be discussed with the selected provider post-award. 29. Q. Please clarify if USPS will designate certain labor categories as key personnel as defined in Section 3.2.1 as those categories that are ?essential to the work to be performed? ? or if suppliers are to identify certain personnel bid to be classified as key personnel? A. Please see the answer to question 5 and the charts following question 33. 30. Q. In Section 4.2, please clarify what is meant by the requirement ?Respondents shall list the title of each type of position (labor category), under one of these six labor groupings, that may be used if a competitor?s solution is selected.? Also please clarify what is meant by the statement ?that may be used if a competitor?s solution is selected?? A. Please see the answer to question 5 and the charts following question 33. 31. Q. We are unclear about the relationship between the six Labor Groups identified in Section 4.2 vs. the use of these Labor Groups in the Pricing Spreadsheet. Are Labor Groups the same as a supplier?s labor category? For example, when bidding a Program Manager do we include the title ?Program Manager? in the Pricing Spreadsheet ? or ?Labor Group I? under the column titled labor category? A. You would need to include both the Labor Category and the Title (i.e. Labor Group 2, Program Manager) 32. Q. How many FTEs or labor hours per year is USPS currently procuring under the existing IDE & Support Services contract? A. Approximately 22 FTE?s 33. Q. Will USPS provide a set Level of Effort for the overall program ? or at least the three lots to be used for bidding during the Reverse Auction, to establish an apples to apples comparison of pricing? Also, can you further clarify how suppliers are to provide specific pricing by deliverable given that many aspects of the SOW are broad and undefined? A. First, price breakdown must be calculated by each deliverable. Below are charts of labor categories by task groups: Labor Category Charts: Task A: Internet Website Strategic/Tactical Planning, Program Mgt & Business Team Leads Labor Category Title FTE Rate Labor Group 1 0.05 Labor Group 2 0.5 Labor Group 3 3.5 Labor Group 4 4 Labor Group 5 Labor Group 6 Note: These are estimated FTE and are subject to change based on workload throughout each year. Task B: Creative Web Design & Production Services Labor Category Title FTE Rate Labor Group 1 0.05 Labor Group 2 1 Labor Group 3 5 Labor Group 4 3 Labor Group 5 1.5 Labor Group 6 1 Note: These are estimated FTE and are subject to change based on workload throughout each year. Task C: Usability Web Testing and Web Measurement Labor Category Title FTE Rate Labor Group 1 0.05 Labor Group 2 0.5 Labor Group 3 1 Labor Group 4 2 Labor Group 5 2 Labor Group 6 Note: These are estimated FTE and are subject to change based on workload throughout each year. 34. Q. In 4.2 and 4.3 "Incumbent" or "Incumbents" is used several times. Does this really mean "Position Holder" or "Position Holders"? A. Yes, Position Holder or Position Holders. 35. Q. The solicitation due date is given on the solicitation cover page as ?05/31/2005 0900 ES?. RFP section 4.1 says ?Deadline for electronic submission is no later than 3pm on Friday, May 31, 2005.? As May 31, 2005 is a Tuesday, is the solicitation response due at 3pm on Tuesday, May 31? A. The technical and cost proposals are due on Tuesday May 31, 2005 by 9:00 A.M. EST. 36. Q. RFP Section 4.1 discusses the deadline for electronic submission, but identifies where hard copy should be sent. Is electronic submission alone compliant, or is hard copy also required? A. One electronic copy shall be sent to donald.w.hadle@usps.gov One hard copy shall be sent to: Donald Hadley 475 L?Enfant Plaza SW Room 4541 Washington DC 20260-4541 37. Q. What is the granularity of the reverse auction bidding? Is it at the group (lot) level only? Is it at the task level? Is it at the deliverable level? A. Group Level 38. Q. Does reverse auction bidding contain only total dollars, dollars and hours, or all of the data contained in the deliverable tables? A. Upon selection of top-rated technically-acceptable offers, opening bid was contain only total dollar value. 39. Q. During the reverse auction is the lowest bid for each bidder visible? A. During auction, bids & bid values are not visible to the participants. Only the respective ranking (#1, #2,...) is seen. 40. Q. During the reverse auction can a bidder (e.g. bidder #1) make a new bid that is lower than bidder #1's current bid, but is not lower than the lowest (say bidder #2's) current bid? A. Within the allotted time for the auction, any participant can make a new bid that might impact the ranking of offers. 41. Q. There appear to be two deliverables numbered 41. Is one of them 42? A. The pricing template incorrectly states, Deliverables #41: Reference materials needed for shadowing/on-the-job training defined below. This should be, Deliverables #42: Reference materials needed for shadowing/on-the-job training defined below. 42. Q. Are the two requested resumes in addition to the 40 page limit for the technical proposal? A. The two resumes are excluded from the 40 page technical proposal. 43. Q. Please confirm that the past performance references are not included in the 40 page count. A. Past Performance references are excluded for the 40 page technical proposal 44. Q. Please confirm that the organizational capability is not included in the 40 page count. A. Organizational capability is excluded form the 40 page technical proposal. 45. Q. Please confirm that the total page count of 40 pages is for all three groupings of tasks. A. The 40 pages are for the 42 deliverables in section 2 of the statement of work. 46. Reference: Section 4.3 Key Personnel Resumes, Paragraph 3, ?Also, for security clearance purposes, these incumbents and all other competitor employees who may perform tasks on USPS facilities or using USPS sensitive data, shall have been classified as U.S. citizens for a minimum period of the most recent 5 years.? Q. Clarification: Please clarify which personnel are required to have been classified as U.S. citizens for a minimum period of the most recent 5 years. A. Citizenship requirement applies to all personnel who will be accessing USPS facilities and/or network infrastructure. Q. Clarification: Would USPS accept a key personnel supplied by a vendor that has been a U.S. citizen for the most recent 4.5 years and has possessed the USPS Sensitive Security Clearance since March 2001? A. This acceptance is the purview of the USPS Corporate Security office. 47. Q. When does the incumbent?s current contract expire? A. September 30, 2005 48. Q. Once the USPS has evaluated and selected the 10 highest-rated and technically-capable offers will the USPS publish this list? A. Yes 49. Q. There are two different sections each numbered 2.2.2 - but there is no 2.2.1. To keep the numbering consistent with the USPS SOW, would USPS prefer suppliers to continue to use the numbering as they have it, or update our response: the new 2.2.1 would refer to Task 1; the second instance of 2.2.2 would continue to refer to Task 2. A. 2.2.2 Task #1 ? Research, Develop, and Deliver Web Strategy is numbered incorrectly the correct number should be 2.2.1 Task #1 ? Research, Develop, and Deliver Web Strategy is numbered 50. Q. In Section 6.1, USPS outlines its process for conducting an anonymous Reverse Auction. Will participants be able to view other bidders prices ? while keeping the bidders blind? Given the nature of this program, we believe it would be very difficult to participate in a Reverse Auction without having access to all prices bid. A. Neither bidders nor their pricing will be visible during the auction. Only the ranking position of each offer will be seen. 51. Q. In Section 6.4, USPS identifies three lots (Groups A, B & C) to be used for bidding during the Reverse Auction. Each lot includes the cost associated with the ?transition tasks?. Isn?t it unfair to include transition cost in the Reverse Auction, as this gives the incumbent a clear advantage (by bidding $0 transition costs) over other suppliers? Would USPS consider excluding transition costs from the Reverse Auction? A. USPS does not intend to exclude transition costs from the Reverse Auction since determining factor for selection shall be best value; not just lowest price. 52. Q. Does USPS intend to award a T&M contract? A. The USPS intends to award an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contract and write either Firm-fixed cost or Time and Material Delivery order under the master contract. 53. Q. Will USPS identify the incumbent? A. No
- Place of Performance
- Address: 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room PROM 425, , Or with in 50 miles of location
- Zip Code: 20260-0426
- Country: United States
- Zip Code: 20260-0426
- Record
- SN00814032-W 20050525/050523212429 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
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