SOURCES SOUGHT
99 -- Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) Financial Viability Hosting Access
- Notice Date
- 4/14/2009
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 518210
— Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Homeland Security, Citizenship & Immigration Services, USCIS Contracting Office, 70 Kimball Avenue, Burlington, Vermont, 05403
- ZIP Code
- 05403
- Solicitation Number
- HSSCCG-09-R-00005
- Point of Contact
- Chad R Parker,, Phone: 8028724111
- E-Mail Address
-
chad.parker@associates.dhs.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- USCIS requests industry input on the Agency’s need for access through a web-service interface to a contractor’s system whereby the contractor would provide financial viability information on companies petitioning to employ alien beneficiaries. This need is part of an initiative called Verification Initiative for Business Enterprises (VIBE). The USCIS Office of Service Center Operations (SCOPS) processes employment-based immigrant and non-immigrant petitions. SCOPS needs to determine the financial viability of a petitioning company. Currently, the information used to determine financial viability comes directly from the company itself. However, USCIS would like to verify the financial viability through a contract vehicle with an Independent Information Provider (IIP) to support the VIBE initiative. It is anticipated that the forthcoming acquisition would require the following: • Algorithm development and refinement that will be used to reduce copious information into a simplified report for adjudicators to determine the financial viability of petitioning companies • Access through a web-service interface, to the IIP’s system, whereby USCIS can automatically transmit queries • Independent information provided from an IIP for a varying amount of monthly inquiries • Data investigation support for instances where no data resides in the database • Data accuracy support for instances of insufficient data in the database • Program management • Data analysis • Training for adjudicators on the use and understanding of the data being provided by the IIP During market research it was determined that licensing terms restrict customers from retaining information in any media once the contract has expired, and providing information to third parties, such as other Federal Government agencies, without prior written consent of the contractor. The Government requires licensing terms that allow the information provided to be retained in adjudicator files in perpetuity. Further, this information may be viewed and used by other Government agencies for legal proceedings, such as court hearings or similar administrative hearing activities related to granting or denying immigration benefits. It has also been determined through market research that industry does not provide warranty terms regarding the accuracy of information provided. The Government may potentially use the information in a court of law, as such, it must be supportable. Responses to this RFI should address the following: 1) Ability and willingness to develop warranty terms. If already available, describe the warranties you provide. If warranties are somehow implicit, what level of accuracy is considered typical or acceptable? 2) Ability and willingness to provide exceptions to standard licensing terms and conditions relating specifically to how the data provided can be used, stored, and maintained during and after the end of the contract? 3) What would be the price impact of modifying standard licensing and warranty terms? Please describe the impact by showing it in relation to the pricing of standard licensing terms? 4) Describe if your system has the capability to be accessed through a Web-Service. If yes, can you please provide the Web-Service Definition Language (WSDL) or link to the WSDL through which you provide an interface? 5) How does your organization offer pricing if this information is accessed through a web-service? 6) Describe your ability regarding data investigation support. 7) Describe your ability to train users in the proper interpretation of the information provided. Interested parties are to respond by addressing the above within 10 days from release of this RFI. The Government is not requesting a proposal and this RFI in no way obligates the Government to place an order.
- Web Link
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- Record
- SN01792638-W 20090416/090414222117-4804015b757d44a6f0b0bbd50e3621e0 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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