SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- Request for Information for System Intergration for United States Department of Agriculture Farm Services Agency Budget and Performance Management System (BPMS)This RFI shall not be construed as a Request for Proposal and does not obligate the Government - Combination RFI/Draft SOO AG-3151-RFI-10-0001
- Notice Date
- 1/5/2010
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541512
— Computer Systems Design Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, Acquisition Management Division, Contracts Operations Branch, 1280 Maryland Avenue, SW, Portals Bldg., Room 508A, Washington, District of Columbia, 20250-0567
- ZIP Code
- 20250-0567
- Solicitation Number
- AG-3151-RFI-10-0001
- Archive Date
- 1/28/2010
- Point of Contact
- Jeffrey McRae, Phone: 2026904030, David L. Porter, Phone: 202-720-7335
- E-Mail Address
-
Jeffrey.Mcrae@wdc.usda.gov, david.porter@wdc.usda.gov
(Jeffrey.Mcrae@wdc.usda.gov, david.porter@wdc.usda.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This attachment contains the RFI combined with the Draft Statement of Objectives (SOO) which is submitted for industry comments and responses. This Request for Information (RFI) is being released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for planning purposes only. It shall not be construed as a Request for Proposal (RFP) or as an obligation on the part of the USDA to acquire any products or services. If an RFP is issued, it will be officially issued by the appropriate Government contracting office. The USDA does not intend to pay for the information requested. All information provided is for Government planning use only – please do not provide proprietary information. Background: The USDA mission is to provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management. The USDA is recognized as a dynamic organization that is able to efficiently provide the integrated program delivery needed to lead a rapidly evolving food and agriculture system. Recently, the USDA has initiated modernization efforts to replace and upgrade mission critical systems to improve the delivery of programs that support America’s farmers and rural communities. USDA has endeavored to streamline and improve program delivery processes to be more effective and efficient. Also important to the success of the USDA mission is reducing the burden on the workforce, improving program training, design, and administration, and delivering automated access to program applications. Among the modernization initiatives, is the Budget and Performance Management System (BPMS) project. BPMS is a multi-agency investment in improved processes and tools to improve budget formulation, budget execution, and decision support analytics for participating agencies within the department. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is the managing partner for the BPMS project. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), and Rural Development (RD) are participating agencies. The National Information Technology Center (NITC) and the Information Technology Services (ITS) organization also maintain models in the same BPMS platform. FSA has developed cost and budget models using SAP Profitability and Cost Management (PCM). The scope of these models includes: • Budget Formulation (Salary & Expenses) • Budget Execution • IT Project Budget Formulation • Cost Management • Performance Data Collection FSA is interested in achieving the following modernization goals: • Proactively implement analytical practices to enable decision-making. • Align budgets, costs, and performance information to a single business framework. • Automate repetitive and manual activities, tasks and processes. • Acquire and develop analytical competencies and dedicated roles. It is anticipated that the future-state solution will be enabled by the PCM solution for cost modeling (i.e. the solution that is already built and in use today), other SAP solution component(s) for budget formulation and execution, and potentially SAP Strategy Management (SSM). In addition to achieving the goals mentioned above, FSA’s intent of this contract includes: • Developing a model that other agencies may use for their own budgetary process; or, • Allowing other USDA agencies to develop their own model. When the BPMS project is complete, FSA expects to have realized the following capabilities: • Management of the Agency’s appropriated funds • Management of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) • A modernized work load data collection tool • A modernized and automated work measurement (time and attendance) system • Strategic planning applications • Reporting for annual CFO statements • Budget formulation and execution data and exhibits • Interfaces with Program Assessment Rating Tools (PART), payroll, human resources and accounting systems, and external systems such as the U.S. Treasury • Management decision support and analytical tools Type of Contract: It is proposed that this will be a firm fixed price, IDIQ contract. Information Requested Vendors are requested to submit the following information regarding technical capabilities, industry information, and industry consideration. Submittals should be no more than ten pages in length excluding cover pages, tables of contents, and appendices. An electronic copy compatible with the Microsoft Office 2003 Suite is requested. Submit your response via electronic mail to Mr. Jeffrey McRae at Jeffrey.Mcrae@wdc.usda.gov no later than 5:00pm EST, on January 13, 2010. All inquiries and responses must be submitted as instructed above – Telephone and FAX inquiries will not be accepted. 1. What type of information does the vendor need from the Government for vendors to provide their technical approach and cost information and demonstrate their capabilities and use of SAP’s Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC) solution as an enabler for the following areas: a. Budget Formulation b. Budget Execution c. Apportionment Processing d. Cost Management e. Reporting 2. What type of information does the vendor need from the Government for vendors to provide their technical approach and cost information and demonstrate their capabilities and use of SAP’s Public Sector Budget Formulation (PBF) solution as an enabler for the following areas: a. Budget Formulation b. Budget Execution c. Apportionment Processing d. Cost Management e. Reporting 3. What type of information does the vendor need from the Government for vendors to provide their technical approach and cost information for SAP Business Intelligence products for budget exhibit creation and execution reporting, either based on your own company’s experiences with your clients or your understanding of the solution’s capabilities. 4. What is your business size standard (Small, 8a, SDB, Other than Small, etc…)? 5. The Government is seeking an innovative, cost-effective solution that is both interoperable within the existing infrastructure and forward-looking with regards to SAP product direction. Given the opportunity to recommend the appropriate SAP solution components (e.g., BPC, PBF, other) for the previously described capabilities and client: a. What type of information is needed for the vendor to know or understand what SAP product and solution approach provide the best value to the taxpayer? b. What type of information is needed for the vendor to know or understand or anticipate the learning curve for users and vendors? c. What type of information is needed for the vendor to know or understand the approach, effort, and risks of implementing each tool? (note: a high level, relative comparison response is appropriate, not looking for a discrete LOE) d. Are there other factors that your company views as significant considerations in developing a path forward? 6. The USDA is implementing an SAP financial management system. What type of information is needed for the vendor to know or understand to demonstrate their perspective on the integration of the BPMS project with SAP core financials (i.e., FI, CO, and FM) functionality. 7. What type of information is needed for the vendor to demonstrate the best practices for establishing a performance based contracting environment (e.g.: metrics, acceptable quality levels, service level agreements, etc.) with your company’s Federal Government clients? 8. Based on the attached Statement of Objectives (SOO) and additional contract information, do you feel that you have sufficient information to successfully respond to a solicitation issued for this requirement? If not, what additional information do you recommend be incorporated in the SOO? 9. What possible constraints or boundaries, if any, do you envision in performing this requirement? 10. Do you believe the goals and results as stated in the SOO are obtainable? If not, what information is needed from the Government to clearly identify the goals and objectives of the Government? 11. What information is needed from the Government for the vendor to understand and identify the appropriate “Key Personnel”? 12. Is there enough information available for the vendor to identify and determine the deliverables and projected cost? If not what additional information is needed from the Government? 13. Is another NAICS Code suitable for this type of requirement other than 541611 - Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services or 541512 - Computer Systems Design Services? If so, what NAICS code would you suggest and what is your business size standard attached to this NAICS code? Bidders be advised: 1. The draft Statement of Objectives (SOO) is provided for industry comment. We request vendors identify suggested changes to the document. Submitted changes/additions may or may not be included in the final solicitation.
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