SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- VBA Tactical Analytical Support
- Notice Date
- 10/27/2010
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541611
— Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Center Acquisition Innovation Frederick;Department of Veterans Affairs;7485 New Horizon Way;Frederick MD 21703
- ZIP Code
- 21703
- Solicitation Number
- VA79811RI0008
- Response Due
- 11/18/2010
- Archive Date
- 11/23/2010
- Point of Contact
- Brian L. Kadel, Contract Specialist
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration Office of Performance Analysis and Integrity Project: "VBA Tactical Analytical Support" Background: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Office of Performance Analysis and Integrity (PA&I), is conducting market research and seeking information from all interested vendors regarding consulting and analytical services related to the performance of forecasting, data mining, optimization, and system simulation. Current Status: PA&I has been tasked with applying advanced analytics-time series forecasting, data mining, optimization and system simulation-to enable VBA to proactively manage and improve its business processes. Specific projects have been suggested in the areas of forecasting claim receipts, employee retention, modeling processes to help determine the affect of process changes, and reducing improper payments. PA&I currently manages a data warehouse housing over 6 terabytes of data from various VBA production systems. This data warehouse will be the primary source of data for these analysis projects. As tools, PA&I has acquired SAS Analytics Pro, SAS Enterprise Miner, SAS Text Miner, SAS Forecast Server, and SAS/ACCESS to ODBC. Current staffing for this function is two analysts, one with an econometrics background and one with a statistics background. The government staff for this function will grow to approximately 12 analysts within 5 years and the selected contractor will be tasked with providing knowledge transfer to the government personnel. Information Requested: The government is requesting that all interested vendors provide information regarding their capability to provide support in administering the analytics function and performing analytics in support of VBA projects. The VA may utilize the responses to this RFI to conduct additional market research. It is possible that the VA may invite respondents to meet with VA officials in person for oral presentations, questions and answers session in order to come out with a requirement that would be properly completed. Information obtained from this RFI and the subsequent meeting with the vendors may be utilized to assist the VA in developing an RFP. Vendors should provide supportive documentation that describes past projects that are similar in scope. Specific Questions to be Addressed: All questions listed below must be answered completely. 1. What is your organization's experience in developing procedures for advanced analytics? Specifically, what is your organization's experience in developing procedures to be used by client organizations and/or knowledge transfer? 2. What is your organizations experience (time, scope and balance between government and non-government clients) in: a. developing predictive models using data mining techniques; b. developing predictive models using time-series forecasting; c. developing optimization models; and d. developing discrete simulation models of work processes? 3. For 1 above, what are the typical deliverables for such a client engagement? 4. For 2 above, what are the typical deliverables for each type of analysis? 5. What is your organizations experience (time and scope) in using Enterprise Miner, Text Miner, and Forecast Server in client engagements? Please list your organization's experience in using each tool. 6. What are the typical labor categories involved in the tasks described in 1 and 2 and what is the experience level required for each category? 7. Respondents Qualifications a. Respondents should have at least three (3) years experience in providing these services. b. Respondents should indicate what relevant certifications their staff members hold, such as (but not limited to) Certified Business Intelligence Professional with the Business Analytics Specialty Area, SAS Certified Predictive Modeler, and Certified Professional Forecaster Responses: Responses should be single-spaced, 12 point-font, with numbered pages and should not exceed 20 pages in length, including cover page, appendices, tables and figures. Responses should use the following subject heading: "VBA Tactical Analytical Support". Electronic submissions shall be in either Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format. Submissions must be properly marked. Dates: Responses should be submitted to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Acquisition and Logistics, on or before 12PM Eastern Time on November 18, 2010. Addresses: Please send to: Brian.Kadel@va.gov Note: VA will utilize the information from this RFI to help determine the agency's RFP. Vendors shall identify any proprietary information in their RFI responses. Proprietary materials will neither be distributed to nor discussed with any other vendor. The use of information submitted to the Government as a result of this RFI will be at the discretion of the government. The information obtained from responses to this RFI will remain confidential insofar as permitted by law, including the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts. The Government is not obligated to provide comments to vendor submissions. The Government will not pay for information solicited and will not recognize or reimburse any costs associated with any RFI submission. Therefore, the Government recommends vendors submit electronic versions of, or weblinks to previously prepared presentations, documentation, white papers and other relevant information. Disclaimer: Responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by VA to form a binding contract. VA does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for information solicited. For purposes of this RFI, the term "vendor" refers to those members of industry providing a response to this RFI. Any questions should be electronically directed to Brian Kadel, Contract Specialist, (202)461-0712, or Brian.Kadel@va.gov by 12 PM Eastern Time on November 10, 2010. Email communication should include company name, address, and point of contract, and phone.
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