SPECIAL NOTICE
B -- Intent to Award Sole Source - FFI-FEAT/FIREMON O&M
- Notice Date
- 3/4/2016
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541511
— Custom Computer Programming Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 240 West Prospect Road, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80526, United States
- ZIP Code
- 80526
- Solicitation Number
- AG-82FT-S-16-0011
- Archive Date
- 3/24/2016
- Point of Contact
- Anthony O Salas,
- E-Mail Address
-
asalas@fs.fed.us
(asalas@fs.fed.us)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- This is a Notice of Proposed Contract Action Synopsis. There is no solicitation available at this time. Requests for a solicitation will receive no response. This Proposed Contract Action is published to notify potential sources that The Rocky Mountain Research Station intends to award a sole source firm-fixed price contract, on behalf of the USDA Forest Service, to Axiom IT Solutions for Operations and Maintenance (O&M) support services for the FEAT-FIREMON Integrated (FFI) desktop software application. 1.0 BACKGROUND: FEAT - FIREMON Integrated (FFI) is an interagency ecological monitoring software application developed to facilitate more effective collection and use of monitoring data to support mangers in meeting their Federal monitoring mandates (see https://www.frames.gov/files/4714/0010/0748/FFI_Overview.pdf). FFI was developed through a complementary integration of the NPS Fire Ecology Assessment Tool (FEAT) and the Joint Fire Science Program funded FIREMON program and has a broad interagency user base. It is a desktop application that includes software for database administration, protocol development, data entry, data management, reporting and analysis, and also includes an associated user guide (see FFI website, http://www.frames.gov/ffi). The application does not directly connect to other systems/applications in order to import or export data. FFI must accommodate new security and approval processes developed by the agencies, must operate on new and future computer operating systems (e.g., Windows 10) and must be updated to work with new and future versions of required software (e.g. SQL Server 2014 and Arc 10.3). Users have identified software bugs that need to be fixed and have requested system updates to improve the user experience. Technical and training support are also required to maintain relevance of the application. In this statement of work the term "FFI" generically describes four complementary applications: 1) FFI (using SQL Server database), 2) FFI-Lite (using SQL CE), 3) FFI Database Administration and 4) FFI Protocol Manager. 2.0 TASKS: The funds in this contract will be used to: 1) support software modifications and 2) provide technical and data migration support for FFI users. 2.1 Software Modifications: FFI software improvements will include, in this priority: 1) changes to meet agency mandates as required USDA and FS CIO, 2) modifications to support compatibility with new versions of SQL Server, the Windows operating system and ESRI products, and 3) updates to these FFI components: database administration, project management, query tool, data entry, reports, analysis, GIS module and protocol management. Areas of primary emphasis are: 1. Updates mandated by USDA and FS CIO. 2. Add support for new versions of associated operating systems and software applications: Windows OS (Win 8 and 10), SQL Server (2014), ESRI Arc products (Arc 10.3), FOFEM (v6.3.x), FuelCalc (v1.4.x) and the Forest Vegetation Simulator. 3. Bug fixes and corrective maintenance. 4. Incorporate changes in the FFI user interface to better meet standards set in Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act: allow keyboard control to select, expand and navigate Project Unit "tree view" in both Project Management and Data Entry and Edit, allow keyboard control to save current sample event data. 5. Update user interface to improve usability on 8" and 10" Windows tablets: move and space more widely apart the Save, Cancel, Delete and Delete visit buttons on the protocol form data entry screens in Data Entry and Edit. 6. In XML export files, include user defined screen settings for hidden, frozen, moved and resized protocol form data fields in Data Entry and Edit, so protocol form layout on field computer matches the layout on the master computer. 7. Allow user to select protocol form fields that should be copied from a previous, user-selected sample event. 8. Add new report and analysis features as suggest by users. 9. Investigate and possibly implement "templates" for automating pre-population of data entry fields and assignment of required field protocols at the sample event level. Related assessments: Will the templates be stored in a new database tables; will template be available at the database or administrative unit level; describe relationships between template table and required modifications to the database schema; provide alternative solution. Provide proposed solution/options(s), benefits and drawbacks and estimate of hours to complete. 10. Investigate feasibility and possibly implement refinement of the database schema to better support one-protocol-to-many-macroplot relationships and macro plot-level protocol relationships. Priority work will consider the Fire Behavior and Disturbance History protocols and improvements to their associated reports in Reports and Analysis. Provide proposed solution/options(s), benefits and drawbacks and estimate of hours to complete. 11. Investigate feasibility and possibly implement a species management tool that will let users manage duplicate species NRCS symbols in their databases at the administrative unit level. Tool should search for and display duplicate local symbols and species properties. Allow consolidation of symbols to the user defined "preferred" symbol including modification of species GUID throughout the administrative unit. Related assessments: Asses how this functionality will this effect change to users editing data on a server; should the changes be stored and then made all at once or should they occur on-by-one as the user works through the local list? Provide proposed solution/options(s), benefits and drawbacks and estimate of hours to complete. 12. Investigate feasibility and possibly implement improvements in the query tool: user interface and speed. Provide proposed solution/options(s), benefits and drawbacks and estimate of hours to complete. 13. Investigate feasibility and possibly implement open-source GIS components such as Google Earth or QGIS. Provide proposed solution/options(s), benefits and drawbacks and estimate of hours to complete. 14. Investigate and possibly implement methods for using ‘exif' data and spatial coordinated to display photos in mapping or GIS tool such as Google Maps. Provide proposed solution/options(s), benefits and drawbacks and estimate of hours to complete. 15. Investigate and possibly implement an Included Species tab on the Settings tab in Reports and Analysis to include groups of species for cover, density, and frequency. Species Options will include Standard (default - current implementation) or Selected Species (the user selects which species are included) and the Report Options will include Individual Species (default - one row for each species) or Grouped Species (all species grouped into one class). Calculations use null when there is no occurrence of species on any plot and 0 when species occur on some plots but not others. Summary reports and Analysis reports reference the selection made on the Included Species tab. Allow the user to select species on the Included Species tab (either grouped or individual rows). Allow species grouping by taxonomy, local characteristics, PLANTS characteristics and/or UV codes. Provide proposed solution/options(s), benefits and drawbacks and estimate of hours to complete. 2.2 Technical and Data Migration Support: Technical and data migration support will assist users in getting their data into a usable form in the FFI database either through data conversion, data modification and/or training in the use of FFI. Any migration of an FMH, FEAT, FIREMON or other data sets first needs the approval of the Task Manager before the contractor initiates work. Other work in this section includes building tools to improve technical support, enhance functionality of Protocol Manager, investigate greater sharing of FFI data and reduce application bugs prior to release of new versions. The COR and Task Manager will work with the contractor to determine specific support tasks. Areas of primary emphasis are: 1. Assist in communication with agency IT staff to gain installation approval of each new version of FFI on government computers, networks and systems. 2. Create a software testing protocol/process to ensure FFI is fully functional prior to a software release. 3. Convert databases and datasets to the FFI database format. 4. Provide general technical FFI software and database support. 5. Read user issues on the FFI Google Groups page and post answers to user questions. 6. Answer email from users to troubleshoot specific problems. 7. Troubleshoot FFI software problems over the phone with users. 8. Troubleshoot databases problems reported or supplied by users. 9. Provide SQL Server database queries to patch individual databases. 10. Build database testing tool to find missing patch scripts, missing stored procedures, data table corruption and other database issues. 11. Provide technical support for implementing a data sharing tool that allows FFI data to be used in Interagency Fuels Treatment Decision Support System (IFTDSS) or fully integrate FFI with IFTDSS (http://iftdss.sonomatech.com/). 12. Provide technical support for a web based deployment of FFI on Frames (http://frames.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt) or a similar type of web based system. 13. Provide support to allow FFI data to be stored in agency corporate database systems (e.g., the Forest Service NRIS system). 14. Develop new methods in Protocol Manager and improve options for protocol development in Protocol Manager including adding custom calculations. 15. Provide FFI training support. 2.3 Section 508 - Accessibility of Electronic and Information Technology (a) This PWS is subject to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d) as amended by the workforce Investment Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-220). Specifically, subsection 508(a)(1) requires that when the Federal Government procures Electronic and Information Technology (EIT), the EIT must allow Federal employees and individuals of the public with disabilities comparable access to and use of information and data that is provided to Federal employees and individuals of the public without disabilities. (b) The EIT accessibility standards at 36 CFR Part 1194 were developed by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board ("Access Board") and apply to contracts and task/delivery orders, awarded under indefinite quantity contracts on or after June 25, 2001. (c) Each Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) product or service furnished under this contract shall comply with the Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards (36 CFR 1194), as specified in the contract, as a minimum. If the Contracting Officer determines any furnished product or service is not in compliance with the contract, the Contracting Officer will promptly inform the Contractor in writing. The Contractor shall, without charge to the Government, repair or replace the non-compliant products or services within the period of time to be specified by the Government in writing. If such repair or replacement is not completed within the time specified, the Government shall have the following recourses: 1. Cancellation of the contract, delivery or task order, purchase or line item without termination liabilities; or 2. In the case of custom Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) being developed by a contractor for the Government, the Government shall have the right to have any necessary changes made or repairs performed by itself or by another firm for the noncompliant EIT, with the contractor liable for reimbursement to the Government for any expenses incurred thereby. (d) The contractor must ensure that all EIT products that are less than fully compliant with the accessibility standards are provided pursuant to extensive market research and are the most current compliant products or services available to satisfy the contract requirements. (e) For every EIT product or service accepted under this contact by the Government that does not comply with 36 CFR 1194, the contractor shall, at the discretion of the Government, make every effort to replace or upgrade it with a compliant equivalent product or service, if commercially available and cost neutral, on either a contract specified refresh cycle for the product or service, or on a contract effective option/renewal date; whichever shall occur first. The proposed contract action is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Date posted to FedBizOpps: 04 MAR 2016. Date posting will close: 09 MAR 2016. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541511. The Size Standard is $27.5 million. The desired period of performance for the services described herein is anticipated to be from 01 APR 2016 through 31 MAR 2017. The responses to this synopsis will be used to confirm that this is a sole source requirement. This notice is not a Request for Proposals (RFP); it is a market research tool being utilized to determine the availability and adequacy of potential sources prior to awarding the contract. Any information submitted by respondents to this synopsis is strictly voluntary. The Government will not pay for any information that is submitted by respondents to this notice of proposed contract action. Contractors who believe they possess the expertise and experience shall submit technical capabilities in writing to Anthony Salas, RMRS Acquisition Management, USDA Forest Service, 240 West Prospect Road, Fort Collins, CO 80526, or electronically to: asalas@fs.fed.us. Responses must be received no later than 11:00 a.m. MDT 09 MAR 2016. All documentation shall become the property of the Government. Firms responding must indicate the following information: Indicate the business size: small business or disadvantaged business, veteran owned small business or HUB Zone certified, and indicate the appropriate NAICS code. This synopsis neither constitutes a Request for Proposal, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach. This synopsis should not be construed as commitment by the Government for any purpose other than market research.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USDA/FS/82FT/AG-82FT-S-16-0011/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: 5775 Highway 10 West, Missoula, Montana, 59808, United States
- Zip Code: 59808
- Zip Code: 59808
- Record
- SN04040606-W 20160306/160304235312-fdea9240e1cc441fe87af1b3d6f12a7a (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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