SOURCES SOUGHT
D -- E-Mail Subscription Services
- Notice Date
- 3/23/2016
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 517911
— Telecommunications Resellers
- Contracting Office
- Department of Labor, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management, Office of Procurement Services, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, S-4307, Washington, District of Columbia, 20210-0001, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20210-0001
- Solicitation Number
- 16-OPA-OPA-0001
- Archive Date
- 5/5/2016
- Point of Contact
- Katima A Wilson,
- E-Mail Address
-
wilson.katima.a@dol.gov
(wilson.katima.a@dol.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- 1. Overview a. E-Mail Subscription Management: The Contractor shall provide integrated e-mail subscription management for unlimited U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) or DOL-managed websites or web pages and content management processes without back-end database or content management server integration. The system will monitor for changes in website content and send change notifications to an unlimited amount of subscribers by e-mail when changes occur using an automated process. The automated process can be turned on or off for each subscription list. The system will also allow DOL to manually initiate a message to any list or lists of subscribers, as needed. b. Citizen Sign-Up: The Contractor's system shall provide a method for citizen visitors to easily and rapidly sign-up to specific subscriptions, categories, subcategories, or an entire list of available e-mail subscriptions. c. Notification: The Contractor shall automatically send e-mail messages to site visitors that have signed-up for notification of content updates or changes. E-mail messages must be sent in real time, when content is updated, or with administrative approval. d. Administration: The system must provide significant administrative features to allow staff to easily create and manage a multi-level hierarchy of users across multiple websites; to selectively design and update subscriptions for different websites; and otherwise tune the system for the unique content delivered by individual websites. e. Reporting: The Contractor shall provide reporting to enable the customer agency to appropriately fine-tune its e-mail subscription approaches based on usage. f. Security: The Contractor shall host the e-mail subscription service in a Data Center environment with redundant connectivity and appropriate physical and electronic back-up systems. The Contractor shall establish practices for protection of any connections between agency websites and the e-mail subscription management system consistent with Federal guidance and regulations. g. Scalability: The Contractor shall provide a solution capable of monitoring changes on an unlimited amount of website content so all subscription options can be linked to content maintained on the agency-managed websites. h. Support: The Contractor shall provide support including training, account management, and technical and consultative solution support. 2. General Requirements a. Main Line of Business: Operation of an e-mail subscription service shall be a principle line of business for the Contractor. The Contactor shall already have the technical expertise, resources, and indexed content to provide all the e-mail subscription services described in this request. b. E-Mail Subscription as a Service: The Contractor shall leverage its existing e-mail subscription services, adjusted for websites identified by the Government. The Contractor shall utilize all functionality and features that its commercial e-mail subscription services currently offer, or may offer its users in the future, in the provision of e-mail subscription services to the Government. The Contractor shall already have all equipment, tools, materials, personnel, and supervision to provide e-mail subscription services. The Government shall not be required to purchase or furnish equipment for any requested service. c. E-mail Subscription Features and Functionality: The Government must have the ability to use any new feature or function that is available to users of the Contractor's commercial service. d. E-Mail Subscription Technology: The Contractor shall continuously implement innovative, market-driven solutions and enhancements to its e-mail subscription service to ensure it is able to respond accordingly to all changes to the web that affect content notification processes. e. Scalability: All e-mail subscription services must scale to the growth of the web and agency website visitors. 3. Technical Requirements The Contractor's e-mail subscription services shall already meet the following technical requirements. a. 24x7x365 Availability: The Contractor's service shall be accessible to users virtually 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If maintenance is required, it must, to the maximum extent possible, be scheduled well in advance and be of extremely limited duration. b. Scalable Infrastructure to Handle Spikes in Demand: The system shall be designed in such a manner as to be able to easily absorb up to double the level of activity as experienced during normal operations to support peak periods of operation. c. System Operations 1) The e-mail subscription service provided must integrate with multiple websites or web pages and content management processes without back-end database or content management server integration by monitoring for changes in website content so change notifications are sent to subscribers by e-mail when changes occur using an automated process. The automated process can be turned on or off for each subscription list. The system will also allow DOL to manually initiate a message to any list or lists of subscribers, as needed. 2) The System must offer any e-mail subscription or profile management features and templates from any agency-managed web page, through placement of an HTML link on the web page, without any other programming or installation of any software or hardware. 3) The System must use templates with the agency websites' look and feel for all e-mail subscription features (e.g., user sign-up, subscription confirmation, viewing of all subscription options, user profile management) without programming. The templates should be changed periodically to reflect changes to the basic design look and feel of the government websites served. d. User Experience Features: The Contractor's system must: 1) Enable sign-up to specific subscriptions, categories, subcategories, or an entire list of available e-mail subscriptions by placement of HTML links in appropriate locations on website pages. 2) Prompt new users to view a list of all available e-mail subscriptions. 3) Provide site users that subscribe to information with a web-based profile page where they can change their e-mail address, add or subtract a password, view all subscriptions or other profile information, and stop notifications during designated periods (e.g., vacations). e. E-Mail Notification Features: The Contractor's system must have the following capabilities: 1) Send over 20 e-mail messages per second. 2) Send e-mails that allow users to view messages in HTML or plain text, depending on their preferences. 3) Allow a preview of each e-mail in both HTML and plain text format by the administrator prior to sending. if your organization has the potential capacity to perform these contract services, please provide the following information: 1. Organization Name 2. Address 3. Point of Contract 4. CAGE Code/DUNS Number 5. Email Address 6. Web site address 7. Telephone number 8. Size and type of ownership for the organization Submission Instructions: Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the requirements, as outlined above, are invited to submit a response to this RFI by April 20, 2016, no later than 3:00pm (ET). All responses must be submitted via email in Microsoft Word or PDF Format. The Government requests that the responses include one cover page and a maximum of one (1) page main text. All responses under this RFI must be emailed to contract specialist: wilson.katima.a@dol.gov. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledge, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions 4) Create an individual e-mail for each recipient, so that recipient addresses remain unavailable to other message recipients and so that SPAM guards do not block e-mails. 5) Send e-mail notifications automatically, in real time, when content is updated or with administrative approval. f. Administrative Functions: The Contractor's system should have capabilities to perform administrative functions that include many of the following: 1) An optional mechanism to prompt agency staff to send e-mail notifications to subscribers when designated website content is updated without any custom programming or installation of software on agency servers. When used, this option will provide a change report detailing which web content has changed. 2) Allow staff to create and manage a multi-level hierarchy of administrative users with different levels of administrative rights so an individual administrator can only send messages related to his or her assigned content. 3) Allow administrators to store default messages for every subscription topic so messages are ready-to-send when content is updated. 4) Allow administrators to list an individual subscription item in multiple categories and sub-categories without additional programming. 5) Allow additions and modifications to subscription options to be made through a "point-and-click" user interface so that changes can be made without programming and ensure that changes are reflected immediately in the subscription options presented to users. 6) Allow administrators to send subscriptions manually to one or more groups of subscribers at any time without updating website content. 7) Allow administrators to filter e-mail sends based on users' subscription preferences or other information provided by the users. 8) Allow administrators to add subscribers manually when subscribers sign up through other means (existing lists, paper sign ups, etc.). 9) Provide the ability to manage private (internal) subscription groups. 10) Provide automatic handling of all e-mail bounces that result from invalid e-mail addresses. g. Reporting Functions: The Contractor shall: 1) Provide reporting of numbers of e-mail subscribers and e-mails sent by item, subcategory and category for any date range. The contractor shall also be capable of archiving an entire history of system usage so reports can be run by any date range. 2) Report on the frequency with which subscribers visit the agency website after receiving an e-mail notification. 3) Report on the success of each mailing including which recipients have been successfully sent each e-mail. Archive all data and allow online reporting. 4) Provide an aging report that identifies out-of-date content and under-served e-mail subscriber lists. h. Hosting: The Contractor shall: 1) Host the application in a Tier-One Data Center environment with redundant connectivity and appropriate physical and electronic back-up systems. 2) Demonstrate exceptional hosting up time. 3) Ensure that the agency maintains ownership of all subscription data stored in the application though the vendor is allowed to maintain the information for purposes of providing the service; allow the agency access to the data at any time. 4) Provide a turnkey solution that includes hosting of the application in an environment that allows all features to be fully implemented without installation of hardware or software on the agency's servers. 5) Require no openings in the agency firewall for any reason including monitoring for changes in the agency's website content. i. Security and FISMA Compliance The e-mail subscription solution must be FISMA compliant, with the latest version of all applicable NIST SP 800-53 security controls in place. DOL reserves the right to perform periodic testing of security control functions. j. System Security Plan The Contractor shall develop, implement, and maintain a security plan that ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the DOL information and hosted application for the duration of this contract. The security plan shall contain, at a minimum, the information outlined in Special NIST Publication 800-18 Rev.1, Guide for Developing Security Plans for Information Technology Systems dated February 2006 and DOL computer security handbook (CSH). Additional information may be required at the discretion of agency designated approving authority (DAA) in accordance with agency policies or directives as specified in task orders. The Contractor shall implement procedures for communicating to the Contracting Officer and/or designated key personnel security-related issues that impact Contractor performance or the confidentiality, integrity and availability of DOL information under this contract. Such procedure shall include an escalation process defining various stages of issue severity and the appropriate notification levels. k. Interconnection Security Agreement (ISA) The nature of this acquisition requires interconnections between federal information systems and the Contractor's e-mail notification system. These interconnections will be established to enable user registration for e-mail notification. The Government and the Contractor will work in good faith to establish an Interconnection Security Agreement (ISA) and/or a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as provided in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-47, Security Guide for Interconnecting Information Technology Systems, Appendix A and B. The Government's intent is to accept the Contractor's commercial information security practices that are functionally equivalent to those provided by NIST Special Publication 800-53, Recommended Security Controls for Federal Information Systems. References: OMB Circular A-130, Appendix III, Security of Federal Automated Information Resources http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/a130/a130appendix_iii.html NIST 800-47, Security Guide for Interconnecting Information Technology Systems http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-47/sp800-47.pdf NIST 800-53, Recommended Security Controls for Federal Information Systems l. Scalability: The Contractor shall 1) Monitor changes on an unlimited amount of website content so that all subscription options can be linked to content that is maintained on the agency's website. 2) Provide an enterprise-wide solution that allows implementation of application features on an unlimited number of agency websites and agency web pages. 3) Allow implementation of an unlimited number of subscription options. 4) Provide scalability so that the solution can support an unlimited number of e-mail subscribers. 5) Allow for an unlimited number of administrators from the agency. 6) Provide an unlimited amount of subscription categories and subcategories. 7) Include all upgrades to core functionality of the application as part of solution fees. m. Support: The Contractor shall: 1) Provide online training to administrators at all levels. 2) Make available account management services that provide expertise in implementing government-to-citizen e-mail communication to assist with setup, ongoing support, and administrative functionality training for all administrative users. 3) Provide all necessary technical and consultative support to setup the solution on the agency's website. 4) Provide customer service support to answer user questions or direct them to the appropriate agency staff member. 5) Provide 24X7 emergency support. n. Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery 1) Instant Fail Over Capability In the event of a disaster to an internal system (e.g. database server) a host standby system shall be in place to immediately take the function. All system data shall be backed up outside the primary facility to facilitate rapid recovery of data in the event of a disaster affecting the primary facility. 2) Active Content Monitoring The Contractor shall utilize monitoring tools in order to protect the integrity of the system against malicious intent. When integrity-compromising events occur, the Contractor shall send an immediate notification to alert Government personnel of the event. 3) Industry Standard Backup method with off-site rotation and testing. As part of ensuring that services can be recovered in the event of a disaster, all components of the system must be backed up in accordance with industry best practices. 4) Accessibility Requirements All components of the Contractor's system must meet Section 508 accessibility requirements. Complete technical descriptions are provided on the following website: http://www.section508.gov/ 5) Automatic Downloads The Contactor's e-mail notification service shall not download any application to the user's computer without notification and consent. 6) Service Level Requirements The Contractor shall respond to requests for assistance from the government within one (1) business day. A resolution to the request should be in process within three (3) business days, and resolved within seven (7) business days, except upon negotiation with the Government. The Contractor shall agree to 95% system uptime over monthly windows. o. Privacy Requirements. The Contractor shall 1) Provide requirements in accordance with the Federal Acquisitions Regulations (FAR) clause 52.239-1. 2) Comply with the Privacy Act and administrative, physical, and technical security controls to ensure all the Government's security requirements are met, in addition to security regulations at each individual agency. 3) In addition, contractor is fully responsible to ensure that the e-mail subscription service application is fully compliant with all federal privacy provisions including but not limited to: a) OMB Memo M-03-22 "OMB Guidance for Implementing the Privacy Provisions of the E-Government Act of 2002" b) OMB Memo M-06-15 "Safeguarding Personally Identifiable Information" c) OMB Memo M-06-16 "Protection of Sensitive Agency Information" d) OMB Memo M-06-19 "Reporting Incidents Involving Personally Identifiable Information and Incorporating the Cost for Security in Agency Information Technology Investments"
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOL/OASAM/WashingtonDC/16-OPA-OPA-0001/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: USDOL/Office of Public Affairs, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20210, United States
- Zip Code: 20210
- Zip Code: 20210
- Record
- SN04060163-W 20160325/160323235548-3ab641f4172a6144035957c8a1f6140d (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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