SOURCES SOUGHT
D -- Tariff Resource Database Subscription
- Notice Date
- 6/16/2016
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541519
— Other Computer Related Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition Management Division, 100 Bureau Drive, Building 301, Room B130, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20899-1410, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20899-1410
- Solicitation Number
- SB1350-16-I-03039
- Archive Date
- 7/13/2016
- Point of Contact
- Monica Brown, Phone: 2024820932
- E-Mail Address
-
monica.brown@trade.gov
(monica.brown@trade.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- DESCRIPTION 1.1 The Department of Commerce (DOC), International Trade Administration (ITA), Global Markets (GM) is seeking information on how an interested respondee could provide technology based assessment screening tools for the purpose of selection. 1.2 THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, the Government is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Respondees are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party's expense. BACKGROUND 2.1 Mission and Vision The International Trade Administration (ITA) of the Department of Commerce strengthens the competitiveness of U.S. industry, promotes trade and investment, and ensures fair trade through the rigorous enforcement of our trade laws and agreements. ITA is organized into three distinct but complementary business units: The Global Markets (GM) unit combines ITA's country and regional experts, the U.S. Commercial Service (CS) overseas and domestic field staff, and specific trade promotion programs to provide U.S. firms with the full suite of country-specific export promotion services and market access advocacy, while promoting the United States as an investment destination. The Industry and Analysis (I&A) unit brings together ITA's industry, trade, and economic experts to advance the competitiveness of U.S. industries through the development and execution of international trade and investment policies and promotion strategies. I&A will leverage ITA's relationships with manufacturing and services industries to increase U.S. exports. The Enforcement and Compliance (E&C) unit enhances ITA's responsibilities to enforce U.S. trade laws and ensure compliance with trade agreements negotiated on behalf of U.S. industry. GM works closely with several interagency and private sector partners, including the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC) Secretariat and its member agencies. The TPCC coordinates trade promotion activities across 20+ U.S. Government agencies. GM recently created the Office of Digital Initiatives (ODI), which supports offices through-out GM in outreach activities, primarily focused on the export promotion mission. The vision statement of Global markets is: "Provide the most effective and efficient government assistance to U.S. businesses, foreign investors, and partners seeking opportunities and facing challenges in the global marketplace." OBJECTIVES 3.1 It is the goal of ITA to promote exporting and assist exporters by obtaining an annual subscription to a comprehensive online tariff resource and providing access, at no charge, to U.S. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). By providing the online tariff resource, ITA is assisting U.S. exporters in identifying the applicable tariff, duties and taxes for their products and services based on the destination country. Access will be provided through the public facing Web site, export.gov. In addition, ITA worldwide staff can assist exporters by searching and locating the applicable tariff, duties and taxes for their products and services based on the destination country around the world. 3.2 The purpose of this request for information is to identify qualified vendors to provide a fully function database, updated to offer the most current tariff, duties and taxes for of products and services being exported from U.S. to countries around the world. The database shall meet the need and requirements as defined within the "Requirements" section of this document. The database will seamlessly integrate with the ITA public facing Web site, ex. export.gov and would be used by ITA staff to answer questions from clients and U.S. businesses. REQUIREMENTS 4.1 Requirement I - International Trade Administration Staff, U.S. Commercial Worldwide Staff and External Visitors (U.S. SMEs Exporters) via (www.export.gov). o External Access- via one of ITA's public facing websites to online tariff, duties and taxes database. o Allow to search-- in English--information on duties, taxes and other customs fees-- by destination countries' HS codes (tariff classification codes) for goods exported from the United States to other countries or regions around the globe.  Search results for duties and taxes should show Most Favored Nation (MFN) applied duty rates;  Where applicable, the search should include applied preferential duty rates and taxes between the United States and its FTA partners (bilateral and multilateral trade agreements);  The search results should cover customs data for all or as many as possible US trading partners and cover all HS chapters;  Each duty/tariff search for MFN and FTA duty rates should also include Value Added Tax, excise and other miscellaneous border taxes, wherever applicable;  Each duty and tax search should also include a formula/basis for calculating duties and taxes (e.g., CIF, FOB, etc.,) or a clear reference on how such duties and taxes can be calculated/estimated;  The duty and tax information needs to be accurate and frequently updated;  The database should allow seamless integration/custom link to export.gov (standard end user license agreement would apply);  Database should allow for search of HS classification codes;  The database should have an Application Programming Interface that would allow the global Knowledge Center to display the applications functions and features in a new generation export.gov website, when appropriate. 4.2 Requirement II - Internal Employees (International Trade Administration Staff) Access o In addition to all of the above requirements, ITA internal staff should have access to additional "premium features" that would be made available for internal use (5-10 people). The desirable features could include access to or ability to search for the following information. o Ability to search for global tariffs/duties and taxes (MFN and preferential duties) for shipments to/from various third countries/territories (e.g. from China to Mexico); o Ability to search for the ECCN numbers; o Access to information on INCOTERMS, export documentation and other logistics; o Access to Customs Rulings; o Access to World Customs Organization Explanatory Notes and Opinions - clarifications by the World o Customs Organization of "gray areas" in the HTS essential for accurate product classification; o Access to Court of International Trade (CIT) cases; o Access to Title 19 CFR/CODE; newly proposed and final regulations with timely updates from the o Federal Register and the preamble and new regulations immediately incorporated into the CFR; o Access to other export-related information such as Product-Origin Marking; standards, etc.; o Access to unspecified/useful guides or information that may be of interest to US exporters (Importers o Record keeping, Valuation Encyclopedia, etc.); o Other features of relevance to exporters, as available; o Provide data from WTO, World Bank and other relevant trade organizations involved in distributing tariff -related information; o Capability to share queries with other government agencies and visitors via (www.export.gov); o Provide NAFTA Implementation tariff search; o Automatic global currency conversion; o Provide all Harmonized Schedule Chapters for each customized search; o Harmonized numbers are fully qualified for customs duty assessment and statistical purposes; o Provide Federal register alerts; o Provide continuous updated valuation encyclopedia. 4.3 Requirement III - Reporting Usage Ability to create usage reports with monthly data on current use of a tariff resource reported on quarterly basis including: • Number of tariff queries • Number of unique users (new registrants) and their email addresses Searches • Detailed reporting of search queries by country and by four digit HS code level 4.4 Requiremement IV- Application Programming Interface (API) Vendor offers API access to tariff database information describe under 4.1 for external access. 4.5 Requirement V- Account Support Vendor shall provide account support to the ITA GM Office of Digital Initiatives and identify by name, telephone and email the account/sales representative for product support and updates on tariff data, M-F, 9:00am - 5:00pm Eastern Time (Washington, D.C.). RESPONSES 5.1 Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a white paper. 5.2 White papers are due no later than 28 June 2016, 12:00 PM EST. Responses shall be limited to 50 pages and submitted via e-mail only to Monica.Brown@trade.gov. Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. 5.3. The white paper shall provide administrative information, and shall include the following as a minimum: A. Name, mailing address, phone number, fax number, and e-mail of designated point of contact. B. Identify the capability of the database as it relates to requirements described above in the Requirements section. C. Cost information as available based on the information available. D. Geographic coverage. E. Tafiffs covered for public access. F. Application Program Interface (API) Integration and access via export.gov. G. Business type (large business, small business, small disadvantaged business, 8(a)-certified small disadvantaged business, HUBZone small business, woman-owned small business, very small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business) based upon North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541519, Other Computer Related Services. "Small business concern" means a concern, including its affiliates, that is independently owned and operated, not dominant in the field of operation in which it is bidding on Government contracts, and qualified as a small business under the criteria and size standards in 13 CFR part 121. A small business concern for the purposes of this procurement is generally defined as a business, including its affiliates, averaging no more than $27.5 million dollars in annual receipts. Respondees are cautioned, however, that this is a general description only. Additional standards and conditions may apply. Please refer to Federal Acquisition Regulation FAR 19 for additional detailed information on Small Business Size Standards. The FAR is available at http://www.arnet.gov. SUMMARY THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY to identify sources that can provide technology based assessment screening tools for the purpose of selection. The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. The Department of Commerce has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.
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