Smithsonian Institution -- Astrophysical Observatory, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138-1596

70 -- COMMERCIAL SOFTWARE FOR TRACKING PROPOSALS, GRANTS AND CONTRACTS DUE 041498 POC Priscilla O. Waltner, TEL. (617) 495-7401, FAX (617) 495-7485. This is a sources sought/market survey synopsis. This is not a solicitation. The Smithsonian Institution- Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is seeking sources who can provide a commercial-off-the-shelf database software system for the tracking and updating of information about proposals, contract and grant awards, and deliverable reports. The software must support information for not less than 3,000 proposals, contracts and grants, and allow for partial awards and incremental funding over multiple time periods. A means to notify users when reports are due or overdue must be included. The proposal database must be able to track and report: the proposal control number, short title, principal inves- tigator, project/program manager, funding agency, value, and duration. It must also be able to report which proposals were lost (not funded) or funded during a particular reporting period. The contracts/grants database must be able to track and report: fund number, short title, principal investigator, project/program manager, project authorization number, start date, end date, allotment end date, value, sum allotted, funding awarded this year, and contract/grant number. Both databases must have multi-user access for both input and reporting. The basic software must be commercial off-the-shelf and allow some customization by SAO, using vendor-provided software tools to enable implementation of specific detailed requirements (e.g., data field names, reports, queries). Migration to new versions of basic software must be achievable with a minimum of effort by SAO. The software must run using existing SAO infrastructure for the SAO Contracts/ Grants group (PCs running NT 4.0, linked by a Novell network). All applications must utilize a standard ODBC database. It is highly desirable that any features designed to be used by proposal submitters be accessible via a standard web browser, as many submitters at SAO use Unix or Mac workstations. The system must accommodate extensions to new technologies, such as bi-directional EDI for agency submissions, award notifications, and acknowledgements. Import of existing data (in dbase format) to the system and export of various data from the system to other SAO internal systems (also in dbase format) must also be accommodated. The system must be Year 2000 compliant. The software must be maintainable by SAO personnel on site. Training and 7 x 24 technical support must be available from the vendor. Contractor should state if the product(s) identified in their response is offered under a GSA-FSS contract. Interested sources must include descriptive literature describing capabilities of the firm and must include sufficient information about the product(s) described so that a determination can be made that the product meets the basic require- ments of this notice. For any requirements not met in current standard software but planned for release within calendar year 1998, contractor must provide a published scheduled release date. Responses to this announcement must be provided no later than 23 March 1998, 4:30 EST. Submit responses to: Smithsonian Institution -- Astrophysical Observatory, Attn: Priscilla O. Waltner, Mail Stop 22, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138-1596. This announcement is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation for quotations or proposals and should not be construed as a commitment by the Smithsonian Institution. No funds are available for this procurement. (0050)

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