U.S. Information Agency, International Broadcasting Bureau, Contracts and Procurement Division, B/PA/AC, Room 2517, 330 C St, SW, Washington, DC 20547

D -- CORRECTION/UPDATE OF SDS AND THAILAND LOC SOFTWARE SOL 39008-106 POC Contracting Officer: Jim Sullivan, Chief, B/PA/AC, Facsimile 202-260-0855, voice 202-619-3448 E-MAIL: Click here to contact the contracting officer via, jsullivan@usia.gov. The USIA International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) intends to issue a sole source (FAR Subpart 6.302-1) simplified acquisition Purchase Order (FAR Part 13) for computer software programming services to Kerr Vayne Systems, LDT for performance by one of their subcontractors. The magnitude of the work is estimated to be larger than the micro-purchase threshold ($2,500), but significantly less than the threshold amount that mandates a CBD Synopsis ($25,000). The Scope of Work for this procurement is as follows: The following corrections and updates are required to IBB's Schedule Development System (SDS) that resides on the IBB Office of Engineering's World Operations Controller (WOC) located at its Washington, DC Headquarters, and to the Local Operations Controller (LOC) located at IBB's Thailand Relay Station: TASK A -- IFRB REPORTS IBB's Office of Engineering and Technical Operations' Spectrum Management Division (B/EOF) is required to provide regular reports to the FCC and host country governments regarding IBB broadcast schedules. These reports are subsequently forwarded to the International Frequency Regulatory Board, which is part of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). In performing this function, the SDS automatically derives from the WOC's Oracle data-base three types of report files in ASCII format. These files are distinguished by the extensions ".IFRB", ".DAT" and ".SUM." Recent changes in international reporting requirements necessitate certain minor modifications in the format of the above-stated report files (i.e., mostly removal of unwanted areas of the reports). The Contractor shall perform the necessary format modifications to accommodate the required report changes. The specific changes required shall be coordinated with B/EOF. Approval of the modified formats by B/EOF constitutes the Government's acceptance of Task A. TASK B -- DOWNLOADING THAILAND SCHEDULE The IBB Office of Engineering has experienced recurring difficulties associated with downloading broadcast schedules to the Thailand Relay Station LOC. It is believed by B/EOF that at least part of this problem is in the LOC, and it may be related to data-base administration procedures. However, the WOC and the WOC gateway have not been ruled out as a possible cause of this problem. The Contractor shall test and analyze the overall WOC-LOC communication process with the purpose of discovering any weakness or anomaly that is impacting the reliability of the downloading function. If any such defects are identified in the SDS or LOC software, the Contractor shall make the changes that are necessary to correct the problem to the extent that they can be made within the awarded cost of this procurement. The Contractor shall document all identified defects and the actions taken, such as code changes, to correct the downloading problem. The Contractor shall also prepare detailed written Data-base Administration Instructions (i.e., a User's Manual) for use by the LOC System Manager, that covers the on-site procedures necessary to assure trouble free broadcast schedule downloading. This Users Manual shall be applicable to the LOCs at both the Thailand and Morocco Relay Stations. TASK C -- THAILAND DES DES (Data Extraction Subsystem) software was recently developed and installed on the Morocco Relay Station LOC. This program provides Morocco with a number of needed capabilities related to downloading, backing-up, and printing broadcast schedules on-site. One important DES function, "LOC-Selectable Announcements", allows the LOC to automatically play different announcements for different broadcast services. This feature, specifically developed to handle the newly required RFE/RL announcements, is now also used for Radio Free Asia, Radio Marti, and other IBB and non-IBB announcements. The DES program is currently needed at Thailand Relay Station. Utilizing a Government furnished communication's link to the Thailand LOC, the Contractor shall remotely install the DES software on the LOC. The DES version shall be obtained from the WOCCMS Library. The Thailand Relay Station staff will be available to assist in this installation, and they will carry out the DES Acceptance Test Procedure; performing the same test as was done at Morocco Relay Station. The Contractor shall correct any defects in the Thailand DES Program that are covered by the DES Contract Statement of Work and any subsequent Modifications. A copy of completed IBB Purchase Order P-640-1363 issued to Kerr Vayne Systems, LTD (with Mods 2, 3 and 4) will be provided to the Contractor by B/EOF. This assumes that the baseline Radio Plant Management (RPM) software on the Thailand LOC is the same as that on the Morocco LOC -- as it should be. The Contractor is not responsible for rectifying DES problems traced to differences in the RPM code. CONTRACT DELIVERABLES AND PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE Task A.1, Modify Format of IFRB Forms, 20 Calendar Days. Task B.1, Identify and Correct Schedule Downloading Problems, 30 Calendar Days. Task B.2, Document Downloading Problems, Actions Taken, and Code Changes, 45 Calendar Days. Task B.3, Prepare Data-base Administration Instructions, 45 Calendar Days. Task C.1, Install DES on Thailand LOC (Acceptance Test Performed by Relay Station), 60 Calendar Days. All of the above dates start upon Purchase Order award. CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS The services of a senior level analyst-programmer are believed to be sufficient for the work to be performed under this procurement. The Contractor should have some knowledge of the SDS and DES software programs, and the WOC and LOC designs, especially the communication functions. The Contractor should also have some experience with Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) computers (VAX and micro VAX) which run the VMS operating system, and with the Oracle RDBS. WORKING ARRANGEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT It is anticipated that most of the work under this proposed Purchase Order can be done via a remote link between the Contractor's facility and the WOC at IBB Headquarters in Washington, DC. Although it is not mandatory, ifthis approach is proposed by the offerors, and if accepted by the Government as a suitable means to accomplish this work; the Government will provide a high speed modem interface to the WOC, and all necessary access rights to the WOC and LOC emulator software and the CMS Library. With specific permission from the Thailand Relay Station Manager, limited access (via the WOC) to the LOC at the Thailand Relay Station will be arranged by the Government. All communication arrangements by the Contractor used in performing this SOW shall be coordinated with the Government. In addition, all access and operations on the Thailand Relay Station LOC shall be cleared in advance with IBB (B/EO) and IBB's relay station management. The Contractor's work schedule and communication times shall be arranged to accommodate the availability and work schedules of the Thailand Relay Station staff. Please reference Requisition 39008-106 on all correspondence regarding this notice. This synopsis is not an IFB or RFP. Posted 06/26/98 (0177)

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