REQUEST FOR INFORMATION -- OUTSOURCE OF COMMODITIES AND SERVICES IN THE DOD E-MALL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CORRIDOR The Department of Defense (DOD) is implementing a DOD-wide Electronic Mall (DOD E-Mall) to facilitate electronic commerce within the DOD in compliance with the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (Public Law 105-261) and in support of the Defense Reform Initiative and implementing directives. This electronic mall will provide a single Web-based point of entry for all DOD electronic catalogs. A primary goal of the DOD E-Mall is to provide DOD customers with an easy-to-use tool to search for needed products and services across multiple sources, compare prices and features, make a decision as to which product and/or service represents the best value, and place an on line order with the contractor. The DOD E-Mall is organized into corridors: i.e., Services and Construction, Commodities, and Information Technology (IT). Each corridor has established its own ground rules for business operations consistent with the products, services and customers using that corridor. With the recent emergence of commercial electronic "stores" on the Internet for information technology, greater flexibility and expanded potential solutions are now available to DOD for implementation of the DOD E-Mall, and, more specifically, the IT corridor. To better assess the potential for commercial electronic "stores" to provide IT commodities (both hardware and software, to include maintenance and upgrades of existing licensed software products) and services for DOD E-Mall customers, the DOD Chief Information Officer Working Council has authorized the issuance of this Request for Information (RFI). Through this RFI, we request feedback from industry on the feasibility of making agreements with one or more electronic "IT store" vendors to accomplish the following: (1) All DOD buyers of IT commodities and services can find and get the best deals (large and small purchases) for DOD Joint Technical Architecture (JTA) (http://www-jta.itsi.disa.mil) compliant products and other IT products from both government and commercial sources. In addition to the JTA, buyers in the Military Departments and Defense Activities will be able to select IT commodities and services that are Defense Information Infrastructure and Common Operating Environment compliant, and comply with their respective organization's standards documents and be assured these products and services are Y2K compliant. (2) Ideally, the DOD buyer can use one search engine, "shopping cart" or purchase list, and one "checkout" procedure to buy products from commercial electronic IT "stores" and government contract and agreement "catalogs" on the IT corridor of the E-Mall. DOD intends to provide some or all of the technology to facilitate this capability across all government and commercial catalogs. (3) Capture data that will identify who is purchasing, what is being purchased, when purchases are made and frequency by customer, hardware warranty information, software product enhancements (including updated versions), etc., and provide periodic reports to the Government with this information. (4) Capture data on those that tried to order from the IT catalog, but were unsuccessful (i.e., did not find their product, software problems with IT catalog, the pricing was not considered favorable). We would like your detailed comments on the existence in the commercial marketplace of IT electronic "stores" which have the following technical and functional attributes. We ask that you address each attribute in your response and address whether the feature is currently available or when it will be available, and any technical or cost impediments to implementing the feature: (1) Ease of use. Mistake correction capability -- Ability to help the end user avoid, detect and be informed of mistakes, then allow the end user to take corrective action at any point during the transaction. Database structure oriented to user requirement determination, i.e., the buyer can quickly and easily locate essential information about items. On-line interaction with all stakeholders (the user, buyer, DOD Program Office, contractor), to include the ability to let a potential buyer post notes in the IT catalog when a product is not found or pricing is not favorable. (2) Resources. Adequately staffed support infrastructure. A database structure that requires minimal investment by suppliers to the catalog -- Ease of database updates so pricing and product information is current and accurate. (3) EC (e.g., EDI) Capable; can accept and initiate EC transactions to (A) receive and (B) distribute payments automatically. (4) At both organizational and individual levels, must accommodate -- Administrative contracting functions (i.e., purchase/delivery order issuance, purchase card transactions); Comparison shopping (products, prices, add-on components, peripherals); On-line quote capability to include the ability to electronically request quotes based on requirements for specifically configured systems (on line quotes are not a commitment to order, but may result in a purchase transaction within standardcommercial timeframes); On-line order tracking; On-line tracking of hardware warranty, software product enhancements, including updated versions; Shopping cart feature -- Ability to save, modify and electronically forward shopping cart to an authorized buyer; On-line "in transit" visibility (i.e., ability to track order while in transit after shipment by supplier); Ability to capture historical records for analysis and reporting (i.e., who is buying, what is bought, dollar volume of sales by customer, etc.) Note: DOD may provide this capability in lieu of each "store" performing this function; Ability to report problems with deliveries and their resolution (hardware, software and other media). (5) Catalog ease of use. Easily navigable by non-technical user. On-line customer feedback and inquiry capability. Help desk for use of catalog and order placement. Resident or linked configurator. (6) Security. 128-bit encryption support. Secure Socket Layer (SSL) support. X.509 v3 certificate standard. (7) Training. On-line training with help features. Identified training alternatives (subject matter such as use of the Internet, use of the specific system, security concerns). (8) Technology and prices of IT in the catalog are current and accurate. In addition to addressing each of the specific requirements above, we request that you answer the following questions: (1) What other features, in addition to the ones listed above, are essential to an electronic catalog for IT commodities and services? (2) To what extent are the features available in existing commercial IT electronic catalogs? (3) If the features listed in response to question (1) above are not available, describe barriers to implementing those features and plans to develop and provide the features. (4) Because IT catalogs may offer end users a broad choice of products, will the search capability allow the Military Services to establish "filters" for searches that can be tailored so product choices are limited (i.e., USMC Buyer's Guide, DOD Joint Technical Architecture, DII COE, etc.)? (5) To what extent are commercial IT electronic catalog business rules adaptable to DOD buying practices? (6) The DOD CIO is establishing Enterprise Software Agreements (ESAs) under its Enterprise Software Initiative and is considering a requirement that the products and services available through these ESAs would be resold to DOD buyers by these commercial IT "store" vendors. Funds would be transferred from DOD customers back to a DOD account using EC. Please discuss any issues associated with incorporating these agreements into an outsourced IT catalog for ordering by DOD customers. (7) What are the capabilities of commercial IT catalogs to provide electronic software distribution? (8) Are there specific technical requirements for using the IT catalog; i.e., type of browser required? (9) What taxonomy do you recommend for use in IT electronic catalogs so DOD customers obtain search results that will allow them to quickly conduct comparative analyses across multiple catalogs andmake "best value" decisions? (10) What performance measures do you use commercially in monitoring your IT catalog? (11) What methods of reimbursing the electronic IT store vendor(s) should the DOD consider in establishing these agreements? (12) In addition to "reselling" software from DOD awarded Enterprise Software Agreements, the electronic IT "stores" will be placed in the IT Corridor of the DOD E-Mall alongside Military Service and DOD activities' IT electronic malls. What potential short and long term management issues do you have about competing in this environment with not just other commercial IT "stores" but these Military IT stores in the DOD E-Mall. (13) What marketing strategy would you employ in this electronic marketplace established by the DOD E-Mall? (14)How can DOD customers be assured that products and services in the IT catalog are Y2K compliant at time of purchase? (15) How will customers purchasing for installation in overseas facilities be accommodated? (16) What strategy(s) do you recommend to achieve the Government's goal of rapidly implementing one or more IT catalog pilots? You are requested to submit your response to this RFI in electronic form not later than close of business January 29, 1999. The electronic copy should be in Rich Text Format. This is a request for information only. The Government will not reimburse vendors for costs incurred in responding to this RFI. Please submit your reply by e-mail to guy_a_goss@phil.fisc.navy.mil. E-MAIL: CLICK HERE TO CONTACT THE BID OFFICER, SYNOPSIS@PHIL.FISC.NAVY.MIL. Posted 12/30/98 (D-SN284079).

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