U.S. Department of Commerce, Acquisition Services, 14th & Constitution Ave., N.W., Room 6516, Washington, D.C. 20230

D -- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES SOL 52SAAA900010 DUE 012999 POC Howard G. Price 202/482-1966 WEB: Click here to enter the DOC Conops Web Site, http://www.doc.gov/oam/conops. E-MAIL: Click here to contact the contracting officer via, hprice@doc.gov. The U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of the Secretary, contemplates the acquisition of a multiple 8(a) vendor procurement vehicle. This procurement vehicle, Commerce Information Technology Services (COMMITS), is designed to provide a broad range of support resources related to the government information technology (IT) community. It is the intent of this project to make multiple indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) awards to eligible 8(a) firms as prescribed by the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)). Teaming arrangements with small, small-disadvantaged, and women-owned small business are encouraged. Further by using this approach, we are supporting the Department of Commerce's mission to help keep America as the world's technology leader, to help American companies compete globally, to enable communities to conquer economic challenges, to stimulate the growth of high-pay, high-quality jobs, to preserve and protect the environment and our natural resources and safeguard thepublic from environmental changes, and to provide information vital for good business and policy decisions. The 8(a) firm(s) will have the prime responsibility to provide these IT services in a timely, efficient, and cost-effective manner across the entire ADP Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC); in various types of information and management systems; with a variety of database management systems and software languages; and involving many computer hardware environments and operating systems. COMMITS' requirements will be acquired through the use of multiple Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contracts in three functional areas. The functional areas are: (1) Information Systems Engineering (ISE); (2) Systems Operations & Management (SOM) Systems/Facilities Management and Maintenance (SFM) Support Services; and, (3) Information System Security (ISS) Support Services. Examples of the types of tasks included under the ISE functional area are: IT Strategic Planning Program Assessment, and Studies Business Process Reengineering (BPR) Software Life Cycle Management (SLCM) Software Engineering Software Maintenance and Licensing, Support Electronic Commerce (EC)/Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), Independent Verification and Validation, IT Research and Development Other ISE Tasks. Examples of the types of tasks included under the SOM functional area are: Office Automation/Help Desk, Network Support, Computer Center Technical Support Services, Media/Learning Center Support, Telecommunications Support, Seat Management, Independent Verification and Validation, Acquire and manage software maintenance and/or software licenses from 3rd party sources, Other SOM Tasks. Examples of the types of tasks included under the ISS functional area are: Mainframe Automated Information Security Systems, Disaster Recovery, Continuity of Operations, and Contingency Planning, Computer Security Awareness and Training, Computer Security Incident Response, Virus Detection, Elimination, and Prevention, Computer Security Plan Preparation, Certification of Sensitive Systems, Quantitative Risk Analysis of Large Sensitive Systems, Security for Small Systems, Telecommunications, and Client Server, Hot-site & Cold-site Services, Independent Verification and Validation, Acquire and manage software/hardware maintenance and/or software licenses from 3rd party sources, Other ISS Tasks. For each functional area, COMMITS intends to: 1) make multiple Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity awards with a minimum guarantee, and 2) compete subsequent delivery/task orders among the awardees within the functional area. It is the intent of this office to make available to other Government agencies (including state, local, and quasi-governmental agencies) the opportunity to satisfy their requirements by utilizing the contracts awarded under COMMITS. The Standard Industrial Classification code for this requirement is 7379. For information concerning the acquisition, contact the contracting office listed above. This acquisition will be conducted usinga streamlined acquisition process described in a document entitled "Department of Commerce Acquisition Process Case for Change." The document can be found on the Internet (http://www.CONOPS.doc.gov). This project will follow the general approach and guidelines established during the CONOPS pilot studies conducted in 1996 and 1997. Further, the intent of this process is to provide an improved acquisition environment that will benefit both the vendor community and the Government. Use of this process will (1) speed the exchange of information, (2) help assure equal opportunity for all respondents and (3) encourage openness by making as much information as possible available simultaneously to all parties. This process uses market research to help determine an acquisition strategy and to refine the Government's requirements in relation to the capabilities and approaches of the private sector. To aid in an equitable and active dialog with all the 8(a) firms interested in responding to the stated needs of the Government, electronic communications will be used extensively throughout this solicitation process. The Department intends to conduct a market survey with industry to seek available sources and the issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP). The market survey will be conducted using a Project Agreement, which outlines the requirement under this solicitation. The Project Agreement will be available via the Internet (http://www.doc.gov/oam/conops) by January 8, 1998. Industry responses are due January 29, 1998. The estimated date of awards is April 19, 1998. All interested 8(a) certified prime contractors must respond to the Project Agreement to be considered for an award. The Department of Commerce reserves the right to conduct a voluntary down-selection of firms responding to this project agreement. The following criteria will be used for recommending whether a firm should continue to participate in the requirement. (1) Business Management Approach which will include the following subcriteria: Corporate Experience;Corporate Capabilities; Human Resources; Customer Satisfaction Measurement and Teaming Arrangements; (2) Past Performance; (3) Qualifications of Key Personnel; (4) Oral Presentation (Optional) and (5) Labor Hour Costs/Prices for Information Technology Services. Specific instructions for responding to this requirement will be identified in a separate document that will be posted on the same Internet site as the project agreement. No additional information regarding this requirement will be released through the CBD from the date of this announcement. All future announcements and communication with industry will be through the Internet. Interested sources should pay close attention to the Internet site (http://www.doc.gov/oam/conops) for all information pertaining this requirement. Posted 01/08/99 (W-SN286477). (0008)

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