70 -- INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TOOLS (IT2) SOFTWARE SUPPLIER MARKET REQUEST FOR INFORMATION Headquarters Standard Systems Group (HQ SSG) is in the process of formulating the acquisition strategy for our Information Technology Tools (IT2) Block 2 acquisitions. The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to allow interested companies that sell and/or resell software products to provide insight into commercial business practices and common operating procedures and to allow them the opportunity to submit comments, ideas, and/or suggestions. This is not a formal solicitation under FAR Part 15 or a FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition, but a request for interested companies to provide information. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this solicitation or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and Proposal Costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Although "proposal" and "offeror" are used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal. All information received will be considered as the Software acquisition strategy is developed. Visit our web page directly at web1.ssg.gunter.af.mil/PK/BizOps or via the Electronic Systems Center (HERBB) web-site at herbb.hanscom.af.mil/index.htm for additional information about IT2 Block 2 acquisitions. In addition, you may submit product literature about your company's ability to sell and/or resell software products. Specific information on the following topics is requested: 1. Would it be feasible to group software products by application type and offer standard discounts per application type? Please comment on the application types listed below and cite any suggested additions or changes: a. software development tools b. database c. office automation d. messaging e. systems management/administration tools f. network g. operating systems h. graphics/imaging i. security j. other types of systems 2. What range of software application types do you currently carry (use a-j above)? a. Are all these products on your GSA FSS? If no, what percentage is on your GSA FSS? b. How lengthy is the process to add software to your GSA FSS? 3. Describe in general terms the pricing agreements between software resellers and OEMs. a. Is there a standard discount given from OEM to reseller, or does the discount vary depending on the product? b. Do you anticipate difficulty in adding vendor products to your FSS if the vendor's products are on other FSSs? c. Do you anticipate difficulty in adding vendor products to your FSS if the vendor's products are not on a FSS? 4. Please describe typical software services and engineering support commonly provided/available to complement software sales. a. How do you negotiate terms/pricing for these items (e.g. discount percentage off list/GSA schedule, discount for specified volume of purchase by tier or based on actual requirements on order by order basis or other)? b. Do you provide post installation software support services (e.g. help desk, telephone support, etc.). If so, please describe the terms and conditions of availability. 5. What are the terms of your software maintenance (upgrades/updates) and how is it provided? 6. Describe different licensing agreements you currently have (e.g. site licenses, enterprise, single copy, economic order quantities, etc.). a. How do you propose pricing for different license agreements (can you propose quantity discounts or do you negotiate discounts in response to specific, funded requirements)? 7. Please share experiences and lessons learned in dealing with electronic ordering and electronic distribution? a. Comment on what impact you envision electronic ordering and electronic distribution will have on the software industry? b. What means of license tracking does your company currently have in place and how is it managed? c. Comment on how your company counts licenses (per installation, per user, or other). 8. What does the commercial industry consider a reasonable threshold (dollars or quantity) where further reductions in price (spot pricing) should be considered? a. When and under what circumstances would you consider spot pricing to be most advantageous? b. Are there certain times of the year when special price discounts are more apt to be available? 9. Are there any other commercial practices that should be considered that would assist vendors in meeting Air Force requirements while reducing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and increasing value for all concerned? Submittals may be made via e-mail to IT2@ssg.gunter.af.mil or hard copy to HQ SSG/PKS-5 (ATTN: Dorothy Priest), 85 Hodges Ave. South (BLDG 403), MAFB-Gunter Annex, AL, 36114 by 19 Oct 99. All information received shall be safeguarded from unauthorized disclosure. Please ensure any sensitive information is clearly marked as such. This is not a solicitation announcement for proposals and no contract will be awarded from this announcement. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement and/or any follow-up information requests. No telephone calls will be accepted requesting a bid package or solicitation. There is no bid package or solicitation! In order to protect the integrity of any future procurement, which may arise from this RFI, additional information will not be given and no appointments for presentations will be made. For questions concerning this RFI, please contact Ms. Dorothy Priest via email at dorothy.priest@gunter.af.mil or phone (334) 416-5610, or Capt Karen Kenney at karen.kenney@gunter.af.mil or phone (334) 416-4689. An Ombudsman, Mr. Melvin Carr, has been appointed to address concerns from offerors or potential offerors during proposal development. You should only contact the Ombudsman with issues or concerns you cannot satisfactorily resolve with the program manager and/or contracting officer. The ombudsman role is to hear concerns, issues, and recommendations and communicate these to the appropriate government personnel. The Ombudsman will maintainstrict confidentiality if desired. The Ombudsman does not evaluate proposals or participate in source selection. You can contact the IT2 Ombudsman at (334) 416-5323.***** WEB: Visit this URL for the latest information about this, http://www.eps.gov/cgi-bin/WebObjects/EPS?ACode=S&;ProjID=Reference-Num ber-software&LocID=1082. E-MAIL: Dorothy Priest, Dorothy.Priest@gunter.af.mil. Posted 10/06/99 (D-SN389567).

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