70 -- COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COTS WEB BASED EMPLOYEE BENEFIT SOFTWARE

Notice Date

August 13, 2001

Contracting Office

Social Security Administration, Deputy Commissioner for Finance, Assessment and Management, Office of Acquisition and Grants, 1710 Gwynn Oak Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21207-5279

ZIP Code

21207-5279

Solicitation Number

SSA-RFQ-01-0394

Response Due

August 27, 2001

Point of Contact

Dick Tokosch, Contract Specialist, Phone 4109659492, Fax 4109669310, Email dick.tokosch@ssa.gov -- Dick Tokosch, Contract Specialist, Phone 4109659492, Fax 4109669310, Email dick.tokosch@ssa.gov

Description

SSA-RFQ-01-0394: WEB Based Employee Benefit Software Application: SSA is seeking to acquire a Commercial Off The Shelf WEB Based Employee Benefit Software Application product for use by the 63,000 SSA employees nationwide. This is a COMBINED SYNOPSIS-SOLICITATION as authorized by FAR Parts 12.6 and 13.5. The requirement is a TOTAL SMALL BUSINESS SET ASIDE UNDER NAICS CODE 511210. Reference is made to the Sources Sought Synopsis R-54449 isssued on April 6, 2001. The only acceptable product descriptions were received from Government Retirement & Benefits Inc of Alexandria, VA and M S Technologies Corporation of Montgomery Village, MD. The specific requirements of the application are as follows: an off-the-shelf software product that is updated annually and has the following features: 1. The vendor must be able to process bi-weekly data tapes from SSA's payroll provider, the National Business Center of the Department of Interior, perform all necessary calculations and post resulting data bi-weekly for employee access. 2. The product must be a commercial, off-the-shelf product that can be demonstrated at time of offering with few or no amendments. 3. It must be able to compute both Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuities. Computation must be able to incorporate variances under CSRS Offset computations and FERS transfer employ ces whose annuity will include a CSRS component. 4. It must be able to produce full retirement benefits, reduced benefits payable if survivor benefits are elected, and amount payable as survivor benefits. 5. It must be able to compute the benefits cited above for Law Enforcement Officers. It also must allow for supplemental calculations in determining final benefit calculations, including at a minimum, early and deferred retirement calculations. 6. It must be able to compute disability retirement annuities under CSRS, FERS, and CSRS Offset. 7. It must compute Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) benefits to provide projected account balances and possible annuity payable based on projected balances. 8. It must have screens available for help for most common questions about retirement options, and/or links to web sites with such information.=20 9. It must provide the ability for employees using a web browser to print a hard copy of the data displayed on the screen. 10. The product must allow for secure data transaction between the server and the user's computer using Secure Sockets or a similar technology. 11. The product must be web-enabled. That means that the entries must be on a web browser and computations reported via a web browser. 12. The product must be in full compliance with Section 508 (29 U.S.C. 794d) of the Rehabilitation Act. This section requires agencies to give disabled employees and members of the public access to technology that is comparable to access available to others. Section 508 requires elimination of barriers in information technology so that all individuals can obtain and use information quickly and easily. The following features would be desirable, but not critical. Bidders should provide specific response to each item stating if it is, or is not available: 1. Provide for user-input of Social Security earnings to provide calculations of a Social Security benefit including effects of the Windfall Elimination Provision on that benefit. 2. Provide calculation's using Social Security earnings to detennine the effect of reduction to CSRS annuities resulting from CSRS Offset service. 3. Provide calculations of a FERS employee's FERS Retirement Annuity Supplement. Provide ability to calculate alternative retirement estimates based on user-input. Specific Tasks to be Performed: 1. The vendor will provide the software for the one-year period to commence with the date that the application goes live on the designated web site. 2. The vendor will configure the software with icons to assure access to the web site. 3. The vendor will assume responsibility for working with the web hosting entity in getting the software installed and configured for the designated web site.=20 4. The vendor will assume responsibility for on-going liaison with data providers, the National Business Center of the Department of Interior and the Thrift Savings Board, to assure continuous and accurate transfer of input data. 5. The vendor will be responsible for troubleshooting problems that arise during the course of the one-year period and fixing them on the designated web site host. Any qualified firm that can provide the required application shall submit a written bid to the contracting office identified above NO LATER THAN 4 PM LOCAL TIME ON AUGUST 27, 2001. The response shall include a complete Product Description, Firm Fixed Price for the Application, installation, maintenance and monitoring as described above. Offerors/quoters shall also include two (2) references where the offered application is installed and operating; the signed Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items at FAR 52-212-3 along with the pricing and product description. The clauses 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items; 52.212-5 CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT STATUTES OR EXECUTIVE ORDERS -- COMMERCIAL ITEMS parts (a) (b-1,5,7,11,12,13,14,15,16,18,24 and 27), (c), (d) and (e) apply. In accordance with the clause 52.212-2 Technical Compliance must be met, then Price and finally Experience are the evaluation factors. These clauses are available at www.arnet.gov/far/=20

Web Link

Visit this URL for the latest information about this (http://www.eps.gov/spg/SSA/DCFIAM/OAG/SSA-RFQ-01-0394/listing.html)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010815/70SOL007.HTM (D-225 SN50U815)