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

D -- MANAGEMENT AND INFORMATION SERVICES ANNOUNCEMENT OF A MARKET SURVEY/REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) SOL 52SAAA800004 POC Rhonda Hudson 202/482-3552 The Department of Commerce, Office of the Secretary, contemplates the acquisition of various Management and Information Services to meet major challenges facing the Department. The Department of Commerce is seeking a contractor(s) to assist monitoring the challenges facing the Department such as Weather Service Modernization (WSM), Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS), systems supporting Census 2000, Patent and Trademarks automated systems, Information Dissemination, Electronic Commerce, Year 2000, System Architecture, Commerce Administrative Management System/Core Financial System and other major systems issues. This acquisition will be conducted using a new 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). The intent of this new process is to provide an improved acquisition environment that will benefit both the vendor community and the Government. This project will follow the general approach and guidelines established during the CONOPS pilot studies conducted in 1996 and 1997. This will speed the exchange of information, help assure equal opportunity for all respondents and encourage openness by making as much information as possible available simultaneously to all parties. It is intended to meet the Government's need for major information systems advice, assistance and workforce development by contracting with the private sector. 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 promote an equitable and active dialog with all members of private industry who may be interested in responding to the stated needs of the Government, electronic communications will be used extensively throughout this solicitation process. This will speed the exchange of information and help assure equal opportunity for all respondents. The Department intends to conduct a market survey with industry to seek available sources and the issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP). The Department of Commerce is looking for a long term partnership with one or more firm(s). The firm(s) will have the prime responsibility for assisting the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Administration (CFO/ASA) to monitor design, development and implementation of various systems using established processes and standard project management tools for cost, schedule and quality control. The objective is to identify how the CFO/ASA organization can acquire these skills on a project-by-project basis to assist with the design, development, and implementation of systems. 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 26, 1998. The estimated date of anaward for this requirement is April 20, 1998. There may be a need to award assistance for some projects prior to April. These projects are included in the Project Agreement along with selection criteria. All interested parties 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) Past Performance performing similar services, (2) Key Personnel, (3) Quality of sample deliverables, (4) Administrative convenience of existing contract vehicles and whether the Department of Commerce can control the ordering, receives credit for use of small and small disadvantaged firms and the contract was awarded through full and open competition and (5) Cost/Price of 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. (0016)

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