Mission Contracting Activity, Attn: ATBO-AL, 600 Thomas Avenue, Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027-1389

D -- PURCHASE OF A CORE SEARCH APPLICATION SOFTWARE AND DEVELOPMENT OF CUSTOM SEARCH INTERFACES. SOL DABT65-98-Q-0001 DUE 091898 POC Contracting Officer Ruth Kenton (913)684-2971 E-MAIL: DABT65-98-Q-0001 -- Robert Knopp, knoppr@leav-emh1.army.mil. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation number is DABT65-98-Q-0001 and is being issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-05. This solicitation is set-aside for small business. The Standard Industrial Classification code (SIC) is 7372 Prepackaged Software, with small business size standard of $18 million. ABREVIATED STATEMENT OF WORK IS AS FOLLOWS: This requirement is for the purchase of a core search application software and development of custom search interfaces that dynamically aggregate the output results of multiple search engines from disparate data sources. BACKGROUND: The Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL) currently operates an Excalibur Electronic Filing System (EFS) document management system (in a file room hierarchy with searches by room) with unimplemented RetrievalWare (RW) software, which when implemented will provide searches across all file rooms with a single search and access to documents through a web interface. Access requires a user identification (ID) and password (PW) and is based on the rights assigned to the user ID. Documents will be retrieved using a standard web browser. CALL has licensed ProQuest (PQ), a commercial electronic magazine service. Access is provided based on the computer's IP address for personnel located at Ft Leavenworth, and based on an ID and PW for personnel outside of Ft Leavenworth. IDs and PWs are the same as for CALL's RW data source. A single common user ID and PW is passed to the PQ site to gain access. Accessed is by a standard web browser. CALL operates a web site which provides hypertext mark-up language (HTML) documents "served" by a Netscape Enterprise server. The documents are indexed and searches are accomplished using Netscape Compass server along with approximately 40 additional sites. Access is by a standard web browser. The CALL web site provides links to several commercial search engines, news sources, Army web sites, DOD web sites, and other government web sites. All data is available with a standard web browser. All are collectively referred to as the CALL Virtual Research Library. SCOPE OF WORK: The purpose of the search interface is to simultaneously link with, search, distill, summarize and electronically publish to the browser from the core resources of the CALL Virtual Research Library (RW, PQ, and the CALL Compass server). TASK 1: Provide core search software application. 1. The core search software (CSS) shall be a standard commercial application. No core application development effort is expected as a result of this contract, and if necessary, shall be solely the responsibility of the application developer. The CSS shall be compatiblewith current standard web browsers (Netscape and Internet Explorer), any required plug-ins shall be readily available via web download at no cost with no licensing fees required. 2. The CSS shall receive the output from the search engines of the selected data sources, order the results of those searches in an integrated hit list, and present the results in a HTML format. Presentation of results shall include a summary or extract (if provided by the source search engine) and a link to the document, which retrieves the full document. 3. The search application software shall be provided on standard CD-ROM media, compiled to operate on an Intel Pentium multi-processor based server running NT4.0, and required browser plug-ins shall be included on the CD-ROM media. 4. The license for use shall be for an indefinite period for all on site equipment, with the right to use of all application patches and upgrades for a period of one year at no cost. Patches and upgrades shall be available for FTP download or on standard CD-ROM media. 5. Written documentation. 6. Unlimited technical assistance via telephone for one year. TASK 2: Provide a customized interface for data source selection. 1. The data source selection interface shall list all data sources available. Sources shall be selected or deselected by a mouse click on a button next to source, or similar method. Default -- all sources selected. The CALL logo (provided by CALL) and list of three core resources of Virtual Research Library (RW, PQ, and the CALL Compass server) shall be shown. The CALL logo shall be one square inch in a corner of a standard 15 inch monitor's full screen display. 2. The source code shall be written in a standard commercially available programming language or programming application. C++ or Power Builder are acceptable (with written approval from CALL required for any other). The same language or programming application shall be used for all application interfaces outside the core search application. 3. When the data source selection interface appears on the screen, each user shall be prompted for a user ID and PW or to create a new one. The user ID shall be unique for each user, not less than six alpha-numeric characters for the user ID and not less than eight alpha-numeric characters for the PW and shall be the only method to access a user configuration file on the server running the search software application. This user configuration file shall be created automatically the first time the user accesses the data source selection interface and shall be used to store all subsequent user preferences and all other user IDs and PWs entered by the user. 4. The data source selection interface shall bring up a selected source option/ID entry screen. The selected source option/ID entry screen is described in Task 3. 5. The developer's company logo and/or company name may appear in this interface but shall occupy no more than one square inch in any corner on a standard 15 inch monitor's full screen display. 6. CALL shall have the right to modify the interface. TASK 3: Provide selected source option/ID entry screen. 1. The selected source option/ID entry screen shall allow the user to enter options, user IDs, and PWs appropriate for data sources selected. All options available through the data source search engine shall be incorporated. The CALL logo shall appear as previously described. 2. Options shall be passed to the search engines of all data sources selected. 3. The IDs and PWs entered shall be passed to the search engines of all data sources selected. At a minimum, the application shall be capable of passing ten different user IDs and ten different PWs to ten different data sources with a single search request. A message shall indicate invalid ID(s) and PW(s). 4. All data source preferences and IDs shall be stored automatically in the user configuration file and presented for acceptance or change on subsequent searches. The user shall be given an option (mouse click) to store all PWs in the user configuration file. There shall be no method for any user to access data source user IDs and PWs without the ID and PW under which they were entered. 5. The developer's company logo and/or company name may appear as previously described. 6. CALL shall have the right to modify this interface. TASK 4: Provide application program interface for RW. 1. It shall pass the appropriate user ID, PW, and search options to initiate a search of the RW data structure using RW's integrated search capability. The specific data source to be searched shall be CALL's RW data source (CALLdb). TASK 5: Provide application program interface for PQ. 1. It shall pass the appropriate user ID, PW, and search options to initiate a search of the PQ data set using PQ's integrated search capability. 2. The interface shall be constructed to use the existing PQ user validation system as described previously. The actual PQ user ID and PW shall not be seen by the user and shall not be stored in the user configuration file. TASK 6: Provide application program interface for Netscape Compass Server. It shall pass the appropriate search options to initiate a search of CALL's web server using Netscape Compass server search capability. TASK 7: Provide technical support. Technical support shall be provided via telephone eight hours a day, five days each week, including the core hours of lOAM Central time through 3PM Central time, excluding national holidays. Technical support shall be provided for all aspects of program installation, configuration, and administration. CALL will designate not more than four personnel to request support. The contractor shall deliver the items described by each TASK. SUPPORTING INFORMATION: 1. Security. User IDs and PW for the data sources are currently sent across the Internet in clear text. 2. Period of Performance. The core search application and all program interfaces shall be delivered within 90 days of contract award. 3. Technical support shall be provided for a period of 1 year from final delivery. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: 1. CALL will provide: a user ID and PW with minimal access to the RW data source; a dial-in means to test the PQ program interface from inside Ft Leavenworth (validation by IP address rather than user ID and PW); additional information as necessary to assist in the development of the program interfaces; the CALL logo in a printed and digital format. 2. The core search application and all program interfaces shall be fully capable of continued, unrestricted operation through the year 2000 and beyond. 3. There will be no travel requirement as a result of this contract. All coordination shall be conducted via electronic means. A FULL COPY OF THE SOW IS AVAILABLE BY FAX OR E-MAIL FROM THE POC. All performance and deliveries shall be made on or before 15 Dec 98 to Center for Army Lessons Learned, Ft. Leavenworth, KS 66027. The following FAR and DFAR Clauses apply to this acquisition: FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commerical, except (a) size standards are setforth in this synopsis, and (b) offers shall be submitted as a technical / management proposal, performance plan and cost proposal by Task; FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation -- Commercial Items, append to Paragraph (a): (1) technical capability of the proposal and performance plan to meet the Government's requirements; (2) cost to the government will not be scored but will be considered in making a determination of best value to the government -- award will be on the basis of best value; FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items, OFFERORS MUST INCLUDE a completed copy of the provision with their offer; paragraphs c(5), c(6), f, and g of the provision do not apply; FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions; FAR 52.212-5, Contract terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items, additional terms: 52.222-26, 52.222-35, 52-222-36, and 52.222-37; DFAR 252.212-7001, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Applicable to Defense Acquisitions of Commercial Items (Mar 1998), additional terms: 252.225-7001; 252.227-7020 -- Rights in Special Works; 252.227-7015 -- Technical Data -- Commercial Items; 52.227-19 -- Commercial Computer Software -- Restricted Rights (Jun 1987). Offers are due by 1600 09/18/98, at Department of the Army, ATTN: ATBO-AL BLDG 198 Rm 303, Mission Contracting Activity-LVN (MCA-L), Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027-1399. Information / copies of the full statement of work can be obtained from Robert L. Knopp,by FAX at (913) 684-2971, E-mail at knoppr@leav-emh1.army.mil . Posted 09/03/98 (W-SN245723). (0246)

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