Questions and Answers for SAM 3.docx

DOCX document 32 KB Posted

Attached to
ABE Software and Application Upgrade Federal contract opportunity
Solicitation number
12305B24Q0221
Issued by
Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Field Research Implementation and Information Delivery Northeast Area

About this file

This document is a set of Questions and Answers related to a federal contract opportunity for the "ABE Software and Application Upgrade" solicitation.

The key details are: The government is seeking a contractor to provide upgrades to the existing ABE software and mobile application. The existing incumbent is Blue Raster LLC. The project can be performed remotely, and the government will provide a laptop and all necessary software licenses. The current app is not functioning and was originally developed by Blue Raster LLC in 2014. The government is looking for monthly sprint releases and quarterly app store releases. Evaluation will be based on best value criteria looking at price, technical capability, and past performance. Quotes are due by September 17, 2024 at 2:00 PM PST. The contracting agency is the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

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Other files for this federal contract opportunity

Other files attached to ABE Software and Application Upgrade, newest first.
File Type Posted
Performance Work Statement.pdf PDF
Questions and Answers for SAM 2.docx DOCX document
Questions and Answers for SAM 1.docx DOCX document
Performance Work Statement.pdf PDF
Wage Determination WA DC 2015-4281 Rev. 30 07222024.pdf PDF
Contract Terms and Conditions.docx DOCX document

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Text version

September 16, 2024

Questions and Answers #3

1. Are there specific key personnel roles or categories required to support this effort??

ANSWER: No

1. Current Incumbent?

ANSWER: Blue Raster LLC

1. Is the primary place of performance expected to be at the contractor’s site? In section 6 travel is mentioned, will there be travel requirements for this effort? If so, what would be the frequency?

ANSWER: This project can be done entirely remote.

1. In section 5 Government furnished hardware is mentioned, could you clarify if hardware

1. will be provided to the completion of the work?

ANSWER: Yes, a laptop will be provided to do the work.

1. In section 3.1, there is an explicit call out for updating applications to the current version of ArcGIS, will there be software licenses provided for development and incorporating within software?

ANSWER: Yes, all licenses will be provided.

1. In section 3.2, there is an explicit call out for leveraging AppStudio QT will there be software licenses provided?

ANSWER: Yes, licenses will be provided.

1. Is the current source code repository publicly available? If so, could you share a link?

ANSWER: No, the current code is proprietary.

1. Does the team have a working backlog of issues/bugs for the proprietary software? Are the callouts in section 3 the only known challenges?

ANSWER: Yes, those are the only known issues.

1. Was this app originally developed by a company or by Government staff? If it was a company, please give the name of the company that originally developed this app.

ANSWER: App developed by Blue Raster LLC

1. What year was this app first developed?

ANSWER: 2014

1. Is the app currently in AppStudio for QT already? Or is this only what is planned? If AppStudio QT is already used for the current app, what version of AppStudio QT and other related tools are being currently use?

ANSWER: No the app is not currently in AppStudio, the plan is to move it to AppStudio.

1. If the app is not currently in AppStudio QT, please name the mobile app framework(s) used by the current app and tell what programming language(s) the app is coded in.

ANSWER: The app currently does not work.

1. Please explain how the current app uses ColdFusion, and for what purposes.

ANSWER: The app does not use ColdFusion but had used ColdFusion to serve up images.

1. The PWS states "The ABE was last updated in 2020, the app in 2018." Please explain what the difference/distinction is between "The ABE" and "the app". For example, is the ABE some infrastructure/databased and a desktop, web, or command line system/application and the app just the mobile app itself which connects to the ABE? That is, is ABE just a mobile app or is there a web app as well?

ANSWER: ABE is web-based and meant to be used on a desktop.

1. Are the images stored in the ABE database? Or in flat files on the server previously served via ColdFusion? Or are they actually already pre-downloaded into the app either as part of the app itself or in a local mobile device data store?

ANSWER: Flat files on a server that serves them to ABE and the app.

1. If the images are served from the ABE server(s), are they cached (or should they be cached) on the mobile device when first downloaded?

ANSWER: Yes

1. What release version of Google Analytics is working with the current app? What is the current scope of integration with Google Analytics in the mobile app?

ANSWER: App does not currently work.

1. Should the app support all iPhone and Android tablet devices?

ANSWER: Yes

1. Are there any specific design or UI requirements we need to meet for the mobile app across all screen resolutions?

ANSWER: No

1. How big is the current app? (approximate number of lines of C++, etc. code) ANSWER: Unknown

1. Is the Government seeking 2 week, 3 week, or monthly sprints?

ANSWER: Monthly sprints

1. Since the Government confirm there is no current backlog, please confirm that features and functionality not already in the current app, and also not identified in the PWS, are considered outside of the scope of the new contract.

ANSWER: Anything not identified is outside of scope.

1. How will the Government perform user acceptance testing and how long will user acceptance testing take?

ANSWER: We have select staff members that work in the app that will test and confirm acceptance within a week.

1. Will the Government perform user acceptance for every single sprint/release?

ANSWER: Yes

1. Are releases to the Apple App Store and Google Play store planned for every single sprint? If not, how many releases are anticipated/desired for the app during the 1 year performance period?

ANSWER: Releases should be done quarterly.

1. Does the Government have a target date for when it desires the first release of the app on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store?

ANSWER: No

1. One of the evaluation factors is identified as past performance. Please explain how this will be evaluated by the Government. Specifically, are there past performance questionnaires which offerors much have their client references complete and email directly to the Government? Or should offerors provide point of contact information for their past performance references? Do offerors need to provide a description of the past performance?

ANSWER: In order to be determined technically acceptable, vendors should submit at least two past performance references with relevant and recent experience. The solicitation states that evaluation will be Best Value based on Price, Technical, and Past Performance.

1. Are there any page limitations and font restrictions for the "Technical Capability" documentation?

ANSWER: No

1. Is a technical developer resume and/or letter of intent required to be supplied by the offeror as part of the Technical Capability documentation?

ANSWER: No

1. When is the contract actually expected to begin?

ANSWER: Date of award will determine contract start date.

1. Can the offeror propose a payment schedule?

ANSWER: No, invoices will be paid o more than monthly for work completed for that period.

1. To clarify, the evaluation method is best value but the first evaluation factor is listed as price. Is this solicitation using a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) evaluation method?

ANSWER: See Contract Terms and Conditions, 52.212-2 Evaluation

1. Is there up-to-date documentation of the proprietary code? If it exists, is it included how to execute the project?

ANSWER: Coder is not available

1. Are there any critical dependencies or integrations that need to be considered during the software upgrade?

ANSWER: No

1. What unit and integration tests are currently implemented?

ANSWER: None

1. Does the Government already have direct access to the Google Play and Apple AppStore developer accounts for updates of the current app? Or must the Contractor create new accounts for the new app?

ANSWER: No

1. What version control mechanisms are you currently using on GitHub?

ANSWER: We are not currently using it but it will be in place one contract is awarded.

1. What is the process of reviewing and accepting code before it is deployed to the repository?

ANSWER: To be determined.

1. What is the backup and recovery policy of the repository?

ANSWER: Unknown at this time

1. Please explain how the app will use multi-factor authentication (MFA) as the app currently appears to be a publicly facing app without need for any authentication and log in.

ANSWER: The app itself wont but the developers will have to use it.

1. What MFA protocol is the Government using for the current app?

ANSWER: We use CAC cards

1. Are there specific security regulations or standards (such as NIST, ISO) that we must comply with?

ANSWER: Yes we comply with NIST standards.

1. Is there a specific format or template for technical documentation deliverables?

ANSWER: Unknown at this time

1. How do you prefer to handle documentation of proprietary code updates (comments in the code, external documentation)?

ANSWER: External documentation

1. What is the preferred format for instructions related to software implementation and deployment?

ANSWER: PDF

1. Would the awardee be allowed any contact with that vendor for questions?

ANSWER: No contact with past vendor.

1. What software was used to create the ABE site?

ANSWER: code is proprietary, so it is unknown.

1. Will the government provide all current source code, pictures for both?

ANSWER: The code is proprietary but you will have access to whatever is on the server including the images.

1. Approximately how many plant pictures are there to “fix”? Can we assume that the government already has the images, and they just need to be “turned on” for the site?

ANSWER: The images are on the server. There are thousands of images that need to be fixed.

1. What specific security clearance would be required for any on-site visits?

ANSWER: A NACI Clearance will be needed.

Northeast Area Director’s Office 10300 Baltimore Avenue Building 003, Room 223 Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350 USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

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