Responses to Questions.v1 - 1331L524R13OS0005.pdf

RFP 1331L524R13OS0005 Commercial Data Hub Pilot Program Response to Questions

No. Section Question Response 1 Document: 1331L524R13OS0005_

Commerce+Data+Hub.vF; Section:

2.3 OBJECTIVES

How does DOC anticipate increasing the volume over time to encompass more users across the enterprise?

The decision to add users will be based on assessed value of the data, fairness and reasonability of price, and budget considerations.

2 Document: 1331L524R13OS0005_ Commerce+Data+Hub.vF; Section:

2.3 OBJECTIVES

With different data assets there are differing data licensing requirements. In order to properly price the data hub requirements it would be helpful if DOC can clarify the following: Will this pilot period be intended for enterprise use?

Yes, this pilot period is intended for enterprise use.

3 Document: 1331L524R13OS0005_ Commerce+Data+Hub.vF; Section:

2.4 REQUIREMENTS

For how many businesses does DOC anticipate seeking data?

This is an open and continuous solicitation on a pilot basis and the number of awards that may be made based on which offers are considered most advantageous and based on budget availability is not known.

4 Document: 1331L524R13OS0005_ Commerce+Data+Hub.vF; Section:

2.4 REQUIREMENTS

Would DOC please list the NAICS Codes associated with the industries for which it is seeking data?

The NAICS Code applicable to this procurement is 519290 (Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services).

5 Document: 1331L524R13OS0005_ Commerce+Data+Hub.vF; Section:

2.4 REQUIREMENTS

How is DOC prioritizing the evaluation of companies providing the required commercially available data? For example, does DOC intend to rate bidders providing Business Governance Data over those providing Health Data?

IAW solicitation section 7.1, “The determination of which offer(s) are considered most advantageous will depend on the assessed technical value of the proposed data sets relative to the DOC mission and the solicitation objectives, the Government’s confidence in the contractor’s capacity to deliver based on relevant past performance (if available), the compliance of the offeror’s business terms with Federal requirements, price fairness and reasonability, and the availability of funds.” From an availability of funds standpoint, DOC programs may have different budget constraints associated with requirements for different subject areas which may inform a determination to procure data for one subject area rather than another.

6 Document: 1331L524R13OS0005_ Commerce+Data+Hub.vF; Section:

2.4 REQUIREMENTS

Will DOC please provide further clarification on the described data need for each data category requested in the SOW?

For example, can DOC further detail the data elements related to “Monthly music sales data” and how DOC intends to use such data?

This is a commercial item procurement for data available in the commercial marketplace and there are no DOC specific requirements relative to the subject matter content of data elements within a contractor’s commercial data set. DOC generates, collects stores and analyzes an exponentially growing abundance of data to fulfill its mission of creating the conditions for economic growth and opportunity for all communities. Sales

RFP 1331L524R13OS0005 Commercial Data Hub Pilot Program Response to Questions data, for example, supports measures of economic activity and economic forecasting efforts that facilitate and create conditions for economic growth.

7 Document: 1331L524R13OS0005_ Commerce+Data+Hub.vF; Section:

2.4 REQUIREMENTS

Would DOC be interested in a potential vendor provisioning raw data or an analytical test environment (IOW a sandbox) in which DOC will be able to test the data?

Sample data may be included with the offeror’s proposal. The furnishing of credentials for log-in access to a contractor site is not requested, however, and the Government advises offerors to not include log-in credentials with their proposals since the evaluation of the initial proposal will be based on the documents submitted in response to the solicitation (i.e., Volumes I, II and III IAW section 6.5, Proposal Submission Instructions).

Please also note, however, that after evaluation of the initial proposal, IAW solicitation section 7.3.2, the Government may elect to initiate negotiations with one or more offeror to further assess the technical value of the proposed data sets and other terms. Assessment of the technical value of the proposed data sets may include a demonstration of the offeror’s data capabilities which may encompass some level of site access if appropriate.

8 Document: 1331L524R13OS0005_ Commerce+Data+Hub.vF; Section:

2.4 REQUIREMENTS

How does DOC anticipate the delivery of data? Is a single method (example Batch or API) required or can multiple methods be employed based on the needs of the specific Bureaus?

Data delivery is anticipated through bulk access via an S3 bucket, Application Programming Interfaces (API) or data cloud alternatives. Multiple methods can be employed based on needs of bureaus.

9 Document: 1331L524R13OS0005_ Commerce+Data+Hub.vF; Section:

2.4 REQUIREMENTS

Does DOC have a need for monitoring and alerting capabilities when it comes to data updates?

The need for monitoring and alert capabilities is not anticipated at this time.

10 Document: 1331L524R13OS0005_ Commerce+Data+Hub.vF; Section:

2.4 REQUIREMENTS

How frequently does DOC require the data to be updated/refreshed?

This will be determined by the individual bureaus to meet their data needs and terms related to data updates and refresh requirements are subject to negotiation prior to incorporation into a contract award.

11 Document: 1331L524R13OS0005_ Commerce+Data+Hub.vF; Section:

2.4 REQUIREMENTS

Which data categories require historical data? How far back must the history go?

This is a commercial item procurement for data available in the commercial marketplace and there are no DOC specific requirements relative to the subject matter content of data elements within a contractor’s commercial data set. To the extent historical data is available within a contractor’s commercially available data set then historical data may be offered in response

RFP 1331L524R13OS0005 Commercial Data Hub Pilot Program Response to Questions to this solicitation.

12 Document: 1331L524R13OS0005_

Commerce+Data+Hub.vF; Section:

2.4 REQUIREMENTS

Is the data being requested limited to the United States or is DOC seeking global data on all data elements?

Data is not limited to United States data. Global data is also encompassed within the scope of this solicitation.

13 Document: 1331L524R13OS0005_ Commerce+Data+Hub.vF; Section:

2.4 REQUIREMENTS

Does DOC anticipate that any training on or ramping up be required to educate DOC to ensure the Department is able to leverage the data comprehensively? If so, does DOC anticipate adding a line item for such training to ensure reasonable price competition and comparison among bidders?

The need for training or other ancillary support services related to use of a contractor’s data is not anticipated at this time.

Contractor’s may offer to provide training or other ancillary support services related to use of their data at no additional cost to the Government, however, which may be considered a benefit during the evaluation and source selection process.

14 Document: 1331L524R13OS0005_ Commerce+Data+Hub.vF; Section:

6.5.2 Specific Instructions; Volume

III – Business & Price; (b) Proposed Pricing

What is the anticipated volume of data DOC is seeking to procure via this solicitation?

This is a commercial item procurement for data available in the commercial marketplace and there are no DOC specific requirements relative to the volume of data within a contractor’s commercial data set. The note in solicitation section 6.5.2(b) relative to volume based as opposed to specific user based pricing is included to support optimal data sharing of the contractor’s proposed data set. The volume proposed is at offeror discretion consistent with its commercial practices.

15 Document: 1331L524R13OS0005_ Commerce+Data+Hub.vF; Section:

6.5.2 Specific Instructions; Volume

III – Business & Price; (b) Proposed Pricing

Does DOC anticipate this pilot will encompass a subset of users across the Department or will this be open to all Bureaus within Commerce?

This pilot period is intended for enterprise use and is open to all offices and bureaus within DOC.

16 Document: 1331L524R13OS0005_ Commerce+Data+Hub.vF; Section:

6.5.2 Specific Instructions; Volume

III – Business & Price; (b) Proposed Pricing

If the answer to the preceding question is it will encompass a subset of users across the Department, which Bureaus will be involved?

This pilot period is intended for enterprise use and is open to all offices and bureaus within DOC.

17 Document: 1331L524R13OS0005_ Commerce+Data+Hub.vF; Section:

6.5.2 Specific Instructions; Volume

III – Business & Price; (e) (Only applicable to OTSB) Small Business Subcontracting Plan

Will Small Business utilization be a component of the evaluation? If so, what is the weighted value of said utilization?

The requirements of FAR 19.704 and FAR 52.219-9 apply to Other than Small Businesses (OTSB) responding to this solicitation. In this regard, in the event the total value of a proposal from an OTSB exceeds the threshold in FAR 19.702(a) (currently $750K) the OTSB is required to include with their proposal a Small Business Subcontracting Plan specific to this

RFP 1331L524R13OS0005 Commercial Data Hub Pilot Program Response to Questions requirement. The plan submitted may be the offeror’s commercial plan in lieu of an individual plan.

IAW solicitation section 6.5.2, Volume III, (e), Government assessment of offeror subcontracting plans under this acquisition will be encompassed within a responsibility determination.

Consequently there are no weights or other comparative measures of value that will be assigned to an OTSB response to the small business subcontracting requirements. An OTSB which does not meet or otherwise demonstrate good faith effort to meet small business subcontracting goals, however, may be determined non-responsible for this acquisition and thus ineligible for award.

Additionally, please note that the contents of an OTSB’s small business subcontracting plan may be addressed during negotiations at Government discretion.

18 Document: 1331L524R13OS0005_ Commerce+Data+Hub.vF; Section:

6.6 PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

REQUIREMENTS

If a potential vendor can provision data sets to address multiple primary subject areas, is DOC seeking a separate proposal submission for each primary subject area?

A one-to-one relationship between proposal submittal and potential contract award is anticipated. In this regard, a single proposal submitted by an offeror will result in only one award.

The type of award issued, however, may be an indefinite delivery vehicle such as a Blanket Purchase Agreement of Indefinite Quantity Contract.

19 Document: 1331L524R13OS0005_ Commerce+Data+Hub.vF; Section:

6.6 PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

REQUIREMENTS

If the answer to the preceding question is DOC is seeking a separate proposal submission for each primary subject area, will the volume page limitations apply to each individual volume or be distributed across all volumes for each submission?

For example, if separate proposals are submitted for the Business Governance Data and Financial Data primary subject areas, will each Volume I be allotted 10 pages or will both Volume I’s combined be limited to 10 pages in total?

Offerors may submit more than one proposal in response to this solicitation. In the event more than one proposal is submitted each proposal must comply with the solicitation terms and will be evaluated on its own merits.

20 Document: 1331L524R13OS0005_ Commerce+Data+Hub.vF; Section:

6.6 PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

Will DOC allow the submission of multiple proposals during the course of the open and continuous solicitation period?

Offerors may submit more than one proposal in response to this solicitation. In the event more than one proposal is submitted each proposal must comply with the solicitation terms and will be

RFP 1331L524R13OS0005 Commercial Data Hub Pilot Program Response to Questions

REQUIREMENTS IOW, if a potential vendor submits an initial proposal related to certain primary subject areas but is then able to provision additional data at a later date during the open and continuous solicitation period, will DOC accept an additional proposal?

Or, will DOC require an entirely new submission which encompasses the data provisioned in the initial submission as well as the newly provisioned data?

evaluated on its own merits.

21 Section 5, List of Attachments Regarding Notice ID 331L524R13OS0005, Section 5 advise there are 3 attachment, we were only able to find the first attachment on the website, is there other link for attachment 2 and 3?

Attachment 2 – Contractor’s Data Specifications is contractor specific and consists of the contractor’s data specifications as proposed and accepted by the Government during negotiations.

Attachment 3 – Price Schedule is also contractor specific and consists of the pricing proposed and negotiated/accepted by the Government during negotiations. Accordingly, Attachments 2 and 3 as derived from the offeror’s proposal and negotiated by the Government are incorporated at the time of award.

22 Section 7, Evaluation Factors & Process

Is DOC’s preference to award multiple contracts or one contract if a provider can provide all data?

Based on market research the Government does not anticipate that the data requirements encompassed within this solicitation are available on a best value basis from a single provider.

Accordingly, more than one award is anticipated to result from this solicitation. The total number of awards that may be issued, however, is dependent on the outcome of technical and price evaluations and budget availability.

23 General Can a respondent be a consortium of interest? If yes, are respondents permitted to submit individual responses in addition to participating in a consortium response?

Respondents to this solicitation must hold active registrations within the System for Award Management (SAM.gov | Home).

As a consortium is an association of organizations rather than an entity that maintains a separate registration in SAM, responses if submitted by a consortia do not meet solicitation minimum compliance requirements and will not be evaluated.

24 Section 2, Statement of Work Regarding real estate data Is address-level data needed?

Can DOC provide additional context for the use case for the real estate data?

This is a commercial item procurement for data available in the commercial marketplace and there are no DOC specific requirements relative to the subject matter content of data elements within a contractor’s commercial data set. DOC generates, collects stores and analyzes an exponentially growing https://sam.gov/content/home

RFP 1331L524R13OS0005 Commercial Data Hub Pilot Program Response to Questions

The RFP states a desire for “enhanced climate information.” Would DOC be open to receiving information on property-related climate data? (e.g., climate risk) abundance of data to fulfill its mission of creating the conditions for economic growth and opportunity for all communities. Real estate data, for example, supports measures of economic activity and economic forecasting efforts that facilitate and create conditions for economic growth. Property related climate data may also provide value for facilitating and creating conditions of economic growth.

25 General Would DOC be open to receiving a set of sample data? We can provide DOC with credentials to our SFTP site to retrieve the data.

Sample data may be included with the offeror’s proposal. The furnishing of credentials for log-in access to a contractor site is not requested, however, and the Government advises offerors to not include log-in credentials with their proposals since the evaluation of the initial proposal will be based on the documents submitted in response to the solicitation (i.e., Volumes I, II and III IAW section 6.5, Proposal Submission Instructions).

Please also note, however, that after evaluation of the initial proposal, IAW solicitation section 7.3.2, the Government may elect to initiate negotiations with one or more offeror to further assess the technical value of the proposed data sets and other terms. Assessment of the technical value of the proposed data sets may include a demonstration of the offeror’s data capabilities which may encompass some level of site access if appropriate.

26 General Due to the large volume of datasets available via our exchange, providing even just the descriptions for all 90+ datasets would be impossible within the 10 page limit. Including metadata, data dictionaries, and samples for full evaluation, would run hundreds of pages.

We are seeking guidance on how to provide the requested level of detail, given the large number of datasets on our marketplace addressing the subject areas outlined in the RFP.

Offerors are responsible for preparing their proposals in a manner that demonstrates the value of the data sets proposed within the page limits established in the solicitation. Offerors with multiple data sets may submit a single proposal that addresses the value of multiple data sets proposed. Offerors with multiple data sets may also submit multiple proposals, with each proposal addressing a specific data set or a reduced collection of multiple data sets.