SOW_-_Cognos_Reports_Support.docx

FCA Statement of Work Cognos Reports Support

BACKGROUND

The Farm Credit Administration (FCA or Agency) was created in 1933 through an Executive order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Its powers and authorities are derived from the Farm Credit Act of 1971, as amended (Act). The FCA is the oldest of the financial government-sponsored enterprises.

As an independent Agency within the executive branch of the Federal government, the Agency is responsible for regulating and supervising the banks, associations, and related entities of the Farm Credit System (FCS or System), including the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac). The Act states that the overall objective for the FCS is to improve the income and well-being of American farmers and ranchers by furnishing sound, adequate, and constructive credit and closely related services to them, their cooperatives, and to selected farm-related businesses.

Mission Statement

The FCA’s mission is to ensure a safe, sound, and dependable source of credit and related services for agriculture and rural America. This objective is accomplished through a three-pronged approach:

(1) Ensure that the provisions of the Act are implemented.

(2) The Agency conducts examinations of FCS institutions to monitor and oversee the safety and soundness of ongoing activities. FCA examinations focus on whether System institutions are meeting their public mandate to serve all eligible borrowers. Examiners also verify that institutions employ safe and sound banking practices.

(3) The Agency approves changes to corporate charters and undertakes the research, development, and adoption of rules, regulations, and other guidelines that govern how institutions conduct their business and interact with customers.

If a System institution violates a law or regulation, or if its operations are determined to be unsafe or unsound, the FCA may use its enforcement authority to ensure that the problem is corrected in a timely manner. The FCA also protects the rights of borrowers; issues and changes the charters of FCS institutions; reports to Congress on the financial condition and performance of the FCS; and approves the issuance of System debt obligations.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this solicitation is to obtain the services of a senior developer of IBM Cognos reports. The contractor will assist FCA’s Power Users in developing up to seven reports using IBM Cognos Report Studio/Advanced Workbench/Analysis Studio/Query Studio. The contractor will transfer knowledge of Cognos report development to FCA’s Cognos Power Users.

SCOPE

The scope of work, detailed below, covers a period, beginning on or about September 30, 2014, and not extending beyond February 28, 2015. The contractor will guide and assist FCA’s Cognos Power Users in designing, developing, and publishing up to seven. The contractor will provide FCA with approximately 320 hours of consulting services for Cognos. The work will be conducted at the Farm Credit Administration headquarters, 1501 Farm Credit Drive, McLean, VA 22102-5090.

DELIVERABLES/REQUIREMENTS

Required Services:

The contractor will design and build data warehouse solutions for FCA. The contractor will be responsible for analyzing FCA’s databases, developing data architectures, modeling the data, and designing and developing data warehouses and cubes. The contractor will develop easy-to-maintain routines for transferring data from the Microsoft SQL Server databases to SQL Server data warehouses and cubes. The contractor will work onsite at FCA in McLean, Virginia and will work closely and collaboratively with FCA staff.

Qualifications:

The contractor must be an expert in the following:

· Extensive complex report development with IBM Cognos 10.2 Report Studio using multiple data sources: Cognos query and OLAP packages as well as external data sources

· Experience with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 or later

· Experience with integrating Cognos and geographic layers created in MapInfo or ESRI

· Strong written, oral communication, analytical, organizational and interpersonal skills

· Experience with Cognos report development in the financial sector preferred.

The contractor must be able to demonstrate at least four years of experience designing and developing reports using Cognos. The contractor must have at least 2 years’ experience using IBM Cognos 10.2 Report Studio. The contractor must have the demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with power users to develop Cognos reports. The contractor must have demonstrated outstanding oral communication skills and will fully document the products delivered to FCA.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

September 30, 2014 through February 28, 2015.

TYPE, TERM AND AMOUNT OF CONTRACT

This is a cost-reimbursement contract, based on a fixed hourly rate for all services to be provided by the Contractor. The contractor will provide FCA with approximately 320 hours of consulting services for Cognos.

RIGHT OF SUBSTITUTION

During the term of the contract, if FCA is not satisfied with the Cognos Report services provided by any particular employee of the contractor, the contractor will provide a substitute employee acceptable to FCA. If an acceptable employee cannot be provided, FCA reserves the right to terminate the contract.

ORDERING

The COTR or the designated representative will place orders for the Contractor’s services by issuing task assignments to the Contractor. Upon receipt of a task assignment, the Contractor will be responsible for independently carrying out the required work in full compliance with all requirements of this statement of work and all Farm Credit Administration publication specifications.

DELIVERABLES

The deliverables for this contract are the final products that include SQL Server data warehouse designs, analysis of FCA's existing data warehouses and cubes, routines to transfer data between the SQL databases and data warehouses, analysis of strategies for storing ratios in the data warehouse at multiples summary levels, and other data warehouse deliverables as assigned.

TIMETABLE

The COTR or designee will establish a delivery date and performance schedule upon the issuance of each task assignment. Based on the needs of the Farm Credit Administration, the COTR or designee will update the performance schedules on a weekly basis during the period of this contract.

PROGRESS REPORTS

Throughout the entire period of performance under this contract, the Contractor shall progress reports to the COTR or designee as determined by FCA. These reports will be may be submitted in writing via email, except as noted below. Each report shall include the following information to the extent to which it is applicable for the reporting period:

· Description of progress made during the reporting period on all open task assignments, including significant accomplishments; problem areas, if any; and recommendations, if any.

· Summary of task assignments finished, and deliverables completed and delivered, during the reporting period.

· Summary of labor hours expended and hourly fees billed, for the reporting period and cumulatively.

In addition to the progress reports, the Contractor shall promptly report to the COTR or designee any noteworthy accomplishments, significant problems, and/or other matters requiring immediate attention. It is particularly important that the Contractor immediately report to the COTR or designee any issues that might adversely affect the performance schedule or delivery date for any task assignment. The COTR or designee may ask the Contractor for informal progress updates at any time.

CONTRACT TYPE

This is a cost-reimbursement contract, based on a fixed hourly rate for all services to be provided by the Contractor. Travel costs will not be reimbursed.

The contract is for a period of performance from September 30, 2014, through February 28, 2015.

PAYMENT

Electronic Invoicing and Payment Requirements Internet Payment Platform (IPP) is a secure web-based electronic invoicing and payment information service available to all Federal agencies and their supplier by the U.S. Treasury's Financial Management Service. IPP allows Federal agencies and their suppliers to exchange electronic purchase orders, blanket POs, invoices, and payment information in one easy to access web portal. This service is free of charge to government agencies and their suppliers, including services and support.

The preferred method for invoicing is through IPP. The IPP website address is https://www.ipp.gov. Contractor assistance with enrollment can be obtained by contacting the IPP Production Help desk via email ippgroup@bos.frb.gov or phone (866) 973-3131.

Payment and Invoice Questions

For payment and invoice questions, contact the Accounting Services Division at (304) 480-8000 option 7 or via email at AccountsPayable@bpd.treas.gov.

Mandatory Information for Electronic Funds Transfer Payment

METHOD OF PAYMENT

Mandatory Submission of Contractor’s EFT Information

NOTICE TO THE FCA OF DELAYS

In the event the Contractor encounters difficulty in meeting performance requirements, or when the Contractor anticipates difficulty in complying with the performance schedule, or whenever the Contractor has knowledge that any actual or potential situation is delaying or threatening to delay the timely performance of this contract, the Contractor shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer and the COTR or designee in writing, giving pertinent details; provided, however, that the data shall be informational only in character and that these provisions shall not be construed as a waiver by the FCA of any delivery schedule or date, or of any rights or remedies provided by law or under this contract.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Contractor must sign a Confidentiality Agreement concerning the disclosure/nondisclosure of “confidential information”, as defined below. Except as required by law or court order, the Contractor shall not disclose or permit the disclosure of any confidential information, including this and any other engagement with the FCA, to anyone without FCA's express written consent. FCA will provide the Contractor with access to electronic documentations which may also be provided through printing of those documents at the request of the Contractor. Access to these documents shall be under the control of FCA personnel. Upon termination of this contract, all information, documents, and work products in the Contractor’s possession relating to any work performed under this contract shall be returned to the Associate Director of AT. FCA will review and may authorize the Contractor to retain copies of any information that the Contractor reasonably considers necessary for its confidential business records. The Contractor shall take all reasonable measures to avoid at any time any unintentional or inadvertent disclosure of any confidential information to any unauthorized person by the Contractor’s employees, agents, or attorneys.

The term “confidential information” means any information acquired by the Contractor in carrying out the duties under the contract, including any information obtained before the date of the contract, and which had not become public information, including information regarding FCS institutions and FCA.

CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this address: http://www.arnet.gov/far/

BACKGROUND CHECK

Contractor must undergo a background check as deemed appropriate by the FCA.

NO EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP

This contract does not create an employer-employee relationship between FCA and the Contractor. The Contractor will be responsible for any and all obligations arising from its status as an independent contractor, including but not limited to, tax reporting and payment obligations. Neither the Contractor nor any of its employees will be considered a Federal employee for any purpose, regarded as performing a personal service, or eligible for civil service employee benefits.

CLAIMS FOR RELIEF

The FCA is a non-appropriated fund activity not subject to GAO’s bid protest provisions. Any claim for relief filed by a contractor shall be adjudicated by the FCA Contracting Officer. If the parties cannot reach an agreement mutually satisfactory after diligently pursuing a solution through discussions and negotiations, the FCA Contracting Officer shall make a final decision. The FCA Contracting Officer’s decision shall prevail unless the contractor submits an appeal to the FCA Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Stephen G. Smith. The decision of the CFO shall be final and binding on the parties.

AGENCY CONTACT

The Agency Contacts for this contract will be Debbie Kleinwachter, Associate Director, AT, or such other person designated in writing, with notification to the Contractor, by the Contracting Officer.

ACCEPTANCE

Upon the Agency’s acceptance of the Contractor to perform the work under this contract, Contractor shall promptly proceed with the performance of tasks assigned by the COTR.

CONTRACTING OFFICER TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE:

The COTR for the contract will be:

Yun Huang Office of Management Services Farm Credit Administration 1501 Farm Credit Drive Email: huangy@fca.gov Telephone: (703) 883-4207

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF PROPOSALS

Proposals must include:

A. Hourly rate.

B. Resume(s) of the Cognos Report consultant(s) being offered C. References for relevant past experience during the past three years.

Proposals must be received at reevest@fca.gov by Noon ET, September 25, 2014.

BASIS FOR SELECTING THE CONTRACTOR TO RECEIVE THE AWARD

Selection will be based on a determination of the best value to the Agency. Best value will be determined based on:

1. IBM Cognos Experience (50%) – This factor refers to the management experience of the offeror with respect to IBM Cognos Report development. The experience and ability of key personnel are important factors in the successful performance of a contract. In judging the competence level of personnel, it is relevant to evaluate the degree to which the proposal demonstrates that the offeror has a sound and thorough understanding of the Statement of Work.

2. Current Portfolio (20%) – This factor refers to current or past clients who the offeror has completed IBM Cognos Report Studio Reports. Provide references to past projects for five clients (name and phone numbers).

3. Cost (30%) – A cost evaluation will be independently performed by an evaluation panel to determine the fairness and reasonableness of proposed prices.