RFI 47HAA024N0003- Questions and Answers-12-7-2023.pdf

RFI 47HAA024N0003 - Asset Business Plan (ABP) Replacement Questions and Answers

Section #

(start with #, i.e.

3.1)

Offeror's Questions Government Response

1 1.0

It is not clear if the government has a predetermined deadline for the implementation of the solution. Is there a specific timeline that needs to be followed or is the government open to working with the industry to establish the timeline for implementation?

The Government is flexible and open to working with industry to develop an overall implementation schedule.

2 1.0 Does the government have budget constraints that would require a single implementation timeline instead of multiple phases? We are open to implementation phases.

3 1.0

Can the government provide examples of “license-restricted data?” To deliver a truly integrated solution, it’s important to consider all data and how its inclusion or exclusion will affect possible recommendations for comprehensive asset planning

"License-restricted data" pertain to information such as CRE data (commercial real estate data from private entities).

4 1.0 Due to the complexity and scope of this effort, will the government consider pursuing an acquisition strategy that doesn't restrict vendor competition? We are just in the market research stage right now. No decisions have been made on acquisition strategy.

5 1.0

Is GSA looking to replace its current reporting and dashboard solutions, ie Oracle Analytics Server, Tableau and Microstrategy? Or is the intention to enhance the functionality? Can GSA provide sample data outputs?

GSA is not currently considering replacing its reporting and dashboarding solutions. GSA is looking to interface with existing systems, but if the vendor has an integrated reporting and dashboard capability, we can utilize that as well. The government is unable to provide sample data outputs at this time.

6 1.0

Does GSA PBS ITS maintain active ELA's (Enterprise licensing agreements) with Appian, Esri, ServiceNow, Oracle, or any others? If ELA's exist -what is the period of performance?

GSA procures licensing for Appian, ESRI, ServiceNow, and Oracle under various contract vehicles. The period of performance is associated with those contracts. The licensing solutions and POP are outside the scope of the ABP solution.

7 1.0

The government states that platforms such as Appian and ServiceNOW are available, but the government’s preference is to utilize their out-of-the-box features and templates over fully custom-built solutions.

This is not a question. See #8.

8 1.0

The government states that platforms such as Appian and ServiceNOW are available, but the government’s preference is to utilize their out-of-the-box features and templates over fully custom-built solutions.

Will the government please confirm which licenses SKU's and Quantities are already owned by GSA PBS and what the current use cases of these Appian and ServiceNow solutions are? Also, will the government please provide which out-of-the-box features for these solutions the government has determined to meet the requirements?

GSA procures licensing for Appian, ESRI, ServiceNow, and Oracle under various contract vehicles. GSA is responsible for ensuring these systems are available. GSA is asking for vendor recommendations on which out-of-the-box features could be leveraged to meet requirements.

We do realize some configuration and customization may be necessary. The licensing solutions and POP are outside the scope of the ABP solution.

9 1.0

Are the Solutions listed in Appendix 1 (Figure 2) Fedramp compliant? GSA production cloud solutions are FedRAMP certified (Appendix 1/Figure 2) or have the Authority to Operate (ATO). On-premise solutions adhere to Federal and GSA IT security policies.

10 1.0 Can GSA please provide solution architecture guidelines and a solution architecture diagram that supports deployment See Figure 2: High-Level View of PBS Systems. GSA is seeking vendor proposals for the solution architecture.

11 1.0 States"The solution can utilize functionality provided by GSA systems and/or introduce new applications and systems…" - can we assume that GSA is open to consolidating some of the custom solutions into existing solutions that GSA already owns?

Yes, GSA is open to consolidating solutions.

12 1.0

Under another GSA Market Research session recently held, the following was presented addressing internal GSA PBS ITS systems. "Goal – is not to replace systems – it is intended to integrate them in a more user-friendly and direct way for people to get their hands around what is important and they can dive into those systems as needed". Are GSA PBS ITS intentions for this RFI and Figure 2 the same?

No, GSA's intentions are not the same as the market research you mentioned in your question.

GSA intends to replace the current ABP System. The replacement will be interfacing with existing systems.

13 3.0

There is no mention of utilizing AI for the solution. Is that within the purview of the provider and is there an appetite for that type of solution? GSA is open to AI solutions. However, the policies are still being developed and an approval may need to be obtained.

14 3.0

What is the expected number of users, including both individual users and concurrent instances, for the solution? Users who need to interact with the system and edit content - approximately 200 users (concurrent) Users who need to be able to view system data - approximately 500 - 1000

15 3.0

What is considered the biggest challenge facing the user-base today? The current system requires the user to complete most of the analysis outside of the system, and therefore the process for completing analysis and arriving at decisions is not standardized. What information was used and why decisions were made are not readily available. Also, the ability to accurately assess the portfolio from a regional or national level cannot be easily done.

16 3.0 In an effort to reduce costs for the government as part of this proposed solution, does the government already have universal licenses for dashboard tools like Tableau or PowerBI?

No, GSA does not have universal licenses.

17 3.0

Is there an opportunity to consolidate custom applications within a COTS Application Yes, there is an opportunity to consolidate applications.

18 3.0

Can you define the individual roles of the personas expected to interact with this system? This system directs the creation of business plans supporting asset and portfolio strategy. Key Users include:

Asset Manager - Business Plan Creator Program Manager - Business Plan Contributer Administrator - Designs/edits business planning process reflected in system Business Plan Stakeholders - View/Review business plans

3.0

How many users/employees within PBS Office of Portfolio Management and Customer Engagement (PT) will need access to the system? Are there any users outside of this division?

Users who need to interact with the system and edit content - approximately 200 users (concurrent) Users who need to be able to view system data - approximately 500 - 1000 The system should not limit the users to one division.

20 3.2

Is the intent to integrate each of the listed various system (figure 2) to populate data in the new solution or to modernize each of the various systems? The intent is to integrate the listed systems. We do not currently intend to modernize each of the referenced systems.

3.2

Do all systems identified in Figure 2 and Appendix 2, supply data to and from the Oracle Data Warehouse? Majority of the systems do supply data to the datawarehouse. Creating additional data transfers into the datawarehouse is outside the scope of this RFI.

3.2

Please clarify. Understanding that a SaaS or PaaS solution using the baseline, Out-Of-the-Box (OOB) features can only be as compliant as stated in their Accessibility Conformance Report based on the VPAT, would the Government please clarify that the proposed solution must achieve the 508-compliance criteria as stated in the product's Accessibility Conformance Report, with the understanding that any criteria that cannot be met with the OOB product can be addressed through the exception process?

Ideally a product needs to be 508 compliant. Variances that fall under a vendor's Accessibility Conformance Report in the VPAT would have to be reviewed by GSA's compliance office to determine whether an exception process can apply.

23 4.0

Which of the systems requiring integrations do not have APIs? If so, can they be listed, and can more information on the purpose (i.e., use case) for those integrations be shared?

GSA will provision data from interfaces either through APIs or data services or from the datawarehouse. It will be the offeror's responsibility to read this data either through API calls or ETLs.

4.0

Is GSA open to a phased approach to this project? Yes, GSA is open to a phased approach.

25 5.0

How many users will need access for tracking, managing and optimizing the performance of the Public Buildings Service (PBS) real property inventory?

Users who need to interact with the system and edit content - approximately 200 users (concurrent) Users who need to be able to view system data - approximately 500 - 1000

26 5.0

How many of each persona are estimated to be in this system? This system directs the creation of business plans supporting asset and portfolio strategy. Key Users include:

Asset Manager - Business Plan Creator (approximately 130) Program Manager - Business Plan Contributer (approximately 40) Administrator - Designs/edits business planning process reflected in system (approximately 30) Business Plan Stakeholders - View/Review business plans (approximately 500)

27 5.0 Are future users of this system users that are not GSA employees? There are no current use cases for external (non-GSA) users.

28 5.0

About the user base, how many total end users would be accessing the applications built on the platform? Users who need to interact with the system and edit content - approximately 200 users (concurrent) Users who need to be able to view system data - approximately 500 - 1000

29 5.0

How many users will only be submitting requests for the provided service within that user base? We do not understand the question. There will be a short Q&A during Industry Day where you can bring up and clarify the question so we are able to respond to it.

30 5.0

Within that user base, how many users do you anticipate will be doing work on behalf of other users? We do not understand the question. There will be a short Q&A during Industry Day where you can bring up and clarify the question so we are able to respond to it.

31 5.0

How many environments (e.g., Dev, Test, Prod) is GSA looking to have with this new solution? GSA is looking to have a DEV, TEST and PROD environment. The vendor may wish to propose additional environments, for example, one for training users.

32 5.0 Within that user base, how many users will need to be able to make approvals and/or view reports and dashboards? Approvals - estimated 30

View Reports/Dashboards - estimated 200

6.0

Will GSA entertain an expansion of the 25 page limit to adequately cover the Section 2 question responses? No, GSA will not be entertaining the expansion of the 25 page limit.

6.0

Can GSA provide an extension to the due date of Dec 18? Would recommend 10 days after responses to questions submitted by vendors. There are no plans to provide an extension beyond December 18, but this can change.

6.0

Can GSA provide allow additional attendees beyond the identified 2 qty for the market research event on Dec 12? GSA is keeping the attendees at 2 per company.

6.0

For planning purposes, Can GSA please provide the time frame for Industry Day? The Industry Day will be on December 12 at 11:00 am - 12:30 pm ET.

3.2 - Item 2

Please clarify - "shall allow users to input and store specific data that is key for asset planning." - Is there a need to push the "input" down to the system of authority?

The goal is to have a system that collects information from various source systems and allows additional user input to comment or provide context for other system information. That data will not need to be corrected in the system of record. In addition, this system will be the system of record for some data elements.

3.2 - Item 4

Please clarify - Are all current systems using SAML 2.0 Authentication? Yes, all current systems are using SAML 2.0 Authentication.

3.2 Figure 2

What external systems do the GSA systems identified in Figure 2 integrate with? Is there a financial system, HR system, if so what solutions are they? As noted in the Appendix 1, the system will interface with financial data from GSA’s financial system available through an Oracle database.

Appendix 1

Is there one contractor supporting all of these applications or are there separate contractors? There are multiple contractors supporting the applications.

Appendix 1

Can GSA provide samples of reports or data from each of the systems? No. The government is unable to provide sample data at this time.

Appendix 1

Is the Acquisition Data system just for acquisition of assets or does it include services as well? Are there workflows associated with this system. It includes acquisition of assets and services. The RFI is seeking to work with data from the acquisition system, not the acquisition system itself.

Figure 2/Appendix 1

Which if any, of the desired technical requirements met by the current systems/applications in place that could be leveraged instead of re-built as part of the overall solution?

This project is considered a new requirement. There are legacy systems providing part of the functionality but this system will be viewed as a brand new system.

Figure 2/Appendix 1

Do any of the current systems within the stack provide the interactive mapping capability that is already pre-configured to desired state? No, there is currently no interactive mapping capability.

45 Appendix 2 When you reference moving a "tenant" are you talking about an individual or an entire team, organization, etc.? Tenants are the organization that sign occupancy agreements akin to a commercial lease.

46 Appendix 2

Can you please clarify what you mean by "space block" A space block should be considered as a group of adjacent rooms which as a contiguous block of space meets a tenant requirement. For example, a 10,000 square foot office may consist of 7,000 square feet of office space, 2,000 square feet of conferencing space, and 1,000 square feet of storage space that collectively make up a space block that could be moved around a portfolio.

Appendix 2

Does any of the current GSA systems identified in Appendix 1, contain any of this required data called out in Figure 1, or is there a missing repository for this data?

The systems in Appendix 1 contain most of the data that is needed to execute the ABP but there are other systems within GSA that may contain needed data.

General

Is there a requirement for all existing systems to integrate using OIDC or Oauth 2? OIDC is the required protocol, General

Are integration and exchange of data frequency between existing systems and the proposed solution known? Do integrations need to be transactional?

Do they need to happen once a day, week, month?

Data exchange is proposed on a nightly basis.

General

Scalability and Future Expansion: How does GSA envision the scalability of the ABP replacement system to accommodate future growth or changes in requirements?

GSA wants the solution to be scalable and adaptable to changes in requirements.

General

Interoperability Standards: Does GSA have any specific standards or protocols for system interoperability that vendors should be aware of? The preference is for data integrations to be through the use of APIs. All federal security standards need to be met. IPV6 is a requirement.

General

Is GSA open to a funded pre-solicitation discovery assessment to provide a current state assessment to understand the current technology stack, applications, capabilities currently licensed and then provide a gap/fit analysis so GSA knows what is needed GSA's potential vendor partners will be able to provide a best value solution to maximizes efficiencies and investments already made by GSA?

At this time, there is no plan to fund pre-solicitation discovery assessment.

53 General

I would like to confirm if the project mentioned above are considered as new requirement or is there an incumbent contract currently performing these services? If there are incumbent vendor(s), would you be able to provide the contract details (such as: Vendor Name, Contract Number, Award and end dates, total contract value)?

This project is considered a new requirement. There are legacy systems providing part of the functionality but this system will be viewed as a brand new system.

Questions