Statement of Work.pdf

Statement of Work ‐ International Credit Rating Agency Research Subscription

Background and Purpose:

The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is the development finance institution of the United States government. DFC partners with the private sector to finance solutions to the most critical challenges facing the developing world today. We invest across sectors including energy, healthcare, critical infrastructure, and technology. DFC’s tools include direct loans, guaranties, equity investments, feasibility studies, support for investment funds, political risk insurance, and technical assistance.

In order to appropriately assess the credit risk of the projects and transactions undertaken in pursuit of this mission, DFC requires access to international credit rating agency research and ratings in the following sectors: Corporates, Banks, and Governments.

The service(s) we seek must provide global coverage of the above sectors via the Internet. The subscription will provide access for both a) up to 5 Strategic Information Division staff who will provide ratings and research as needed to staff throughout the agency, and b) additional individual staff from multiple departments throughout the agency. We anticipate that there will be around 50 staff requesting individual access.

Requirements:

Vendor Qualification:

Any Vendor submitting a proposal must be registered as a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (NRSRO) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Subject Coverage Requirements

Sector Coverage: The service we seek will provide access to ratings and research for the following sectors: Corporates, Banks, and Governments. Within these sectors we will have access to all entities.

Geographic Coverage: The service will cover multiple geographic regions including the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Ratings: The service will provide credit ratings for entities in each sector, ratings updates, ratings analysis and historic ratings.

Research: The service we seek will provide research in the form of entity/sector research including updates, reviews, outlooks, credit news updates, methodologies and special reports.

Research should cover not only individual entities, but also the global, regional, and sectoral environments that may impact on credit analysis.

General Service Requirements:

Automated ratings/news alerts that can be set up and controlled by the individual users

Authentication via a means which will be easy for the users and will require minimal administrative support from DFC staff. Please explain which authentication method(s) you are proposing.

Access to the research analysts on an as‐needed basis.

Access to customer support and to subscription‐related training (e.g. onsite, recorded video, webinar).

Service usage statistics provided to DFC on a quarterly basis.

Additional Requirements: Statistical Profile Chart

Each vendor must submit as part of their proposal a chart showing a statistical distribution of their ratings. The chart must include the following information:

o Number of current ratings in each of the following geographic regions: Africa, North America (U.S. and Canada only), Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

o Total number of current Government ratings, Corporate ratings and Financial Institution ratings.

IT Accessibility Requirements

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (P.L. 105‐

220) requires that when Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use information and communication technology (ICT), it shall be accessible to people with disabilities. Federal employees and members of the public who have disabilities must have access to, and use of, information and data that is comparable to people without disabilities.

1. Products, platforms and services delivered as part of this work statement that are ICT, or contain ICT, must conform to the Revised 508 Standards, which are located at 36 C.F.R. § 1194.1

& Apps. A, C & D, and available at https://www.access‐board.gov/guidelines‐and‐ standards/communications‐and‐it/about‐the‐ict‐refresh/final‐rule/text‐of‐the‐standards‐and‐ guidelines

Applicable Functional Performance Criteria: All functional performance criteria apply when using an alternative design or technology that achieves substantially equivalent or greater accessibility and usability by individuals with disabilities, than would be provided by conformance to one or more of the requirements in Chapters 4‐6 of the Revised 508 Standards, or when Chapters 4‐6 do not address one or more functions of ICT.

Applicable requirements for software features and components: All WCAG Level AA Success Criteria, 502

Interoperability with Assistive Technology, 503 Application

Applicable requirements for hardware features and components: All requirements apply

Applicable support services and documentation: All requirements apply

If the product being submitted does not fully conform to the Section 508 standards, respondents shall clearly identify those products/features that are not compliant.

Type of Contract Contemplated

DFC anticipates awarding multiple fixed firm price contracts from this solicitation.

Contract Duration: Base year plus four (4) option years. You must include pricing for all five (5) years in your proposal.

Base Year: 10/01/2022‐09/30/2023

Four Option Years:

Option Year 1: 10/01/2023 ‐ 09/30/2024 Option Year 2: 10/01/2024 ‐ 09/30/2025 Option Year 3: 10/01/2025 ‐ 09/30/2026 Option Year 4: 10/01/2026 ‐ 09/30/2027