Request for Information - RPA Services 07.01.24.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Robotics Process Automation Services

95332A24N00002

1.0 Description

AmeriCorps is seeking Information Technology (IT) service providers with significant experience in Robotics Process Automation (RPA) services that have capacity to support program tasks such as project management, develop and modification of RPA bots, capability support, technical services, automation delivery support, training, cybersecurity support such as Risk Management

Framework (RMF), audit readiness, and if required, future transition support. AmeriCorps is seeking highly skilled personnel such as (but not limited to) software engineers, architects, business analysts, and technical document specialists to pilot and grow AmeriCorps’ RPA program within the Agency’s Office of Information Technology (OIT). RPA services must adapt to the

Agency’s current technologies and infrastructure and support future growth and technology advancement.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY.

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a solicitation or a promise to issue a solicitation in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, AmeriCorps is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Respondents are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be delivered via email. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor email for additional information pertaining to this requirement.

Responses to the RFI will not be returned. Responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. A response to this RFI is necessary to assist the Government in determining the potential levels of interest, adequate competition, market maturity and technical capabilities within the Large and Small Business Communities to provide the required capabilities.

2.0 Background and Purpose

The purpose of this request is to procure Robotic Process Automation (RPA) software available from provider UiPath and software automation development services for automating Agency tasks.

For nearly three decades, AmeriCorps (f.k.a. the Corporation for National and Community

Service) has tapped the ingenuity and courage of the American people to meet our nation’s toughest challenges. Working with nonprofit and community organizations, state and local agencies, Tribal nations, and other partners, AmeriCorps programs improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. Each year, AmeriCorps engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in sustained, results-driven service at thousands of locations across the country, meeting a wide range of community needs in education, health, economic opportunity, disaster services, environmental stewardship, and supporting veterans and military families.

AmeriCorps leadership has a renewed focus on Agency-wide operational improvement and is committed to achieving greater progress in the years ahead, recognizing that resolution of material weaknesses will take several years, and full remediation is not expected prior to 2025. The Agency is advancing this work through development and implementation of corrective action plans governed by a Risk Management Council and increased oversight and accountability at all levels of the agency. Additionally, AmeriCorps is prioritizing Goal 4 of AmeriCorps’ Strategic Plan, to effectively steward federal resources through responsible financial management.

The Government will have sole responsibility to interpret, approve, and implement any deficiency improvement suggestions identified during task execution.

3.0 Requested Information

Responses to this RFI should adequately address the following items for AmeriCorps to properly analyze strategies:

• Pricing: Estimates to gather, analyze, categorize, deliver, and maintain, the software engineering of 1-10; 11-20; 21-30 Robotic Process Automations per Fiscal Year

(software and staffing).

• Participation: Would your company want to participate in a competition for a new

Blanket Purchase Agreement with AmeriCorps?

• Staffing Structure: Ideal team staff levels to support delivery of 1-10; 11-20; 21-30

Robotic Process Automations per Fiscal Year.

• Qualifications/Certifications: Are there qualifications/certifications requirements for individuals or to the vendor as whole who is performing the services? Are the certifications dependent upon individual or partnership status with UiPath? If so, what are they and do they apply to this acquisition?

• Subcontracting possibilities, specifically for small businesses.

• Future Technology: In future, what technology plans would you recommend? Describe how you would implement future technologies.

In addition to the items mentioned above, there are specific questions for advice/analysis:

RPA Bot Software o Has your company utilized UiPath for RPA services? Have you used other RPA service software? If using other software besides UiPath, what software(s) does your company support within RPA?

o Is the software(s) FedRAMP certified or in-process? Please note the software(s) status.

▪ If software is not FedRAMP approved, has your organization ever assisted with support program Authority to Operate (ATO) by aligning process and documentation with control family compliance as prescribed by NIST SP 800-53?

If so, please note which software/sponsoring Agency.

o What experience level does your company have with utilizing the RPA software(s)?

Prospective Employee Information o Will all your employees be eligible for security clearance, or federal government building access?

o Does your organization currently employ any individuals with security clearances

(i.e., Public Trust, Secret, etc.)?

o Is there a database of currently “cleared” employees who may be able to quickly onboard?

Technical Capability o Please describe your organization’s technical capabilities. Referencing previous RPA projects is encouraged.

o What was the scope of the largest digitization project your company delivered?

o Approximately, how many automations does your company deploy per Fiscal year?

o What experience does your company offer hosting RPA on-premise and within cloud architecture?

o What experience does your company offer migrating automations, software, and/or systems from on-premises to cloud architecture?

o What are your top risks or issues encountered when implementing RPA solutions?

Technical Analysis o What is your typical implementation model? What is the estimated timeline from project initiation to full services? Please provide key milestones and the time it will take for each milestone within the timeline.

o What would you define as high, medium, and low complexity benchmarks for technical analysis?

o What is your typical timeline to perform intake, analysis, development, and deployment of one automation in each of the High, Medium, Low complexity categories?

o What are your top three RPA technology stacks used to perform functions outlined here?

Information Security o Federal IT implementations entail significant security requirements and compliance with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) mandates. Are you providing services which adhere with certified and accredited NIST or the DOD Risk

Management Framework (RMF) requirements? If yes, what Federal or DoD agencies are you providing NIST or RMF support for? If not, how do you plan to satisfy those requirements?

Data o How is data or code stored? Using what platform(s)?

o Who has access to stored data/code?

o How do you safeguard data, both at rest and in-transit?

GSA Multiple Award Schedule o Does your company maintain a GSA Multiple Award Schedule with offerings related to RPA products and/or services?

o What GSA awarded product(s) are applicable to the requirement?

o What GSA awarded labor categories are applicable to the requirement?

o For RPA training, has your organization executed virtual and/or in-person training sessions for key end users regarding new features and automation execution?

4.0 Questions

Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted by Tuesday, 09 July 2024 at 10:00 AM

EST. All questions shall be submitted in writing by e-mail to Shannon C. Quick, Contract

Specialist, at SQuick@americorps.gov and James Harris, Contracting Officer, at

JHarris@americorps.gov. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Questions will be answered via email response; accordingly, questions shall NOT contain proprietary or classified information.

The Government does not guarantee that questions received after the deadline will be answered.

5.0 Responses

Responses must be submitted as a PDF document by Friday, 12 July 2024 at 2:00 PM EST.

Responses shall be limited to 20 pages and submitted via e-mail to Shannon C. Quick, Contract

Specialist, at SQuick@americorps.gov and James Harris, Contracting Officer, at

JHarris@americorps.gov. Responses must include the following information:

• Summary of Contractor capabilities and qualifications, inclusive of a response to the

Government’s questions under Section 3.0.

• Contractor point of contact information includes but is not limited to name, mailing address, overnight delivery address (if different from mailing address), phone number, fax number, and e-mail of designated point of contact, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), GSA contract number and expiration date (if applicable), and BPA number and expiration date

(if applicable).

• Business type (large business, small business, small disadvantaged business, 8(a)-certified small disadvantaged business, HUBZone small business, woman-owned small business, very small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business) based upon North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code

541511 - Custom Computer Programming Services

Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

6.0 Industry Discussions

AmeriCorps representatives may or may not choose to meet with potential offerors. Such discussions would only be intended to get further clarification of potential capability to meet the requirements, especially any development and certification risks.

mailto:SQuick@americorps.gov mailto:JHarris@americorps.gov mailto:SQuick@americorps.gov mailto:JHarris@americorps.gov

7.0 Summary

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY to identify sources that can provide

Robotics Process Automation Services. The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. AmeriCorps has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.