ATF Federated Search Request For Information (RFI).docx

Request For Information (RFI) 5 March 2026

U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Request For Information (RFI)

For:

Federated Search

Table of Contents

Section 1. Introduction Disclaimer THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) IS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) OR QUOTE (RFQ). IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS RFI. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. NOT RESPONDING TO THIS RFI DOES NOT PRECLUDE PARTICIPATION IN ANY FUTURE RFP, IF ISSUED. ALL SUBMISSIONS BECOME GOVERNMENT PROPERTY AND WILL NOT BE RETURNED.

Background The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is conducting market research per FAR Part 10 to identify qualified small business concerns—including 8(a), SDVOSB, HUBZone, and WOSB/EDWOSB—capable of providing comprehensive design, develop and implement a scalable Federated Search solution that enables seamless, real-time information retrieval across the agency’s disparate digital platforms.

Core Requirements:

Internal connectivity: The contractor shall develop and configure secure connectors for internal agency repositories (e.g. SharePoint, SQL, On-premises Files, shares, AWS, ETC) using industry-standard protocols. This shall be for but not limited to ATF programs Spartan, Nforce, Ness, and Etrace.

External Connectivity: The contractor shall develop connectors for the authorized external/third-party data sources. These sources shall be but not limited to Accurint AVCC, Clear, i2 Analyst Notebook, Transunion TLO, Vigilant/ License Plate Reader, Pennlink, Tangles, and Whooster

Data Segregation: The contractor shall implement a “Search-Time:” aggregation architecture. All data from the internal and external sources shall remain logically and physically separate within the indexing layer to prevent cross-contamination of sensitive data.

Selective Query Logic: The user interface (UI) shall provide functional “toggle” or “filter” capabilities allowing users to explicitly select internal, external or hybrid search modes prior to query execution.

Environment: Production, Training and Testing and make assure scalability on all environments/platform for future needs

Training and Knowledge Transfer: Provide general user training, program manager training, etc..

Operational Capabilities

NIST Compliance: The solution shall comply with NIST SP 800-53 security controls at the (moderate/high) impact level.

Identity Management: The system shall integrate with the Agency’s identity, credential, and access management (ICAM) system (e.g PIVCAC, OKATA, Active Directory)

Section 508: The UI shall be fully compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (36 CFR 1194)

Place of Performance: Will be partially at the contractor’s location, located within the United States and partially at ATF headquarters as needed for meetings and onsite work needed with ATF OST.

Conformity to ATF’s Agile Scrum Methodology and IT Methodology

Conformity to the Data Management Requirements

Conformity to ATF Enterprise Standard Technologies

Build the solution within Government approved GovCloud environments

Utilize commercial best practices when delivering services, including but not limited to:

· Agile Scrum Methodology

· Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD)

· Automated Testing

· Automated Deployments

Use Government provided tools to accurately document, administer, maintain code, configuration settings, system documentation, project artifacts, and user guides.

Use ATF CI/CD tools for system integration and stress testing.

Implement all necessary work and time management control processes to endure timely accurate accomplishment of work requirements as well to permit tracking work in progress.

Provide project management services (i.e., planning, direction, coordination, and control of contractor resources) to oversee and ensure the execution of the contract and deliver the stated required contract services and deliverables

This notice is not a solicitation. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to these sources sought. If you believe this is something your company would be interested in, please review the numbered items in section 2 and provide responses as instructed in section 3.

Section 2. Experience and CAPABILITIES The Request for Information (RFI) shall include your company’s capabilities, past performance to include contract numbers along with the work that is similar in scope, experience in providing the listed services, incumbent capture, staffing, benefits, North American Classification System (NAICS) codes, socio-economic certifications, and contract vehicles. This request is for market research only and not to be considered an official Request for Proposal (RFP).

Program Management.

Please describe the company’s experience with the following:

Core Competencies: Outline your primary services and expertise, such as previous projects in a similar scope, or any COTS options you currently offer.

Past Performance/Experience: Include a list of relevant past or current contracts, especially with government clients, demonstrating successful execution of building a multiple source ingestion platform.

Differentiators/Unique Selling Propositions: Are there any facets that make your company standout such as a superior development system, API integration experience with the platforms mentioned.

Security and Compliance.

Please describe the company’s experience with the following:

NIST Compliance: The solution shall comply with NIST SP 800-53 security controls at the (moderate/high) impact level.

Identity Management: The system shall integrate with the Agency’s identity, credential, and access management (ICAM) system (e.g PIVCAC, OKATA, Active Directory) Section 508: The UI shall be fully compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (36 CFR 1194) Operations and Maintenance.

Please describe the company’s experience with the following:

1. Providing comprehensive design, develop and implement a scalable solution that enables seamless, real-time information retrieval across the agency’s disparate digital platforms.

2.1. Place Of Performance

The primary place of performance will be at ATF Headquarters within Washington, DC.

SECTION 3. Responding To THE RFI PLEASE NOTE: Any document submitted that contains confidential/proprietary information must be marked on the outside as containing confidential information, and each page upon which confidential information appears must be marked as containing confidential information. The confidential information must be clearly identifiable to the reader wherever it appears.

The respondent shall include information addressing all the above sections within the 15-page limitation not including diagrams or images, consisting of single-sided, 8.5 x 11, Times New Roman or similar, and an 11-font size minimum.

Please reference the question numbers below in your response. The RFI whitepaper should provide the following information:

1. Company Information. Name, mailing address, phone number and e-mail of designated point of contact.

2. If your company would likely bid, please provide a written response identifying the company’s capabilities and qualified personnel available to perform the task(s) as well as related corporate experience.

3. Please provide a staffing estimate based on (labor categories and expertise levels) for the team capable of performing each of the stated Task(s).

4. From professional experience, what would a project to this magnitude generally cost in support of market research.

3.1 RFI Response Submission

The response package must be submitted via email to the following:

· Steven Jaimes, Contracting Officer (CO), Steven.Jaimes@atf.gov Additional Submission Information

· This notice is not a Request for Proposal (RFP); it is a market research tool being utilized to determine the availability of qualified sources prior to issuing an RFP.

· ATF is not seeking proposals at this time and will not accept unsolicited proposals.

· The Government is accepting questions in writing via email as part of this RFI process and shall be submitted NLT 4pm ET, Friday, March 13, 2026.

· RFI responses are due NLT 4pm ET Friday, March 20, 2026.

· No telephone calls will be accepted.

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