SOW_-_Large_Format_Plotters.docx

Large Format Plotters and Services to Support Partnership Programs and the 2020 Census Statement of Work (SOW)

CONTRACT TYPE

Firm Fixed Price

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Base Period: Product delivery, installation and services at HQ and NPC Date of award through 5 years. (5 years starts when installation is complete)

Option Period: Product delivery, installation and services at the RCCs Date of award through 5 years. (5 years starts when installation is complete)

BACKGROUND

The Census Bureau will produce a variety of large-format maps to facilitate the collection and dissemination of data to support the 2020 Census and other censuses and surveys. Maps can be used by tribal, state and local governments to provide updates to the Census Bureau’s Master Address File/Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (MAF/TIGER) Database (MTDB). In addition, large-format maps which show the location and relationship among geographic boundaries and features are provided to Congress, Census Bureau partners, and the public.

The large-format color plotters currently used to print Census Bureau maps are nearly ten years old and are in need of replacement. This SOW defines the hardware, software, installation and support requirements for the new plotters at various Census Bureau locations throughout the nation.

SCOPE

Large-format color plotters are needed in the following locations to replace existing devices: Census Headquarters (HQ) in Suitland, MD, the National Processing Center (NPC) in Jeffersonville, IN, and in the six Regional Census Centers (RCC) whose exact locations have not been determined at this time. The plotters in NPC will be used primarily to support high volume map plotting and folding operations. The RCCs will use the devices to plot maps and graphics created primarily by RCC staff and do not require high throughput capabilities. Census HQs creates maps that are plotted in NPC and some maps that may be plotted in the RCCs. Therefore, Census HQ requires devices exactly like the ones in NPC and the RCCs.

Hardcopy maps are an important part of many Census Bureau operations, and it is critical that the maps be printed according to schedule. Therefore, any technical support, repair or maintenance provided through this contract must adhere to the specified time-frames.

HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

1. Requirements for all Census Bureau Locations

a. The devices shall support color printing.

b. The devices shall support inks that are fade and moisture resistant.

c. Devices shall be capable of printing files directly without going through a driver in the following formats:

1. Adobe PDF version 1.5 and higher

2. Adobe PostScript Levels 2 and 3

d. Devices shall support the following methods of receiving files to print:

1. Through a web-based interface provided by the contractor

2. Through print drivers supplied by the contractor that support the following devices:

a. Desktop computers running Microsoft Windows 7 Enterprise and higher

b. Servers running Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Enterprise and higher.

This will allow the printing of files directly from applications such as Microsoft Visio, ArcGIS, and Adobe Illustrator without having to convert to PDF format.

3. Through Red Hat Enteprise Linux Server version 7.2 and higher using the standard Linux “lp” command.

e. Devices shall have a minimum output resolution of 600 x 600 dpi.

f. Devices shall be capable of accurately rendering line weights as small as 0.0035 inches.

g. Devices and any accessories shall operate using standard 110 to 120 volt electrical outlets.

h. There will be instances when the Census Bureau does not print to the devices for extended periods of time and the devices remain idle for months. The devices must successfully operate in this environment and the print heads and inks shall not become clogged or dry-up during these time-periods.

i. Devices shall support input media of various widths. The devices shall handle rolls as small as 24 inches wide and up to at least 40 inches wide.

j. Devices shall support input media of various lengths. The devices shall be capable of handling input media lengths as short as 20 feet and up to at least 300 feet.

k. In order to protect any sensitive data, all device hard drives and internal storage will remain the property of the Census Bureau.

2. Additional Requirements for the NPC – Minimum of 4 Plotters and 2 Folders

a. The NPC has limited floor space; therefore, it is more desirable to have fewer high-throughput devices as opposed to a solution that requires many lower-throughput devices that will take up more space.

b. The contractor shall determine the number of output devices needed to support the Census Bureau’s anticipated peak printing demands in NPC. The Census Bureau estimates that a total of 117,500 map sheets with an approximate dimension of 36 inches by 32 inches will need to be printed within a one month period. For estimation purposes, assume that this time period equates to 20 days of printing, and printing will take place 16 hours each day. The average Adobe PDF file size for map products is 3 megabytes and the files typically range in size from 1 to 40 megabytes. For redundancy and contingency planning, the Census Bureau requires a minimum of four identical output devices in NPC to support high volume map printing.

c. Each device shall include a high-capacity stacker or similar device for collecting output. The stacker or similar device must hold hundreds of prints and store them in the order in which they were printed.

d. Devices shall support multiple rolls of input media

e. Devices shall switch between paper rolls as necessary to support high volume and unattended printing.

f. Devices shall support printing on a variety of media types including bond and coated papers.

g. 50 percent of the total number of plotters (minimum of two) shall have the ability to fold map sheets as part of the plotting operation.

h. Folders shall be capable of folding sheets with an approximate dimension of 36 inches by 32 inches down to a size of 8.5 inches by 11 inches.

i. The maximum floor space to be used for plotter and folding operations shall be 25 feet by 80 feet (minus area for 3 support columns).

3. Additional Requirements for the RCCs – 12 Plotters

a. The contractor shall provide a total of twelve devices, two for each RCC.

b. Devices shall support printing on a variety of media types including bond, coated, and photo paper.

c. Devices shall include a catch bin or similar device to catch and store output.

d. The devices shall be capable of plotting a minimum of six map sheets that are 36 inches by 33 inches in a one hour period. The average Adobe PDF file size for each map sheet is 35-40 megabytes.

e. Each device and all accessories shall fit within a 6 foot by 8 foot area within each RCC.

4. Additional Requirements for HQ – 3 Plotters

a. The contractor shall provide one large-format plotting device and any accessories for HQ identical to the devices in the NPC. HQ will not receive any folding devices.

b. The contractor shall provide two large-format plotting devices and any accessories for HQ identical to the devices in the RCCs.

SOFTWARE SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

All software provided by the contractors must be approved by the Census Bureau’s Software Working Group (SWG). To receive SWG approval, all software shall meet the following requirements where applicable:

Networking:

a. Follow all relevant IPv4 RFCs

b. Follow all relevant IPv6 RFCs

c. Use DNS for name resolution (specifically, integrating with ISC BIND 9.9.7 or later)

d. If requires address allocation, must support DHCP

e. If requires a time configuration outside of the OS, must support NTP v3

f. If SNMP is supported, must provide SNMP v3 capability Security:

a. Any cryptography must be FIPS 140-2 (or later) validated

b. If applicable, SSL must allow disabling v3 and earlier, enabling TLS 1.0, 1.1, and 1.2

c. Ciphers, key handling, and signing must be selectable and capable of HIGH values (RSA, SHA2, etc.)

d. If using X509v3 certificates (and corresponding private keys), must support custom CA and SHA2 (SHA256, SHA512) digests along with 2048 bit minimum keys

e. Audit and system logs must be configured to a remote log server minimally over the syslog protocol

f. If applicable, should support the use of SSH with public key authentication for inter-system communication

g. FEDRAMP Certified (if a cloud service as defined by NIST)

h. Will require a Census Bureau OIS Authorization to Use, and its own risk profile, if it meets the following criteria:

1. The information system component requires users to authenticate and is capable of role based access

2. The information system component audits the activities of those users

3. The information system component initiates a communication session (I.e. is not a stand alone system) with any other information system component (i.e. a server, a database, the internet, a web application, etc.

Authentication/Authorization:

a. Must support LDAP v3 against any compliant directory (Active Directory, eDirectory, OpenLDAP, OID) for authentication, authorization, and retrieval of information

b. Should support SAML2 as a service provider (to an outside Identity Provider, IdP)

c. Should support arbitrary authentication mechanism such as RSA SecurID or PIV through SAML2

d. May support OAuth2

e. Supports PIV authentication, per HSPD-12 Other requirements:

a. US Government Configuration Baseline compliant - desktop software only

b. Section 508 compliant (if it has a GUI)

c. Compatible with the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure - desktop software only (not a must, but strongly preferred)

d. Windows 10 compatible - desktop software only

e. Compatible with RHEL 6 & 7, or Windows Server 2008 R2 & 2012 - server software only

f. Java 8 compatible (if applicable)

g. Has an option for paid support (if the product is open source, or supports a mission critical application) The contractors shall be responsible for providing software that complies with these SWG requirements.

CENSUS BUREAU SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS

1. Delivery, Assembly and Installation

a. Devices and any accessories shall be delivered, installed and fully operational within 60 days of contract award at HQ and the NPC. For HQ, this includes one device identical to those in the NPC and two devices identical to those that will be used in the RCCs.

b. For the RCCs, devices and any accessories shall be delivered, installed and fully operational from January through September of 2018.

c. Contractor shall perform the following services for the plotters and any accessories:

1. Assembly

2. Assist with the installation on Census Bureau’s network

3. Test to ensure proper operation.

2. Technical Support, Maintenance, Service, and Repair

a. The contractor shall provide technical support concerning the operation of the devices and any accessories and any software provided. This will include answering questions and inquires relating to the plotters, accessories, and software and helping to troubleshoot any issues encountered. The contractor shall provide technical support on the same business day that they are contacted.

b. When the output devices and any accessories are broken or not functioning properly, the contractor shall provide on-site repair services. The contractors will come on-site to fix the devices and any accessories within one business day of notification. The contractor will supply all replacement parts and labor at no additional cost.

c. This purchase is for five years of technical support, maintenance, service, and repair as described in this section. All technical support, maintenance, service, and repairs shall be provided for five years starting at the device installation date.

d. All software provided by the contractor shall be supported for five years starting at the device installation date. The contractor shall provide updated software when required to keep the devices and any accessories operating and functioning properly on the Census Bureau’s IT systems. In addition, when Census Bureau files do not print correctly or as desired due to software bugs or deficiencies, the contractor shall provide software fixes in a timely fashion.

e. The Census Bureau requires devices and accessories that will be fully supported by the contractor and manufacturer for a 10-year period starting at the contract award date. Parts, repair services, technical support and software updates must be available during this 10-year period.

CENSUS BUREAU SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS SCHEDULE

Service Description Due Date Base or Option Delivery, assembly, installation, testing of devices and accessories

Technical support for all locations Same business day Base and Option

On-site maintenance and repair for all locations Within one business day Base and Option

Provide updated software As needed Base and Option

PLACE OF DELIVERY

1. Census Headquarters (HQ)

a. Via U.S. Postal Service (USPS)

U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division Attn: Kevin Hawley 4600 Silver Hill Road Washington, DC 20233

b. Via private carriers (FedEx,DHL, UPS, couriers and suppliers)

U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division Attn: Kevin Hawley 4600 Silver Hill Road Suitland, MD 20746

2. National Processing Center (NPC)

U.S. Census Bureau Receiving 60F Attn: Chris Baker 1621 Dutch Lane Jeffersonville, IN 47132

3. Regional Census Centers (RCC)

The plotters shall be delivered to the RCCs that will be in the following cities or their surrounding suburbs. However, the exact addresses are yet to be determined.

· Dallas, TX

· Los Angeles, CA

· Chicago, IL

· Atlanta, GA

· Philadelphia, PA

· New York NY

DELIVERABLE ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

1. The plotting devices and accessories that are delivered through this contract are not considered accepted by the government until the following has been performed:

a. Non-damaged delivery

b. Contents of shipment have been verified by Census staff

2. The assembly, installation and testing of devices and all accessories are not considered accepted by the government until the following has been performed:

a. Full assembly and physical installation at the desired locations

b. Removal of all packaging trash

c. Delivery of all manuals and user guides

d. All hardware functionality is tested and confirmed operational

e. With the help of Census IT staff, all required software relating is installed, configured properly and confirmed operational.

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED ITEMS

The Census Bureau has provided sixteen maps in Adobe PDF format for the contractor to plot on each proposed device for evaluation. The test files include maps produced in various production environments and include files that support legacy and current operations. The contractor shall use bond paper for all plots.

The files are located in the following location on the Census Bureau’s ftp site: http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/temp/PlotTest/ The following is a list of files and their characteristics:

*use this quality setting or equivalent on device if available **bundled PDF, plot all four pages

QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN

Delivery date for HQ, and NPC is less than 60 days after contract award. Delivery date for the RCCs is January through September of 2018.

Census Bureau Acquisitions and program area staff will monitor the schedule and take corrective action if deadlines are not met.

Census HQ staff will coordinate with NPC and the RCCs to ensure work is being performed according to requirements.

Census Bureau Acquisitions staff will be notified if requirements are not being met and corrective action will be taken if needed.

Census Bureau Acquisitions staff will be notified if requirements are not being met and corrective action will be taken if needed.

Census Bureau Acquisitions staff will be notified if requirements are not being met and corrective action will be taken if needed.