Brand Name Justification Guidance-4.doc

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

The Department has a requirement to extended current Check-Free licenses and purchase an upgrade to our “CheckFree Recon Plus for Windows” software with the system/platform known as Frontier (“Frontier”). The upgrade shall consist of the 1) Recon Module, 2) Recollector module, 3) Admin Module, 4) Web access and 5) annual maintenance for the Fiserv/CheckFree Frontier Platform. Additionally, business and technical consulting services, up to 18 days, is also required.

The Department uses the CheckFree system to reconcile the Fund Balance with Treasury. The Fund Balance with Treasury is 26% of total ED assets and is the single largest non-credit reform amount on our balance sheet. CheckFree is used extensively to reconcile cash by both OCFO and FSA. FSA also uses CheckFree for other reconciliation tasks.

As of December 31, 2012 the current version of CheckFree (CheckFree Recon Plus for Windows) will no longer be supported by the Fiserv/CheckFree company and will be rendered obsolete. CheckFree Recon Plus for Windows will be upgraded by a system/platform known as Fiserv/CheckFree Frontier.

Our current CheckFree software links to FMSS (Oracle) through the server and desktop operating systems provided to us under the Educate contract. Any upgrades to either the server or workstation operating systems will require changes to the current version of CheckFree in order for this powerful reconciliation tool to continue to function. Our CheckFree software could not be adapted to any upgrades to either server or workstation operating systems that may occur after December 31, 2012, because no additional changes to the current version of CheckFree software will be supported by the vendor after that date. Such upgrades to the server or workstation operating systems would render our current version of CheckFree useless and would leave us without a powerful automated cash reconciliation tool. Furthermore, ED staff cannot alter the current version of CheckFree because the software is proprietary.

Fiserv/CheckFree Recon Plus For Windows Software automated reconciliation tool was purchased by the Department in September 1999 (with several software upgrades since then) and is utilized on a daily basis during the process of completing some of the most critically important Financial Reconciliations that ED/OCFO is responsible for such as (but not limited to):

(1) Fund Balance With Treasury (FBWT) Reconciliation

(2) Statement of Transactions - SF224 Preparation (Cash Reporting and Reconciliation to the Treasury Department)

(3) Suspense Account Reconciliations

(4) Governmentwide Accounting (GWA) Reconciliation & Internal Reporting of Treasury GWA Information

All of these Reconciliations & Reporting actions are a critical part of the Annual Financial Statement Audit. Using Fiserv/CheckFree Recon Plus For Windows to complete these reconciliations has revolutionized the quality, timeliness, accuracy and productivity of all of these reconciliations. The FBWT Reconciliation, which this month totals in excess of $225 Billion, is the most important reconciliation that ED/OCFO completes. This crucial reconciliation is at the foundation of our 9 consecutive unqualified opinions on the annual financial statement audit. The use of the Fiserv/CheckFree software allows us to achieve this significant success with this crucial reconciliation.

Additionally, ED utilizes CheckFree/Fiserv’s Crystal Reports to utilize or produce numerous robust canned and in-house developed reports.

SF224 Preparation, Reconciliation & Analysis Application & Reports

Fund Balance With Treasury (FBWT) Reconciliation & Analysis Application & Reports

Suspense 3875 Reconciliation & Analysis Application & Reports

Suspense 3885 Reconciliation & Analysis Application & Reports

Deposit Fund 6501 Reconciliation & Analysis Application & Reports

Trial Balance Reconciliation & Analysis Application & Reports

Government-Wide Accounting (GWA) Reconciliation & Analysis Application & Reports

GAPS/G5 Reconciliation & Analysis Application & Reports

The Department has a considerable investment in the development of the key reconciliations, analyses and numerous reports produced with this system. To go with a totally different reconciliation tool would entail the needless expense of developing all of the above mentioned reconciliations, analyses and reports. Specifically, the implementation of a new reconciliation tool from another vendor would entail the additional expenditure in resources to develop the reconciliations and analytical reports that we currently use with the “CheckFree Recon Plus for Windows” software and that we will be able to continue to use with the upgraded system/platform known as Frontier (“Frontier”). Additionally, purchasing the upgraded system/platform known as Frontier (“Frontier”) will enable us to leverage our investment in the 45 seat licenses that we currently have for the Fiserv/CheckFree software. We are purchasing an upgrade to our Fiserv/CheckFree software, instead of purchasing new software.

The most unique feature available to us by purchasing the upgraded system/platform known as Frontier (“Frontier”) is the continued use of the many reconciliations and analytical reports that were developed for use with our current “CheckFree Recon Plus for Windows” software. The response to question 2 provides more detail regarding these items. It should be noted that the implementation of a new reconciliation tool from another vendor would entail the additional expenditure for resources to develop the reconciliations and analytical reports that we currently use with the “CheckFree Recon Plus for Windows” software and that we will be able to continue to use with the upgraded system/platform known as Fund Xpedite Frontier (“Frontier”). Additionally, Frontier is a web based solution. A web based solution is preferable because this system will have users that are located across a vast geographic area.

The Department considered other automated reconciliation systems during the market research process. In general, other systems require the implementation of multiple modules to achieve full functionality and they appear to have limited ad hoc reporting capability. Additionally they appear not to be compliant with Section 508 which requires that federal agencies electronic and information technology be accessible to people with disabilities. It should be noted that the implementation of a new reconciliation tool from another vendor would entail additional expenditure to develop the reconciliations and analytical reports that we currently use with the “CheckFree Recon Plus for Windows” software and that we will be able to continue to use with the upgraded system/platform known as Frontier (“Frontier”).

Our current CheckFree software links to FMSS (Oracle) through the server and desktop operating systems provided to us under the Educate contract. Any upgrades to either the server or workstation operating systems will require changes to the current version of CheckFree in order for this powerful reconciliation tool to continue to function. Our CheckFree software could not be adapted to any upgrades to either server or workstation operating systems that may occur after December 31, 2012, because no additional changes to the current version of CheckFree software will be supported by the vendor after that date. Such upgrades to the server or workstation operating systems would render our current version of CheckFree useless and would leave us without a powerful automated cash reconciliation tool. Furthermore, ED staff cannot alter the current version of CheckFree because the software is proprietary.

255 Fiserv Drive

PO Box 979

Phone: 262-879-5000

General Description of Commodity or Service requested to be Purchased and its function:

An upgrade to our “CheckFree Recon Plus for Windows” software with the system/platform known as Frontier (“Frontier”) This upgrade shall consist of the following items:

· Recon Module

· Recollector Module

· Admin Module

· Web Access

· Annual Software Maintenance for the Fiserv/CheckFree Frontier Platform.

· Business and Consulting Services, not to exceed 18 days.