FY2025 FPAC IT Industry Day FINAL.pdf

FY2025 Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) IT Industry Day

“Moving the mission forward.

Together”

FPAC Business Center Motto

August 1, 2024 10:00 am to 1:00 pm EDT

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Presentation slides. Will be provided August 2, 2024 Q&A responses. Will be provided by August 30, 2024 Recording of this session. We are recording today's session which will be available August 30, 2024.

FPAC Attendees. You are entitled to 3.0 hours CLPs for full attendance. You will need to submit your CLPs manually through CSOD. Any questions, please reach out to Sheryl Welch at sheryl.welch@usda.gov. For questions related to CSOD, please reach out to Benjamin Aldrich at benjamin.aldrich@usda.gov.

Acquisition development is a fluid process and any strategies or information discussed here today is subject to change.

mailto:sheryl.welch@usda.gov mailto:benjamin.aldrich@usda.gov

Purpose Inform Small Business Community of FPAC's Information Technology (IT) opportunities in FY2025

Agenda

1. Opening Remarks from Assistant CIO

2. FPAC IT Contract Portfolio Overview

3. Acquisition Strategy

4. Interested Vendor Survey

5. Program Offices Discuss FY25 Opportunities

6. Closing Remarks

FPAC IT Contract Portfolio

• The Farm Production and Conservation mission area serves America’s farmers, ranchers, producers, and conservationists by delivering crop insurance, farm loan programs, farm programs, and conservation services.

• FPAC Information Services Division (ISD) builds and delivers software supporting the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Risk Management Agency (RMA), and FPAC Business Center as they deliver these services and administer Agency operations.

• Network services, end-user hardware, data hosting, and cloud services are provided by the USDA Office of the Chief Information Officer, a Department-level staff office.

• FPAC ISD continuing requirements have stabilized to 15-20 planned recompetes each fiscal year.

Emerging requirements increase the number of opportunities available.

• USDA continues to embrace a small business-first approach and may target requirements to various socio-economic set-asides based on market research and other factors.

• Acquisition planning (including market research) begins 6-18 months prior to contract award.

• FPAC ISD works with multiple contracting offices including FPAC Acquisition Division (FPAC AD), USDA Procurement Operations Division (POD), and GSA.

FPAC AD Acquisition Strategies

• Software (NAICS 541519, 511210, 513210)

• STRATUS BOA, Pool 3 (SaaS)

• NASA SEWP

• Other internal Govt or USDA ordering contracts

• Open market (sam.gov)

• Hardware (NAICS 541519, 811210)

• GSA STARS III

• GSA IT Multiple Award Schedules

• NASA SEWP (laptops, desktops, hardware, marketplace for monitors)

• Other internal Govt or USDA ordering contracts

• Open market (sam.gov)

• Aerial Imagery (NAICS 541370)

• Internal USDA ordering contracts

Potential Evaluation Approaches Each acquisition will define final evaluation approach and factors, may include the below or others not listed.

• Tradeoff

• Prior Experience

• Technical Approach / Management Plan

• Pricing

• Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA)

USDA POD Acquisition Strategies

• Available USDA BPAs and IDIQs. Currently limited in options but are always explored.

• NITAAC CIO-SP3 and CIO-SP4 when available

• GSA STARS III

• GSA IT Multiple Award Schedule (IT-70)

• SBA 8(a) Program

• GSA VETS 2

• STRATUS - Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) Pool 1 (Hyperscale Cloud Service Providers), Pool 2 (Integration and Develpoment Support) , and Pool 3 (Software as a Service )(SaaS)

• NASA SEWP

• Open market SAM.gov

Potential Evaluation Approaches Each acquisition will define final evaluation approach and factors, may include the below or others not listed. POD works with DHS

Procurement Innovation Lab (PIL) on acquisition techniques.

• Multi-Phased Approach

• Advisory Down Select

• Best Value

• Prior Experience

• Oral Presentations

• Technical Approach / Management Plan

• Pricing

• Socio-Economic Status

• Comparative Analysis

FY25 FPAC Industry Day IT Requirements Phase 1 Market Research Survey

Interested Vendors: FPAC invites you to participate in a Market Outreach Survey in conjunction with FY25 FPAC Industry Day. This Market Outreach is the initial phase of Market Research for FY25 requirements. The information gleaned from this survey will provide for follow-on targeted market research engagement by requirement.

Market Research Survey will be open until August 6, 2024.

Utilize URL from Computer or QR Code from Mobile Device https://forms.office.com/g/fpqc8NbEwh Attention Incumbents!

Incumbent firms need to complete this survey too! If a firm does not respond, they will not be included in market research.

FY25 Program Requirements

1. FSA/CCC Financial Improvement Program Product Management Support (Chestnut-2)

2. FPAC Financial Systems Agile Support

3. Conservation Agile Release Trains

4. Conservation Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance

5. FPAC Data Management and Analytics (Cottonwood) IDV

6. FPAC Digital Website Support

7. FPAC Digital Records Management System

8. FPAC Administrative Systems Delivery Services

9. IT Business Operations Tool Support and Administration

10. Farm Business Plan

11. FPAC Program Management Services

12. FPAC IT Operations Management and Strategy Support

13. FPAC Quality Management and Testing Services

14. Software Licensing/Subscription Requirements

FFIP Product Management Support (Chestnut-2) Target Award: FY25 Q4

Estimated Annual Value: FY25-26: $1-3 million, FY27-29:

$3-5 million

Agency Needs:

FSA/CCC Financial Improvement Program (FFIP) is migrating financial functions and data to the USDA core financial system (FMMI) and simultaneously remediating feeder systems to create auditable financial data. Customers include FSA, NRCS, RMA, FBC, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), Rural Development (RD), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), and USDA-Office of the Chief Financial Officer.

Brief Description of Requirement:

• Re-engineer and design the next phase of FSA/CCC program business processes, with the appropriate internal controls, to enable financial processing of FSA/CCC programs in FMMI

• Educate impacted organizations on the new FMMI processes

• Identify, cleanse, and convert relevant financial data to FMMI to enable financial processing and reporting

• Identify and develop a consolidated reporting strategy

• Analyze alignment of FFIP processes and application development with internal control and audit standards

Procurement Forecast ID: 444

How does FPAC measure quality?

• Percentage of the business value achieved, as defined by objectives scored and approved during program increment planning.

• Use of and alignment to USDA, FPAC, and industry accepted practices

• Delivery of products on time, within budget, and with acceptable quality

• Effective stakeholder engagement tailored to organizational needs

Historical Information:

Previous delivery featured concurrent delivery of Business Process Re-engineering, FMMI configuration, posting models, and internal controls with contractor support embedded within each service stream. The future delivery model will change to a single shared service contract team supporting phased activities across the program lifecycle

• Business Process Re-engineering: FY25-FY29

• Data Conversion FY26-FY29

• Other Analysis and Data Cleansing: FY27-FY29

• Reporting: FY27-FY28

• Internal Controls: FY27-FY29

• Organizational Change Management: FY27-FY29

Based on our experience, important success factors are:

• Extensive experience with SAP ECC federal financials

• Awareness and environmental use of Agile, SAFe, and SDLC to complete planning and execution tasks

• Experience with multi-vendor, multi-organizational Integrated Product Teams

(IPT)

• Other IPT stakeholders include Program Financial Support, Agile Support, and OCFO’s FMMI SAP Development and O&M teams. 10

FPAC Financial Systems Agile Support Target Award: FY25 Q3

Estimated Annual Value: $1-3 million

Agency Needs:

FSA and Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) programs have unique financial, accounting, administrative, and budgeting processes, requiring a set of dedicated IT applications to implement program-specific requirements and integrate with USDA’s core financial system (FMMI). Systems may be accessed by producers and other external customers.

Brief Description of Requirement:

Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) support services including release train engineer, scrum team coaches, product management analysts, and part-time coaching on SAFe best practices for the Program Financial Services (PFS) program. This independent team coordinates across multiple organizations (federal and contractor teams) to drive comprehensive planning and delivery meeting Business Owner objectives, including enhancements to PFS applications in support of the FSA/CCC Financial Improvement Program (FFIP). Software development and delivery services are provided under a different contract.

Incumbent: KYM Advisors

Procurement Forecast ID: 13355

How does FPAC measure quality?

• Program roadmap and supporting program increment plans reflect relevant stakeholder objectives and concerns

• Program leaders are equipped with timely, relevant, and comprehensive information to make informed, risk-based decisions

• Program planning and execution reflects SAFe leading practices for federal environment

• Federal and contractor teams demonstrate continual improvement based on formal and informal coaching

Historical Information:

Current team of 7-9 resources supports management of an Agile Release Train with five scrum teams. Daily support services provide scrum team coaching, product management support, and release train engineering. Independent coaching in SAFe best practices is available part-time.

Based on our experience, important success factors are:

• Experience and expertise with SAFe on complex development projects

• Experience coaching development teams and business/product owners on SAFe methods and ceremonies

• Experience coordinating multi-vendor Integrated Product Teams

(IPT) and other external teams

• Other IPT members include Program Financial Support, FFIP

Product Management, and OCFO’s FMMI SAP Development and O&M teams.

Conservation Agile Release Trains

Estimated Annual Value: Over $50 million

Agency Needs:

NRCS provides technical assistance on conservation practices to private landowners and regional and local conservation partners based on Farm Bill and other legislatively mandated programs and requirements. Various IT applications automate business processes supporting mission delivery.

Services include conservation planning, conservation financial assistance, conservation practice standards, conservation practices design and implementation, information and tools for internal and external stakeholders, monitoring and reporting outcomes of conservation implementation, natural resource data collection and delivery, emergency watershed protection, and other conservation programs as defined.

Brief Description of Requirement:

Agile software development and delivery services including development, modernization, and enhancements as well as maintenance of custom and COTS-based IT solutions. FPAC currently uses Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). This requirement will result in multiple awards.

How does FPAC measure quality?

• Delivery is measured using the percentage of the business value achieved, as defined by objectives scored and approved during program increment planning.

• Quality considers the number and type of software defects at delivery and completeness and accuracy of system documentation.

Historical & Current Information:

There are 5 Conservation Agile Release Trains (ART):

• METIS – Provides systems needed to work with clients to develop a basic conservation plan. (18 teams)

• MONEY – Provides systems to develop and manage landowner agreements/contracts and partnership agreements. (16 teams)

• PROMETHEUS – Provides systems needed for developing component plans, and conservation practice implementation requirements, designs, and specifications validation. (9 teams)

• ODIN - Supports the integration of science models and development of resource systems that collect, analyze, and deliver data and information that contribute to the success of all internal agency and public natural resources programs. (13 teams)

• OLYMPIA - Supports systems that track and report agency operational management, as well as the status of progress and accomplishments toward delivering the NRCS mission. (12 teams)

Based on our experience, important success factors are:

• Management and technical teams with knowledge and experience with the Agile SAFe methodology, Security, DevOps, and Cloud technologies.

• Management team with strong knowledge and experience with Strategic Planning and the implementation of large IT Systems.

Incumbent: Highland Technology Services Inc, New Tech Solutions Inc, Spatial Front Inc, Ventera Corporation, Eagle Harbor Solutions, LLC Procurement Forecast ID: 9807

Conservation Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance

Estimated Annual Value: $3-5 million

Agency Needs:

FPAC/NRCS seek to continually improve software quality and mature Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) processes for the Conservation area.

Brief Description of Requirement:

SETA will provide the government with recommendations to improve delivery of systems, applications, and software based on independent and neutral observations.

How does FPAC measure quality?

• Data-driven recommendations identify tangible actions the program team can take to improve software quality

• Gap analysis and recommendations on program use of

SAFe best practices drive effective program delivery

• Data-driven recommendations identify improvements addressing cross-organizational challenges and pain points

Historical Information:

The current team of 8 resources provide performance-based reporting, recommendations for improvements, and root cause analysis and agile coaching. The SETA team works in a multi-organizational, multi-contractor environment including coordination with NRCS and ISD leadership, Solution Train, five Agile Release Trains, other supporting teams, and sister programs.

Based on our experience, important success factors are:

• Experience in SAFe best practices

• Experience in IV&V analysis in a complex federal environment, including root cause analysis

• Experience in software testing best practices

• Experience with primary technologies in FPAC’s technology stack, especially Pega, Salesforce, and AWS

Incumbent: J3 Consulting, LLC

Procurement Forecast ID: 13351

FPAC Data Management and Analytics (Cottonwood) IDV Target Award: FY25 Q2

Estimated Annual Value: $10 million

Agency Needs:

• Support USDA goal to be a Data-driven organization

• Support Data Management needs at the enterprise level

• Support Data Analytics needs

• Respond to legacy hardware and software end-of-life timelines

Brief Description of Requirement:

IT services and support for Data Architecture, Data engineering, Data analytics and Data governance projects for the FPAC agencies, including

• Data modeling

• Data architecture and specifications

• Data engineering (ETL)

• Data analytics (dashboards/reports)

• Support for FPAC data strategy, data quality and data governance

This requirement will establish an overarching contract vehicle able to support multiple, dynamic delivery task orders.

Incumbent: Applica Solutions Inc., ANR, Steampunk Procurement Forecast ID: 13357

How does FPAC measure quality?

• Service provides uninterrupted, reliable, secure and performant data for USDA business users, data analysts, Tableau dashboards and Tabular reports

• Legacy on-prem data warehouse migration to AWS cloud is complete and business users are satisfied

• Data is analyzed, evaluated, and verified to be accurate

Historical Information:

Data Modeling, Design and Architecture support staff (5), Data Engineering staff (40), Data Analytics staff (13), Data Strategy & Governance Support staff (5) with skills in developing and supporting large data warehouse cloud migration and analytics projects delivering data products such as data pipelines, reports and dashboards.

Based on our experience, important success factors are:

• Experience in on-prem and AWS cloud data warehouse and data lakehouse technologies, data engineering and development, geospatial data design, data interoperability and integration will be essential

• Use of automation and tools to minimize manual processes for repetitive and routine deployment/delivery tasks

• Strong technical program management, communication and collaboration with IT and business stakeholders.

• Ability to quickly respond to issues and communicate results14

FPAC Digital Website Support

Estimated Annual Value: $10-12 million (includes initial and optional capacity)

Agency Needs:

FPAC requires ongoing maintenance and enhancements for its newly redesigned/re-launched websites. Websites include:

fsa.usda.gov, fpacbc.usda.gov, rma.usda.gov and nrcs.usda.gov, and farmers.gov.

Brief Description of Requirement:

Management and administration of FPAC websites including:

• Delivery of product backlogs meeting long-term and ongoing objectives

• Time-sensitive delivery of emergent requests supporting agency operations and mission delivery

• User-centric design supporting unified content and product strategy

How does FPAC measure quality?

• Production ready (defect free) software

• Compliance with USDA and FPAC technical guidance framework and development standards

• Consistent user experience across websites

Historical Information:

Historically the support team consisted of from 4 to 6 FTEs engaged in front end and backend development, DevOps engineering work, UI/UX work, and Project Management.

With the expanded scope to include supporting the Farmers.gov, increased capacity may be required depending upon the stage of the operations and maintenance work.

Based on our experience, important success factors are:

Experience and expertise in:

• Drupal 10 development

• Git, Composer, TWIG

• JavaScript libraries/frameworks (e.g., Angular, Vue.js, SASS tools)

• PHP, HTML5, CSS3, Symfony, jQuery, React.js, Elastic

Search, Python, Docker, Rancher, Azure

• Oracle WCC, Salesforce CRM, cyber security

Incumbent: Aleut Information Technology, LLC Procurement Forecast ID: 500

FPAC Digital Records Management System

Estimated Annual Value: $5-10 million

Agency Needs:

Modernization of FPAC’s electronic records management supporting effective program delivery and NARA requirements

Brief Description of Requirement:

Agile software delivery services to:

• maintain and enhance custom and COTS-based digital records management solution

• integrate major system components

• provide custom web-based interface to users for accessing, viewing, editing, and ingesting digital records

• provide custom application programming interfaces (APIs) for existing FPAC mission delivery applications and existing digital records storage

Incumbent: Brillient Procurement Forecast ID: 494

How does FPAC measure quality?

• Delivery meets approved customer acceptance criteria

• Production ready software (no blocker, major, or critical defects, moderate and minor defects are within acceptable margins)

• Section 508 conformance

• Compliant with USDA and FPAC information security requirements

• Integration with FPAC CI/CD tools and standards

Historical Information:

DRMS capabilities with MVP 1.0 & 2.0

• Record management, Search

• Scan on demand, Ingestion of data

• Records from 23 pilot sites across the county were scanned and digitized (pilot)

• Over 2,000 unique forms were discovered

• The top 25 most frequently used forms represent 60% of the total volume

Based on our experience, important success factors are:

• Proven software methodologies (FPAC currently uses SAFe)

• Customer service and communications

• Architectural and infrastructure alignment with FPAC standards

(e.g., cloud/AWS, CI/CD) 16

FPAC Administrative Systems Delivery Services

Target Award: FY25 Q1

Estimated Annual Value: $1-3 million

Agency Needs:

USDA provides several enterprise solutions for core agency administrative processes. The FPAC Business Center needs custom IT applications to automate additional FPAC-specific business processes. Examples include human resources, Freedom of Information Act, and program compliance processes.

Brief Description of Requirement:

• Agile software development and delivery for Administrative

Systems providing oversight, information management, mission area monitoring and reporting capabilities.

• Development and maintenance of Robotic Process Automation solutions that improve customer service and business processes through innovation.

Incumbent: Attainx Inc

Procurement Forecast ID: 13354

How does FPAC measure quality?

• Delivery meets approved customer acceptance criteria

• Production ready software (no blocker, major, or critical defects, moderate and minor defects are within acceptable margins).

• Alignment with CI/CD tools, quality checks and AWS requirements

• Section 508 conformance

• Complies with USDA and FPAC information security requirements

• Maximized use of automated testing/scripting

Historical Information:

Current team supports several distinct applications supporting administrative and program areas. Migration to AWS and current CI/CD tools is underway.

Based on our experience, important success factors are:

• Proven software methodologies ( FPAC currently uses SAFe)

• Customer service and communications.

• Architectural and infrastructure alignment with FPAC standards (e.g., cloud/AWS, CI/CD)

IT Business Operations Tool Support and Administration

Target Award: FY25 Q2

Estimated Annual Value: Under $250,000

Agency Needs:

Automated workflow and documentation management solution supporting NRCS IT funding requestions and approvals including preparation of AD-700 forms for procurement requests, contracts, and agreements.

Brief Description of Requirement:

Maintenance and administration of ITBOT application on Salesforce© platform. Internal FPAC users (~60) include CIO, Investment Managers, COR, Budget Lead, Procurement Specialist, Agreements Specialist, Contract Specialist and Project Managers.

Managed data includes sensitive financial and procurement information.

Incumbent: iLabsCreative

Procurement Forecast ID: 13356

How does FPAC measure quality?

• Issues acknowledged within 4 hours of report

• Enhancements deployed on time per approved schedule

• Timely delivery of written requirements with limited/no rework.

• O&M Response Time:

o Critical & High Priority Issues – 4 hours o All Issues – 24 hours

• O&M Resolution Time:

o Critical Issues – 24 hours o High Priority – 2 business days o All Other Issues – 3 business days

Historical Information:

Team size 1-2 people include technical project manager

Based on our experience, important success factors are:

• Knowledge of Salesforce workflow and development capabilities

• Strong ability to work with Federal Staff and other contractor groups

Farm Business Plan

Estimated Annual Value: $5-10 million

Agency Needs:

Direct farm loans require a farm business plan to support loan underwriting

Brief Description of Requirement:

Short-term (~12 month) cloud-based agriculture underwriting COTS solution to analyze the credit worthiness to support approval or rejection for direct loan applications. FPAC plans to replace this solution with a FedRAMP-certified SaaS or custom-built solution by early FY2027.

How does FPAC measure quality?

• Solution meets unique farm loan requirements based on legislation, regulations, and policy

• Software releases are production ready with required documentation, training, and without defects

Historical Information:

FPAC currently uses a proprietary solution with heavy customization to meet unique farm loan programs requirements.

Based on our experience, important success factors are:

• Ability to sustain existing solution or implement replacement solution with minimal disruption to farm loan service delivery

• Cloud-based platform

Incumbent: Moody’s Analytics Procurement Forecast ID: 13352

FPAC Program Management Services

Estimated Annual Value: $5 million

Agency Needs:

Effective and value-add management of IT portfolio, programs, projects, and products supporting FPAC mission delivery

Brief Description of Requirement:

• Provide program, project, and product management services within functionally-based organization

• Encourage the use of combined USDA, FPAC, and industry best practices and standards by utilizing classical PM skills, FPAC Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), Agile, and other hybrid development and management methodologies

• Promote an evolving and accessible IT program management community of practice

• Maintain, monitor, and mature portfolio release management

• Actively advance the transparent collaboration and communication with ISD leadership and project teams

How does FPAC measure quality?

• Use of and alignment to USDA, FPAC, and industry accepted practices

• Delivery of program, project, and products on time, within budget, and with acceptable quality

• Effective stakeholder engagement tailored to organizational needs

Historical Information:

PMS structure currently includes two Teams who are supported by integrated government and contract resources.

• Team A, Enterprise Program Support - Supports both enterprise-wide initiatives along with some members being matrixed out to support specific program, project, and product efforts. (8 gov’t resources; 5 contractor resources)

• Team B, Portfolio Engagement - Matrixed across FBC ISD to support specific program, projects, and products (12 gov’t resources; 14 contractor resources)

• PMS Teams (government and contract) support over 80 different projects and efforts.

Based on our experience, important success factors are:

• Stability, expertise, and flexibility of the team

• Alignment with evolving frameworks and methodologies

• Adherence to time and scope

• Management of project risks and risk mitigation

• Effective utilization of verbal and written communication skills

• Ability to build and foster relationships, meeting people and the needs where they are, understanding one size does not fit all

Incumbent: TSS - DRT Joint Venture

Procurement Forecast ID: 480

FPAC IT Operations Management and Strategy Support

Estimated Annual Value: $5-10 million

Agency Needs:

In a multi-organizational, multi-contractor environment, FPAC ISD needs a consistent and predictable framework for IT operations management.

Brief Description of Requirement:

Develop, maintain, and support IT operations processes for the following areas including engagement with stakeholders from multiple organizations and service providers.

• Asset management

• Configuration management

• Change management

• Financial metrics and reporting using Tableau

• CEC mandate compliance

FPAC currently uses ServiceNow.

How does FPAC measure quality?

• Reports and dashboards are complete and accurate

• Asset lists are complete, current, and accurate

• Change calendar is complete, current, and accurate

• Processes reflect USDA, FPAC, and industry practices

Historical Information:

The current team includes 8 resources. Current services do not include Financial Reporting or support of CEC mandates;

these are expected changes to scope.

Based on our experience, important success factors are:

• Expert knowledge of IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL)

• Experience developing dashboards in Tableau

• Technical background in networking and voice

• Development and operational experience in ServiceNow

Incumbent: ATI Government Solutions LLC

Procurement Forecast ID: 445

FPAC Quality Management and Testing Services

Estimated Annual Value: $5-10 million

Agency Needs:

Providing USDA-FPAC Mission Areas with comprehensive Quality Management (QM), Quality Assurance (QA), Independent Validation and Verification (IV&V), and Application Performance Testing and Monitoring (APTM) services to support the diverse IT projects, systems, and investments managed by the USDA in furtherance of its critical missions and conservation initiatives.

Brief Description of Requirement:

Collaborative efforts to optimize IT and business processes, potentially leading to process refinements and corresponding system and testing updates. Engaged in a wide range of stakeholders, including customers, vendors, and government users, to drive comprehensive process improvements.

How does FPAC measure quality?

• Measures the effectiveness of proactive quality initiatives in defect prevention rate.

• Evaluates the overall satisfaction of end-users with product or service quality.

• Ensuring the effectiveness of Quality Assurance and IV&V.

• Number of Incidents identified in the QASP.

• Measure against Objectives as defined in SOO and QASP.

Historical Information:

The Past Team within the FPAC holds the overarching responsibility for the implementation of all facets of Quality Management and Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V). This encompasses the identification of opportunities for standardizing processes and procedures, as well as the execution of rigorous independent testing using diverse methodologies to assess project quality in accordance with customer requirements. Furthermore, the team delivers impartial reporting to both team members and leadership.

Based on our experience, important success factors are:

• Regularly assessing the effectiveness of QA and IV&V processes.

• Commitment from leadership is essential for successful quality initiatives.

• Effective communication and partnership are essential for early defect identification and prevention.

• A well-trained and experienced QA and IV&V teams are vital for successful test execution and defect prevention.

• Clear project objectives and requirements.

Incumbent: Chenega Services & Federal Solutions, LLC Procurement Forecast ID: 6124

Software Licensing/Subscription Requirements

FPAC renews several commercial off the shelf (COTS) software licenses and SaaS subscriptions each year. These requirements are included in USDA’s procurement forecast at:

https://www.usda.gov/da/osdbu/forecast

Cloud-based solutions must be FedRAMP certified for government-wide use. As a general practice, FPAC does not sponsor new FedRAMP certifications.

Wherever possible, FPAC competes these requirements among small business resellers.

https://www.usda.gov/da/osdbu/forecast

Thank You for Your Interest Please forward questions from today's event via email to the FPAC Small Business Coordinator, Sheryl Welch at sheryl.welch@usda.gov. Sheryl will accept questions through close of business, August 6, 2024, and she will forward them to the appropriate presenter for response so be sure to capture that information in your question. A consolidated Q&A document will be shared to attendees via email by close of business, August 30, 2024 (along with a link to the recorded presentation).

For general questions and inclusion in future communications, please reach out to the FPAC Small Business Coordinator, Sheryl Welch at sheryl.welch@usda.gov and ask how you can become a part of the FPAC vendor database.

mailto:sheryl.welch@usda.gov mailto:sheryl.welch@usda.gov

IT Requirements Phase 1 Market Research Survey