HC102815R0025_ATTCH_J-1_SOO.doc

Source Selection Information – See FAR 2.101 and 3.104

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

DRAFT HC1028-15-R-0025

ATTACHMENT J-1 SOO

Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) Commissary Advanced Resale Transaction System Replacement/Modernization (CARTS R/M)

STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES (SOO)

August 2015

1.0. Purpose

The purpose of this SOO is to specify DeCA’s requirements for the CARTS R/M acquisition. This acquisition includes maintaining the current IBM Commissary Advanced Resale Transaction System (CARTS) hardware/software solution deployed FY 2006 - 2008 while replacing that CARTS hardware with new hardware and replacing the CARTS software with the Enterprise Business Solution (EBS) Point of Sale (POS) software in coordination with the EBS vendor.

In January 2015, DeCA awarded the EBS program to NCR Government Systems to acquire and deploy the integrated EBS solution that includes modernized POS software, Retalix 10, which is scheduled for deployment FY2017 through FY2021. NCR will provide the POS server center hardware and software that will integrate with the store POS software. CARTS R/M will provide the store hardware to run the NCR Retalix 10 (government furnished equipment (GFE)) to support full realization of the supply chain capabilities and help DeCA achieve its vision of providing its customers with a 21st century shopping experience.

This SOO establishes top-level objectives of the CARTS R/M contract initiative and provides background information and performance parameters that are essential to the acquisition. DeCA’s mission is to provide efficient and effective commissaries worldwide for the resale of groceries and household supplies at the lowest practical price (consistent with quality) to members of the military services, their families, and other authorized patrons, while maintaining high standards for quality facilities, products, and customer service. The SOO is intended to provide maximum flexibility to offerors in developing cost-effective solutions and innovative approaches in meeting program objectives. This SOO is furnished in lieu of a government-written Performance Work Statement (PWS). All offerors must submit a PWS addressing the requirements contained within the Request for Proposal (RFP). The SOO will not become part of the resultant contract but will be replaced by the contractor’s proposed PWS.

1.1. Background

Headquartered at Fort Lee, VA, DeCA operates 245 military commissaries worldwide (approximately 3,000 lanes including self-checkouts). Of that total, 178 stores are located within the United States including Alaska and Hawaii, and 67 stores are located in 12 countries outside of the U.S. Individual commissaries range in size from single checkout lane stores operating on limited hours to large stores operating up to 40 checkout lanes and extended hours, seven days per week. The CARTS R/M Technical Library (www.commissaries.com/cartsrm) provides a list of commissary locations and current lane configurations. Commissaries support 12 million U.S. military customers—active duty military, reserve, National Guard, retirees, and family members. Commissaries are designed and operate similarly to commercial grocery stores. DeCA’s goals are to provide a significant price savings when compared to commercial grocery stores; to provide courteous and informative assistance to its customers; to offer a variety of items in quantities and of a quality level to satisfy customer demands; and to provide products in a clean, safe, and wholesome environment. DeCA is replacing its current POS hardware at all commissaries, server centers, and the DeCA Headquarters (HQ) test lab.

1.2. Scope

The scope of CARTS R/M includes:

· Sustainment of legacy POS software/hardware until the CARTS solution is replaced with the new CARTS R/M hardware and NCR Retalix 10 both at the commissaries and HQ.

· Deliver new POS store hardware (worldwide installation and maintenance). Major components include: scanner scales, registers/personal computers, checkout lanes, self-checkouts, wireless registers, store controllers, cash management systems, pin pads, and back office equipment; and

· Support migration to the modernized POS solution to include integration of CARTS R/M store level (commissary) hardware with NCR Retalix 10 software at the store and server centers.

Detailed requirements are included in the System Performance Specification (SPS) document.

2.0. Overall Program Objective

The overall objective of the CARTS R/M acquisition is to provide a modernized POS solution for DeCA. The CARTS R/M POS acquisition will support current and future agency needs to include seamless integration and full compatibility with NCR Retalix 10 to enable the agency to realize the full potential of the new POS software and customer relationship management capabilities. DeCA will focus on a commercial off the shelf (COTS) solution that meets System Performance Specification (SPS) requirements and accomplishes three primary goals:

· Achieve a 21st century shopping experience to increase customer satisfaction,

· Decrease maintenance costs, and

· Allow flexibility to meet continuously changing customer expectations.

3.0. Performance Objectives

Six performance objectives support the three primary goals for CARTS R/M:

3.0.1 Deliver a 21st century POS solution

· Provide an integrated and modernized POS solution. The contractor must deliver and support an integrated, optimized, and cost-effective POS solution that supports standard industry grocery operations, adheres to industry and technical standards, is commercially proven, and reflects the current best practices for the grocery industry. The contractor must provide the current POS capabilities, as needed, prior to deployment of the new solution as well as the approach to transitioning from the legacy POS solution to the new CARTS R/M hardware solution. (SPS 2.1.1)

· Deploy capabilities worldwide. During sustainment of the current solution, contractor must be able to provide CARTS POS software and hardware in support of new construction and facility modifications, as needed. To provide the new CARTS R/M hardware solution, the contractor must use a multi-year approach; deploy the replacement solution worldwide to include supporting new construction and addition/alteration projects and deploying the modernized POS solution as needed. The contractor must manage simultaneous enterprise-wide phased deployments of approximately 25% of stores per year. The hardware deployment must be aligned with the NCR Retalix 10 deployment plan. The contractor must propose appropriate metrics and scoring methodology in their quality assurance surveillance Plan (QASP) to validate deployment requirements have been met. (SPS 2.1.1)

3.0.2 Improve business functionality

· Optimize POS performance. The CARTS R/M contractor will support the current POS solution (hardware and software) and will provide hardware that optimizes performance of the NCR Retalix 10. (SPS 2.2.1)

· Provide operational efficiencies. Provide a modernized POS solution that enables faster throughput/checkout experience to DeCA’s customers. An effective solution will reduce delays in scanning time and customer wait time while providing options for “do it yourself” services, which offer convenience to DeCA’s customers. The contractor must provide industry standard metrics and scoring methodologies in their QASP. (SPS 2.2.2)

· Support data accuracy and integrity. Facilitate the electronic sharing of information vertically and horizontally between stores, headquarters, and all customer touch points via a single integrated architecture engine. To support the elimination of current manual processes, an effective CARTS R/M solution will support the current POS environment and provide EBS the POS hardware infrastructure required to ensure 99.99% accuracy of sales and financial data as well as enable the exchange of data, selectively or on a schedule, with DeCA’s enterprise data warehouse. In their QASP, the contractor must identify metrics and scoring methodologies for the current capability until it is replaced with the new POS solution. (SPS 2.2.3)

· Ensure continuous operational performance. Provide an automated tool to view, track, and control the POS hardware. Key functions must include system health status, POS hardware monitoring, performance and availability monitoring, asset tracking and inventory management, software distribution for driver and firmware updates, and event management to respond to error conditions. (SPS 2.2.4)

3.0.3 Keep pace with the grocery industry

· Provide an open systems architecture. Use an open systems architecture that allows flexible interfacing between components and systems from various manufacturers. (SPS 2.3.1)

· Maintain an updated system. Keep DeCA’s POS system up-to-date with the latest hardware components and firmware releases and provide a forum for DeCA to influence future changes. An effective maintenance plan will describe the contractor’s approach to preventing component obsolescence while maintaining a modernized POS system with new components of similar form, fit, and function. Additionally, the plan must address the contractor’s approach to: routine, contractor-performed preventive maintenance, remote diagnostics to minimize downtime, and maintaining current software enhancements. (SPS 2.3.2)

· Comply with government mandates and protect key data. The CARTS R/M system must comply with Department of Defense (DoD) and DeCA technical requirements and standards to include security mandates and protect key data. An effective solution will describe the contractor’s approach to successfully maintain accreditation of both the legacy and modernized POS solution through DoD certification and accreditation to include supporting NCR, the EBS contractor, through the process. (SPS 2.3.3)

· Ensure Net-Ready compliance. Maintain the legacy technical infrastructure (including hardware, software, data management, networking components, and security) and support the infrastructure on which the NCR Retalix 10 will reside within the DeCA business system architecture. See the Technical Library located at http://www.commissaries.com/cartsrm for additional background information. An effective system will be net ready by satisfying all interfaces, services, policy enforcement controls, data correctness, availability, and processing requirements designated as enterprise level or critical in DeCA’s integrated business architecture. (SPS 2.3.4)

3.0.4 Provide superior customer support

· Achieve a high level of system availability. Provide an optimized maintenance plan to support continuous POS operations throughout the contract period of performance. An effective maintenance plan will include the contractor’s approach to ensuring that both the legacy POS solution and modernized POS hardware uptime meet the requirements outlined in the SPS document for the life of the contract. Additionally, the maintenance plan must address the contractor’s transition plan from legacy to modernized system while maintaining the required 98% availability. (SPS 2.4.1)

· Provide worldwide help desk support. Provide a comprehensive help desk plan that provides DeCA and NCR with a single touch point to answer all POS hardware related issues on a 24/7 basis. The CARTS R/M contractor must provide help desk services for the legacy POS system as well as the new CARTS R/M hardware. The CARTS R/M contractor will establish service level agreements (SLAs) with both DeCA and NCR prior to CARTS R/M POS hardware deployment. An effective help desk plan will provide appropriate metrics and scoring methodologies including response and resolution times for both the legacy POS system and the CARTS R/M hardware. (SPS 2.4.2)

· Support pre- and post-deployment training. Ensure technical requirements are fulfilled to facilitate NCR’s training to include system set up, installation, and trouble shooting. An effective training plan will ensure that NCR is provided the infrastructure necessary to ensure effective training delivery to include hardware maintenance procedures and troubleshooting techniques without disruption to the business. (SPS 2.4.3)

3.0.5 Ensure availability of technical support services

· Provide configuration management. An effective configuration management plan will detail the contractor’s approach to maintaining DeCA’s hardware baseline as well as providing future firmware releases at no additional cost. If firmware cannot be updated to support software functionality through the life of the contract, the contractor must provide replacement hardware at no cost to DeCA. (SPS 2.5.1)

· Provide effective test management. Provide a cost effective, repeatable methodology to test all releases before introduction into the DeCA production environment. An effective test plan and methodology will ensure successful deployment of releases and will have no adverse effect on the production environment. (SPS 2.5.2)

· Provide integration support. The CARTS R/M contractor must assist both DeCA and NCR as required to provide integration support based on emerging technology and industry best practices. (SPS 2.5.3)

3.0.6 Become a trusted business partner

· Provide effective program management. Provide comprehensive program management by experienced and highly qualified key personnel resulting in effective and unabated communication, response time, procedural standardization, and resolution of problematic areas. (SPS 2.6.1)

· Actively monitor program risk. Identify and track all risks to the program that affects cost, schedule, and performance. (SPS 2.6.2)

· Incorporate effective communication. Initiate and maintain a professional, results-oriented partnership, which includes a timely feedback mechanism to provide user and customer feedback. An effective communication plan will outline all reviews, updates, activities necessary to implement, and monitor contract performance and key issues, as they arise, during the period of performance. (SPS 2.6.3)

· Lower total cost of ownership. Evaluate the systems total cost of ownership to identify opportunities for cost reduction. (SPS 2.6.4)

· Monitor and track all performance metrics. Propose an effective QASP. An effective QASP will capture all performance objectives and sub-elements, and propose method of evaluation including reporting timeframes and frequencies. (SPS 2.6.5)

4.0. Period of Performance

The period of performance is a five (5) year base and five (5) one (1) year options.

5.0. Approach

The CARTS R/M acquisition is projected to be a single award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract using FAR Part 12 and the negotiation sections of FAR Part 15. The CARTS R/M acquisition approach consists of the following:

· Single prime contractor for the COTS hardware, deployment, training, help desk, and maintenance

· Commercial acquisition

· Contract will be firm, fixed-price

· Full and open competition

· Lowest price technically acceptable approach

· Indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract.

6.0. Deliverables

The Data Item Descriptions (DIDs) are at Attachment C. The following table identifies the timeframes for DID submissions.

X

X**

X**

X

*Monthly for first five years then quarterly for duration of contract **Weekly with a quarterly roll up for the duration of the contract Standard Distribution: The transmittal letter shall be delivered to the Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization at the following email address: michelle.r.crain2.civ@mail.mil, or the current contract specialist or contracting officer. One electronic copy shall be delivered to DeCA at the following e-mail address: (to be determined)

7.0. Constraints

The contractor shall comply with all DeCA and DoD security requirements included in the CARTS R/M technical library at www.commissaries.com/cartsrm.

Section 508 Information

a. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d) requires Federal agencies acquiring Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) to ensure that Federal employees with disabilities have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access and use by Federal employees who are not individuals with disabilities.

b. All EIT procured under this contract/order must meet the following 36 CFR 1194 accessibility standards. The full text of the accessibility standards is available at: http://www.accessboard.gov/sec508/508standards.htm

FORMCHECKBOX

1194.21 - Software Applications and Operating Systems

1194.22 - Web Based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications

FORMCHECKBOX

1194.23 - Telecommunications Products

1194.24 - Video and Multimedia Products

FORMCHECKBOX

1194.25 - Self-Contained, Closed Products

FORMCHECKBOX

1194.26 - Desktop and Portable Computers

FORMCHECKBOX

1194.41 - Information, Documentation and Support

Functional Performance Criteria is the minimally acceptable standards to ensure Section 508 compliance. This block should also be checked to ensure that the minimally acceptable EIT is proposed.

Functional Performance Criteria

1194.31 - Functional Performance Criteria

c. The standards do not require the installation of specific accessibility-related software or the attachment of an assistive technology device(s), but merely require that the EIT be compatible with such software and device(s) so that it can be made accessible if so required in the future.

d. Contractors may propose products or services that result in substantially equivalent or greater access to and use by individuals with disabilities; this is known as equivalent facilitation.

(End)

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