Questions_and_Answers_HS0021-14-T-0116_(2).pdf

HS0021-14-T-0116

Database Access

1. Industry Question: Can the proposed system be web-based?

DSS Answer: Yes. Must have batch processing capability.

2. Industry Question: Should hosting costs be included in the response to the RFQ?

DSS Answer: No.

3. Industry Question: Should pass through costs (travel) be included in the response to the RFQ?

DSS Answer: No. There is no travel requirement.

4. Industry Question: What is the expected project kickoff date?

DSS Answer: Immediately after the award of the contract.

5. Industry Question: What is the timeline for the production delivery of the system (when should everything be ready to use)?

DSS Answer: Upon award of contract.

6. Industry Question: Is it appropriate to include supplemental supporting material in our response to the RFQ (past delivered systems, references, etc.)? If so, how should the supplemental information be included?

DSS Anwer: Yes. See section L.

7. Industry Question: Can you provide an expected range for this RFQ given similar previous RFQs?

DSS Answer: There is no range. This is not a database development-this is a subscription to a reporting service such as Lexis Nexis, Dunn&Bradstreet, Capital IQ.

This solicitation is not for database development/hosting-it is a solicitation for a subscription to a commercial business information database provider with both national and international coverage to facilitate "due diligence" analysis.

8. Industry Question: Is there an incumbent that has provided this capability to

DSS in the past? If so, who is the Offeror?

DSS Answer: Yes. FACT SET, under contract HS0021-11-P-0118.

9. Industry Question: The information sought by the government is found in a variety of sources – Is there a minimum number of data sources you expect to be searched? Do you have requirements to use specific data providers?

DSS Answer: DSS has a requirement for a Comprehensive globally based information provider for a subscription to a commercial business information database provider with both national and international coverage to facilitate "due diligence" analysis.. The information requested covers both domestic and international private and public companies.

10. Industry Question: Is DSS aware of the software application co-developed with the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence that performs much of the capability outlined in the Statement of Work?

DSS Answer: Yes. This solicitation is not for database development/hosting-it is a solicitation for a subscription to a commercial business information database provider with both national and international coverage to facilitate "due diligence" analyses.

11. Industry Question: We would like to confirm that this acquisition is unrestricted as indicated in Block 10 of the SF-1449. We note that the following clause appears to be incorporated and recommend removing 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (NOV 2011) (15 U.S.C. 644) on page 7.

DSS Answer: Removed with amendment #1

12. Industry Question: We note that in addition to online database access, the SOW sets forth a number of advanced features which are ill-suited to a lowest price technically acceptable type evaluation methodology. We would ask the government to consider a best value tradeoff process.

DSS Answer: Government already made a determination that Lowest price technically acceptable is the best method for this requirement.

13. Industry Question: As specified in Feature #2 on page 4, if batch import capabilities have to be capable of uploading information by entity name and ticker symbol, how does the government intend for the database to account for private companies where that information would not be available?

DSS Answer: DSS rely on DUNS number and cage code.

14. Industry Question: With regard to Feature #3 on page 4, depending on jurisdiction, limited liability corporations, limited partnerships, etc. are not required to disclose ownership and/or may use agents to register. Sometimes no physical address is provided. What is the expectation of the government to group data by location when that information is not available?

DSS Answer: Companies participating in the National Industrial security Program must provide the physical address information of the company.

15. Industry Question: With regard to Feature #4 on page 4, pending global investment information, private investors, and offshore capital contributions are rarely available in public record – and even more limited for private companies and sole proprietorships. As a percentage, how much data are you seeking on public companies versus private?

DSS Answer: 50/50.

16. Industry Question: With regard to Feature #2 on page 4, understanding that the system must be capable of uploading unlimited listings, what is the expected monthly volume of entities to be monitored by the system?

DSS Answer: Monthly volume expected 13,000 to 15,000.

17. Industry Question: With regard to Feature #3 on page 4, are there anticipated levels at which the system would alert on business entity material change conditions and what is the requested turnaround time between reported change and alert for the user?

DSS Answer: Any change in business composition with a turn around time of 72 hours.

18. Industry Question: With regard to Feature #4 on page 4, what type of user customization is anticipated to drive the M&A Timeline? Will the users be providing manually entered events to be visualized?

DSS Answers: No.

19. Industry Question: With regard to Feature #4 on page 4, how many and what are the sizes and formats for the previously developed screens and watch lists that must be exported?

DSS Answer: There are no screens to be developed.

20. Industry Question: At what point in the period of performance is the initial operating capability due?

DSS Answer: Immediately upon a contract award.

21. Industry Question: Is there a break down between initial operating capability and the final operating capability?

DSS Answer: No.