RFI Questions and Responses.pdf

HSICE-10012020 for Agile Software Development Contracting RFI Questions and Responses

# Section/Page Questions Responses

1 None Whether companies from Outside USA can apply for this?

(like, from India or Canada) CONUS Companies; individuals will be subject to DHS Public Trust investigation(s), employees will be required to report to Washington DC for some aspects/duties.

2 None Whether we need to come over there for meetings? If this question is referring to the one on one sessions as part of the RFI, they will be performed virtually/remotely.

3 None Can we perform the tasks (related to RFP) outside USA?

(like, from India or Canada)

CONUS Companies; individuals will be subject to DHS Public Trust investigation(s), employees will be required to report to Washington DC for some aspects/duties.

4 None Can we submit the proposals via email? We are still in the market research phase and have not yet requested proposals. Proposal submission instructions will be included in the solicitation, if a solicitation is issued.

5 None Is there an estimation of the overall size and complexity of the project?

TBD depending on technology stack; perhaps a standard sized Agile team for two/three years.

6 None What project requirements would be top priority for the department?

Replacement for the QuickBooks solution that supports digital currency and foreign currencies;

which can interface with existing infrastructure (Angular/Java/SecDevOps/Pipeline/AWS/RDS)

7 None What is the probability department to provide the eventual RFP to multiple vendors?

ICE will follow competitive processes which are consistent with the approved acquisition strategy.

8 None Is there any projection of the budget for this project? Refer to APFS F2020052108 for anticipated range.

https://apfs-cloud.dhs.gov/forecast/

9 None Who are the users of the new system? Are they financial managers, accountants, or a general population?

Users range from oversight leadership, financial managers, accountants, and existing end users of the application; all users are ICE employees.

10 None How many users are using the current system? Is the same number of users expected to use the new system?

2500, plus or minus a couple hundred. End user base is the same, increase in approximately 100 for financial managers and accountants.

11 None Where are the current users using the system from i.e.

back office or field offices? Are the end users decentralized or collocated?

End users are at HQ, back office, and field offices.

Decentralized.

12 None Is the current application a desktop application or mobile or both?

Current solution is QuickBooks and manual process.

13 None If desktop, what is the configuration of the desktop and connectivity speeds?

Government issued laptops, configuration and connectivity speeds vary, all systems are connected to the IRMNET, able to support a browser, and access web applications.

14 None What is the current open-source application being used that this add-on will connect to?

Existing application leverages Angular, Java, SecDevOps, Pipeline, AWS, RDS.

15 None What is the function of the existing open-source application?

Digitation and automation of existing (and manual) paper processes.

16 None Are we correct to summarize the add-on application’s function is to provide the user with an interface and workflows to support recording financial transactions and the financial transactions will be interfaced to the existing QuickBooks ledgers or possibly a new ledger?

The assessment is correct. To further augment, currently QuickBooks ledgers are decentralized and monthly they are consolidated for leadership review.

Program/Project requirements will include having real-time on-demand reporting for leadership.

17 None If financial transactions are being recorded and persisted by the new add-on, what would be the continued purpose of the existing application?

Existing application provides value in different areas of responsibility. The new “add-on” will increase the scope or coverage for existing application.

18 None Can you provide the reason for the multiple QuickBooks instances? Is this a technical issue that requires multiple instances? Is it a security issue that they must be separated? Is QuickBooks installed in disparate locations or all in a single cloud location?

Multiple QuickBooks instances; originally decentralized efforts. Technical issue; no technical issues exist today. Security issue; security was a factor for the separation, security is still an important factor. Installed in disparate location; yes, currently installed on stand-alone instances in disparate locations.

19 None Are all of the QuickBooks implementations the same configuration? Are the business processes standardized across the QuickBooks implementations?

With-in reason, yes, all of the QuickBooks implementations are the same configuration. Yes, the processes are standardized. A user guide/handbook exists for all the processes that are in scope to be automated; which will only be provided to the awarded vendor.

20 None Are there any reporting requirements for this system? Yes, general oversight meaning, Monthly spending (expenses/incomes); balance sheets (liabilities/assets); more to be determined.

21 None Does FMS provide real-time APIs or web services that can be used to interface general ledger data to its authoritative ledger? What is the current method of interface the ledger entries?

This application will not feed or retrieve any information to or from FMS at this time.

22 None What is the significant driver for looking into open source tools? Is it the ability to customize or extend the software, cost, customer support, or some other reason?

We are looking for any solution that can meet the defined needs.

Open-source is a consideration due to the ownership of the data, low/minimal licensing costs, integration with existing solutions, and customization to meet the requirements.

12/10/2019