RFI_DataAnalysis.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

for

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for

Data Analysis Services

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for information and planning purposes; it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP. The RFI does not commit the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to contract for any supply or service. The TSA is not at this time seeking proposals. Responders are advised that the TSA will not pay any cost incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP. The information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the TSA. All submissions become the property of the TSA and will not be returned.

I. PURPOSE

The TSA is issuing this combined Sources Sought/Request for Information (RFI) to increase industry’s understanding of TSA’s requirements for data analysis services to Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) in support of the Office of Acquisition Program Management (OAPM). Through this RFI, TSA seeks to improve its understanding of market capabilities, identify qualified vendors that are capable of providing data analytical services to OAPM, and to accept ideas on how to efficiently and effectively compete these requirements.

The information obtained through this RFI will be used in the development of and RFP to be released in Fiscal Year 2017.

II. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

TSA was established as a result of Public Law 107-71, Aviation and Transportation Security Act.

TSA is charged with the mission of protecting the Nation’s transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce. The TSA Office of Acquisition Program Management (OAPM) manages the acquisition lifecycle framework of all Transportation Security Equipment (TSE) within the national transportation infrastructure. The OAPM Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) Branch is responsible for management and oversight of maintenance contracts for repair of TSE throughout the system lifecycle. There are currently three contractors that provide maintenance for Explosive Detection Systems (EDS) and one contractor for various types of passenger screening equipment. The total screening system includes the use of technology and human resources to deter foreign and domestic terrorists and other individuals from causing harm or disrupting the nation’s transportation systems and/or its users. The use of TSE reduces human capital costs, allows effective and efficient screening operations. When TSE is unavailable, it has an impact on the overall screening system. Due to the criticality of the overall effectiveness of the security system to have TSE operational, TSA has developed performance metrics for the Maintenance Service Providers (MSP) to meet to ensure a level of operational availability. TSA oversees maintenance data of approximately 11,000+ TSE in about 430+ federalized airports deployed to both CONUS and OCONUS.

The MSPs are penalized for not meeting the performance metric identified in the contract. TSA requires technical services to analyze and evaluate the performance data to verify MSPs are meeting the required metrics.

The objective of the data analysis services that TSA is seeking is to acquire technical services to assist the TSA/OAPM to evaluate the performance of MSPs who perform preventative and corrective maintenance of TSE through the TSE maintenance data analysis.

For additional information about the TSA mission, organization, locations, customer services, and current initiatives, vendors should refer to the DHS website at www.dhs.gov and the TSA website at www.tsa.gov.

III. RESPONSES TO THIS RFI

TSA is seeking information from vendors with experience and expertise in data analysis services.

At minimum, the data analysis service shall consist of the following requirements listed below.

Please provide examples or confirm that industry has the capability to meet these requirements:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the processes and assumptions used by the TSA to calculate performance metrics calculations (see attachment ‘TSE Metrics Terms and Definitions & Reliability, Maintainability & Availability (RMA) Metrics). From the baseline raw data provided by the MSPs, be able to evaluate whether the assumptions used by the MSPs meet the contract requirements and is sufficient to be audited and validated.

• Demonstrate the understanding and ability to develop an ETL (extract, transform, and load) tool to automate the raw data processing. Currently, the four MSPs that support the TSA provide raw and unstructured maintenance data in different contractor formats; and the TSA is requesting clarification that analytical service provider will be able to automate a single process to validate.

• Develop IT architecture (data banks, scripts, etc.) to create reports and charts.

(Flexibility of query request is must due to nature of ad hoc reports)

• Analyze TSE maintenance data to identify trends and perform additional analysis on specific equipment subsystems.

• Develop and propose a data template for MSPs raw data to streamline and automate the ETL process across all MSPs.

All responses must:

• Not exceed, and will be restricted up to, eight (8) pages, size twelve (12) Times New Roman font.

• Provide company name, DUNS number and business size

• Provide the company’s point of contact, to include name, telephone number, and email address.

• Be submitted electronically via email to Lindsay.alexander@tsa.dhs.gov

Note – Interested vendors are NOT required to answer or comment on all content in this RFI in order to respond to this notice. Interested vendors are encouraged to share as many ideas and suggestions to all or some of the topics presented herein.

Section 1 – Corporate Expertise http://www.dhs.gov/ http://www.tsa.gov/ mailto:Lindsay.alexander@tsa.dhs.gov

Briefly describe the company, product and services, history, ownership, business size, and other information deemed relevant.

Section 2 – Capabilities Statement

In order for the TSA to improve its understanding of market capabilities and identify qualified vendors that are capable of providing ILS services to OAPM, provide a narrative description which identifies capabilities to meet the requirements identified. The response must describe what experience it has providing similar and/or same services to other Federal Agencies. When identifying current or past experience, please identify the following:

• Name of Agency

• Point of Contact (name, title, phone and email)

• Contract/Task Order Number

• Contract Type

• Period of Performance

• Total Contract Dollar Value

• Scope of the Contract/Task Order

• Brief Description of the work completed within the scope of the contract/task order

IV. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Vendors shall submit any questions regarding this RFI by 5:00 PM EST, April 4, 2017, to the POC specified in the Section V of this RFI. TSA intends to post answers as an amendment to this notice in response to vendor questions.

Submissions should be organized in accordance with the instructions in this document in order to permit a thorough and accurate review and evaluation by the TSA. Responses to this RFI must be submitted to the TSA via electronic mail to lindsay.alexander@tsa.dhs.gov not later than 5:00 PM EST, April 11, 2016. Responses not received by the closing date and time may not be considered or evaluated by the TSA.

V. POINTS OF CONTACT

All comments, inquiries, and responses should be directed to the following individuals:

Lindsay Alexander Contracting Officer Lindsay.alexander@tsa.dhs.gov

VI. OTHER

This RFI is issued for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation.

All information received in response to this RFP that is marked “Proprietary” will be handled accordingly. The Government will not return or pay for any information provided in response to this announcement; no basis for a claim against the Government shall arise as a result from a mailto:xxxxx@tsa.dhs.gov mailto:lindsay.alexander@tsa.dhs.gov mailto:Lindsay.alexander@tsa.dhs.gov response to this notice or Government use of any information provided. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this announcement.