QA 082924.pdf

Q&A 29 AUGUST 2024

Office of Naval Research Sources Sought

Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP), Knowledge Management, and Data & Analytics Support Services

1. Is this work follow-on work to existing contract(s)? If so, which contracts/incumbents?

This is a follow-on effort for three separate contracts. Navy ERP related tasks performed by International Business Machines 47QTCK18D0014 / 47QFDA23F0025; Data & Analytics related tasks performed by Booze Allen Hamilton 47QTCK18D0004/47QFDA24F0025; Knowledge Management SharePoint Online and ServiceNow tasks performed by Booze Allen Hamilton under GSA AAS Morpheus Task Order 47QFCA22F0047.

2. Will this be a task order through GSA with a base year and four consecutive one-year option period of performance, with NAICS code 541611, any potential set-aside status, and the estimated value? When will the RFP be released? Will this be a single award or multiple award contract? Is the Government considering using best-in-class contract vehicles, such as OASIS SB Pool 1 or NIH NITAAC CIO-SP3 SB, for this requirement?

To Be Determined.

3. Is it mandatory for a company to hold GSA schedules to be eligible for this solicitation?

To Be Determined.

4. Would you consider small businesses who lack DOD experience but has provided services in several of the mentioned areas in the commercial sector?

For Navy ERP related work, it is not required but would be viewed as less desired.

For Data and Analytics related work, the contractor should have demonstrated DoD and Civilian Agency experience with S&T organizations. Non-Governmental Organizations, State/Local Government, and Commercial sector S&T organizational experience will be considered.

5. Is it required that a small business have skills in all the all areas mentioned in the PWS and the eligibility is only for such companies?

Teaming and/or partnering arrangements are encouraged.

6. Is there any page limit and fonts size guidelines etc. for this response?

The Sources Sought has been updated with guidelines of no more than 10 pages per section and font no smaller than 10 or larger than 12 for text. Font size does not apply to titles/headers/etc.

7. Will ONR consider keeping the three parts as separate RFPs? Or has a decision been made to combine them all into one (as specified in the SSN)? Does ONR expect significant benefits in combining them into one RFP?

The goal is to consolidate the efforts into one contract for procurement and process efficiency. No final decision has been made.

8. Are IWORX and the BRIDGE systems maintained by ONR or is it maintained the PMW220?

What versions are they?

iWorx (ServiceNow) is currently Washington version.

9. Does ONR maintain the application ServiceNow deployed for its own use? Or is there a vendor that maintains the system?

ONR shares maintenance with PMW 270.

10. Are the labor requirements specified in 9.5 for T3 type resource (system development/ bug fixes) or T2 type resources (user support)

Both

11. Is Advana the main application for data analytics? Does ONR have an in-house database (outside of Advana) that feeds data to Advana?

Advana Jupiter is the Navy Enterprise Data and Analytics solution made available to Navy organizations and utilized as part of an integrated data architecture/solution.

Advana Jupiter application continues to grow in scope and capability. ONR utilizes an internal Cloud-based infrastructure that includes a database "data lake". ONR’s use of both will continue to evolve.

12. The RFI states, “Teaming and/or subcontracting arrangements are welcomed to maximize small business participation. All responses should include the respondent’s capabilities to perform the work and anticipated small business use.” Is the government seeking response from Other Than Small Businesses only or is the intention of this RFI includes determination of, if the procurement strategy should consider a set-aside?

All potential capable contractors are encouraged to respond with the details noted. The procurement strategy will be determined based upon capabilities of respondents received.

13. Does the government require any contracts to be cited for the prior experience described as part of the response to questions? If so, how many?

Prior experience is not required but it will help the government assess contractor capabilities. Recent & relevant experience in S&T support in complex data environments is desired.

14. How many end users for the Tier 2 PPS support?

~450

15. How many end users for the Tier 3 PPS support?

~450

16. Do you have previous reports and/or analytics to share on the ticket requests and mitigations?

No.

17. Could you provide system diagrams and/or workflows of the systems that you require support?

This is not planned for the current Sources Sought.

18. As these three workstreams/services are consolidated (Analytics, Knowledge Management, ERP) is the expectation that they are to be integrated or to interact seamlessly? Meaning, shall the analytics platform be utilized to grow Knowledge Management capabilities through data tagging, predictive learning, etc.

Not explicitly as none are directly interfaced, but that is not to say that they are not used in tandem to one another. Data and Analytics by nature of its definition and scope must consider all data to be part of its purview in a properly functioning operational environment. Vendors should consider and demonstrate best practice understanding and approach to the interactions of complex business applications and enterprise data, data analytics, and data science solutions. The Government does not suggest that these are to be "integrated or interact seamlessly" outside of data as a strategic asset.

19. How many users do you have on the current data analytics platform and is this is a custom-built solution, COTS or GOTS (e.g. ADVANA/ Jupiter)?

Current user base for the data and analytics platform is between 100 to 200. The expectation is that this will grow as capability and products are developed and enhanced.

For purposes of describing the current data and analytics platform and component parts, its foundation is entirely COTS, but should be considered to be a GOTS solution utilizing foundational commercial capabilities (e.g. AWS GovCloud, Advana/Jupiter Navy Enterprise Solution)

20. Could the government share the current number of Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) for each labor category?

ERP (pg. 21)/KM (pg. 26)/ServiceNow (pg. 26)/D&A (pg. 46-47)

21. Can the government provide a detailed description of the current challenges or pain points that this requirement aims to address?

ONR would like to consolidate requirements for procurement & process efficiency.

22. Will there be opportunities for industry engagement or further clarification sessions after the release of the RFI or during the solicitation phase?

Yes.

23. Page 1: Is Process Integration (PI) really being used now versus WebMethods?

Webmethods is being currently used.

24. Page 22: Section 9. Has Celonis been considered for Business Process modeling?

Celonis has not been considered.

25. Page 29 Section 11.1: Should “hardware” say “infrastructure” due to everything being cloud based?

Yes, the term infrastructure can be used in conjunction with movement to the Cloud.

However, ONR owns and operates an on-premise data center and network.

26. Can you elaborate on the specific types of incidents and issues that have historically required Tier 2 and Tier 3 support?

Navy ERP: T2 includes assisting users troubleshooting system errors; maintain master data; maintaining organizational relationships; etc. T3 Resolving Errors in Process;

Unresolved Workflow; Resolving Replication errors to SAP ECC; Development and Unit Testing; Conducting Debug sessions; etc.

27. Can you provide more details on the expected project management methodologies and frameworks that should be employed? For example, are there specific requirements for Agile, Scrum, or PMI's PMBOK?

The contractor should propose a project management methodology / framework that will maximize ability to provide value to the Government while reducing cost and overhead.

The Government desires an approach that within the context of the vendors approach maximizes the development, delivery, and sustainment of high-quality Data and Analytics products. The proposed project methodologies should reflect the unique nature of Data and Analytics environments.

28. What are the specific quality assurance metrics and performance indicators that will be used to evaluate contractor performance?

Quality Indicators:

Data Quality - Accuracy, Lineage, Semantic, Structure, Completeness, Consistency, Currency, Timeliness, Reasonableness, Identifiability

KM and D&A Applications / Products - Reliability, Usability, Performance (cost + overhead + opportunity cost), Security Compliance

Support Tickets per Operational Application /Product (Training, Technical, Other)

Rework / Error Remediation in Operational Capabilities, Applications, Products (Annual)

Performance Indicators:

Programmatic - Schedule, Cost, New capability, major/minor enhancements per month/quarter/year

D&A / KM Application and Product - Latency/Uptime

User Satisfaction, Dissatisfaction

Application / Product Users (increase / decrease)

D&A / KM Stakeholder / Customer Operational Applications / Products 99% availability during business hours.

D&A / KM Stakeholder / Customer Operational Application / Products Data Automation

D&A Cloud Operations Cost Variation against Targets

D&A / KM Applications / Products 100% security compliance.

29. What are the specific data sources and types of data that the contractor will be working with?

The contractor will be working with multiple data sources and types of data. These include, but are not limited to the following: (a) IL4/IL5/IL6; (b) CUI multiple types (c ) Personally Identifiable Information (PII). Data sources will originate internal to ONR or through external Navy Enterprise capabilities such as Advana Jupiter. Data sources include PPBE lifecycle data, internal S&T Portfolio & Programmatic data, HCM/HR, external S&T commercial data sets, etc.

30. Can you provide more details on the existing analytical tools and platforms currently in use?

Tools: Amazon AI/ ML/ LLB Technology Stack and potential Microsoft Tech Stack

Valuation Models – Data Science - Proprietary Custom Capability

POSEIDON – Data Science - Proprietary Custom Capability

FUSION – Data Science - Proprietary Custom Capability

S&T Portfolio App

Power BI / Power Automate / Microsoft Power Suite as Available to Navy Enterprise

Tableau

Data bricks

Qlik

Platforms: Java Framework, Streamlit, Linux, AWS, Microsoft, Python

Data and Analytic Portal – Web-based - Java Framework

Data Lake – Amazon Stack

Development – Window/Microsoft Pipeline

Staging – AWS Pipeline/Stack

Production – AWS Pipeline/Stack

31. What are the specific requirements for transitioning data analytics capabilities to the AWS GovCloud?

Continuous consolidation and transition of D&A capabilities into AWS GovCloud and/or Advana Jupiter. Development of all new capabilities in AWS GovCloud / Navy Enterprise Platforms (Advana Jupiter) as determined to be appropriate. Roadmap is to have all capabilities consolidated to a fully rationalized infrastructure and platform foundation.

- Must be fully Cyber Security /DoD RMF compliant

- Must be fully IA compliant to handle data

- Must be fully ATO’ed

- Robust CI/CD, DevSecOps pipeline

- Must have full documentation to support sustainment

32. What are the security and compliance requirements for the IT solutions, particularly in relation to DoD standards?

All personnel must have a favorable T3 background investigation for Navy ERP related services.

KM and Data & Analytics personnel require minimum Secret clearance and must be compliant with DoD 8140 for IAT and IAM Level I-III based on role.

https://public.cyber.mil/wid/dod8140/summary/

Each D&A resource based on proposed role and support should have AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional or AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate for CE certification.