ATTACHMENT_3-_Questions__Answers.pdf

ATTACHMENT 3

Questions and Answers

Request for Quote: PUR1900840001 - Text Data-Mining Software

# Questions Answers

In reference to the following paragraph: The software license shall be comprised of user assistance information and product enhancements , which includes interface features with other applications used within the Office of Research and Engineering, Safety Studies and Statistical Division.

a. How are you defining what and which Product Enhancements the customer requires from COTS product?

b. What type of Interface features are required?

c. What are the other applications being used within the Office of Research and Engineering, Safety Studies and Statistical Division?

d. What is meant by and what type of support services are required?

a. This statement is intended to refer to normal software maintenance and updates made during the license period.

b. "Interface" in this case refers to the ability to connect to common data systems (e.g. SQL database) and/or import/export common file types.

c. Examples of other applications currently in use include SQL databases, MS Access and Excel, SAS, SPSS, and Python applications.

d. desired support services include normal software maintenance and updates, and occasional user support via email or telephone if needed.

Request for Quote: PUR1900840001 - Text Data-Mining Software

After reviewing this proposal, it appears you have added following new requirements:

a. 1 FTE support personnel along with the software licence is needed -is that correct? if so, is this on-site or offsite support?

b. The quoted software shall be Section 508 Compliant. Offerors shall submit a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) to assert Section 508 Compliance.

c. Anything we should be considering before resubmitting the bid package?

d. Any additional information you need on above items or for resubmitting this bid package?

a. No FTE support personnel are needed. The reference to support is only intended to include normal software maintenance and updates.

b. Yes, a VPAT shall be submitted to assert Section 508 Compliance.

c. and d. No additional information is needed.

Could you please help me with the following questions:

a. Whether companies from Outside USA can apply for this?

(like,from India or Canada)

b. Whether we need to come over there for meetings?

c. Can we perform the tasks (related to RFP) outside USA?

(like, from India or Canada)

d. Can we submit the proposals via email?

a. Quotes will be accepted from any entity registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).

b. No meetings are anticipated, the requirement is for Commercially Available Off-the-Shelf (COTS) software.

c. The requirement is for COTS software, no labor is required.

d. Submission of Quotes states the means in which quotes shall be submitted.

4 Is there a current vendor? If so, who is the current vendor? No, there is no current vendor.

Does the NTSB already use a COTS Software product? If so, what is the name of that software? In the past the NTSB used PolyAnalyst Pro COTS Software.

Can the NTSB please clarify what stakeholders mean by custom reports- i.e. what will these reports consist of and what needs to be reflected in these reports?

The software should be capable of producing reports based on the results of the analyses generated with the software - or - provide analysis outputs that are readily included in user reports.

Request for Quote: PUR1900840001 - Text Data-Mining Software

Can the NTSB please clarify and define what business processes it expects the analysis models to be incorporated in?

Analysis models may be used in accident investigations, safety research, or analyses of internal work processes such as staffing or workload and budget management.

The RFQ states:

“The software will be used by trained researchers who will develop specific analysis projects as needed to support safety investigations or safety research projects”

Can the NTSB give an example a “specific analysis project?”

The NTSB must regularly conduct research of transportation safety issues, and to support transportation investigations. Analysis projects are varied based on the safety issues encountered, but some previous examples include analyses of vehicle maintenance records, analyses of system-wide vehicle operation data, analyses of recorded vehicle data, and analyses of operator dispatch communications.

Sheet1