RFI - Data Quality and Governance.pdf

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Enterprise Architecture

Request for Information (RFI) 05/27/2026

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Enterprise Architecture, requires contractor expertise to evaluate the agency’s data management processes and data architecture to address gaps in data quality and governance, by using a business and enterprise architecture approach that aligns business and IT goals using the Federal Enterprise Architecture Framework (FEAF). This effort will support FEMA’s data strategy through the Enterprise Data and Analytics Modernization Initiative (EDAMI) program office, which covers over 100 systems agency-wide, and is being built with various Azure data and ML services such as DataBricks. The EDAMI program has achieved initial operating capability in its FEMADex system but is experiencing data quality issues in its ETL pipelines as many data stewards are not properly preparing and documenting data for ingestion. As a result, data users of the FEMADex analytics platform are unable to make full use of the existing datasets loaded into the data fabric.

The vendor will partner with the Enterprise Architecture and Data Enablement divisions, along with program offices across the agency, to prioritize and distribute governance, inventory data assets, standardize nomenclature, define KPIs, and develop a data architecture roadmap using the TOGAF architecture development methodology and referencing best practices from relevant industry frameworks such as DAMA-DMBOK (Data Management Body of Knowledge) and BIZBOK (A Guide to the Business Architecture Body of Knowledge).

A key objective will be fostering a culture and process where executives across the agency support data steward roles, ensuring clear expectations, resource allocation, and comprehensive training. Data stewards will be sufficiently trained to understand and perform their duties specific to the unique systems for which they are assigned. A second key objective is improved data governance and data management throughout the agency. All systems will be sufficiently documented with appropriate data architecture artifacts, such as data dictionaries, conceptual data diagrams, logical data diagrams, etc. The desired outcome is a modern data architecture that is reliable, flexible in incorporating emerging artificial intelligence technologies, produces clean well-documented datasets with improved data quality, reduces errors, optimizes operations, and enables effective, data-driven decision-making.

GENERAL INFORMATION: This RFI is issued solely for information gathering purposes to identify sources that can provide support for Enterprise Architecture. In accordance with FAR 15.101(c), RFIs may be used when the Government wants to obtain price, delivery, other market information, and capabilities for planning purposes. Responses to these RFIs are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. This RFI shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government for any purpose, nor does it restrict the Government to an ultimate acquisition approach.

Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with their RFI response. Respondents will not receive additional information in response to their submittal to the RFI and will not be notified of the resulting market research.

PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND DISCLAIMERS: Respondents shall identify any proprietary information in its RFI response. Information submitted in response to this RFI will be used at the discretion of the Government. Further, the information submitted will remain confidential insofar as permitted by law, including the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts. FEMA reserves the right to utilize any non-proprietary technical information in the anticipated PWS or solicitation.

Although it is not necessary to address in their response, respondents shall be aware of any potential, actual, or perceived organizational conflicts of interests. Any real or potential conflicts must be sufficiently mitigated prior to a contract award. For further guidance, refer to the Federal Acquisition Regulation, Part 9.5.

NAICS CODE: (541512 – Computer Systems Design Services)

PRODUCT SERVICE CODE (PSC): (D7030 – IT and Telecom – IT Services)

RFI RESPONSE SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS:

Interested contractors shall submit their RFI responses electronically to (Janine Bennett), Contracting Officer, at (janine.bennett@fema.dhs.gov) and (Janine Bennett), Contract Specialist, at (karen.wilson@fema.dhs.gov) no later than 3:00PM Eastern Standard Time (EST), 06/12/2026.

Questions regarding this RFI are due no later than 06/09/2026.

“RFI Response for (Enterprise Architecture, Data Quality and Governance)” shall be in the subject line of your e-mail. All responses shall be unclassified, with proprietary information clearly marked. The document format shall be either Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) formats. Pages shall be 8.5 by 11 inch and shall use a type pitch that is no smaller than a standard 11-point font type, with the exception of charts, graphs, or tables, which shall use a pitch not smaller than 10-point font.

Responses shall not exceed (page limit) pages in length including images, data displays, charts, graphs, and tables. Page limitation does not include: 1 cover page. Do not include promotional materials.

RFI Responses shall include the following information in the order below:

A. Cover Page with the following information:

1. Company Name

2. Company Address

3. UEI Number

4. Company Point of Contact - Name, Title, Phone, and Email address

5. Statement of current business size status (i.e., HUBZone small business concern, service-disabled veteran-owned small business firm, 8(a) contractor, woman-owned small business, small business, or large business concern). Also, business size in relation to the NAICS code size standards assigned to this acquisition.

6. GSA Schedule Number, Contract Number, and Period of Performance and/or DHS Strategic Sourcing Vehicle Category Name and Contract Number, if applicable

B. Contractor Capability Statement (No more than (2) in length)

1. Summarization of relevant projects showing capabilities

2. Past performance in applicable areas

C. Contractor RFI Responses to questions (No more than (9) in length) mailto:janine.bennett@fema.dhs.gov mailto:karen.wilson@fema.dhs.gov

The responses received will assist FEMA with identifying the number and nature of the entities that consider themselves potential technical solution providers. Each respondent, by submitting a response, agrees that any cost incurred in response to this RFI, or in support of activities associated with this RFI, shall be the sole responsibility of the respondent. FEMA shall incur no obligations or liabilities whatsoever, to anyone, for any costs or expenses incurred by the respondent in responding to this RFI.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) QUESTIONS

Business Structure:

• Can your organization fulfill all requirements as a prime contractor, or will you require teaming arrangements or subcontracting relationships?

• If a teaming or subcontracting relationship is required, please delineate the capabilities your organization and your partner(s) can provide for this effort.

Data Management & Governance:

• How would you identify and address gaps in FEMA’s current data management and governance capabilities that have led to ingestion of datasets that are not well-documented or clean and therefore not fully used by data scientists?

• Are there innovative and/or emerging technologies that could be leveraged to enhance data quality, governance, and architecture at an enterprise scale?

Execution Strategy (Primary objectives):

• What strategies would you recommend for training 100 data stewards and backups with varying technical skills and implementing change management processes within a large organization?

• How would you approach the documentation of the data architectures of 100 disparate systems?

Period of Performance

• Can the objectives be completed in one year? If not, please describe what can be accomplished.

Tools, Licenses, & Technology

• What tools, platforms, and technologies, if applicable, do you propose to use for this project?

Specify licenses, subscriptions, or proprietary tools. (The agency does not possess specialized EA tools, e.g. – modeling or repository.)

• Can the objectives be achieved without paying for licensed tools?

Cost Structure & Estimates

• Please provide an itemized Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) one-year cost estimate, outlining key cost drivers, constraints, and limitations.

• Please describe any assumptions or dependencies that impact your cost estimate.

Labor Mix & Staffing

• Please provide a proposed labor mix for the project, including roles, skill levels, and estimated hours for each labor category, e.g. – enterprise architects, business architects, data architects, etc.

Risk, Constraints, & Limitations

• What risks, constraints, or limitations do you foresee in executing this project, and how will you mitigate them? Please describe any dependencies on DHS resources, data, or personnel.

Requirements Feedback:

• Is there any aspect of the RFI that needs further clarification from the government?

• Please provide any recommendations on what information the government should provide in an RFP for vendors to properly respond.