RFI (FDA-RFI-75F40126Q00262) FDA IT Infrastructure Services.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE # FDA-RFI-75F40126Q00262 Page 1 of 2

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Request # FDA-RFI-75F40126Q00262

REQUIREMENT: FDA IT Infrastructure Services

DEPT/AGENCY INFORMATION: Department of Health and Human Services U.S. Food and Drug Administration

REQUIRING OFFICES: Office of Digital Transformation (ODT)

GENERAL INFORMATION

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) as a means of conducting market research, pursuant to FAR Part 10 Market Research.

This is a REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY, not a Request for Quote (RFQ) and does not commit the Government to award a contract now or in the future.

The purpose of this RFI is to obtain information from industry based on the questions contained in this notice. Submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary and FDA welcomes responses from all interested parties; the Government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred.

The FDA will use the results of the market research to determine if sources are capable of satisfying the agency's requirements exist based on the response received to the Government’s questions contained in this notice. The FDA does not intend to make a selection decision or award a contract on the basis of responses. Acknowledgement of receipt of responses will not be made, nor will respondents be notified of the outcome of the FDA's review of the information received. Additionally, the FDA does not intend to hold meetings concerning this RFI with any interested parties. However, FDA reserves the right to contact vendors if additional information is required.

Respondents will not receive individualized feedback on any suggestions or questions submitted. No basis for claims against the United States government shall arise as a result of a response to this request for information or from the United States government's use of such information. Proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should not be included in your response. The Federal Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).

While the Government anticipates establishing a contract for the FDA IT Infrastructure Services which requires contractual support, A SOLICITATION IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. The Government is not obligated and will not pay for any information received from potential sources as a result of this sources sought.

Response Due Date/Time: See SAM.gov posting

Email to: Michelle Dacanay, michelle.dacanay@fda.hhs.gov by the posted due date and time.

No phone calls will be accepted for this notice mailto:michelle.dacanay@fda.hhs.gov

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE # FDA-RFI-75F40126Q00262 Page 2 of 2

RESPONSES TO THE NOTICE:

Responses to this RFI shall include the following information:

1) General Instructions:

▪ Responses shall include the RFI number and description in the subject line.

▪ Page Limit: Response shall not exceed three (3) pages.

2) Contact information:

a. Company Name

b. Mailing Address

c. Name, telephone number, and e-mail address of a point of contact having the authority and knowledge to clarify responses with Government representatives.

d. UEI

e. Socio Economic Status

f. GSA Contract Number

3) Specific Questions for Industry Feedback

a. The requirement anticipates utilizing a three-tiered hybrid pricing model: Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) for baseline operations, Variable FFP for fluctuating operational volume, and Billable Hours for non-business as usual projects. Based on your experience, is this approach effective and optimal for a modern IT Infrastructure operations contract?

b. How are boundaries typically between Variable FFP (for scaling baseline operations) and Billable Hours (for non-business as usual projects) to prevent overlapping charges or scope creep?

c. Given that the FDA will directly fund and procure all new hardware/equipment and the contractor is solely responsible for managing and executing the End-of-Life (EOL) program, how are these management services typically mapped across FFP, Variable FFP, and Billable Hours in the industry? Which specific EOL lifecycle management activities (e.g., planning, deployment, decommissioning) are standardly treated as baseline operations (FFP/Variable FFP) versus non-business as usual projects (Billable Hours)?

d. When transitioning services from an incumbent, what are industry best practices for pricing the transition-in period? Specifically, is it standard and recommended practice to compensate the incoming vendor on a Time and Materials (T&M) basis during the transition, and then cut over to the steady-state managed services model (FFP/Variable FFP) on Day 1 of full operational control? What are the benefits and risks of this approach?

e. The FDA currently utilizes approximately 5,300 square feet of leased space within a colocation data center in Ashburn, VA. Is your organization capable of directly assuming and managing this existing colocation lease, and if so, are there any standard commercial constraints or requirements the FDA should be aware of for such a transfer?