RFI Form 5500.pdf

Department of Labor – OASAM

Request for Information (RFI) 1605C1-21-N-00004 Project title: EBSA – Form 5500

SPECIAL NOTICE: SOURCES SOUGHT & REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI). THIS IS

NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. This notice does not represent a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or award a contract. The Government is not obligated to and will not pay for information received as a result of this announcement. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement and any follow-up information requests to include an invite to further explain/demonstrate aspects of their proposed approach. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. Information provided in response to this RFI is submitted voluntarily and is not being requested as part of a solicitation for actual pricing.

I. PURPOSE OF RFI:

The purpose of this RFI is to better understand the population of qualified and capable vendors that might provide Form 5500 enhanced data subscription services.

Responses to this RFI will be reviewed by DOL for their applicability to the Government’s need and determined to be “Relevant” or “Irrelevant” to the above problem. Offerors of “Relevant” responses may be requested to demonstrate their approach and/or product to a Government panel of Subject Matter Experts to help DOL determine the best approach.

II. BACKGROUND:

In support of its mission, EBSA uses enhanced Form 5500 data to identify trends in retirement plan funding, service providers, fees, and investments. Mapping Form 5500 data to other financial information, including SEC filings, improves EBSA’s ability to identify plans and service providers that might be at risk. To accomplish these goals effectively and efficiently, EBSA requires access to edited Form 5500 data mapped with SEC, FINRA, and investment performance data that the agency can easily download and analyze.

III. SCOPE

The overall objective of this contract is for the contractor to provide access and technical support to enhanced Form 5500 data.

The Contractor shall provide a subscription containing the specified data elements and the necessary maintenance during the entirety of this contract. The subscription to this data shall be fully functional and available throughout the entirety of the contract (except during agreed upon maintenance and update periods). If the Contractor makes updates or additions to the underlying data upon which the subscription is based, then the Contractor shall also make the same updates and additions to the subscription.

IV. QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Company description, discussion of company capabilities, and general summary of approach to accomplishing the requirements listed in the Draft Performance Work Statement (PWS).

2. Describe your type of business, (i.e., small, small disadvantaged, woman-owned, HUB Zone, serviced-disabled veteran-owned small business, large business, etc.), under NAICS 523930, which contains a size standard of $41.5 Million.

3. Any Government wide schedule number (e.g. NASA SEWP), or General Schedule (GSA), that the business concern might possess.

4. Describe your knowledge, ability and experience in areas that are helpful for providing the specific information as listed below:

a. Summarizing and analyzing Form 5500 data on defined contribution plans, defined benefit plans and welfare plans collected by the Department of Labor.

Analysis of the data available on Schedules (and attachments to) A, C, D, H, I of the Form 5500, including on investments and plan provisions.

b. Summarizing and analyzing Form 5500 data on Common/Collective Trusts and Master Trust Investment Accounts, including their investments.

c. ERISA laws and regulations relating to Form 5500 reporting.

d. Reporting requirements of investment advisers and other service providers to employee benefit plans.

e. Experience in analysis of the SEC IARD database, FINRA data and other data related to investment advisers and investment managers. Experience in matching these databases to Form 5500 data.

f. Analysis of data on direct and indirect fees, revenue sharing and performance associated with investments used by retirement plans. Analysis of data on direct and indirect fees, range of fees and premiums reported by welfare plans.

g. Integrating data from outside financial datasets (such as Preqin, Morningstar, Lipper, etc) in order to enhance reporting on assets and holdings listed in Form 5500 filings.

h. Experience in database administration, and providing database access to external customers either directly or via a web interface, including trainings and other technical support, describing how to use their product.

V. RESPONSES TO RFI

RFI responses shall conform to the format below and provide the following information:

1. Cover Letter – The cover letter must include the following information:

• Company name

• Company point of contact, telephone number and email address

• Date submitted

2. Offerors shall respond to each of the general questions.

3. If the offeror chooses not to respond to a question, indicate “no response.”

4. Submit a capabilities package that include the above considerations that demonstrate capabilities and expertise related to the information outlined. As part of the market research associated with this RFI, we are also seeking pricing information. Any pricing information received is to be Rough Order of Magnitude, and is solely for information-gathering and planning purposes.

5. Marketing and/or reference materials, if included, shall be placed at the end of the response, in an appendix.

6. Responses shall not exceed 10 pages, and should be submitted in Microsoft Word .doc or .docx formats, Times New Roman 11-point or 12-point font, with 1-inch margins minimum all around.

VI. RFI SCHEDULE

Responses to the RFI shall be submitted via email to Johnson.DaVeana@dol.gov by 2:00pm, EST, Wednesday, February 17, 2021.

DISCLAIMER

This RFI is issued for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for information received in response to this RFI. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. Information provided in response to this RFI will be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for determining how to proceed in the acquisition process for an agency-wide asset management system and may lead to the development of a Performance Work Statement for the system. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.

BASED ON THE RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE/MARKET

RESEARCH, THIS REQUIREMENT MAY BE SET-ASIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES OR

PROCURED THROUGH FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION, and multiple awards MAY be made.