RFI Answers-BPR and Innovation for BIAS Program 9-9-2025.xlsx
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The document is a Request for Information (RFI) for the FBI's Background Investigation and Adjudication Services (BIAS) Program, seeking market research on Business Process Reengineering (BPR) and innovative technology solutions. The FBI is exploring a potential solicitation to expand current system capabilities, with a focus on developing an innovative technology solution to supplement their existing case management system (BEAST), potentially utilizing cloud environments and advanced analytics.
Key details include on-premise work locations in Huntsville, AL and Washington, DC, with an average of 6,000 open initial background cases monthly. The FBI is open to various contract structures (firm-fixed-price, incentive-based), potential small business set-asides (SDVOSB, 8(a)), and a phased implementation approach. The response deadline is 9/19/2025 at 10:00am ET, with the solution expected to integrate with existing systems, operate on unclassified and secret enclaves, and support continuous vetting while maintaining analyst oversight. The FBI will consider past performance examples and is interested in solutions that can improve efficiency, risk identification, and performance metrics.
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| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| RFI- BPR and Innovation for BIAS Program-7-24-2025.pdf |
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Sheet1
| Question | Answer |
| I am inquiring about the BPR and Innovation for BIAS Program RFI to learn if this is a new requirement or if similar services were provided in the past. If so, may I have the incumbent information including the vendor's name, contract number and award value? | This is a new request. |
| Does the FBI see all required work to be completed on premises or can work can be done remotely/off site? | On premise, but need additional clarification. |
| Does the FBI have a preference between a managed service solution versus one deployed in a Government Hosted Cloud environment, or is the FBI open to comparing both models during the selection process? | Open to both. |
| Are there any accredited or preferred Cloud Environments or no-code platforms already available? | Yes, but flexible. |
| Does the contractor need to factor in accreditation timelines in the proposal? | We are not requesting an accreditation timeline. |
| How does the FBI view integration needs with other systems? | Integration will be read-only to other systems as to prevent any overwriting or system interference to compile a "dashboard/applicant summary", extract data and information, and data analytics. |
| Will you be restricting RFP participation to only those companies who respond to the RFI? | Please keep in mind this is only market research and response to the RFI is not mandatory but encouraged. Market Research is the key contributor to the final acquisition strategy if a soliciation is issued. |
| Could you please share any available information on how Task 2.2 (Innovative Technology) will be evaluated or scored? Understanding the evaluation criteria will help us craft a response to better align with the government’s needs. | This has not been determined at this time. |
| If this BPR/innovation initiative is intended to retool the scope of the BEAST (Background Evolution and Security Transformation) or similar case management environments, would the FBI be open to a phased implementation approach that maintains mission continuity for adjudications and continuous vetting? | The innovation initiative is not intended to retool BEAST; however, the innovation solution would be used as a resource to supplement BEAST and various data sources. The new innovation would be rolled out in stages to minimize impacts and to demostrate business workflow requirements. |
| If future solutions incorporate automation or advanced analytics, does the FBI have a preferred approach for ensuring analyst oversight and compliance with ODNI and internal audit requirements? | Analysts for both case management and reporting will continue review cases as normal to ensure the correct information is automated/analyzed. Solution will be utilized as a resource to flag and draft information. |
| Will the FBI provide a current‑state overview of systems and data sources to support BPR efforts and help industry identify integration opportunities during process reengineering? | Not at this time. |
| In addition to reducing processing time, does the FBI anticipate tracking mission‑focused performance measures (such as adjudication consistency, early risk identification, or overall analyst efficiency) to evaluate the success of reengineered workflows? | Yes, data analytics retrieved would be utilized for team performance metrics, consistency, early risk identification, and field data calls along with assist in identifying potential projects and business enhancements. |
| Would the FBI be open to industry proposals that leverage de‑identified historical case data for analytics or modeling purposes, provided all activities occur within FBI‑controlled environments? | Yes, for SecD historical case data with appropriate authorities. |
| Does the FBI envision a collaborative continuous improvement approach after implementation, where industry provides insights and recommendations to help sustain performance and adapt workflows over time? | Yes. As technology advances, the FBI would need recommendations to ensure all information is up-to-date and working properly. |
| During BPR or system modernization efforts, does the FBI have a strategy for managing surge requirements and potential adjudication backlogs to maintain Trusted Workforce 2.0 timelines? | Yes. New innovation would be rolled out in stages to minimize impacts to Trusted Workforce 2.0 timeliness. |
| If BPR and operational support activities affect day‑to‑day adjudication operations? | N/A- insufficient information in the question |
| Can the government confirm whether the intent is to host the innovative technology solution within a FedRAMP-authorized cloud environment? | Preference for this would be yes. |
| Can the government confirm whether it intends to conduct a vendor day prior to the release of a request for proposal that would allow firms responding to the request for information to demonstrate their solution’s capabilities? | Demonstrations may be requested, per the RFI. |
| Recognizing that large-scale technology transformation initiatives involve significant risk for federal organizations, can the government confirm whether it is considering contract types that share risk with the selected vendor, such as firm-fixed-price or incentive-based structures? | Yes, we are considering those types of contracts. |
| Partnering with a firm that has demonstrated experience successfully integrating innovative technology into federal organizations’ personnel security functions will be critical to the success of the FBI’s BIAS Program. Can the government confirm whether it is considering requiring past performance examples that demonstrate: |
1 )The vendor’s experience operating large-scale personnel vetting programs, illustrating their capacity to inform solution requirements; and
2) The vendor’s experience implementing their proposed solution in a federal environment, specifically in support of security management programs similar to the mission described in the solicitation?
| Additionally, is the government considering requiring that past performance examples highlight improvements in efficiency and cost savings achieved for the supported personnel security function? | We are considering it all, but it is not required or accepted at this time. | |
| Can the government clarify if referencing specific examples of relevant work we have done to illustrate methodology or solution would be acceptable in accordance with bullet 2 in section 6.2? | If specific examples are relevant to the solution, it is acceptable. | |
| How are reports of investigation delivered? Are they provided in a specific format (e.g., PDF)? Are they submitted as a complete package or delivered in stages/iteratively? | Currently Reports of Investigation are delivered in individual PDFs based on "lead coverage". Leads are requests for information based on Federal Investigation Standards such as employment records verification, employment interviews, etc. These reports are delivered as they are completed to the case management and document warehouse. | |
| On which technology or platform is the system in use currently built on? | A combination of on-prem and AWS cloud, but plans to migrate to 100% cloud in the future. | |
| Are you aiming to expand the current system’s capabilities or pursue a full modernization? | The FBI is looking to expand current system capabilities with a program that fits the proposed innovation solution. | |
| Confirm the project scope requires the awardee to conduct an BPR analysis that results in a recommendation for an “innovative technology solution” with all the capabilities listed in RFI Paragraph 2.2. | Scope includes a BPR analysis/review of systems to confirm ability for intergration and development of the"innovation technology solution" or similar program. | |
| Will the awarded contractor be OCI’d from competing for the technology development work? | As requirements are not finalized, it is unknown at this time. | |
| If not, does the government prefer a contractor that is capable of performing the BPR and also the IT implementation work? | As requirements are not finalized, it is unknown at this time. | |
| Reference Paragraph 2.2 phrase regarding “comply with all current FBI policies and capabilities.” Will those policies and capabilities be provided in a draft RFP? | Relevant SecD policies with appropriate authorities can be provided as part of the official solicitation if released. | |
| Does the government anticipate if this work will be conducted remotely, partially remote, on-prem? | On-prem | |
| If any or all parts performed on-prem, where does the government anticipate the work to be performed? | Huntsville, AL and Washington, DC. | |
| Will the government furnish IT equipment for on-prem or remote work? | Standard workstations only. | |
| Is a secure facility or SCIF access required for any part of this work? | Depending on enclave/system, but possibly for a small portion. | |
| The top of RFI page 11 has a block stating, “NASA SEWP Contract.” Is that block a continuation of the 4.0 Required Information? If yes, is the government evaluating if the SEWP contract vehicle—a GWAC to procure advanced technology—is right for this potential solicitation for BPR services, which falls under NAICS 541611? | Yes, it is a continuation of the 4.0 Required Information. The purpose is to gather information on responding companies and identify the contract vehicles under which they are currently authorized to provide goods or services. | |
| Can the government clarify which FBI systems the innovative solution must integrate with? Particularly any case management or identity vetting platforms currently in use? | Innovation solution must integrate with current case management system, document warehouses, and various programs utilized in support of background investigations. | |
| Will the government accept a phased implementation approach for the proposed technology (e.g., pilot phase, full deployment)? | Yes, a pilot phase will be acceptable as to minimize impacts and to demostrate business workflow. | |
| Are there specific document types or formats beyond SF-86 and ROI that the system must parse and analyze? | The document types vary as much of the information to be analyzed will be PDFs, Word, Excel and general text documents. | |
| Can the government clarify if historical case data will be made available to train pattern recognition or risk scoring algorithms? | Yes, for SecD historical case data with appropriate authorities. | |
| Is there a preferred cloud hosting environment (e.g., AWS GovCloud, Azure Gov, FBI on-prem), or are hybrid solutions acceptable? | The FBI considers all infrastructure options. | |
| Will the system be required to integrate with any FBI-specific security frameworks beyond RMF, NIST 800-53, and CUI handling? | Yes, the system will be required to integrate with all FBI specific frameworks. | |
| Can the government confirm whether the system will need to operate at multiple classification levels (e.g., TS/SCI and unclassified enclaves)? | System would need to operate on both unclassified and secret enclaves, if possible. If not, at least have the ability to operate on Secret. | |
| Is there an expected volume of background investigations per month that the proposed system must support? | The FBI currently averages 6,000 open initial background cases; however, this total does not account for continous vetting, visitor requests, etc. | |
| Will the FBI provide access to training datasets or redacted historical adjudication packages for AI model development? | Yes, with appropriate approvals and probably redacted. | |
| What level of O&M is expected post-deployment (full 24/7 support, business hours only, or hybrid)? | Hybrid; O&M would be expected for full support during initial launch then gradually decrease as technical requests and potential issues decrease. | |
| Does the government intend to issue a follow-on RFP, and if so, what is the anticipated timeline? | Yes. No timeline at the moment. | |
| Will the government consider issuing this as a set-aside for SDVOSB, 8(a), or small business joint ventures? | Yes | |
| Would the FBI be open to a technical demonstration of a proof-of-concept platform as part of market research? | Demonstations may be requested, per the RFI. | |
| Is the FBI interested in industry engagement through future one-on-one sessions or industry days for this initiative? | Demonstrations may be requested, per the RFI. |
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .