RESPONSE_TO_CONTRACTOR_QUESTIONS__(2).doc

RESPONSE TO CONTRACTOR QUESTIONS

Solicitation No. SSA-RFP-13-0015, AMEND 0002

QUESTION NO. 1:

Are the proposed Oracle BI Applications Supply Chain and Order Management application expected to reside in the existing OBIA architecture in production?

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 1:

Yes.

QUESTION NO. 2:

Is it correct to assume that the Supply Chain and OM analytics module will need to be merged with the existing OBIA architecture components?

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 2:

Yes.

QUESTION NO.3 :

Does SSA ever charge their customers shipping fees when orders go through delayed processing? If so, how are the shipping fees calculated?

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 3:

No.

QUESTION NO. 4:

The third bullet discusses Video On Demand (VOD) formatting. Since SSA already owns licenses for Oracle User Productivity Kit (UPK), is UPK-delivered content acceptable in lieu of Video-on-Demand formats? Does SSA have any Learning Management System?

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 4:

UPK-delivered content is not acceptable in lieu of Video-on-Demand formats. UPK-delivered is acceptable as web-based training. Yes, SSA has a Learning Management System.

QUESTION NO. 5:

The paragraph states, “During the installation of the software on-site at SSA headquarters, the Contractor shall supply on-site training on the software installation process.” What is SSA’s proposed staffing for the implementation phase that will require on-site training?

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 5:

Proposed staffing is 4-6 SSA employees who will require on-site training during the implementation phase.

QUESTION NO.6 :

Can you clarify the version of Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition (OBIEE) currently in use at SSA?

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 6:

OBIEE 11.1.1.5

QUESTION NO.7 :

Treasury has responded to the requirements, and upon reading their responses in the RFI that was published earlier this year, it gives the impression that the OTCNet application stores check images. The requirements in the RFP seem to imply that in addition, check images need to be stored within the E-Commerce Application. Please explain why the check images are needed to be stored, indexed and searched within the E-Commerce application. If it is needed, can the Web Center application be utilized?

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 7:

SSA will not be using the real-time OTCNet front-end submission to transmit check images to Treasury. We plan to use the OTCNet batch-process, which requires the check images to be stored within the E-Commerce Application. Yes, the Web Center application could be used; however, we only have eight processor-based licenses. Vendors should include all components in their pricing.

QUESTION NO. 8:

This section requires a matrix or table be provided showing the technical requirement, the page number(s) where the response is addressed in the proposal, and any relevant comments. If the vendor chooses to response to the mandatory requirements in narrative form, is it acceptable to provide just the first two columns (requirement and page number), and eliminate any relevant comments, since the narrative addresses each requirement. The final table would be a two-column table – the requirement and the location. Please confirm that this option is acceptable to SSA.

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 8:

The response may include a narrative but it MUST contain a matrix that includes the requirement citation from the RFP and how the requirement is met.

QUESTION NO. 9:

Please confirm that these refer to Software License only.

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 9:

Yes.

QUESTION NO. 10:

Page 143. Can you provide any additional clarification regarding what you mean by ‘Warehousing’ an order?

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 10:

Warehousing an order is defined as retaining an inventory. It applies when payment is collected, but an “inventory of work” remains that has not yet been completed.

QUESTION NO.11 :

SOW Page 142 – Part 1 “Ability to meet Mandatory Requirements”. If the contractor individually addresses each mandatory requirement in the chart or matrix by stating if and how the requirement will be met, can the middle column “Response Page Number” reference the that page? In other words, can the matrix or table explanation be sufficient?

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 11:

The response may include a narrative but it MUST contain a matrix that includes the requirement citation from the RFP and how the requirement is met.

QUESTION NO. 12:

Instructions for Volume III include the requirement for a Project Management Plan with reference to Section B.15 of the SOW. In Section B.15, the instructions state that a PMP will be required within 14 days after contract award. Will the Government clarify whether a PMP is required as part of the RFP, and if so, which sections are required at proposal submission and which sections are not required until after contract award?

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 12:

A draft Project Management Plan (PMP) that includes all requested information and is based on the vendor’s best understanding of the requirements is required at proposal submission. The final PMP will be due after contract award.

QUESTION NO. 13:

The instructions in Section B.15 for the Project Management Plan include a Roadmap with a number of specific components. This component is not typically part of a Project Management Plan per industry standards such as the PMBOK, but instead would be considered a separate deliverable similar to a Requirements Document or Test Plan. We suggest reclassifying this element as a deliverable to be incorporated into the project plan and schedule and included as a deliverable rather than within the PMP itself. This would mean it would not be provided in the proposal, but would be addressed post-award.

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 13:

A draft Project Management Plan that shows that the deliverables can be completed timely is required for the proposal. The PMP will be finalized post-award.

QUESTION NO.14 :

How many total reporting users does SSA anticipate for the enterprise rollout? (i.e. MI Reports and general reports) RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 14:

2,000 – 10,000

QUESTION NO. 15:

Will SSA be providing any GFE software for the SERS program? (i.e. Business Intelligence tools, Identity Mgmt., etc.) Or should vendors include all components in their pricing bid?

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 15:

Vendors should include all components in their pricing. We currently own 300 named-user licenses for Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition and 12 processor licenses for Informatica ETL.

Update to chart in B-3.8 Current Environment:

QUESTION NO. 16:

Does SSA have existing GFE software to enable single sign on with the e-commerce software or should vendors propose their own single sign on solution?

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO 16:

We only have sufficient Oracle Identity Manager licenses to cover our existing user base; therefore, vendors should propose a sufficient number of licenses for a SERS single sign-on solution. Please see the updated ‘B-3.8 Current Environment’ Chart.

QUESTION NO.17 :

Is the prime contractor required to be an Oracle Gold level certified partner or above or will SSA accept an arrangement where one of the main subcontractors on the team is an Oracle Gold level certified partner?

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 17:

The Prime Contractor must be the Oracle Gold Certified Partner or higher. This contractor will perform the integration with SSA’s existing systems.

QUESTION NO. 18:

1449 – Block 10. Is the intent for the respondents to be under a size of $35.5M, otherwise unrestricted?

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 18:

Unrestricted.

QUESTION NO. 19:

The CLIN structure listed in the 1449 is not the same as Pricing tables in section B and the instructions in Section H. Can respondents assume Section B and H are the correct structure?

RESPONSE to QUESTION 19:

Yes.

QUESTION NO. 20:

Page 142, Vol. 3, Part 1. “…address the mandatory requirements specified in the Scope of Work.” Are these mandatory requirements represented only by the requirements contained in section B-4 and B-5?

RESPONSE to QUESTION 20:

It means address all SSA’s required needs specified in Section B.

QUESTION NO. 21:

Attachment 7 – Subcontracting Model Plan. Is this attachment required to be completed if the prime is a small business?

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO 21:

No.

QUESTION NO.22:

Can SSA clarify the exact due date/time for submitting questions?

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 22:

The exact due date for submitting questions are 5/31: The exact time is 5:00 PM EST.

QUESTION NO.23:

Attachment 6, Instructions for 508, Section 1.1.4 includes a hyperlink to the SSA 508 policies. This link does not work. Can SSA provide a working link for vendor’s review?

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 23:

SSA’s Section 508 hyperlink is http://www.ssa.gov/accessibility/files/SSA_Guide_to_Applying_Section_508_Standards.pdf

QUESTION NO.24:

For planning purposes, when does SSA plan to award the SERS contract?

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 24:

On or before September 30, 2013.

QUESTION NO.25:

Will SSA be awarding a “no obligation” IDIQ contract only, or does SSA plan to award an IDIQ with a “funded” task order for Phase 1 and Phase II?

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 25:

SSA plans to award a funded task order with the IDIQ contract.

QUESTION NO.26:

Does the reference to COTS apply to the integration of software solutions or just to the base products?

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 26:

All software solutions must be COTS products. The COTS products must be configured to integrate with SSA’s existing Oracle modules.

The COTS functionality may be extended to incorporate SSA’s business processes. Where necessary, the contractor may extend the capabilities of the software with customizations (extensions). These extensions must not change or modify the COTS product(s).

QUESTION NO.27:

What are the expected transactions volumes in electronic payments, exclusive of checks, that SSA expects to process over the five-year term of this contract?

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 27:

SSA expects approximately 25,000 electronic payments per year; however, this is purely an estimate based on limited historical data.

QUESTION NO.28:

The above referenced RFP appears to contemplate significant payment transaction processing. Specifically, the SOW and related documents touch on card readers, check scanners, payment coupons (w/ scan lines), and lockbox processing. Unclear to me is whether this is a solicitation with a role for a financial institution or if the discussion of transaction processing within the solicitation is in a larger context that is limited to an IT equipment purchase. Is the SSA considering an outsourced solution that would reduce the amount of equipment it would purchase/maintain over the life of contract?

RESPONSE to QUESTION NO. 28:

This solicitation is for software and services that will provide the SSA with a mechanism for uniformly collecting administrative fees and eventually programmatic debt in our field offices and Program Service Centers. We intend to purchase check scanners (though another mechanism) and card readers for each of our 1300 field offices supported by a software solution that will seamlessly integrate with our Oracle Federal Financials implementation. The credit card processing will require tokenization and point-to-point encryption between the SSA and a Gateway provider. The Gateway provider must be certified with Vantiv Bank. Vantiv is the Department of Treasury’s designated Card Acquiring Service financial agent, and SSA is required to use that service. Therefore, we do not anticipate that this solicitation will have a role for any other financial institution. Please refer to the Treasury link below: http://fms.treas.gov/cas/index.html

QUESTION NO. 29

Attachment 6, Paragraph 1.1.2, First Paragraph, second sentence—The second sentence of this paragraph refers to, “The list of requirements which are applicable to this procurement are defined on page 3 of this attachment.” There is not a list of requirements in Attachment 6 of this RFP. Please confirm the location of this list of requirements.

RESPONSE TO QUESTION NO. 29:

Attachment 1, page 2.

QUESTION NO.30:

Given the extensive requirements outlined in the RFP and the desire to provide a fully compliant and thorough response, would the Government consider a more typical and reasonable response timeframe of 30 days from date of issue? We would also suggest adding the due date and time to the DD1449 as referenced from Section H (d) 1 of the RFP.

RESPONSE TO

QUESTION NO. 30:

The REVISED DUE DATE and TIME FOR SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES TO SSA-RFQ-13-0015 is:

Thursday, 06/27/2013 at 12:00 NOON.