Questions.docx

Questions - Solicitation:

WEBSITE-DESIGN Inquiry for NMB Office of Administration

1. Will this be made open to Small Business? (Versus 8(a) only)?

A. The competitive 8(a) was posted by mistake. This solicitation will be open to all parties.

2. Could you advise of any functionality you require for the website? (e.g. newsletters integration, CRM, E-Commerce etc) A. We cannot advise on any functionality other than that in the current website.

3. How many pages does it have? We understand that the first item of the scope is to assess and catalogue content of the current website, but the cost often depends on the how large the site is.

A. This should be answered by surveying the National Mediation Board’s current website www.nmb.gov

4. What technology is the current NMB site built on?

A. National Mediation Board is open to total restructuring of the website including the technology the current website is built on.

5. Do you have specific technology / platform that you desire for the new site? We recommend Drupal 7.0 which a lot of agencies prefer.

A. No specific technology

6. The cost of the redesign of the website depends upon many factors (like how informative you want website to be, how much volume increase you want to see, etc.). Can you give an estimate on the amount the agency would like to spend on the redesign that would go to the contractor?

A. No we cannot. Details like the ones you’ve mention will be discussed after the vendor is chosen.

7. How much did you spend for the current website?

A. This information will not be provided

8. Are you willing to spend what typically organizations of the size of NMB typically spend on web-design?

A. We are unable to answer this question. We do not know what organizations typically spend on web-design. This RFI was posted to find web-site design prices.

9. What prompted NMB to consider redesigning website?

A: The National Mediation Board’s web site has been up, unchanged, for 20 years and is in need of an over-haul.

10. Is there a list of deficiencies in the current website already identified that the contractor can have access to?

A: This information will be disclosed once vender has been chosen

11. I am trying to understand what you consider as an acceptable design of website. Is there another government website that you want your website to be like?

A: The actual design details will be worked out with the chosen vendor. There is no other government website we had in mind when posting this RFI.

12. Is getting more hits (an implied) requirement?

A: No it is not

13. Why is this an 8(a) competitive?

A: The competitive 8(a) was posted by mistake. This solicitation will be open to all parties.

14. Does the government want a static/HTML website or do they want a database driven site with a content management system?

A: Use the current NMB site as your basis for responding to this RFI.

15. Is the new website a redesign of the current content or is there other information the government would like to include in the new website? If so, what type of additional information?

A: The new website will be a redesign of the current content. Vendors should be able to accommodate us when new information needs to be added, at the beginning of the redesign or later after the website is up.

16. What is the primary motivator for the web redesign effort?

A: Improve the look and feel, features, functionality and enhance the web experience.

17. Who is your primary audience?

A: The airline and railroad industry and labor relations and people associated with these organizations. The general public and other government organizations (Whitehouse, Congress, and other federal agencies.) also use the site.

18. How important is social media functionality in your future plans?

A: Very low priority

19. Are there any specific strategic goals/objectives tied to the current or future site?

A: No

20. What is the average monthly visitors to the site?

A: 75,000/month

21. How many FTEs currently maintain the web site?

A: .25 (one quarter) FTE

22. What is the current process for web edits/changes? What is the typical cycle time to get these completed?

A: Communication of changes to the hosting organization. It takes 1 -2 days for requested changes to be implemented.

23. Are there any commercial or Gov sites that you consider "best in class" or excellent examples of your desired site?

A: No

24. How much content is intended to be migrated to the new website (i.e., HTML pages, database-driven content, number of documents)?

A: Please survey the site

25. Please define the approximate number of internal stakeholders and external users the contractor will need to engage for the functionality consultation?

A: No external, 2-3 internal

26. Are there existing 3rd-party solutions the website links to or integrates with that will continue to exist as is in the future new site? (i.e., Annual report pages, portion of site; http://www.nmb.gov/documents/2011annual-report/index.htm) A: Yes

27. Is there a minimum number of overall design concepts NMB would like to see during the design task?

A: 2-3

28. Does NMB have a preference for the technical platform/CMS used to develop the new site?

A: No Does NMB have prior experience with any website content management systems (CMS)?

A: No

Can NMB provide a list of existing interactive features that must be ported to the new site?

A: Yes, in consultation; please survey the web site

Can NMB provide a list of new, desired interactive features for the new site?

A: Yes in consultation, suggestions requested

29. Does NMB already have the approval to host the website externally?

A: No

30. Approximately how many NMB staff will require training?

A: 4

31. Are there already existing applications or applets that will require updating or rebuilding?

A: No

32. Does NMB already have ideas for new applications or applets to integrate with the website?

A: No, suggestions requested

33. Does NMB intend to adhere to Section 508 Accessibility standards for the new site?

A: Yes

34. Does NMB intend to continue utilizing:

· WebEx solution for NMB Online Video-conferencing Center?

A: Yes

· nmblyceum.info – NMB Lyceum Training Center?

A: Yes, but does not affect the web site design

35. Should the scope of work include the same 5 languages/translated website options for site visitors? (i.e., French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese) Should the scope of work include the addition of more than these 5 languages?

A: Yes

36. What is NMB’s intention for the NMB Knowledge Store? (http://kas.cuadra.com/starweb1/nmbks/servlet.starweb1?path=nmbks/nmb.web) A: Not part of this RFI

37. Would NMB be interested in selling documents and knowledge through ecommerce functionality?

A: No

38. Would NMB be interested in an interactive calendar, to include training registration, for the schedule of the Training Center? (as opposed to a static PDF of training - http://www.nmb.gov/adrservices/ADR-Training-Calendar_2012.pdf A: Possibly

39. Would NMB be interested in designing and developing an online helpdesk notification form for its Help Desk (either as simple online request forms or website functions that operate as a helpdesk/ticketing system)? (http://www.nmb.gov/helpdesk/helpdeskV5.htm) A: No

40. Would NMB be interested in an electronic voting feature for NMB elections? (http://www.nmb.gov/electionresults/R-7332_ElectionResults.pdf) A: No

41. Should the scope of work include any specific functionality and/or integration with the Arbitrator WorkSpace section that is protected by login? (http://nmbarbitration.appspot.com/ Arbitrator WorkSpace) A: No

42. Do you know whether or not you can use a SBA 8a Stars II set aside contract to purchase this?

A: Assume we can

43. Assess and catalogue content of the current site This task will require participation from NMB. Do your team members have a general understanding of the content structure, layout, and purpose of the individual pages on the current site A: Yes, inventory already posted on website

44. Consult on options for web site functionality The current site is primarily driven by static content. New technologies not only enable to present different types of media (video, text, forms), but also provide ways to easily manage the content and keep the site user-friendly. Choice of technology largely depends on what experience you want for the visitors of the site. Do you have a good understanding of what experience you want for the visitors?

A: Yes, but suggest functions

45. Consult on location/hosting of new site. Where is the current site hosted? Name of the hosting service provider.

A: We are not going to provide the current site at this time. We are not providing the name of the current hosting provider at this time. Hosting options requested

46. Have you prepared a wish list of some new features you would like to add to the site?

A: No, not at this time. Suggestions requested

47. Do you have an estimate of how often you would like to change/update content on the site?

A: On demand

48. How many team members would be editing/updating the content at the same time?

A: 2

49. Are you looking for a fixed estimated cost, or an hourly rate with a rough estimated cost to complete the tasks?

A: Fixed estimate