Anti-Fraud Brand Protection and Enforcement Services

A. General
The primary effort is to proactively protect against fraud and misuse of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) brands in order to mitigate FRTIB and TSP fraud risk and reduce the potential for reputational risk. Several techniques have been identified by the Agency that the contractor may use, these are, but are not limited to: (1) Defensive domain registration and online monitoring (to detect schemes such as cybersquatting, domain kiting/tasting, trademark infringement, traffic diversion, false associations with unrelated third parties, pay-per-click abuse, sponsored link abuse, logo/image abuse and offensive content), (2) Phishing mitigation, monitoring and response and (3) Brand Monitoring and Trademark Enforcements.

B. Background
The FRTIB was created by the Federal Employees' Retirement System Act of 1986 (FERSA) to administer the Thrift Savings Plan as one element in the three-part retirement program for employees covered under the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS). In the nearly thirty years since the TSP received the first civilian contribution, it has expanded to cover members of the uniformed services (largely voluntary, non-matched contributions) and spousal beneficiaries. It is now the largest defined contribution retirement plan with more than million participants and over $billion in assets under management. While the TSP's growth over the past thirty years represents a tremendous success, expectations of additional growth, demographic changes, and the need for infrastructure and service enhancements present new challenges for the Agency.

C. Requested Information
This announcement constitutes an official Request for Information (RFI). This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This RFI is the initial step in the Market Research process to capture information that would ultimately be used to competitively select one or more firms.

The primary effort is to proactively protect against fraud and misuse of the FRTIB and TSP brands in order to mitigate FRTIB and TSP fraud risk and reduce the potential for reputational risk. Several techniques have been identified by the Agency that the contractor may use, these are, but are not limited to:
(1) Defensive domain registration and online monitoring (to detect schemes such as cybersquatting, domain kiting/tasting, trademark infringement, traffic diversion, false associations with unrelated third parties, pay-per-click abuse, sponsored link abuse, logo/image abuse and offensive content),
(2) Phishing mitigation, monitoring and response and
(3) Brand Monitoring and Trademark Enforcements.
For each task and subtask listed below, please provide how your company would provide the best solution in these areas that would benefit FRTIB and TSP:

Task 1: Online Brand Monitoring and Protection
Task 2: Expert Online Brand Monitoring and Analysis
Task 3: Brand and Trademark Enforcements
Task 4: Domain Registration, Management, and Recovery
Task 5: Project and Status Meetings
Task 6: Online Brand Monitoring and Protection Reporting
Task 7: Trademark Application and Registration
D. Announcement Disclosure
The FRTIB is a self-funded agency with independent budgetary authority that receives no annual appropriations from Congress. FRTIB is not strictly bound to adhere to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). However, FRTIB procurements will largely adhere to the FAR, unless doing so might infringe upon the Agency's fiduciary obligations under Federal Employees' Retirement System Act (FERSA). FRTIB has adopted the FAR as its primary contracting policy and procedures for procuring its goods and services.

The Thrift Federal Acquisition Supplement (T-FAS) specifies when the Agency's policies and practices deviate from the FAR. See link to T-FAS below.

https://www.frtib.gov/Procurement/DoingBusiness.html

This Announcement is issued solely for information and planning purposes. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This request for information does not commit the FRTIB to contract whatsoever. Further, the FRTIB is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals.
Respondents are advised that the FRTIB will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this Announcement; all costs associated with responding to this Announcement will be solely at the interested party's expense. Not responding to this Announcement does not preclude participation in any future solicitation.

E. Proprietary Information Disclosure
Any information that the respondent considers proprietary should be clearly marked as such. All submissions become Agency property and will not be returned, including any proprietary information.

F. Response Instructions
Respondents are requested to provide a description of their capabilities, suggestions and recommendations in as much detail as possible. The response should address the goals outlined above as well as the requested information depicted below. Please limit your response to a maximum of 20 pages. This maximum excludes cover and separator pages, and any exhibits.

Following a review of the responses received, FRTIB may elect to request additional information, or schedule one-on-one meetings with some respondents to gain additional information about their recommended solution(s). Respondents will not be notified of the results of the review.

General Information
Provide the following information regarding your company:
a. Company name, address, and telephone.
b. Name, title, mailing address, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address of contact person for this Announcement.
c. Company website(s)
d. Associated NAICS codes
e. Socio- Economic status
f. If the respondent has a government contract vehicle such as a Federal Supply Schedule or other government-wide use contract

Contracting
a. Provide a recommended contract type alternative(s).
b. If the FRTIB were to pursue a contract for this effort, identify if work to be performed is organic to your company or if sub-contracting will be required.
c. If possible, identify any Government Furnished Equipment/Information that may be required.

G. Submission
This information is due no later than October 1, 2019; at 3:00pm ET. Please email responses to: Sean.Williams@tsp.gov and frtibcontracting@tsp.gov . In the subject line insert: TIB-2019-RFI-0012, (Anti‐Fraud Brand Protection and Enforcement Services)

H. Questions
Questions regarding this RFI should be submitted in writing via e-mail to Sean Williams at Sean.Williams@tsp.gov and FRTIBContracting@tsp.gov in the subject line insert: TIB-2019-RFI-0012. Verbal questions will not be accepted in response to this RFI and questions shall not contain proprietary, sensitive or classified information. Submit questions by September 27, 2019 by 3:00pm EST.

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