Request for Information - Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), Verification and Validation of Data Migration

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

34300025M0001

541690 - Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services

Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), Verification and Validation of Data Migration

This Request for Information is for planning purposes only and is being used solely as a market research tool in accordance with FAR Subpart 10.002(b).  This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP), nor is a Request for Quotation (RFQ) nor is an announcement of a solicitation.  Response is strictly voluntary and the Government will not provide any reimbursement for any response for the effort expended in the preparation of a response by any vendor.  Submission of a response to this RFI notice will not affect any potential offeror’s ability to submit a quotation/proposal in the future should funding become available and a solicitation is issued.  There is no solicitation document associated with this RFI.   There is no obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any product or service as a result of this RFI.  Submissions made to the Government will not be returned.  Information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding upon the Government.

INTRODUCTION and BACKGROUND

The U.S. International Trade Commission’s (USITC or Commission) is an independent, quasi-judicial Federal agency with broad investigative responsibilities on matters of trade.  The USITC’s mission is to: (1) administer U.S. trade remedy laws within its mandate in a fair and objective manner; (2) provide the President, the United States Trade Representative (USTR), and Congress with independent, quality analysis, information, and support on matters relating to tariffs and international trade and competitiveness; and (3) maintain the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.

The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) is a nearly 4,500-page document that sets out the tariff rates and statistical categories for all merchandise imported into the United States. The HTS is based on the international Harmonized System, which is the global system of nomenclature applied to most world trade in goods. The HTS is produced by regularly assembling and formatting approximately 3 GB of data contained in a No-SQL database.

PURPOSE & GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 

The purpose of this RFI is to gather information from industry on available solution(s) for HTS Data Migration verification and validation. Information is being sought from entities experienced with data verification and validation processes and methodologies to help ensure successful project implementation.  The Commission is considering options for assistance with:

•              Verifying and validating HTS base data migrated and transformed from current sources (migration performed by other project staff). Initial validation would be done by comparing PDF documents. Ongoing validation of added HTS related data would be a combination of manual review and technical solutions (recommendations requested). This initial migration review will be time sensitive, constrained to one-to-two-month timeframe.

•              Accurately entering HTS-related data where there are gaps or where additional information will be required in the new system

•              Accurately linking HTS base and HTS-related data

 Details             

The Commission is embarking on a development project for the HTS that:

•              Creates a structured, relational database environment to store the data

•              Migrates and transforms the current data - referred to as HTS base data - from a No-SQL database into the new structured, relational environment

•              Adds additional HTS-related data elements to the new database

Current Data Sources:

•              HTS Base Data:

•              No-SQL database

•              All text format (no numeric data).  For example, the value 5% is a literal value of '5%', not a numeric value of .05

•              Within the No-SQL database there is both structured and non-structured information

•              HTS-Related Data:

•              Some relational database data

•              Spreadsheets

•              Documents/other non-structured sources

Project success will be determined by:

•              After data migration and transformation, being able to reproduce the current HTS document with 100% accuracy as compared to the existing (pre-migrated) data

•              Creating complete and accurate data sets for each of the additional HTS-related elements to be included in the redesign (structured and unstructured sources for the data)

•              Creating complete and accurate links between each of the additional HTS-related elements and the base HTS data (structured and unstructured sources for the data)

•              Accurately displaying base HTS data and HTS related data based on point in time.

Requested Information

Keeping the details of the project in mind, please provide information on the following topics.

General Information:

1.            Describe your methodology and approach for data verification and validation.

2.            Identify key stages and steps involved in your data validation process.

3.            Detail your quality control procedures to ensure data accuracy, completeness, consistency, integrity, and adherence to established standards?

4.            Describe your reporting and error-handling mechanisms for communicating data quality issues and resolutions.

5.            Describe how you create and maintain documentation related to data validation processes and standards, and reporting on data quality and validation activities 

Technical capabilities / Tools and technology:

1.            Detail the specific techniques and methods you employ for data validation.

2.            Describe your processes and experience for performing data entry

3.            How do you handle different types of data (e.g., structured, semi-structured, unstructured)?

4.            Explain how you manage and validate data from multiple sources and integrate it seamlessly.

5.            List some of the tools and technologies you utilize for data validation and verification.

6.            Do you offer automated validation processes, and if so, describe how they function and their benefits?

7.            Detail your team's expertise and experience in data validation, data governance, and data quality management.

HOW TO RESPOND

Interested organizations responding to this RFI may provide a Capabilities Statement or other relevant information regarding the organization’s capabilities as they relate to the information contained herein.  All responses should include the following information:

• Company name, address and website, SAM UID
• Company business size, socio-economic status
• Any contracts the organization currently holds (GSA Schedule, NASA SEWP, NITAAC, etc.),  
• Point-of-Contact name, position, telephone number and e-mail address
• Organizational experience and technical capabilities of the organization which meets the stated objectives.
• An overview of the leading solution(s) options your firm would recommend that take into account the information provided herein. 
• Concerns that should be considered by the USITC as part of any potential solicitation.

Interested organizations may submit a response to this RFI, with the information requested above, and any other applicable information, on or before 4PM EST, August 15, 2025.  Please submit all documentation VIA EMAIL to ian.quillman@usitc.gov 

Please include in the subject line of the email RFI # -34300025M0001– Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), Verification and Validation of Data Migration

Organizations are discouraged from submitting any information deemed proprietary.  However, if elected to submit proprietary information, the organization bears sole responsibility for marking said information as proprietary to ensure appropriate safeguarding by the Government.  The Government shall not be held liable for any damages incurred if proprietary information is not properly identified. All submissions become the property of the Government and will not be returned.