SOURCES SOUGHT
D -- Army/Defense Knowledge Online (AKO/DKO) Go Mobile Vendor Capability Day
- Notice Date
- 10/2/2009
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541512
— Computer Systems Design Services
- Contracting Office
- ACA, ITEC4, Directorate of Contracting, 2461 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22331-0700
- ZIP Code
- 22331-0700
- Solicitation Number
- W91QUZ-XX-X-XXXX
- Response Due
- 10/30/2009
- Archive Date
- 12/29/2009
- Point of Contact
- Woodrow Bell, 703-325-4760
- E-Mail Address
-
ACA, ITEC4
(drow.bell@conus.army.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Request for Information (RFI) for Army/Defense Knowledge Online Go Mobile Vendor Capability Day SUMMARY This Request for Information (RFI) is being issued as part of an effort to understand market availability, industry best practices, technical characteristics, and functionality of information technology (IT), tools or products capable of enhancing and/or extending the Army/Defense Knowledge Online (AKO/DKO) mobile messaging solution. Subsequent to the receipt of responses to this RFI the AKO/DKO Project Management Office (AKO/DKO PMO) may invite select RFI respondents to a private technical interchange session to discuss their response with Government representatives at a later date. This is not a request for proposal, request for quotation, or an invitation for bid, nor does its issuance obligate or restrict the Government to an eventual acquisition. All information received from this RFI will be used for Market Research purposes only. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses nor otherwise reimburse vendors for the preparation of any information submitted or Government use of such information. Acknowledgement of receipt of responses will not be made, nor will respondents be notified regarding the outcome of the information received. AKO/DKO BACKGROUND The AKO/DKO vision is to transform the AKO/DKO portal into a Department of Defense (DoD) portal that enhances collaboration efforts by enabling services to organize and share information and be strategically responsive and dominant at every point in the spectrum of defense operations. AKO/DKO is being built on the current AKO/DKO enterprise portal platform. AKO was started as a pilot project in 1997 and was so successful that the Secretary of the Army and Chief of Staff mandated that all data, information and systems be moved behind this portal. The AKO portal represented the first step in building the Army intranet. AKO is the principal tool used in transforming the Army to a knowledge based organization. The current AKO/DKO suite of services is built upon Appian Enterprise Business Process Management (BPM) technologies with many customized Enterprise Content Management (ECM) features. The AKO/DKO PMO has recently developed a capability designed to extend AKO/DKO services to the mobile AKO/DKO end user. This solution includes application software, middleware, comprehensive security architecture, and a mobile device suite to enable secure user access to core AKO/DKO services and information, such as electronic mail and collaboration data. The AKO/DKO PMO intends to field the Good Technology-developed solutionwhich the Army has re-branded as Go Mobilethrough a phased deployment to all AKO/DKO users in 2010. Additionally, in an effort to foster adoption, enhance flexibility, and embrace Web 2.0 innovation, the AKO/DKO PMO is currently in discussions with other potential industry partners, such as Apple and Research In Motion, to develop secure mobile technology and messaging solution alternatives for the AKO/DKO customer base, which is rapidly approaching 2.5 million end users. In this way, the AKO/DKO project remains system and application agnostic and will continue to consider adopting emerging technologies such as the Android mobile operating system for expanding AKO/DKO capabilities. RFI OBJECTIVES This Request for Information is intended to improve the Governments understanding of the technologies, solutions, innovations, and products available in the marketplace for (1) enhancing the AKO/DKO experience leveraging emerging mobile technologies, (2) further extending AKO/DKO services to the mobile end user and (3) furthering the AKO/DKO knowledge management mission by optimizing use of the mobile spectrum. Vendor responses should address the following items: 1. Solution or capability and benefits Describe the proposed software solution set, peripheral device technologies or product, and the benefits to the Army, the AKO/DKO PMO, the warfighter and the civilian (including friends and family) end user. Discuss the technical and business value merits of the solution or capability, the degree of innovation and risk of the solution or capability, and the technical viability of the proposed solution set, technology or product. 2. Assumptions, risks and limitations Itemize the pre-requisites, constraints, implementation or adoption impediments and potential negative outcomes associated with the proposed solution set. 3. Solution/product maturity Explain where the proposed solution set is in its product-development lifecycle, including whether it is currently available for purchase, undergoing proof-of-concept or if the vendor is seeking a Research and Development partnership with the Army. 4. Relevant technology forecast Highlight applicable technology trends, identify opportunities for integration & convergence, and demonstrate how AKO/DKO can leverage the mobile spectrum and complementary technologies to extend its secure footprint across the Armys global network. 5. Current viable contract vehicles Provide contract references (including contract number, contracting activity and primary Agency) for active vehicles accessible by the Army. GO MOBILE SOLUTION DESCRIPTION Go Mobile utilizes Good Technologys Good Mobile Messaging (GMM) product is a wireless, real-time messaging and enterprise application access system. The solution is encrypted from end-to-end, FIPS 140-2 validated, DISA STIG checklist compliant, and has been issued an Authority to Operate by the Armys Program Executive Office for Enterprise Information Systems (PEO-EIS). GMM supports the DoD S/MIME Public Key Infrastructure, including Common Access Card (CAC) with industry standard Bluetooth CAC readers. GMM is built on industry standards to permit choice of wireless networks, platforms and handhelds. GMM is an integrated product suite that includes the following components: 1. Good Mobile Messaging (GMM) Offers up-to-date wireless access to e-mail and personal information management (PIM) functions of the Sun Java Communication System (SJCS), including e-mail, contacts, calendar, and tasks/to do lists. The cradle-free system continuously synchronizes data between the wireless handheld and the GMM server behind the firewall. 2. Good Mobile Messaging Server GMM server software monitors the users AKO/DKO mailbox and synchronizes any mailbox activity with the Good Network Operations Center (NOC), which then passes the e-mail and data through the wireless network to the users handheld. Changes made on the handheld are sent to the Good NOC via the handhelds radio transmitter and the wireless network, and they return from the Good NOC via the Good Messaging Server to the AKO/DKO enterprise messaging server. Messages sent over the Good System are encrypted end-to-end using Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) security technology. 3. Good Management Console (GMC) The Good Management Console (GMC) provides an integrated, centralized management console from which an administrator can set up, manage and view users, as well as monitor servers and handhelds. AKO/DKO can distribute management tasks across a hierarchy of administrators by using role-based administration, which offers a set of roles, with varying permissions, for administering the Good Messaging Server and users. Handheld security policies are managed through the GMC, including: * Password policies * Handheld component controls (e.g., Bluetooth, IR ports, camera, SD card, etc.) * Remote data erase * Handheld application control (e.g., application blacklisting and mandatory application checking, etc.) 4. Good Network Operations Center (NOC) Provides reliable delivery via a multi-level Positive Acknowledgement Architecture that ensures that even when a handheld goes out of coverage, messages will be appropriately queued and then sent in order, once the handheld is back in coverage. All data flowing through the NOC are encrypted with a unique, symmetric key known only to the user. Additional information describing the current Go Mobile solution (i.e., Good Mobile Messaging S/MIME) is publically available at www.good.com. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS Respondent submissions should be submitted in a slide presentation not to exceed ten (10) slides in Arial font no smaller than 12 pt. Vendors are strongly urged to adhere to this page limitation as well as to limit marketing material in order to provide more substantive information in their response. Responses are to be submitted via e-mail, in Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 compatible format, to: * Woodrow Bell at drow.bell@us.army.mil * Tariq Mehmood at tariq.mehmood@us.army.mil Responses are due no later than 1700 EDT 30 October 2009. Questions regarding this RFI should be directed to Mr. Bell at (703) 325-4760 and Mr. Mehmood at (703) 325-4374. GO MOBILE VENDOR CAPABILITY DAY Prior to the due date of the RFI responses the Government intends to host a Go Mobile Vendor Capability Day during which the AKO/DKO PMO will demonstrate AKO/DKO and Go Mobile solution capabilities and provide vendors an opportunity to ask questions anonymously. Following the Go Mobile presentation, the AKO/DKO PMO will collect attendee questions, written on index cards, and will subsequently announce answers to select questions to the entire audience. Formal notification of intent to attend the Go Mobile Vendor Capability Day is not required. Vendors should note that space will be limited and attendance will be on a first-come, first-serve basis with each vendor limited to no more than three (3) attendees. Date: 13 October 2009 Time: 1300-1600 Location: Wood Theater, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060 * For post directions and maps, visit http://www.belvoir.army.mil/maps/map_and_Directions_homepage.htm * Note: Fort Belvoir is an open post and requires valid photo identification (e.g., driver's license) for entry through the Tulley (Main) Gate. All visitors to Fort Belvoir without DOD decals on their vehicles must use Tulley Gate. Public parking is available adjacent to the Wood Theater on a first-come, first-serve basis. RESPONSE DEADLINE AND TIMETABLE 1. Written responses to this Request for Information are due no later than 1700 EDT 30 October 2009 to drow.bell@us.army.mil and tariq.mehmood@us.army.mil. 2. Approximately two (2) to four (4) weeks after receipt of RFI responses, and based on the considerations specified in this RFI, the Government may invite select vendors to individually present their products and solutions to the AKO/DKO PMO and conduct a technical interchange at a place and time specified by the Government. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Primary AKO/DKO PMO Point of Contact: MAJ Keith Parker Assistant Project Manager for Go Mobile AKO/DKO PMO Acquisition Management Division Email: keith.parker1@us.army.mil Phone: (703) 704-0263
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USA/DABL/DABL01/W91QUZ-XX-X-XXXX/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: ACA, ITEC4 Directorate of Contracting, 2461 Eisenhower Avenue Alexandria VA
- Zip Code: 22331-0700
- Zip Code: 22331-0700
- Record
- SN01979307-W 20091004/091002235524-d277f4f05162a784e3123b968700a8f8 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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