Director, U.S. Army Research Laboratory, ATTN: AMSRL-OP-PR-WS, White Sands Missile Range, NM 88002-5501

B -- B--SPECIAL STUDIES AND ANALYSIS SOL DAAL01-95-Q-2001 DUE 090695 POC Lucy M. Escudero, Contraact Specialist, 505/678-6085 or Contracting Officer, Barbara L. Minto, 505/678-8566. The Procurement Branch-WS, U.S. Army Research Laboratory is soliciting quotes for the purchase of services that include the following: BACKGROUND: Nearly two and three quarter years ago the Survivability Lethality Analysis Directorate (SLAD) of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory(ARL) began a development effort which has resulted in the SLAD PD (SLAD Program Database). Originally conceived as a management tool to facilitate the formulation of the Directorate's Budget Year Program, the PD has continued to evolve. In its latest iteration significant capabilities have been added to allow execution of the planned program. The concept for the PD has been expressed through a series of templates -- Work Package, Procurement, and Transfer. Central to the database is the Work Package template in two forms -- planning and execution -- consisting of four and two screens, respectively. In the Planning Work Package (PWP) these screens carry the basic flags, financial breakout, narrative description, and associated deliverables. A fundamental premise guiding the development of the SLAD PD has been its focus on the ultimate end user, the Directorate's scientists and engineers. All major design considerations have answered this criteria--What is its value to the technical user? SCOPE: The SLAD of the ARL has a requirement to review, evaluate and validate the development and implementation of the SLAD PD. This requirement includes the validation of the existing hardware and software ability to meet the design criteria and potential to provide support to an increasing user base throughout the ARL Directorates. It includes survey of marketplace options to the database with associated costs and time to implement and the development of specifications to define optional hardware/software solutions. GENERAL INFORMATION: The initialization of the PD arose from exigencies of time and financial resource, which dictated certain development paths. Existing contracts drove the selection of host computer (SGI 4D/440S), relational database management system (Informix On- Line), and programming language (Informix SQL and 4GL). While the resulting SLAD PD can in all likelihood meet the needs of the Directorate's 350 employees, its success has moved it to forefront as a candidate for an integrated database environment for the entire ARL. The question now arises, can an environment designed to support 350 users be effectively and efficiently scaled up to meet the needs of potentially 2,800 users. Complicating such a transformation--on key points continued development may not be possible. The existing development system is the latest for the platform, but is two releases behind the most current version. (Informix On- Line 5.0, the system on hand, has minimal database replicative capability in a dual site mode, Informix On-Line 7.0 does, dual site operations was a basic design goal of the PD, multisite generation may be a critical requirement for ARL wide PD use). REQUIREMENTS: 1. Validate the SLAD PD's ability to meet design criteria. Design criteria documentation shall be reviewed and validation shall be performed to determine if the criteria can be met with the existing host computer (SGI 4D/440S), relational database management system (Informix On-Line 5.0) and programming language (Informix SQL and 4GL). 2. Determine the SLAD PD's suitability (as developed) for extension to all ARL Directorates. The question arises as to whether an environment designed to support 350 users can be reasonably scaled up to meed the needs of 2800. Originally intended for the White Sands Missile Range, NM site, support is now required for sites at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Edgewood and Adelphi, Maryland, as well as Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. 3. Assess current database hardware/software configuration to quantify its limits. The system's ability to accept the addition of necessary capabilities such as electronic procurement, automated travel orders and other such market-based enhancements. 4. Survey marketplace for database hardware/software options (with associated costs in time and dollars to implement) to existing database. Evaluate alternatives to the current hardware/software configurations based on industry trends. 5. Develop specifications necessary to define optional hardware/software solutions. This requirement is for a basic period and one option. 160 hours Program Database Validation Support to include travel for one trip, with an option period for an additional 160 hours support with travel for one trip. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS (RFQ). THERE WILL BE NO FORMAL RFQ. The Government reserves the right to make no award at all. The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) for this requirement is 7379, and the size standard is $18M. SUBMIT QUOTES IN WRITING TO THE ADDRESS SHOWN ABOVE OR VIA FAX AT (505) 678-4812 not later than 15 days after publication of this notice. Quotes shall indicate business classification, i.e., small, disadvantaged, women-owned, large. Prices shall include applicable Federal, State, and local taxes. Quotes shall indicate payment terms. The Government will not pay for any effort expended in responding to this synopsis. (0233)

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