70 -- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)INCIDENT QUALIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION SYSTEM (IQCS)

Notice Date

April 5, 2001

Contracting Office

BLM, BC-660, Bldg #50, Denver Federal Center, P.O. Box 25047, Denver, CO 80225-0047

ZIP Code

80225-0047

Response Due

April 25, 2001

Point of Contact

John Sherman (303) 236-0225; John_Sherman@blm.gov

E-Mail Address

Click here to contact the Contracting Officer via (John_Sherman@blm.gov)

Description

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) invites your participation in this Request for Information (RFI) for an Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS). The purpose of this RFI is to solicit your firm's response to the specific questions below and also comment on the "draft" Request for Proposal (RFP). A conference will take place to go with you your firm's responses to the RFI questions and comments to the "draft" RFP. The conference will be held on the afternoon of May 3 and the morning of May 4, 2001 at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), Wilson Bldg. 3833 South Development Avenue, Boise, Idaho 83075. Please contact the front desk at (208) 387-5512 for specific bldg. and room location. A limit of two representatives per company is requested. Please RSVP to the POC on who will be attending by April 25, 2001. This project is chartered under the authority of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG), and the federal and state Fire Directors. The NWCG was formed to expand operational cooperation and coordination of federal and state wildland fire agencies. The project chartered here is established to support NWCG efforts. Presently, there are three incident qualification and certification systems being used by the wildland fire community. This redundancy has created data management problems for field units. In addition to the redundancy, none of the existing system integrates all aspects if the needed business processes. There is a high level of field support for development and support of a single qualifications and certification system, which meets the needs of all-participating agencies and states. All data received in response to this RFI marked or designated as Competition Sensitive or Proprietary will be handled accordingly. The NWCG will utilize this information for technical and acquisition planning. It is recognized that cost/price information, which is provided by the contractor for the life cycle costing, is a preliminary estimate for planning purposes and the contractor will not be bound to these estimates. The NWCG invites comments related to acquisition practices. If there is a GSA or other contract vehicle already available to the Government for the application being proposed, please include this information in the response. Please contact the POC via e-mail for a copy of the "draft" RFP and for responses to any of your questions. We request your specific responses on the following topics. Please submit your responses via e-mail to the POC on or before the close of business of April 25, 2001. This will then allow the NWCG representatives enough time for review prior to the May 3, 2001 conference. 1.) Are the attached IQCS Project specifications what you would consider adequate to submit a proposal? Would you be interested in submitting a proposal for each of three developmental phases (Design, Construct, and Implementation)? If not, which phase(s) would you be interested in submitting a proposal? 2.) Do you feel that a part, some parts or all parts of the business processes specifications could be met via a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) solution(s)? Regarding the Position Standards process, what percentage do you feel the business specifications could be met via a COTS solution(s)? Regarding the Personnel Development Administration process (that includes tracking course/offering descriptions, learning objectives, pre-course requirements, class schedules, student registration and their class participation information), what percentage do you feel the business specifications could be met via a COTS solution(s)? Regarding the Workforce Assessment process, what percentage do you feel the business specifications could be met via a COTS solution(s)? Regarding the Individual Develop Plan, "Red Card," process, what percentage do you feel the business specifications could be met via a COTS solution(s)? 3.) We believe that there would be advantages to "offerors" proposing teaming arrangements for these requirements, does your firm have similar thoughts? If so, what portions of the project would your firm be responsible and what portions would your teaming partner(s) be responsible? 4.) During performance there will be a need for extensive interface with the Government Project Manager, the Project Team and the wildland fire user community located in Boise, Idaho. How would you propose that this type of coordination be performed by your firm? What logistical difficulties would you anticipate and how would you overcome these difficulties? 5.) Would your company be willing to sign up to a Fixed Price/Lump Sum cost for each developmental phase (Design, Construction, and Implementation) of the project? 6.) Can the ten-year life cycle costing of the proposed application be accurately developed for response to the draft RFP? If so, provide this cost information now and its degree of confidence. If not, what additional information is needed to respond to the draft RFP? 7.) What risks do you foresee in the development of an Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS)? What risk mitigation strategies would you use to insure success of the IQCS Project?

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010409/70SOL007.HTM (W-095 SN50I4L3)