This snyopsis is issued to express the Government's intent to enter into a sole source contract with Bluemark LLC to support FNS nutrition assistance programs. This effort will focus on providing services in accordance with the following Statement of Work. C.1 BACKGROUND The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), administers nutrition assistance programs, which provide access to a more nutritious diet for low-income people. The largest of these programs is the Food Stamp Program (FSP), which provides eligible participants with a monthly allotment of benefits via an electronic benefits card that is used to purchase food at authorized retail stores. FSP benefits help low income people buy the food they need for good health and aid local economies when they are are redeemed at local food stores. State public assistance agencies operate the FSP through their local offices. The basic requirements apply in most States. However, some States have obtained waivers from FNS to operate their programs differently. Therefore, the FSP does vary from State-to-State. Since Fiscal Year 2001, FNS has received funds to educate the public about the nutrition benefits of the FSP. Because they have traditionally underused the program, FNS focuses outreach efforts on seniors, immigrants, and the working poor. These funds are used to provide individuals with information on how to access this nutrition program. Outreach is important because as of July 2000, participation in the FSP declined by nearly 40 percent from its peak in March 1994. However, recently the rate began rising again. The FSP serves about 62 percent of individuals who are eligible for program benefits. However, FNS' strategic goal is 68 percent participation among eligible people by 2005 FNS is aware that State food stamp offices and nonprofit organizations are using computerized software pre-screening tools to determine potential eligibility for one or more programs. For the FSP, these pre-screening tools provide their customers with accurate (within $5.00) estimated food stamp benefit amounts. These pre-screening systems are important because they enable potential applicants to be screened for eligibility at sites other than local food stamp offices and facilitate a one-stop shopping approach. For example, individuals are currently pre-screened for benefits at places of worship, employment sites, schools, hospitals, senior centers, etc. These tools are also important because they estimate the amount of benefits one could receive. Research has shown that providing this information helps people understand how the program can impact their own personal situation and encourages them to take the next step to apply. In 2001, FNS requested that the General Services Administration's Federal Systems Integration and Management Center (GSA FEDSIM) provide acquisition and technical support to help FNS acquire and implement an automated pre-screening tool . GSA FEDSIM issued a Task Order Request (TOR) through Millennia Lite Functional Area 1 for a Requirement Analysis and Market Analysis to assist FNS to make a knowledgeable decision regarding its pre-screening tool. The contractor was required to recommend one pre-screening tool to the Government, and justify the recommendation. The contractor recommended a pre-screening tool developed by Community Catalyst, a non-profit organization. The system is named RealBenefits. Based on these results, FNS requested GSA FEDSIM to provide acquisition and technical support to help FNS acquire and implement a modified (or customized) version of RealBenefits.. An award was made to VGS through Millennia Lite for this purpose. This task is now in the maintenance phase. Since deployment of the prescreening tool, FNS discovered that post development support is required to keep up with changing requirements in the food stamp program environment. FNS has requested post deployment support. C.2 OBJECTIVE The objective of this Task Order is to provide post deployment support for FNS' Food Stamp Prescreening tool (www.foodstamps-step1.usda.gov.). C.3 SCOPE The scope of this Task Order encompasses all technical and management support required to provide post deployment support (including maintenance and enhancements) to FNS' prescreening tool found at www.foodstamps-step1.usda.gov. -- NOTICE -- All electronic and information technology (EIT) procured through this Task Order must meet the applicable accessibility standards of 36 CFR 1194. 36 CFR 1194 implements Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and is viewable at the following URL: http://www.section508.gov The following Section 508 technical standards are applicable to this task order, as a minimum: " Software Applications and Operating Systems (1194.21) " Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications (1194.22) " Video or Multimedia Products (1194.24) C.4 TASKS POST DEPLOYMENT SOFTWARE SUPPORT (PDSS). The contractor shall provide PDSS to FNS's Food Stamp Prescreening tool. PDSS shall include system level maintenance and enhancements. Support shall be provided for application specific system level operations. C.4.1 Task 4.1 - MAINTENANCE The contractor shall provide technical support for the maintenance and operation of the pre-screening tool. The contractor shall identify for FNS a designated contact or account representative who is familiar with the modified pre-screening tool. Support shall include: Toll free telephone support, including the ability to perform diagnostics remotely, during the hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. Access to qualified technical support by telephone, voice mail, and e-mail, seven (7) days a week, twenty-four hours a day. The contractor shall correct errors in coding that were not detected during acceptance testing. The contractor shall provide users with a work around solution or otherwise assist users prior to software modification. The contractor shall modify and deliver the VDD and Golden Master as required by software modifications The contractor shall provide support for changes to the software based on Food Stamp Program policy changes. C.4.2. Task 4.2 CHANGE AND ENHANCEMENT REQUESTS (CERS) The contractor shall implement the Change and Enhancement Requests (CER) identified by FNS. The contractor shall develop an iterative project schedule for the completion, test and integration of the changes. FNS quality assurance (QA) and functional users shall test and certify all changes. Any system modifications that are identified as risk-causing flaws will be communicated to FNS immediately. FNS will decide, in conjunction with recommendations by the contractor, where the modification will fall within the contractor's work schedule, and the contractor shall act upon the CER appropriately. A high-risk modification request is defined as one where: 1. Users are being seriously impaired from using the system to perform work. 2. System is at risk of failure or serious performance reduction 3. System or data integrity is at risk. On a bi-weekly scheduled basis for the first two months, the contractor shall facilitate a work schedule and prioritization meeting via conference call. The purpose of this meeting will be to 1. Evaluate new modification requests for acceptance, rejection and prioritization. 2. Review progress on existing CERS and work in progress. 3. Reprioritize CERs and revise work schedule to reflect these changes. Following the first two months, these meeting will occur monthly. Prior to this meeting, the contractor shall identify which functions the modification addresses. Also, the contractor shall assess all new requests and document the estimated hours and cost for the modification, as well as the potential impact of the change on the overall system and its functionality. In addition, a verification of costs shall be done against all CERs that are active within the work plan. The contractor shall perform all work relating to reporting and maintaining the CER work plans, priorities and detailed data, and will be prepared to report this information to FNS as needed. C.4.3 Task 4.3 TEST AND MIGRATE CHANGES The contractor shall conduct system testing for all changes and enhancements made to the Food Stamp Prescreening tool. Contractor will provide test plans and test results with the delivery of source code, installation guide, and any system documentation, including update design document and updated requirements document. Contractor will be available to assist FNS configuration management (CM) team with migrating code to FNS test environment. FNS users and QA personnel shall test all changes and enhancements. Contractor will be available to assist FNS CM with migrating code to FNS Production environment. C.4.4 Task 4.4 FIELDING OF SOFTWARE PATCHES The Contractor shall fix all priority 1 and 2 problem reports as defined by FNS QA team within 5 business days. Priority 3, 4 and 5 problem reports within 10 business days. If a reported problem cannot be fixed within the specified time, an agreed upon work-around will be put in placed until the fix can be implemented. All appropriate documentation and the database shall be updated as required. The Contractor shall transmit each incremental release electronically to the Government CM team. C.4.5 Task 4.5 WEB SERVER MAINTENANCE The Contractor shall maintain the existing web page. The Contractor shall add sites to the web page as requested by the Government. F.1 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE This Task Order shall be valid for a basic performance period calculated from date of award as follows: The base year will be for a twelve month period from date of award. There will be two Optional period extensions that shall begin on the anniversary date of the award of this order for the years 2005, and 2006. F.2 PLACE OF DELIVERY The contractor shall perform the majority of work at the contractor's facilities. Some long distance travel may be required. Interested potential offerors are invited to submit technical capability statements to Department of the Interior, National Business Center, Acquisition and Property Management Division, Southwest Branch, PO Box 12924, Fort Huachuca, AZ 85670-2924. Overnight Delivery Address: Auger and Adair Streets, Building #22208, 2nd Floor, Fort Huachuca, AZ 85613-6000. POC: Kelly Prussman (Contract Specialist), Phone: (520)533-1064, Fax (520)538-0415, E-Mail:
[email protected].