United States - ECS Middleware Maintenance

Description

Added: Apr 19, 2019 11:37 am

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quotation (RFQ), Invitation for Bids (IFB) or a promise to issue an RFP or formal acquisition in the future. This RFI does not commit the U.S. Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever nor does it intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Finance (CBPOF) is not, at this time, seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. All who respond to this RFI are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or inquiries, nor the U.S. Government's use of such information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the Interested Party's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future procurement, if any, is released.

Based on the response to this RFI, a determination to compete or not to compete a future procurement is solely within the discretion of the U.S. Government. If a solicitation is released, it will be advertised on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website, or the GSA eBuy website depending on acquisition strategy established. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this RFI or a future solicitation.
CBPOF is conducting market research for a future requirement. This is an RFI released pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 - Market Research and Part 15.201(e). This RFI's purpose is to obtain market information on viable sources for maintenance/troubleshooting on already existing middleware used in the Electronic Collection of CBP revenue.
PROGRAM BACKGROUND
1.0 The foundation of Customs and Border Protection's current Electronic Collection Systems (ECS) software originates from 1999 with the NCR XR7. Initially, the software was developed for Windows NT. Restaurant Industry Systems, Inc. (RIS) had to acquire independent software libraries to handle network communications, data base indexes, screen grid handling, Remote Job Entry (RJE) and Message Queueing (MQ) communications.
Through the following 10+ years, RIS updated ECS software for Windows 2000 and Windows XP platforms with new compilers and updated independent software libraries. The current Visual Studio development environment for Windows 7 includes many previously acquired independent software libraries as part of its standard portfolio. Through the same 10+ years, RIS provided point of sale (POS) platform changes in the ECS software. This RFI is only for maintenance and troubleshooting on the current middleware.
The following is a list of ECS software updates that have been completed over the past 15 years:

• 1999 - Polling for 2170
• 2000 - Polling for 7448
• 2000 - Migrate to WAN/LAN
• 2004 - TGA Reporting
• 2005 - Real Pos 70
• 2006 - CSV Export Utility
• 2007 - Time Intervals
• 2007 - Split and assign dollar amount to combined class codes
• 2007 - Real Pos and RIS database synchronization
• 2011 - RIS Software Upgrade
• 2012 - RIS Software Upgrade for Windows 7 and Manager Workstation
(MWS) Software rollout to Active Directory (AD) domain
• 2015 - RIS/MWS 2.2 Update

REQUIREMENTS
2.1 USCBP is requesting information on interested vendors for 20 hours of software maintenance assistance per month. The current software in use was developed by Restaurant Industry Systems (RIS), and is utilized as a middleware solution in over 180 Ports of Entry and over 370 work stations for cash registers throughout the country. The point of sale cash registers utilizes software made by National Cash Registers, Inc. (NCT). The electronic data files created by this software are imperative to collecting and reporting funds to both Automated Commercial System and Treasury.
The software currently handles network communications, data base indexes, screen grid handling, Remote Job Entry (RJE) and Message Queueing (MQ) communications.
2.2 The contractor shall deliver the following objectives/requirements for maintenance of the middleware software on the Electronic Collection System:
• The Contractor shall provide twenty (20) hours monthly of expert technical assistance on troubleshooting, researching, and technical support of the Polling and Reconciliation software systems.
• The Contractor shall maintain the ability to handle issues with Polling and Recon software relating to all systems at the hundreds of ports of entry for CBP.
• The Contractor shall analyze, test, and document all inquiries and issues that arise with software deriving from the Ports and/or the Indianapolis office.
• The Contractor shall provide software support and cover all malfunctions, trouble shooting, and requested/required updates for the polling and recon software for all Ports of Entry using the software suite.
• Software support also requires a CBP replica lab in the contractor's office; the Contractor shall support the lab, that requires maintenance and support personnel to be available and equipped with the expertise to support these software systems at all times.
• The Contractor shall clean-up unused code
• Maintain sequential deposit ticket numbers for split deposit (Paper Check Conversion over the Counter)
• Maintain sort function by headers
• Maintain ability to have multiple windows open at the same time (ex. Recon and deposit windows)
• Maintain method of deleting unnecessary batches (or lines with mistakes) but still adhere to CBP numbering policies, which will be provided at a later time.
• Maintain a method to make the polling software minimize specified timeframe (10 minutes) - some kind of timer
• Maintain a method to subtotal transactions in unmatched, or deposit line to get total dollar amount and compare to overage/shortage amounts.
• Maintain a search field with ability to search for specific transaction numbers, reference numbers, etc.
• Maintain the ability to disable the void/shortages from becoming positive transactions
DELIVERY
3.0 Delivery Period:
CBP anticipates a 12-month award, with two additional options of 6 months each, beginning around April 2020.
REQUESTED INFORMATION
4.0 Responses
4.1 Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a white paper.
4.2 White papers in Microsoft Word for Office 2013 compatible format are due no later than 28 June 2019, 23:59 CST. Responses shall be submitted via e-mail only to the contract specialist. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned.
4.3. White paper shall provide administrative information, and shall include the following as a minimum: Name, mailing address, overnight delivery address (if different from mailing address), phone number, fax number, and e-mail of designated point of contact.
QUESTIONS
5.0 Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted in writing by e-mail to the Contracting Specialist Lloyd A. Burton at the following email address lloyd.a.burton@cbp.dhs.gov. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Questions will be answered by posting answers to (FedBizOpps) website accordingly, questions shall NOT contain proprietary or classified information. The Government does not guarantee that questions received after 28 June 2019 will be answered.

SUMMARY
THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY to identify sources. The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. CBP has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment nor as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned. The Government is not required to respond to any information provided in response to this RFI. It is the responsibility of the interested parties to monitor FedBizOpps.gov for additional information pertaining to this RFI.

Opportunity closing date

28 June 2019

Value of contract

to be confirmed