SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- Geographic Information Systems
- Notice Date
- 1/10/2012
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541512
— Computer Systems Design Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, 6707 Democracy Blvd., Suite 105, Bethesda, Maryland, 20894, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20894
- Solicitation Number
- NIHLM2012283
- Archive Date
- 2/8/2012
- Point of Contact
- Kimberly Pringle, Phone: 301-496-6546
- E-Mail Address
-
kp271m@nih.gov
(kp271m@nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- This is a Small Business Sources Sought Notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUB-Zone small businesses; service- disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Library of Medicine (NLM) is conducting a market survey only to help determine the availability and technical capability of qualified small businesses of various types such as veteran-owned small businesses and/or HUB-Zone small businesses. Interested small business must be capable of serving the needs identified below and must possess the necessary skills as identified. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 541512 with a small business size standard of $25 million. This Sources Sought Notice is for informational and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation or commitment by the Government. This notice is intended strictly for market research. 1.0 BACKGROUND The National Library of Medicine (NLM), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, is the world's largest medical library. The NLM collects materials in all areas of biomedicine and health care, as well as those dealing with biomedical aspects of technology, the humanities, and the physical, life, and social sciences. Most of these resources are available for no charge via the World Wide Web. The NLM Division of Specialized Information Services (SIS) produces information resources on a range of topics covering toxicology, environmental health, HIV/AIDS, drug and consumer product information, and disaster/emergency preparedness and response. The Toxicology and Environmental Health Information Program (TEHIP) component covers toxicology, environmental health, and chemistry. The Outreach and Special Populations Branch (OSPB) seeks to improve access to quality and accurate health information by underserved and special populations. The Disaster Information Management Research Center (DIMRC) helps provide online and downloadable information resources relevant to national emergency preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. SIS also coordinates many of the National Library of Medicine's HIV/AIDS information activities. SIS is responsible for a collection of databases and related information on environmental health and toxicology. Some of these resources are created in SIS; others originate from a variety of national and international agencies and associations. With a strategic goal to facilitate and encourage use of high-quality information, NLM has an interest in exploring alternate ways to make its information more compelling and understandable to a broad audience through integration of data from reputable health data sources and via visual data presentation techniques. One approach to facilitate better understanding of database content and to enhance the translation from data into knowledge is the integration and display of data from different health data sources into a geospatial presentation. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) use visualization by electronically capturing, storing, analyzing, and displaying geographically referenced information (data identified according to location). One SIS resource, TOXMAP (http://toxmap.nlm.nih.gov), currently uses maps of the United States to help users visually explore data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and Superfund Program, as well as data from the US Census (population information), the Bureau of Economic Analysis (income figures), the National Cancer Institute (http://www.cancer.gov/), and the National Center for Health Statistics (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/). TOXMAP provides a map-based gateway to relevant bibliographic references and to other data resources about the TRI and Superfund chemicals. TOXMAP has provided SIS with a solid understanding of the extensive potential of GIS. Since TOXMAP was first developed, the range and scope of SIS products has expanded, as has the capabilities of GIS. In addition, SIS has founded the Disaster Information Management Research Center (DIMRC) to help with national emergency preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. DIMRC is tasked with the collection, organization and dissemination of health information resources and informatics research related to disasters of natural, accidental, or deliberate origin. Many of the topics managed by DIMRC lend themselves to geographical interpretations.   2.0 PURPOSE and OBJECTIVES The NLM Specialized Information Services (SIS) Division is seeking professional services to collaborate with SIS staff to provide: • Professional geospatial expertise, development and support for selected SIS resources, topics, and initiatives • Maintenance of TOXMAP 4.x (http://toxmap.nlm.nih.gov/) • Continued development and ongoing maintenance of TOXMAP 5.x 3.0 PROJECT REQUIREMENTS Independently, and not as an agent for the federal government, the contractor will provide to the NLM/SIS qualified and experienced personnel and GIS expertise and implementation services for mapping and related analytical activities related to its resources and services, continued maintenance of the current TOXMAP 4.x system, and development and maintenance of TOXMAP 5.x. In general, Contractor tasks will include, but not be limited to: • Following progress and reporting on advances in GIS, environmental health, and disaster health applications • Working closely with SIS staff and other stakeholders in determining possible new GIS projects, goals, and priorities related to its numerous resources • Providing geospatial expertise, development and support for selected SIS resources • Maintaining and updating the current TOXMAP 4.x • Continuing development and maintenance of the new TOXMAP 5.x. • Ensuring that SIS GIS products meet all HHS/NIH/NLM standards for a public government web site, including ADA compliance for accessibility. The contractor will be proactive in ensuring that the function, maintenance and design of web sites conform to OMB Policies for Federal Public Websites (http://www.firstgov.gov/webcontent/reqs_bestpractices/omb_policies.shtml) and Requirements and Best Practices Checklist for Government Web Managers (http://www.firstgov.gov/webcontent/reqs_bestpractices/reqs_checklist.shtml), and practices for web sites, and be familiar with the primary government source for information on usability and user-centered design (http://usability.gov/) and other applicable government standards.   A. Geospatial Expertise, Development and Support for Selected SIS Resources The Division of Specialized Information Services (SIS) produces information resources on a range of topics covering toxicology, environmental health, HIV/AIDS, drug and consumer product information, and disaster/emergency preparedness and response. The Toxicology and Environmental Health Information Program (TEHIP) component covers toxicology, environmental health, and chemistry. The Disaster Information Management Research Center (DIMRC) helps provide online and downloadable information resources relevant to national emergency preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. The Outreach and Special Populations Branch (OSPB) seeks to improve access to quality and accurate health information by underserved and special populations. SIS also coordinates many of the National Library of Medicine's HIV/AIDS information activities. Each of these areas develops and maintains health resources for health professionals and for the public and is interested in the use of innovative communication technologies like GIS. In pursuit of this end, the contractor shall: • Provide expert level GIS capabilities which enables SIS to respond to relevant and topic-based events in a time-sensitive manner, with geospatial representations and other spatial solutions including static maps, spatial analysis, and web-based mapping tools • Provide expert advice and implementation services for mapping and related analytical activities • Emphasize use of open source and web-based technologies. B. Maintenance of TOXMAP 4.x TOXMAP 4.x was designed in 2002 with ESRI ArcIMS software. ESRI is no longer updating ArcIMS; TOXMAP is currently undergoing a redesign using ESRI ArcGIS (with ArcSDE and Tomcat) server software, PostgreSQL database, and web services. It is anticipated that after public release of TOXMAP 5.x, TOXMAP 4.x will be frozen-- only its data will be updated. • Integrate updated data sources (e.g. EPA, National Atlas) as they become available and report on their accuracy • Maintain TOXMAP 4.x software/hardware and everything under "Spatial Tier" and "Data" (see attached "TOXMAP System Requirements") • Utilize currently used technologies, including ArcIMS, Java, Servlets, JSP, Tiles MySQL, SOAP and Struts • Work with SIS system administration staff on hosting issues • Coordinate and conduct software and data releases to SIS staging and production servers throughout project lifecycle • Coordinate functional testing, load testing, and cross-browser testing; conduct functional testing • Capture and track requirements for 1)software and data enhancements 2)defects and problems • Maintain current problem reporting/tracking process (currently in Scarab/ http://www.solitone.org/scarab-021-doc/) C. Development and ongoing maintenance of TOXMAP 5.x Since TOXMAP 4.x was first deployed, GIS has flourished and is used by a wider online audience. Users' expectations of web mapping systems have been re-defined by the widespread use of Google Maps, which feature dynamic map behavior and a rich user experience. Concurrently, ESRI has ceased development of ArcIMS, on which TOXMAP 4.x is built, and has migrated toward ArcGIS Server and rich client development with Adobe Flex or other client technologies. SIS is now developing an updated, "next-generation" TOXMAP 5.x that leverages these technologies. • Provide full development lifecycle support • Design user interface and map presentation changes as new types of desired data and maps are identified • Integrate updated data sources (e.g. EPA, National Atlas) as they become available and report on their accuracy • Make architectural and design changes as functional and non-functional requirements demand • Maintain TOXMAP problem reporting/tracking process and data import/review process • Work with SIS system administration staff on hosting issues • Maintain TOXMAP 5.x software/hardware (including ESRI ArcGIS Server and Flex technologies) • Coordinate and conduct software and data releases to SIS staging and production servers throughout project lifecycle • Coordinate functional testing, load testing, and cross-browser testing; conduct functional testing • Capture and track requirements for 1)software and data enhancements 2)defects and problems • Implement interface, develop ideas for TOXMAP 5.x: o Identify capabilities and features for TOXMAP 5.x based on discussions with SIS and NLM staff, feedback from the public and other NLM partners, and the Contractor. o Use this input to continue developing and enhancing the TOXMAP 5.x web site. Enhancements to be delivered will start with informal presentations of ideas and may include simple conceptual sketches to illustrate ideas. o Provide a technical brief/preliminary detailed design document that outlines the recommended technology changes (if any), including an impact analysis report, and how changes would be applied. The specification shall provide details sufficient for efficient and unambiguous implementation of the interface elements. The contractor will then take approved ideas and sketches and provide plans, workflow and timelines for approval. o Based on requirements, the contractor will do all software engineering, programming, testing and development necessary to integrate new content on the public web site. (In general, subject content --chemical information, web links, etc.--will be provided by SIS.) Development will be in alignment with the existing TOXMAP architecture and infrastructure. D. TOXMAP Software/ Hardware The public TOXMAP4.x and 5.x web sites will be maintained at SIS/NLM and the contractor will work cooperatively with SIS technical staff to ensure public access to the latest version of TOXMAP in compliance with SIS system requirements. The contractor will work closely with SIS in maintaining the production versions of TOXMAP within the current architecture of SIS servers for public access through NLM web resources. Deliverables: • Operational and publicly accessible GIS systems and geospatial representations • Production software (including source code, map data, database, html and JSP pages, documentation, etc.) • Monthly status reports • Planning reports • UI Mockups • Presentations and other promotional materials (e.g. posters, handouts) • As-requested written reports on advances in GIS and environmental health applications 4.0 ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The period of performance is for one-year from date of award. Subsequent to this initial order, there are four additional option years projected. 5.0 OTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS Some US travel may be required for presenting at conferences and for participation in other collaborative meetings as requested. The Government shall provide access to the following: 1. Reasonable access to NLM knowledge sources throughout the period of the task(s) 2. Server software, hardware, the network, and all other aspects of hosting as noted in attached document "TOXMAP System Requirements" 6.0 CAPABILITY STATEMENT Interested firms responding to this Sources Sought Notice must adhere to the following: (a) Provide a capability statement demonstrating relevant experience, skills and ability to fulfill the Government's requirement. The capability statement should contain sufficient detail for the Government to make an informed decision regarding capabilities; however, the statement should not exceed 10 pages. (b) The capability statement must identify the responder's: small business type and size; DUNS number; NAICS code; and technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. (c) All capability statements must be submitted electronically no later than 12:00pm local prevailing time on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 to Kimberly Pringle, pringlek@mail.nih.gov. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/NIH/OAM/NIHLM2012283/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: contractor site, United States
- Record
- SN02651740-W 20120112/120110234354-2e62de3bba20302173afce19ba1228b7 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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