Inactive 8(a) Set-Aside (FAR 19.8)

Sources Sought Notice for US Department of State Cloud Program Management Office (CPMO) PURPOSE: This Sources Sought Notice (SSN) is issued to conduct market research to determine the capabilities of ... Sources Sought Notice for US Department of State Cloud Program Management Office (CPMO) PURPOSE: This Sources Sought Notice (SSN) is issued to conduct market research to determine the capabilities of 8(a) contractors to support the Department of State’s Cloud Program Management Office. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this SSN or reimburse any costs associated with the preparation of responses. Responding contractors are requested to confirm their 8(a) socio-economic status under NAICS code 541512. This SSN is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this SSN marked “Proprietary” will be handled accordingly. Responses to the SSN will not be returned. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this SSN are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responses to this SSN will assist DOS in determining the potential level of interest, competition adequacy, and technical capabilities of U.S. owned qualified 8(a) companies to provide the required services. The Government does not guarantee any action beyond this SSN. BACKGROUND: The Department of State’s (DOS) Information Resource Management (IRM), Operations, Cloud Project Management Office (IRM/OPS/CPMO) supports the Department’s “cloud smart” strategy in order to modernize IT capabilities across the enterprise. The office implements and sustains an enterprise cloud ecosystem to provide the full range of business solutions to end users and shared service providers leveraging multiple “best in breed” commercial cloud vendors. The office manages the development, delivery and operations of new and existing enterprise cloud services. To accomplish this, the office manages internal business functions, solution architecture services, security compliance and monitoring capabilities, application level services, infrastructure capabilities and change management synchronization. In addition, the office partners with other shared service providers across the Department to enable them to deliver direct-to-consumer cloud-based services by providing access to enterprise license contracts, a streamlined security process, single sign on, data management and other capabilities. The office includes project managers, business analysts, security engineers, IT application developers, and systems engineers. The office will manage service delivery to achieve defined Service Level Agreements (SLAs). The office identifies potential areas where new tools and technologies can be used, or where new ones need to be developed, especially regarding future business expansion. REQUIREMENTS: The CPMO monitors and understands evolving Cloud Service Provider (CSP) capabilities and translates business requirements to solutions. It creates and manages IT use cases, sets architectural standards for Cloud Platforms and environments, and understands and evaluates applications, technical architectures, implementation designs and Information Assurance (IA) frameworks. Security operations at all layers will be critical to success. Potential tasks include: Task 1 - Cloud ready Application Development: Design and develop cloud applications for a number of cloud solutions such as ServiceNow, Salesforce, or other cloud solutions that are currently used by the Department or may be leveraged in the future. These should be developed in a way that provides a similar theme yet produces specific experiences for our users depending on what platform they are on. Security should be incorporated into these applications from inception, and where applicable, separate ATO’s achieved. Also, understand and execute the necessary processes to deploy the application to the necessary marketspace to include adherence with Information Assurance (IA) and Diplomatic Security (DS) system reporting requirements. Design and develop applications that appropriately represents the CPMO and create an application environment that encourages and facilitates user interaction, acceptance and leverages the Department’s investment in existing and future enterprise Cloud architectures and solutions. Agile Project Management The project will be integrated using an approach to deliver the highest value work possible to the customer within a rapidly changing environment. Combination of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific objectives (i.e., scope, sprint goals) within targeted timeline and budget. Task 2 - IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS Management Assist the government in its management of IaaS platforms, including but, not limited to Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Microsoft Azure. This includes configuring and maintaining various environments, integrating with on and off-prem services as needed (Okta, Active Directory), utilizing DevOps automation, Infrastructure as Code and the Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery pipeline (CI/CD). All services will comply with security and governance, including FedRAMP where appropriate. Authority to Operate (ATOs) shall be achieved and maintained. The contractor shall assist the government in its management of PaaS and SaaS platforms, including but not limited to Google Workspace (G Suite), ServiceNow and SalesForce. The contractor shall configure, deploy, and maintain in a secure fashion all CPMO managed platforms. Task 3 - IT Collaboration Support Provide technical, management and subject matter expertise for the Foreign Affairs Network (FAN) (G-Suite) as an IT Shared Service. Provide leadership and technical support for the development and oversight of the execution of design solutions for customer transitions. Provide leadership, technical support, and coordination for multi-office, multi-agency engineering design efforts and systems integration. Provide marketing and project management support for DOS and external agency (customer) transitions to the FAN. Task 4 - IT Budget Reporting and Administrative Support Assist with drafting and managing the CPMO fiscal year budget request by working with the COR/GTM and Division Chiefs to prepare the annual IT operating budget submission based upon obligations and commitments to programs and goals. Manage the CPMO budget spend plan and report bi-weekly to the COR on the status of funds to include budget-to-actual comparisons. Ensure budget allotments are complete and accurate in the related financial systems of record. Propose justification for budget changes and support liaison activities between the CPMO and the appropriate IRM offices. Complete timely reviews for the completeness and accuracy of invoices and supporting documentation as a prerequisite for invoice approval. Prepare ad hoc financial reports on the cumulative IT expenditures related to specific IT projects and generate financial documentation as requested. In addition, update OMB Exhibit 300A/Bs for required projects, to include responding to Investment Review Board and OMB inquiries and providing revisions and updates as needed. Manage iSchedule and iMatrix activities and ensure compliance with DOS requirements and deadlines. Assist CPMO management in monitoring and reporting consumption of cloud spend by CPMO and customers. Assist CORs/GTMs in managing Cloud license consumption as needed. Prepare, write, format, and edit a variety of documents, to include; letters, memos, spreadsheets, presentations, charts, electronic records. These documents may be both internal and external in nature. Provide oversight for the development, collection, and maintenance of documentation as necessary throughout the lifecycle of projects/programs to include presentations, meeting minutes, action items, reports and documentation related to the transition and closeout of project/program activities, as necessary. Task 5 – Special Studies and Expert Services The Contractor shall support the program by providing, as may be required from time to time, special studies and analyses, expert services, and management analyses and participation on working groups or panels, as determined by the Program Manager. This may include providing support to other IRM offices, as directed. SSN RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS: SSN responses should conform to the format below and provide the following information: Section 1 - Cover Letter. The cover letter shall include the following: Company information – Include company name, point of contact and contact information (name, address, phone number, and email address), short description of the company (history, experience in similar size and scope of these requirements (no more than three examples), and Government clearances it holds, etc.) (Note – A Top-Secret Facility Clearance may be required). Confirmation of the company’s 8(a) socioeconomic classification based on North American Industry Classification Code 541512. Certifications – Include any certifications the company holds. Provide any additional information of potential teaming partners and/or sub-contractors. Section 2 – Response to Requirements. The purpose of this section is to provide information that will assist DOS to make a decision about how best to contract for the required products and services. Your response should include the following: A description of the contractor’s capability to provide support the five potential tasks above - The contractor shall provide a brief description of how it will provide the services, document the labor categories it will use to perform the work for each task, and note any past or current experience with each task Sample labor categories for key program staff members with hourly rates for the period April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2026 to support the required work. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Responses to this SSN must total no more than 2 pages for the cover letter (Section 1) and no more than 8 pages for Section 2, with text no smaller than 12 point; however, text included in graphics, tables, and figures can be no smaller than 10 point. Any cover pages and tables of contents, are not included in the total page count. The submissions must be in sufficient detail and clarity to provide DOS with the information it needs. Contractors may submit prices in a separate Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Please provide an electronic version of your written response in Microsoft Word 2016 and Microsoft Excel 2016 compatible files ONLY to: Andrew Rothstein, RothsteinAT@state.gov, no later than, February 12, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Government will not accept questions after February 5, 2021 at 12:00 Noon, Eastern Time. Please submit questions to RothsteinAT@state.gov The Government will send the responses to the questions to all contractors with sufficient time to complete their SSN responses. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned.