W912HQ24S0026 – Sources Sought – Navigation and Civil Works Data Analysis and System Support Professional Services

USACE intends to negotiate Multiple Award Task Order Contracts (MATOC) utilizing full and open competition and FAR Part 15 under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541618 (Other Management Consulting Services). The MATOC is anticipated to contain a period of performance consisting of one base year plus four one-year option periods and up to six-months to extend the contract IAW FAR 52.217-8. The anticipated maximum shared capacity of the MATOC is $49,500,000.00.

This is an updated Sources Sought Notice to W912HQ23S0020 and W912HQ23S0034. The Performance Work Statement has changed substantially. 

Submission requirements: Please submit a capabilities statement in addition to responding to the attached Questionnaire. Submissions should not exceed 25 pages with 12-point font, single spaced, using 1-inch margins. The Questionnaire, table of contents and cover pages are not included in the page count. Responses should be submitted in PDF format. Responses should describe the interested party’s capabilities to complete the required services detailed below.  The Draft Performance Work Statement is included. Oral communications will not be considered.

Background

U.S. Army Engineer Institute for Water Resources (IWR) is a Field Operating Activity (FOA) under the Commanding General, USACE, and the staff supervision of the USACE Headquarters (HQUSACE) Directorate of Civil Works under the direction of the Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations (DCG-CEO) and the Director of Civil Works (DCW).  The IWR was established in 1969 to provide the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Civil Works (CW) Program with the capability to analyze and anticipate emerging water resources trends and issues facing our nation.  From its beginning, responding to the continuing changes in water resources development policies, IWR has been tackling the complex water resources challenges stemming from an increasing public demand for water projects and the policy and technological challenges of the 21st Century.  Analytical and professional support to USACE is required to pursue innovative approaches to solving these new problems.

IWR occupies a unique position within the USACE CW program.  IWR’s challenging mission remains integral to shaping the evolution of Federal water resources policy as decision-makers at all levels within USACE look to IWR for insights into a host of complex and rapidly changing economic, environmental, climate and social issues.

Description of Services

This MATOC will obtain technical and analytical support services for IWR that is generally not readily available within the USACE.  These support services will be used by IWR in accomplishing its missions and supporting reimbursable work units for navigation and water resources work to include but not limited to the following: 

• IWR data systems and applications support, including cyber security compliance, operation, maintenance, upkeep, and development support for all the centers within IWR, with an emphasis on the work performed by the Navigation and Civil Works Decision Support Center (NDC) in Alexandria, Virginia; and New Orleans Louisiana.

• Analysis of emerging trends and issues in anticipation of changing water resources management conditions to inform the strategic direction of CW missions and the corporate development of policies, programs and investment decision-support strategies, with emphasis on the Navigation mission.

• Systems-based planning methodologies, tools and training across CW business areas, analysis, economic and socio-economic assessments, enterprise capacity development, national economic analysis, multi-criteria and risk-informed analysis. Development of results-oriented CW Program through the management of national data systems, and application for investment decision support to USACE CW on an enterprise level.

This MATOC will support NDC’s operation, maintenance, upkeep, enhancement, and development of Automated Information Systems (AIS) and applications operated and/or otherwise managed by IWR and its various centers.  Delivered services will require consideration of data and analytical requirements of the USACE’s CW water resources missions to include the areas of study and expertise that IWR provides to its customers through its research, analysis, technical assistance and training activities to include but not limited to Navigation, Flood and Storm Damage Reduction, Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration, Emergency Management, Water Supply, Hydropower and Recreation.

The incorporation of CW water resources mission support functions may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Server, Software, and Data System Maintenance
• Research and Development of Software, including Models and Data Management and Analytical Applications
• Modernization and Migration of Software for Operation from On-premise and/or Cloud Environments
• Cyber Security Risk Management Framework (RMF) and Information System Security Officer (ISSO)Services
• Data Management and Analysis
• Documentation and Training Support
• Special Studies and Investigations
• Decision Support Analysis & Assessments
• Economic Analysis

Among the AISs and applications for which NDC support will be sought are those operated and/or otherwise managed by the NDC, including the: Lock Performance Monitoring System; Dredging Information System; Notices to Navigation Interest Information System; Transportation Operations and Waterborne Statistics System; and their government-internal and public-facing applications. This contract will also allow for delivery of similar services for other yet-to-be named systems operated, managed, or supported by the IWR and its Centers. The four specific AISs referenced above are described below: 

Lock Performance Monitoring System (LPMS) – a cloud-based (Amazon Web Services) integrated data system designed to manage information and data associated with characteristics, disposition, operation, status, utilization, and overall performance of the Nation’s navigation locks.

Dredging Information System (DIS) – a cloud-based (Amazon Web Services) integrated data system designed to manage information and data associated with scope, characteristics, costs, planning, scheduling, awarding, and execution of USACE dredging programs and projects.

Notices to Navigation Interests Information System (NTNI) – a cloud-based (Amazon Web Services) integrated data system designed to manage information and data associated with scope, characteristics, scheduling, duration, and anticipated effects of USACE actions that have the potential to affect navigation of/in the nation’s navigable waters.

Transportation Operations and Waterborne Statistics (TOWS) System – a suite of databases and applications that support ingest, review, management, retrieval, reporting, and digital publication of waterborne commerce statistics (e.g., vessel operations and movements, commodity movements) and related data (e.g., dock and navigation infrastructure characteristics, port and statistical boundaries, waterway networks, commercial navigation routes), that are being transitioned from an on-premise environment into a cloud-based (Amazon Web Services) integrated data system.

Each of the referenced data systems includes government-internal user interfaces and data services designed to support:

• Data entry, retrieval, and management; data quality assurance and control; data processing, analyses, aggregation, and visualization; reporting and publication; and cross-AIS data integration (including exchange of data with other USACE AISs). 

Each of the referenced data systems also includes public-facing user interfaces and data services designed to support:

• Data aggregation and obfuscation required to ensure compliance with relevant laws and policies, data and information retrieval; visualization; reporting; and cross-AIS data integration.

Automated Information Systems Service (AIS’s)

AIS capabilities will require understanding of the following:

1. Relational and geospatial database schemas, API, and user interface development and support requirements for AISs including but not limited to LPMS, DIS, NTNI, and TOWS.
2. Web services and related software.
3. Database modernization, integration, and innovation, including awareness of such activities occurring with LPMS, DIS, NTNI, and TOWS systems, and broader industry and technological trends and advancements.
4. Cloud development and migration (familiarity with multiple cloud providers).
5. Support for AISs including enabling and facilitation of interoperability with other database, web services, and scripting and automated processes. Deep familiarity and experience with relational and geospatial database and system functions and use cases, database structure, code, and relationships among data systems operated and/or otherwise managed by the IWR and its Centers, including those operated and/or otherwise managed by the NDC and its Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center (WCSC).
6. Timely deployment of AISs maintenance patches, updates, new feature development, and troubleshooting
7. Authentication and privilege management – components such as those associated with LPMS, DIS, NTNI, and TOWS database access and management controls, web services, and login servers.
8. Provide RMF and ISSO Support.
9. User interface maintenance updates, new feature development, and troubleshooting.
10. Data Quality Control (QC), analysis, and reporting support to USACE Headquarters, Divisions, and Districts.
11. Software Quality Assurance (QA)/QC processes.
12. Techniques to dynamically aggregate and disaggregate data for purposes of disabling ability to attribute or deconstruct analyses of data to identify individual sources, to include techniques applied to LPMS, DIS, NTNI, and TOWS pursuant to requirements of the Trade Secret Act and related laws and regulations.
13. Miscellaneous improvements to other related LPMS, DIS, NTNI, and TOWS efforts.
14. Data Management Efforts.
15. In addition, the scope of this contract is intended to cover the areas of study and the kinds of expertise that IWR provides to its customers through its research, analysis, technical assistance and training activities to include but not limited to other relevant USACE work such as Climate Change; Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analysis and Engineering; Integrated Water Resources Management; Sediment Management; and Asset Management/USACE Infrastructure Strategy/Public Private Partnerships/Financing.

See the attached PWS for additional information and the attached Questionnaire for the MATOC.