ICDD DATABASE LICENSE

This Request for Quotation (RFQ) 140G0126Q0170, issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) OAG Reston Acquisition Branch, seeks proposals for an ICDD DATABASE LICENSE and related software subscription services (Product/Service Code: 7A21). The RFQ is not a small business set-aside. Key dates include a quotation due date of June 8, 2026, and a delivery date of June 10, 2027, with a performance period from June 11, 2026, to June 10, 2027. The document outlines instructions for offerors, including submission requirements, evaluation criteria focusing on technical compliance (acceptable/unacceptable) and price (lowest acceptable), and various federal acquisition clauses. Notable clauses cover contractor employee whistleblower rights, prohibition on contracting with inverted domestic corporations, combating trafficking in persons, and electronic invoicing through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP). Attachments include a Statement of Work and FISMA documentation. Offers will be evaluated based on technical compliance and price, with award going to the lowest-priced, technically acceptable quotation.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Office of Acquisition and Grants has issued a FISMA 18-Point Checklist outlining IT security guidelines for contractors. These requirements are incorporated into Statements of Work/Performance Work Statements for COTS hardware/software, custom application development/maintenance, and outsourced IT services. Key provisions include background investigations, non-disclosure agreements, mandatory annual security awareness training, and immediate notification of personnel changes. Contractors must adhere to DOI's System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and NIST SP 800-64. The document details responsibilities for asset valuation, security categorization (FIPS 199, NIST SP 800-60), and property rights for software. Certification and Accreditation (C&A) are required for custom applications and contractor-managed systems, following NIST SP 800-37, 800-18, 800-30, 800-60, 800-53A, FIPS 199 and 200. Contractors must also implement USGS-approved logon banners for web applications, report security incidents, ensure software is free of malicious code, conduct annual self-assessments, and provide contingency plans for IT support services. All work performed outside the U.S. requires express written permission and an acceptable security plan. These guidelines ensure the protection of USGS IT systems and data, particularly those containing sensitive or Privacy Act information.

This document outlines the accessibility requirements for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) procured, developed, maintained, or used by federal agencies, as mandated by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. It details specific conformance standards for electronic content, hardware, and software, emphasizing compliance with WCAG 2.0 Level A and AA Success Criteria. The document also addresses functional performance criteria to ensure accessibility for users with various disabilities, including those without vision, with limited vision, without perception of color, without hearing, with limited hearing, without speech, with limited manipulation, limited reach and strength, and limited language, cognitive, and learning abilities. Furthermore, it specifies requirements for applications, authoring tools, and support documentation and services. Offerors are instructed to provide an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) using the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) to demonstrate how their ICT meets applicable Section 508 standards. They must also describe their approach to universal design, plans for non-conforming features, and typical user scenarios for accessibility testing. The government reserves the right to test proposed ICT items to validate conformance claims before acceptance.

The USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center (GEMSC) requires a standalone server license for a database containing independently verified powder diffraction data. This database will support 10 researchers across three laboratories (XRD, BRInE, PORE) in characterizing natural and synthetic materials, crucial for research aligned with Executive Orders 14151 and 14241. The license must allow unlimited PC workstations, simultaneous access for 10 concurrent users, and annual renewals at a reduced cost with electronic delivery. The powder diffraction database needs to contain single-phase tabulated X-ray data for over 400,000 inorganic and 500,000 organic materials, including interplanar spacings, relative intensities, and mineral properties. The accompanying software must offer searchable mineralogical phase identification, batch processing for Rietveld refinement, whole pattern fitting, diffraction data pattern indexing, Rietveld structural refinement, cluster analysis, and independent operation from diffractometer hardware.