Blaise 4 and 5 software licenses and support
ID: 1232SA24Q0005Type: Sources Sought
Overview

Buyer

AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OFAGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICEUSDA ARS AFM APDBELTSVILLE, MD, 20705, USA

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210)

PSC

IT AND TELECOM - BUSINESS APPLICATION/APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT SERVICES (LABOR) (DA01)

Original Source

https://sam.gov/opp/9e2b0437858b4540a41ab707104d09b6/view
Timeline
    Description

    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking information from vendors regarding the renewal of licenses and support for Blaise 4 and 5 software, which is critical for the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) in managing data from 800 interview units and supporting 16 developers. The procurement aims to ensure the continued operation of over 200 customized surveys that have been developed using Blaise over the past 20 years, emphasizing the impracticality of transitioning to alternative solutions due to high costs and lack of comparable functionalities. Interested vendors are invited to submit their responses by 12:00 PM EST on November 12, 2024, to Katelyn Nelson at katelyn.nelson@usda.gov, providing details such as organization name, contact information, and a statement of capability, while adhering to strict compliance with Section 508 accessibility standards throughout the software's lifecycle.

    Point(s) of Contact
    Katelyn Nelson
    (301) 837-8754
    katelyn.nelson@usda.gov
    Files
    Title
    Posted
    Statement of Objectives - Blaise.pdf
    The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) seeks to renew its licensing for Blaise 4 and 5 software, critical for the operation of 16 developers and managing data from 800 interview units. The renewal covers a 12-month base period, with two possible 12-month extensions. NASS has used Blaise for over 20 years, programming over 200 customized surveys essential to its mission. Alternatives are impractical due to significant transition costs and lack of comparable functionalities. Westat, Inc. is the sole vendor authorized to distribute Blaise licenses in the Americas. The software must support comprehensive Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI), integrate data from multiple sources, and facilitate thorough response review by statisticians. Deliverables include software licenses and technical support, with strict compliance to Section 508 accessibility standards governing all ICT products and services. The document outlines the necessity of maintaining software compliance throughout its lifecycle, focusing on accessibility for individuals with disabilities. This RFP reflects the USDA’s commitment to ensuring reliable data collection processes and operational continuity through established vendor relationships and stringent compliance requirements.
    Lifecycle
    Title
    Type
    Blaise 4 and 5 software licenses and support
    Currently viewing
    Sources Sought
    Similar Opportunities
    USDA eDiscovery Litigation Support and Service
    Active
    Agriculture, Department Of
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking qualified vendors to provide eDiscovery Litigation Support Services through a cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform that is FedRAMP Moderate certified. The primary objective of this procurement is to facilitate the collection, preservation, processing, and production of electronically stored information (ESI) for legal and regulatory purposes, transitioning from current systems to a unified cloud solution that integrates with existing tools and supports diverse data formats. This initiative is crucial for ensuring compliance with legal standards and enhancing the efficiency of eDiscovery processes within the USDA. Interested vendors must submit their responses electronically to Bill Patterson at william.pattersonjr@usda.gov by 1:00 PM Eastern Time on January 3, 2025, with an anticipated contract value of approximately $20 million and a performance period of 60 months.
    Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Surveillance Sample Collection
    Active
    Agriculture, Department Of
    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), through its Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), is seeking vendors to provide Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) sample collection services across various cattle populations in the U.S. The procurement aims to establish multiple Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts, focusing on vendors with access to targeted cattle demographics, to enhance the government's BSE surveillance efforts. This initiative is critical for ensuring animal health and public safety, as it involves the collection, documentation, and shipping of brain stem samples for testing, adhering to strict quality control standards. Interested vendors must submit their proposals by 12:00 PM EST on November 20, 2025, with a minimum order requirement of $300 and maximum order limitations not exceeding $2.4 million, while also contacting Amanda Imlach at amanda.imlach@usda.gov for further inquiries.
    Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Surveillance Sample Collection
    Active
    Agriculture, Department Of
    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), through its Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), is preparing to solicit bids for the collection of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) surveillance samples from cattle across the United States. This initiative aims to gather brain stem samples from targeted cattle populations, which are subject to change based on the evolving demographics of the national cattle population. The government intends to award multiple firm fixed price Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts to vendors capable of accessing these cattle populations, with the solicitation expected to be released on or around November 20, 2024. Interested parties should monitor SAM.gov for the solicitation number 12639525Q0012 and are encouraged to reach out to Amanda Imlach at amanda.imlach@usda.gov or 978-770-3634 for further inquiries.
    D--SOFTWARE SUPPORT-earthquake monitoring and data product distribution
    Active
    Interior, Department Of The
    The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is seeking a contractor to provide software support for earthquake monitoring and data product distribution, essential for the Advanced National Seismic System. The procurement aims to maintain, develop, update, and support software systems that enhance the nation's ability to respond to earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis, facilitating real-time data access for emergency responders, engineers, and scientists. This five-year contract, structured as a firm-fixed price with a total ceiling of $5 million, is set aside for small businesses and is expected to commence on March 1, 2025, with the solicitation anticipated to be posted on sam.gov in January 2025. Interested parties should contact Tracy Huot at thuot@usgs.gov for further information and to be added to the interest list.
    Forest Inventory and Analysis BPA Suite
    Active
    Agriculture, Department Of
    The Department of Agriculture, specifically the Forest Service, is seeking qualified contractors for the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Suite. This initiative aims to enhance scientific and technical knowledge related to the inventory and analysis of the Nation's forests, focusing on collecting and reporting data about forest extent, content, and condition across 24 states. The FIA program is crucial for providing timely and credible information to various stakeholders, including policymakers and natural resource agencies, and requires contractors to demonstrate technical qualifications through past performance and capability assessments. Interested contractors must respond to the Sources Sought Notice to be considered for the BPA, with contact inquiries directed to Gayle Geiger at gayle.geiger@usda.gov or by phone at 470-705-0968.
    Updated Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements - Domestic Programs (MSCP-D)
    Active
    Agriculture, Department Of
    The Department of Agriculture, specifically the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), has issued a Special Notice regarding the Updated Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements - Domestic Programs (MSCP-D), effective October 24, 2024. This solicitation outlines the provisions and contract requirements for vendors interested in supplying commodities for various USDA food programs, including the National School Lunch Program and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. The updated document emphasizes compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), vendor qualification criteria, and sustainability measures, ensuring that all commodities are sourced from U.S. suppliers. Interested vendors can find more information and submit bids electronically via the Web Based Supply Chain Management system (WBSCM). For inquiries, contact David C. Jackson at davidc.jackson@usda.gov or Elizabeth Hoover at elizabeth.hoover@usda.gov.
    NRI - Grazing Land On-Site Data Collection - Southern California
    Active
    Agriculture, Department Of
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture, specifically the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center, is seeking qualified contractors for the National Resources Inventory Grazing Land On-Site Data Collection project in Southern California, covering the years 2025 to 2029. The objective is to gather comprehensive rangeland resource data on selected federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands through a structured sampling approach, which includes assessing soil, vegetation, and ecological site information at designated sampling points. This initiative is crucial for effective land resource management and conservation practices, reflecting the government's commitment to environmental stewardship. Interested parties must submit capability statements by January 10, 2025, to the primary contact, Marilyn MacTaggart, at Marilyn.MacTaggart@usda.gov, or the secondary contact, Blake Boyer, at blake.boyer@usda.gov, as this opportunity is part of market research and not a formal Request for Proposals.
    DPP Vet TBB cervid test kits
    Active
    Agriculture, Department Of
    The Department of Agriculture, specifically the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), is seeking to procure Dual Path Platform (DPP) Vet Tuberculosis (TB) Assay test kits through a sole source justification. This procurement is critical for detecting Mycobacterium bovis antibodies in cervid samples, which plays a vital role in the Federal Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Program aimed at controlling the spread of this infectious disease among livestock and captive cervids. The USDA has relied on the DPP test since its official recognition in 2013, and the estimated contract value for 400 test kits is $96,347, with delivery scheduled for 2025. Interested parties can reach out to Jason L. Wilking at Jason.L.Wilking@usda.gov or by phone at 612-336-3210 for further information.
    STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT LICENSED PLATFORM SUBSCRIPTION
    Active
    Commerce, Department Of
    The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting a Sources Sought Notice to identify qualified sources for a customized online standards development platform licensed subscription. The platform is required to facilitate the management of standards document development processes, including features for committee participation, discussion tracking, voting mechanisms, document commenting, editing, and archiving. This initiative is crucial for enhancing collaboration among various stakeholders involved in standards development, ensuring efficient and effective document management. Interested vendors must submit detailed capability statements and relevant information to Randy E. Schroyer at randy.schroyer@nist.gov by the specified response date, with no formal solicitation documents currently available.
    UPLC™ Acquity™ High Resolution Columns and Guards
    Active
    Agriculture, Department Of
    The Department of Agriculture, specifically the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), is seeking to procure UPLC™ Acquity™ High Resolution Columns and Guards through an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with Waters Corporation. This procurement is essential for conducting regulatory testing of antibiotics and drug residues in meat animal tissue, as the columns are specifically validated for use within USDA-FSIS analytical methods, making Waters Corporation the sole manufacturer without equivalent alternatives. The anticipated contract value ranges from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $500,000, covering a base year and four one-year options, with quotes due by January 8, 2025, at 2:00 PM EST. Interested vendors should submit their quotes, including pricing and a signed SF1449, to Barbara Nelson at barbara.nelson@usda.gov.