The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board seeks a Service Provider to provide hosting and support for the current web application OR conversion and upgrade of existing application to .NET and development or web enabling of two (2) current Microsoft Access based applications, as well as hosting and support of applications.

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INFORMAL COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION

for

Hosting Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board Web Application

INTRODUCTION

The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board currently operates a number of applications. A brief description follows:

Web Reporting System (WRS) is a Java application that is hosted in a highly-available, shared WebSphere environment and utilizes a DB2 database as well as the Business Objects product to generate reports on the stored data. Based on stated business requirements, this application was designed as a highly-available, high volume transactional system.

Miscellaneous Contributions Tracking (MCT) is an application to track contributions made by out-of-state Verified Statements Registration (VSR) and One Time Contributions (OTC) to candidates in Iowa. This application is part of the WRS Java application.

IECDB owns a server that is currently co-located in the State’s server farm. This performs a number of functions, specifically:

1. Business Objects Report Destination: Business Objects server publishes its reports to a directory on this server.

2. Scanned Reports: Files are submitted as paper forms, which are scanned by IECDB staff and stored on the server.

3. Report Mover: After the Business Objects server publishes the reports to a directory on IECDB's co-located Linux Server a PHP program retrieves data about the report from the file name and the WRS DB2 database in order to determine the appropriate file naming and destination on the Report Browser system. This makes the report accessible via the Report Browser. The server hosts this application.

4. Report Browser: The Report Browser allows the general public to access any reports in its directories. The Report Browser directory structure is populated by the Report Mover and by scanned paper filings moved there by IECDB staff. All reports are maintained in PDF format. The server also hosts this application.

Lobbyist Client Reporting Application: This is an ASP application that provides a Web interface for Lobbyists and Clients to file required reports. The application connects to an Access database.

In accordance with the informal competition procedures provided for in 11 Iowa Administrative Code rule 106.9, the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board (the Agency) is seeking an information technology firm (Service Provider) to provide hosting and support for the current web application OR conversion and upgrade of existing application to .NET and development or web enabling of two (2) current Microsoft Access based applications, as well as hosting and support of applications. The Agency anticipates that the term of any resulting contract will be twelve (12) months from completion, with an option to renew yearly, beginning on September 1, 2006.

Service Providers interested in providing these services should submit proposals to the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, 510 E. 12th, Suite 1A, Des Moines, IA 50319, no later than 3:00 p.m. (local time), July 21, 2006. Any proposal received after this deadline will be rejected and returned to the Service Provider.

Proposals should include the Service Provider’s cost proposal and sufficient information regarding the Service Provider’s ability to perform the services sought to enable the Agency to make a judgment about the Service Provider’s ability to perform the work identified in the Scope of Services. The Service Provider should also include references with its proposal.

The dates set forth below are for informational planning purposes only. The Agency reserves the right to change the dates:

June 27, 2006 Submit Informal Competitive Solicitation to TSB web page

June 28, 2006 Submit Informal Competitive Solicitation to three potential Service Providers

July 21, 2006 Proposals due

August 1, 2006 Select successful Service Provider

September 1, 2006 Deadline for executing contract

The Agency will utilize an evaluation committee made up of employees of the Agency to evaluate the proposals. From the date of issuance of this Informal Competitive Solicitation until announcement of the successful Service Provider, Service Providers may not contact any employee of the State of Iowa other than the identified contact person about this RFP. Service Providers may contact Karen Hudson, Systems Administrator, IECDB, 510 E. 12th, Ste. 1A, Des Moines, IA 50319 in writing with questions related to the interpretation of this Informal Competitive Solicitation and the procurement process. Written responses to all questions received will be provided to all potential Service Providers. If a Service Provider or someone acting on a Service Provider’s behalf attempts to discuss this RFP orally or in writing with any members of the evaluation committee, or any employee of the State of Iowa, other than Karen Hudson, the Service Provider may be disqualified.

The Agency reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, in whole or in part, to advertise for new proposals, to abandon the need for such services, and to cancel this Informal Competitive Solicitation at any time prior to the execution of the written contract.

All information submitted by a Service Provider may be treated as a public record by the Agency unless the Service Provider properly requests that the information be treated as confidential information in accordance with the public records laws of the State of Iowa at the time its proposal is submitted.

The costs of preparation and delivery of the bid proposal are solely the responsibility of the Service Provider.

By submitting a proposal, the Service Provider agrees that the Agency may copy the proposal for purposes of facilitating the evaluation of the proposal or to respond to requests for public records and represents that such copying will not violate the rights of any third party.

By submitting a proposal, the Service Provider agrees that it will not bring any claim or have any cause of action against the Agency based on any misunderstanding concerning the information provided herein or concerning the Agency's failure, negligent or otherwise, to provide the bidder with pertinent information as intended by this Informal Competitive Solicitation.

Notice of intent to award the contact will be sent by mail to all Service Providers submitting a timely proposal. Negotiation and execution of contract with the successful Service Provider shall be completed no later than September 1, 2006. If the apparent successful Service Provider fails to negotiate and deliver an executed contract by that date, the Agency may, in its sole discretion, cancel the award and award the contract to the next highest ranked Service Provider.

SCOPE OF SERVICES

The successful Service Provider will provide hosting and support for the current web application OR conversion and upgrade of existing application to .NET and development or web enabling of two (2) current Microsoft Access based applications, as well as hosting and support of applications. Such services shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

1.         Re-write the existing application from Java/Websphere/DB2 into Microsoft .NET;
2.         Convert web appropriate portions of IECDB Microsoft Access applications to the web;
3.         Provide hosting and on-going maintenance and support for new .NET applications; OR
4.         Provide hosting and support for current web application.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Proposals will be reviewed by the evaluation committee. The committee will consider all information provided in the proposal when making its recommendation and may consider relevant information from other sources. The evaluation committee will award the contract to the responsible Service Provider submitting the best proposal. The lowest priced proposal is not necessarily the best proposal. The evaluation committee’s selection will be subject to the final approval of the Agency.

The proposals will be evaluated and a recommendation will be made using the following criteria, which are listed in no particular order:

a. Cost;

b. Past performance of work that is identical or similar to the scope of services identified;

c. Experience and references that demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Agency, the expertise and ability of the Service Provider to provide the Scope of Services described in the Informal Competitive Solicitation; and

d. The capacity of the Service Provider to complete responsibilities described in the Scope of Services.

If there is a tie for the best proposal and only one of the Service Providers is an Iowa business, the Iowa business shall be given preference over the out of state Service Providers.