Concerning the Database Management System

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? PRRIP - ED OFFICE MEMORANDUM TO: Governance Committee FROM: Executive Director's Office SUBJECT: Database Management System (DBMS) Non-Competitive Selection Termination DATE: November 25, 2008 RECOMMENDATION In September 2008 the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) eliminated their Technical Applications Team (TAT) which was leading the Program database development effort. The USFWS Bureau of Communication Technology (BCT) has not provided sufficient database development experience for the Executive Director's Office (ED Office) to conclude that the USFWS is qualified to continue leading the development effort. As such, the ED Office recommends termination of the non-competitive selection of the USFWS as database contractor. The Executive Director contacted Robert Batky (Chief of Strategic Planning, Washington Office Fisheries and Habitat) by telephone to notify him of the ED Office recommendation. Mr. Batky related that he understood the decision and did not offer to supply additional qualification information. If the database contract is terminated, the Program would need to continue to work with USFWS temporarily in order to develop a general project status, transfer existing work products, and facilitate repayment of project funds not expended by the TAT. Several private contractors have expressed interest in competing for a DBMS contract. The ED Office recommends that the Governance Committee (GC) issue a Request for Qualifications far database development services immediately following the December 2008 GC meeting. The ED Office also recommends that the new database contractor not be required to continue with the TAT system azchitecture. BACKGROUND In 2007, the USFWS Technical Applications Team (TAT) was retained to develop the Program's Database Management System (DBMS) via non-competitive selection. At a September 10, 2008 meeting at USFWS Region 6 headquarters in Lakewood, Colorado, Robert Batky notified Program staffthat the TAT was being eliminated due to an internal reorganization and that TAT personnel had already been transferred to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). During the meeting, Mr. Batky indicated that the USFWS could potentially continue to serve as the DBIVIS contractor through their BCT. The Executive Director indicated that that the Program would need to evaluate whether or not the USFWS continued to demonstrate the unique qualifications that served as the basis for the original non-competitive selection. At that time he also asked that the USFWS provide examples ofBCT database products for Program evaluation and notified USFWS personnel that the ED Office would work to develop a recommendation for the Governance Committee by the end of October 2008. After being reminded by the ED Offce, the BCT did provide several database examples along with a general email response to questions about BCT database development and hosting capacity and capabilities. T'he ED Office also requested an update on the current DBMS project Page 1 of 2