Questions and Answers, PA , Web Hosting and Data Analysis

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1 Questions and Answers, PA , Web Hosting and Data Analysis Question #1: Key areas of technical expertise: 1) Microsoft Structured Query Language (SQL) Server 2003 Management & Support: There is no version of SQL Server know as "SQL Server 2003" - the current WINSS Data Analysis section is running SQL Server should this really say SQL Server 2000? Answer #1: SQL Server 2000 SP Question #2: 9.1 PRIME CONTRACTOR AND MINORITY BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTORS: The State of Wisconsin s policy provides that minority owned business enterprises certified by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, Bureau of Minority Development should have the maximum opportunity to participate in the performance of its contracts. Are minority owned business enterprises certified by other state governments equally valid? Answer #2: No. You will have to be certified by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce. Question #3: What is the current design of the solution? Number of IIS servers? Are these loadbalanced? How many URLs? Answer #3: One IIS server, Question #4: Number of application Servers? How much storage is required? Answer #4: One web server, currently the whole system takes about 100 GB Question #5: Number of database servers; Are they clustered? How much storage is required? Answer #5: One database server Question #6: What is the Service Level Agreement for the application (uptime guarantee)? Answer #6: We would like the near 100% uptime as this is a site to service Wisconsin schools and citizens. We do realize that there will be some maintenance. If there is a system failure we do require that the system is back up within 4 hours. Question #7: Is the design currently virtualized? Answer #7: No Question #8: Is there a QA (Quality Assurance) environment today? If so what is the design? Answer #8: Same as the UAT and QA are the same environment (same box), Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP4, IIS 5.0, SQL Server 2000 SP , Intel Pentium 4A, 2600 MHz, 2048 MB, 500 GB storage capacity. Question #9: Is there a UAT (User Acceptance Test) environment today? If so what is the design?

2 Answer #9: Same as the UAT and QA are the same environment (same box),, Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP4, IIS 5.0, SQL Server 2000 SP , Intel Pentium 4A, 2600 MHz, 2048 MB, 500 GB storage capacity. Question #10: Is Production, QA or UAT currently virtualized? If so what pieces? Answer #10: No Question #11: What are the network requirements for the solution? Internet Bandwidth needs? Number of VLANS? Answer #11: The current provider uses a T3 connection and this provides satisfactory bandwidth. How the network is configured up to the network access is the responsibility of the vendor but hardware and software should be at least the current configuration. Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP4, IIS 5.0, SQL Server 2000 SP , Intel Pentium 4A, 2600 MHz, 2048 MB, 500 GB storage capacity. Question #12: Who is the current owner of the application(s) to be hosted, monitored and supported? Answer #12: DPI owns and will continue to own all rights to the data and source code for WINSS. Question #13: The RFB references SQL Server There is no Microsoft SQL Server Is this a reference to a server running Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with Microsoft SQL 2005 as the database engine? Answer #13: SQL Server 2000 SP Question #14: In section it says Where possible, setup needs to remain consistent with the existing WINSS environment. What is the existing WINSS environment? Specifically the current version of SQL server it is on and current version of Windows the web server is running? Answer #14: Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP4, IIS 5.0, SQL Server 2000 SP Question #15: section 1a: Create applications that will load data from flat files into SQL database. Are these flat files new data to import into the existing WINSS environment? If so, do these import applications need to be used by DPI personnel or as import tools for our development team? Answer #15: Yes, this is new data added to WINSS. The import applications would be used by the vendor to load data to the application. Question #16: : Does FERPA data redaction need to occur before or after data is loaded into the SQL production environment? Answer #16: Some is done at DPI but additional redaction is necessary within the application. Question #17: We understand the necessity of the help desk function in the RFB in support of Without common help desk issues such as authentication issues,

3 password resets and the like we wondered about the level of help needed. Is the primary help desk question concerning how to navigate the site? Answer #17: In the event there is a problem with the web site or the data, DPI needs to have a contact available so the situation can be corrected ASAP. Question #18: Do end users need help understanding their computers in order to navigate the site? Answer #18: No Question #19: Do they need information concerning contacts at DPI and their local schools? Answer #19: No Question #20: Can you please provide the current annual dollar value of the contract for the above referenced bid as well as the name of the incumbent contractor. Any other information such as the contract value for the previous 2 years would also be appreciated if available. Answer #20: The incumbent vendor is Sligo Computer Services, Inc. the total payout has been approximately $113,000 each of the past two years Question #21: What is current internet bandwidth utilization? Answer #21: In we had 14,700,000 unique views on WINSS, with a single day high of 265,000 views. Question # 22: Since annual rate of data growth is approximately 10% can that be assumed for bandwidth and systems resources? Answer #22: While the rate of data growth will increase, we have not seen a large growth on the usage itself Question #23: What is current hardware configuration, CPU memory and server types? Answer #23: Intel Pentium 4A, 2600 MHz, 2048 MB Question #24: Is there server redundancy and failover required? If not, should multiple bids be offered with different cost sheets be offered as options or is the least cost the only determining factor vs. robustness in the proposed solution? Answer #24: There is not redundancy or failover required. The vendor is responsible to make sure they can restore the system within four hours in case of hardware failure. Question #25: What is the backup schedule requested? I.e. weekly full daily incremental etc... How long should data retention exist. Offsite tape storage requirement? Answer #25: A full backup should be done after a data load has been completed. DPI will also request a full backup of the system from time to time. DPI requested backups can be done at a mutually agreed upon time.

4 Question #26: What are the DR requirements required in this bid? Answer #26: We have none other than in case of a vendor system failure the system can be brought up again within 4 hours. Question #27: What is the desired SLA i.e. hosting environment uptime 99.xx%? Answer #27: We would like the near 100% uptime as this is a site to service Wisconsin schools and citizens. We do realize that there will be some maintenance. If there is a system failure we do require that the system is back up within 4 hours. Question #28: Are the activities the complete list to be included in attachment B Lot 1? Answer #28: Yes, was intended to include activities that were considered normal maintenance. Question #29: Are the activities the comprehensive list of activities to be performed in attachment B Lot 2? If not what portions of the general specifications 5.1 and technical specs 5.2 are to be included in each Lot in Attachment B? Answer #29: are a representation of those activities that may be an on demand request by DPI. DPI will work with the vendor on a time (and materials, if necessary) basis and develop a mutually agreeable delivery schedule. Question #30: Why is this being bid out? Answer #30: The State of Wisconsin requires competition for procurements of this type. Question #31: In section it states the bid should include hardware and software licensing costs for WINNS. What are the current requirements and what type of hardware is currently being used, and what is the current pricing for the software? Does this include software maintenance? Answer #31: Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP4, IIS 5.0, SQL Server 2000 SP , Intel Pentium 4A, 2600 MHz, 2048 MB, 500 GB storage capacity. Maintenance is at the vendors discretion. Question #32: What type of internet connection is expected from the hosting provider? What are the minimums for the hosting provider? Answer #32: Currently a T3 is used Question #33: In exhibit 1, they talk about Estimated Hours for Non-Maintenance work. What is considered non-maintenance work? Answer #33: Maintenance work is considered data loads, non maintenance would be enhancements to the software or reports. Question #34: Are there any third party tools/applications that are used by the application?

5 Answer #34: No Question #35: Does the vendor or client have authority to upgrade to new versions of the software? Is an upgrade of the OS considering maintenance? Is an upgrade of the application considered maintenance? Answer # 35: No. It is anticipated that DPI will be moving this system into its Longitudinal Data System within 2-4 years. OS upgrade is considered maintenance; application work would not be considered maintenance. Question #36: Section A & B, do you have a vendor/product in mind or a preference for this? Answer #36: No, system will need to run on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP4, IIS 5.0, SQL Server 2000 SP Question #37: Does you specific security requirements in mind that the hosting provider should provide? Answer #37: This is a public facing system. Other than applied redaction rules there is no other security. No one can have direct access to the data. Question #38: Do you utilize load balancing? Answer #38: No Question #39: Does the system do real time replication? If so, is that off-site and will that continue? Answer # 39: No Question #40: Do you have a disaster recovery/business continuity plan in place? Answer #40: We will request back-ups from time to time from the vendor to keep at DPI (we supply an external hard drive). The vendor is responsible to make sure they can restore the system in case of hardware failure. Question #41: What is the frequency with which incoming data loads must be performed? Answer # 41: It varies, but generally once per month Question #42: Will these data loads be performed by DPI staff, or by the vendor? Answer #42: The vendor will be responsible for the data load. Question #43: Will the format of these data loads remain consistent, or will each load require modifications to the data load application? Answer #43: We try and make sure that the data is consistent. On occasion some data may require modification to the data load application

6 Question #44: Will these data loads require changes be made to existing reports or will they have the same format as the data which already resides within the system? Answer #44: Report modifications would be issued as a separate request. Question #45: Will the data load application be available via secured web page(s), or via desktop application on the hosted server? Answer #45: Generally DPI sends the vendor data via secured FTP. The vendor is responsible for the ETL process to move the data to the database. Question # 46: What statistics regarding the website (page views is referenced) must be tracked? Answer #46: DPI wants to understand how much usage WINSS is getting and what pages are being viewed the most. Question #47: Are these statistics to be recorded for historical purposes? Answer #47: Yes Question #48: Will DPI staff gather the statistics, or must the vendor prepare them and send to DPI? Answer #48: It is the vendor s responsibility to supply DPI with quarterly usage reports. Question #49: It is mentioned that the vendor must summarize data and make appropriate for reporting. Are the necessary database objects (views, functions, etc...) already in place? Answer #49: Currently database objects are in place. It will be necessary to add and update these objects as new data is added. Question #50: This actually lends itself to a larger question will the vendor be receiving a prebuilt database, or will they be required to design and build a database to support the source data supplied. Answer #50: The vendor will receive code and a database and will be required to support the data and source code. Question # 51: Will DPI be providing the vendor with acceptance testing requirements? Answer #51: Generally the vendor would notify DPI when requested changes code or data have been made. DPI will checks and works with the vendor to verify the changes work as expected Question #52: Will any necessary redaction be explicitly specified by DPI, or is it the responsibility of the vendor to review the data structure and compare it against the redaction statutes? Answer #52: DPI will specify the redaction and it will be the responsibility of the vendor to make sure the data is redacted in accordance with all redaction policies. DPI will also work with the vendor to assure that the data has been properly redacted.

7 Question #53: During the current products lifespan, what has been the rough frequency of requests for: New reports, Report modifications, Data loads, and Code changes? Answer # 53: Data loads tend to be most frequent, about once per month. Report modifications and Code change request vary in frequency and duration. Question #54: It is mentioned that the vendor must setup and maintain documentation and system standards. What type of documentation is needed? (Strictly technical, user manuals, diagrams, etc.) Answer #54: Documentation will be required for all changes that are made to the coded system.