U.S. Dept.of HUD, Ofc.of Procurement & Contracts, Program Support Division (ARCS), 451 7th St., SW, Rm. 5258, Washington, DC 20410-3000

R -- DESIGNING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSOLIDATED PLANNING SYSTEM SOFTWARE POC Annette Hancock, Director, Program Support Division, Office of Procurement and Contracts, ARCS, 202/708-1585, ext. 133. Sources are being sought by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to advise and assist in the development of specifications for upgrades, improvements and expansion of the Consolidated Planning System (CPS) software. HUD wants to reengineer the CPS software to (1) increase its utility to HUD and its grantees and (2) expand its usefulness for an enlarged group of public and private individuals and organizations, including other governmental users. This requires advice on the full range of technical, market, legal and other relevant issues associated with preparing the next generation of the CPS software. The advice required may extend to assisting in (1) preparation of technical specification for the design, development and distribution of the next generation of the CPS software and (2) evaluation of proposals to such a procurement. The CPS is the unified application and reporting mechanism for all Community Planning and Development (CPD) programs. The CPS software is a computerized version of the CPS system. It includes components to capture application and reporting information required by HUD, including street address locations of actual or planned project activities. The mapping and charting capabilties of the software merge an array of socio-economic data with the program information to enable graphic and visual composite displays of planned, approved and alternative program plans. HUD gives the CPS software at no charge to all of the approximately 1000 Community Planning and Development (CPD) program area grantees and requires them to use it in making application and reporting to HUD. There also exist a reduced capacity variant of the software. The variant is an interactive information and communication tool that is sold by HUD to public and private individuals and organizations. To determine the parameters for design, development and distribution of the next generation of the CPS software, HUD may require information in the following areas: 1. The Product Itself. Should CPS be further upgraded or completely redesigned to best meet market demands? 2. Users and Uses. Are there users and uses of the product that would expand the current base and promote further improvement in grantees performance? What are these user's capabilites? What are their actual and/or likely needs? Is there a product that would have a cash value to users who are not grantees? 3. Information Sharing and Exchange. Is the CPS the best information exchange tool - grantee to grantee, grantee to citizen, citizen to grantee? Are there new or better information sharing and exchange technologies, now and in the future, to connect with CPS? 4. Hardware. What is the current inventory of hardware among likely users of a new or replaced CPS? Are there hardware conventions and/or innovations to prepare for? When and how? 5. Development and Distribution. What is the best business plan for producing the software? What is the best method for distributing the software? What are the costs of these altenatives? Are there customers for whom cost is a barrier? Are there customers requiring special distribution techniques? Expressions of interest, including statements of qualifications and identification of services currently available on any GSA schedule, are to be submitted to the procurement office listed in this notice within five (5) business days from the date of publication of this notice. This is not a formal solicitation, but a determination of potiential interest and identification of qualified firms, and does not require individual acknowledgement by HUD of the responses. (0088)

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