The Department of Children and Families, Office of Information Technology Services ( € the Department € ) has issued this Request for Information (RFI) seeking information from interested suppliers who are capable of providing fingerprinting equipment capable of processing large volumes of Decennial applicant fingerprints, within restricted timeframes, to replace existing Crossmatch systems which are reaching end-of-life. Using the information received from vendors, the Department will make a decision regarding the type of procurement that will be used to procure the solution(s) desired. The Department may not issue any procurement for these needs.

The intent of the RFI is to obtain the solution ideas and costs for fingerprinting equipment in preparation for competitive procurements that may be developed.

A. Potential Requirements

An envisioned system would meet the following requirements:

1. The live-scan system (the device) must provide an easy-to-use and easily transportable capability to collect forensic quality fingerprint images and create standard fingerprint records.

a. The fingerprint scanner component must be capable of capturing plain and rolled impression finger print images.

b. The fingerprint imaging components must capture and digitize distortion-free fingerprint images at a spatial resolution of not less than 500 dpi in both the horizontal and vertical dimensions, and with 8-bit (256-level) per pixel gray-scale quantization.

c. The fingerprint scanner must be certified to be in compliance with the FBI Image Quality Standards (IQS) and be found on the List Of Applicant LiveScan Vendors And Service Providers Who Have Established Submission Approval From the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

d. The device must include an automatic calibration capability, which ensures that the scanner is in compliance with IQS minimum standards.

2. The device must be capable of providing full operational capabilities using standard AC power or an internal battery. (Vendors should specify the length of time the device can be operated with full functionality on battery power).

3. A shipping and transportation case must be provided with each device, capable of containing the device, external power adaptor, cables, user manual, and removable storage media.

4. The device must provide capabilities to control the record capture operation.

a. The scanner controls must provide a positive indication to the user of which prints are to be scanned and captured.

b. The scanner controls must provide an immediate indication of acceptable or unacceptable image quality, and enable a user to re-capture a poor-quality image or accept the poor quality image.

c. The computer must enable the keyboard input of textual record data associated with the fingerprint images.

5. The device must include applications software capable of processing the digital fingerprint images.

a. The software must have the capability to segregate individual fingerprint images from the simultaneous thumb print and slap print images and create a valid ten print record using the individual images as rolled impressions.

b. The software must provide the capability to compress fingerprint images using FBI-certified Wavelet Scalar Quantization (WSQ) compression. Average compression of images should not exceed 15:1.

c. The software must provide the capability to format a complete EFT fingerprint record.

6. The device must provide capabilities for secure record transmission.

a. The device must provide the capability for the operator to initiate transmission or retransmission of individual fingerprint records over a public telephone communications network.

b. The transmission capability must enable pre-configuration of primary and alternate destination addresses with operator selection controls.

c. The device must provide a capability to store fingerprint records to a directory on a file server or on removable storage media. A USB thumb drive is the preferred type of removable media.

d. The device must provide backup functionality as a policy.

e. The device should have a store and forward capability so that field offices located throughout the State can transmit their images to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in Tallahassee.

B. Possible Phases for Investigating Solution Value

Dependent on the responses to this RFI, a follow on solicitation may include these phases:

1. Capability assessment to determine performance characteristics and limitations,

2. Proof-of-concept demonstration,

3. A leave-behind operational prototype, and

4. Pilot testing.

The Department has not decided upon the procurement phases and this RFI does not constitute notice of intent to embark on such a solicitation.

C. Responses to Request for Information

This RFI is issued to identify potential sources and to obtain information for planning purposes. It does not constitute a solicitation. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Department to form a binding contract. Vendors are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI and any subsequent solicitations. Responses to this RFI will not be returned. Vendors will not be notified of the result of the review.

D. Description of Information Requested

Please contact your suppliers with the Department € s requirements. If a supplier is interested in providing possible solutions, please have them provide a brief description of their capacity to meet the Potential Requirements section of this RFI are invited to submit response.

Responses should include the following information: company name, address, point of contact, phone number and e-mail address State Certified Minority business status, corporate affiliations, potential joint venture partners, teaming partners, and or major subcontractors.

The response should also include a capability statement. The capability statement should discuss the products capabilities against the Potential Requirements, and include any other specific and pertinent information that would enhance the Department € s understanding of the information submitted.

Vendors should indicate whether their product is available through a GSA schedule that provides for Cooperative Purchasing or a WSCA or U. S. Communities contract. If so, Vendors should provide the contract number of that schedule and a copy of the product availability on the indicated contract.

Additionally, Vendors should address the following:

1. Provide a physical hardware and software architecture that would be required to support each device solution;

2. Indicate whether the Vendor is willing to deliver to the Department, not later than June 1, 2008, up to 3 prototype units for use in the development of procedures;

3. Provide an estimated per unit cost;

5. Describe the availability of on-site training;

6. Describe available maintenance plans and/or warranty coverage, including a description of the plan(s),

7. Explain the solution € s ability to provide electronic interfaces with other agencies,

8. Provide information on data files to include, but not be limited to, file structure, storage, data dictionary and access,

9. Identify if the solution is terminal server based or has web interfaces,

10. Provide information regarding hardware necessary for the solution,

11. Identify and describe the operating system, software and licensing necessary for the solution to include proprietary software, software functions, archiving and data storage,

12. Identify and describe security measures to include assignment of security levels (i.e. group, user, or field), passwords, encryption methodology, user activity tracking (audit trails), administrator authority and tracking, security measures to protect transmitted data, Internet access, and unauthorized user access to either system or data,

13. Describe how transmission methodology works (i.e. dial, leased line, batch, real-time, Internet, how transmitted files interface, exporting records and formats supported (i.e. TIFF, JPEG, XLS, TXT, PDF, Global Justice XML),

14. Describe how systems are upgraded or enhancements are added to the base system, anticipated version release schedule, policies regarding acquisition of non-consecutive upgrades, and

15. Provide information on maintenance and/or replacement policies for hardware and software with estimated cost for maintenance per year, what is and what is not covered by support, how is support provided and how is after-hours support provided.

The Department recognizes the possibility that the Potential Requirements may not be met by a single system. Vendors should indicate in their response which capabilities can be provided through commercial off-the-shelf equipment versus custom developed solutions. For requirements that are met by a commercial off-the-shelf system, Vendors should include the product name.

E. News Releases

No Vendor is to make any news releases related to this RFI without prior approval of the Department € s contact person identified in Section F of this RFI.

F. Due Date, Submission and Questions

Responses are due by May 16, 2008. The contact person for this RFI is David Shepard, Department of Children and Families. Please submit any questions and all responses electronically to the Procurement Officer at:

David_Shepard@dcf.state.fl.us