DOJ ATF - Bomb Arson Tracking System (BATS) Modernization - MRAS

The Department of Justice (DOJ), through the General Services Administration (GSA), is conducting market research to modernize the Bomb Arson Tracking System (BATS) utilized by the United States Bomb Data Center (USBDC). The BATS system, a crucial tool for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and other federal, state, and local agencies, serves as a comprehensive incident reporting system for arson and explosives incidents. The modernization effort aims to reengineer BATS into a single application that enhances its usability and functionality while supporting nearly 6,000 active users.

BATS has been an essential resource since its designation as "mandatory use" for all Federal agencies in March 2004. As a complex relational database, it provides detailed bomb and arson data capturing capabilities that help create standardized profiles for incidents. However, the current system is reaching its end of life with outdated technology that is incompatible with contemporary ATF standards. The existing version relies on obsolete Microsoft .NET 4.5 code and includes separate applications for desktop and mobile devices, which complicates information requests from government entities.

To address these challenges, the DOJ seeks private sector expertise in modernizing BATS using Agile methodologies. This involves developing a unified application with improved user interface/user experience design, security compliance measures, quality assurance testing protocols, and efficient operations maintenance strategies. Key areas of focus include transitioning from outdated technologies to modern client-side solutions while maintaining robust data management capabilities through Microsoft SQL databases.

The Request for Information (RFI) invites companies to demonstrate their capabilities in handling similar projects by detailing past performance records along with relevant contract numbers. Respondents are encouraged to highlight their experience in program management approaches such as Scrum or Kanban within Agile frameworks; effective communication strategies between developers and users; risk management practices; team empowerment techniques; workload distribution methods; project complexity assessments; staff turnover mitigation approaches; and overall development team expertise.