Spawar solicits content for data-mining guide

RFI: "Data Mining and Analysis Tools Used to Support the Information needs of the Homeland Security and First Responder Community"

Federal officials want to create an unclassified reference guide with information on commercial off-the-shelf data-mining and analysis software for first responders.

The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Charleston recently issued a request for information about software applications that collect, warehouse, clean, normalize, mine, visualize, manipulate and model stand-alone, networked and Web-based information.

"Information received will be reviewed and utilized for the development of a user-ready reference with sufficient insight into the capabilities and limitations of various applications, tools and technologies," the RFI states.

Sponsored by Office for Domestic Preparedness, the guide will be available to all federal, state and local agencies, allowing users to select the software that best meet their needs.

Proprietary information should not be submitted, according to the RFI. The information requested includes:

A description of the capabilities of the software, application or tool and its potential applicability for first responders.

Costs, including purchase price and expected costs of operation, training and maintenance.

Security features.

A list of current users or those who have placed orders for soon-to-be-introduced technologies.

Installation and support specifications and requirements.

A list of data formats and standards.

Contact information for the company.

Diagrams, drawings and graphics to help users understand the system, application or tool.

Responses should not exceed 50 pages. Although hard-copy brochures, press releases, technical specification sheets, independent assessment results and trade journal articles are permitted, electronic submission -- in the form of CD-ROMs, diskettes and Web links -- is preferred.