IFB - MARS Data Consultant

Weber State University is soliciting bids to enter into a contract with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder to provide:

- Data and Database consulting services.

This solicitation will result in a purchase order to the lowest cost responsive and responsible bidder.

MARS engages in advanced materials research and development with particular emphasis on high-temperature carbon fiber composite materials for aerospace applications. [...] The goal of this engagement is to create a materials database that presents this data in a form that is useful to MARS researchers.

To accomplish this, The Contractor will deploy data pipelines to extract, transmit, and ingest data into an Azure Government cloud account, then stage and transform this data on the Databricks data platform.

Extraction

The Contractor will work with MARS personnel to develop appropriate techniques to extract data from each machine and upload it to Azure Blob Storage. Some extraction processes developed by MARS personnel are already running; The Contractor may update or refine these extraction processes as needed in collaboration with MARS personnel.

Ingestion and Staging

The Contractor will create a staging environment within Databricks where data from the various machines is stored in staging tables with data types checked and enforced.

Production Data Model and Tables

The Contractor will develop a production data model that serves the needs of MARS research and development efforts. [...] Note that the data model must account for image data that is stored directly in blob storage, with references to these images stored in appropriate tables.

Orchestration, Monitoring and Reporting

Ingestion and transformation of data will be managed through an orchestration process. This process should also alert database administrators when data ingestion processes have failed or data is missing, corrupted, etc.

Handoff

The Contractor should develop and conduct training on various aspects of the system as they work toward the goals of the SOW. This training should include materials such as slides, notes, video recordings and documentation that MARS personnel can use to understand, maintain, and extend the materials database and data pipelines.

Deliverables and Schedule

The data deliverables are shown in the attached data dictionary summary, with the highlighted items designated high priority. We aim to complete the high priority deliverables within the first three months of the engagement, and spend the additional engagement time on the remaining deliverables.

**Electronic Bids:** Bidders must complete and upload the attached 'Bid Form' according to the instructions provided on the form. The preferred method of submitting your bid is electronically through SciQuest/Jaggaer.

Hard copy bids must be received prior to deadline at the following address: Weber State University Purchasing, 3850 Dixon Parkway, Dept 1013, Ogden, Utah 84408-1013.

The purchase order resulting from this IFB will be for a **6 month term**.

This IFB shall be evaluated by the objective criteria described in this IFB. Bids submitted must comply with the prerequisites and questions sections of this IFB. Any bid that does not comply with the prerequisite and questions sections will be deemed non- responsive and will be rejected.

Minimum Qualifications

• 3 years experience in data engineering.
• U.S. citizen able to work onsite at the MARS center.

Pricing must be guaranteed for a minimum of 60 days, unless otherwise noted on the bid.