Tuesday, July 31, 2001

Ambient Consulting, LLC6165 NW 86th Street, Johnston, Iowa 50131

Tuesday, August 07, 2001

Ashley Super, Purchasing Agent IIIIowa Department of General Services (DGS)Hoover STATE Office Building - Level ADes Moines, IA 50319-0105

Dear Ms. Super:

Enclosed is our response to ITQ # BD80200S102, Version 1.0. This response is intended to address the Administration service category.

We have filed form W-9 with the Federal government (TIN 41-2009378), and we will submit the Vendor Registration Application Form soon.

Expect references for this service category to arrive from Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, Best Buy, Co., Inc., and Disetronic.

Thank you for your consideration for the Statewide Multi-Award Contract. We are currently working with the State under Metamor Business Solutions. Our recent transition to Ambient Consulting allows us to leverage the best of Metamor, and streamline our business to provide the best service to our customers through our offices in Des Moines, Boston, New York and St. Paul. We look forward to continuing to provide the State of Iowa with outstanding customer service in the future.

Please call me if you have any questions at 515-727-1708. My e-mail address is [email protected].

Sincerely,

Paul ClowserSales Executive

Phone: (515) 727-1708 ~ Fax: (515) 727-1601www.ambientconsulting.com

mailto:[email protected]

Table of Contents

Introduction to Ambient Consulting..............................................................................3Technical Administration Services................................................................................3Responses to Professional/Technical Personnel Questionnaire.....................................5Exhibit E......................................................................................................................16Exhibits A, B, C, F....................................................................following this document

Ambient Consulting, LLCResponse to ITQ #BD80200S102, Version 1.0

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Introduction to Ambient Consulting

Ambient Consulting is a leading business management and IT consulting firm with 17 years of experience in business processes, project management and technology integration. Ambient Consulting consistently delivers quality, measurable business results, enabling business strategies for Fortune 1000 companies in several industries, including healthcare, retail, financial services, manufacturing, government, education, agriculture and transportation. Ambient Consulting has established strategic partnerships with select vendors, including Business Objects, IBM, Informatica, Oracle, Microsoft, Siebel, SUN and more. Ambient Consulting selects technology and employs implementation methodologies based on each clients strategic business needs, resulting in truly custom solutions.

Within the government sector we can assist you in defining and developing criminal justice reporting systems, imaging applications, resumes for government candidates and employees or assisting with web sites for vehicle licensing. Ambient is organized to enable business solutions and manage risks. We provide superior technical skills and industry experience

Ambient is a business-led, problem solving organization focused on excellence in our project delivery across the nation. We began as a market leading IT staffing company with unparalleled access to the broadest array of technical talent. We added companies with specialty knowledge in telecommunications, finance, government and other industry expertise and wrapped it all up in the best project management practices.

Technical Administration Services

Our qualifications in technical administration include a staff with a wide range of skills from database administration, network design, firewalls, voice over data, telephony, wireless access and hand held devices. In addition to our network consulting practice, Ambient boasts a Mobil Computing and Telephony (MCT) practice.

Ambient understands the State’s organization and your unique needs. We combine our in depth industry and technical knowledge with our expertise and apply innovation and technology to bring strategic advantages to your business. Drawing on our telecommunications industry understanding and experience, we are positioned to help the State maximize opportunities within the changing global marketplace.

Ambient consultants are equipped with a vast array of skills, methodologies, approaches and tools to ensure your success:

Database Administration – Implement clean, well-designed database solutions based on industry standards and best practices. We have experience with a vast array of hardware and software implementations.

Network Upgrade Planning and Implementation – Determine the best approach to upgrade your existing technology, including network software and network hardware.

Remote Network Connectivity Planning – Address the issues concerning the growing number of mobile users and connecting your agency’s multiple sites to enhance your communications.

Network Security Audits – Improve the data security for your internal network, as well as identify your Internet vulnerabilities.

Disaster Recovery Audits – Ensure the integrity and availability of your data despite any unforeseen circumstances. We can help ensure your business survives and continues operating.

Messaging and Electronic Document Services – Communicate effectively with your personnel, partners, and vendors using e-mail, network fax systems, and collaboration.

Enterprise Management Planning – Maintain up-to-date inventory and control of your entire enterprise, including desktops, servers, network software and hardware, etc.

Web Hosting System Planning and Administration – Ensure your Internet web servers are properly sized, and running the appropriate software. We provide vital administration services to be certain your clients can access your Internet resources.


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Technical Management – Our ability to communicate with business leaders and our thorough understanding of technology issues will provide you with a valuable perspective on the effects that your options and decisions will have upon your agency.


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Responses to Professional/Technical Personnel Questionnaire

1. How do you intend to provide the resources required by this ITQ?

Ambient Consulting, LLC currently has more than 225 consultants on staff. We strive to continually attract and retain the highest quality professionals available.

Our recruiting process is ongoing. We have found, because of the nature of the information systems market, it is difficult to recruit to a specific need. Our goal is to understand our client environments, and recruit for a constant flow of quality professionals for our customers. Our hiring process is stringent; we feel it is important to select the best people for our organization.

Ambient Consulting is a business-led, problem solving organization focused on absolute project delivery across the nation. We began as a market leading IT staffing company with unparalleled access to the broadest array of technical talent. We added companies with specialty knowledge in telecommunications, finance, government and other industry expertise and wrapped it all up in the best project management practices.

2. Identify the SP contract administrator and describe the functions that person will perform.

Paul ClowserSales Executive6165 NW 86th StreetJohnston, IA 50131515-727-1708

Mr. Clowser will be responsible for establishing and maintaining relationships with state agencies, responding to RFPs, and determining initial project requirements.

3. Include training and recruiting methods that maintain appropriate skill levels among staff for this and similar engagements.

Training

Ambient knows that continual training of our consultants and coworkers in new technology and business areas is essential to our future success. Constant changes in client environments and technology demand that new programs be developed to maintain and grow our employees’ skills.

Ambient invests heavily in training programs such as the Technical Education Link to Information Technology (TELIT), to ensure that our employees will have the requisite skills for their assignments.

Ambient has designed classes for its training program to be as comprehensive and accessible as possible. Training is available to eligible Ambient employees at every branch across the country. Some of these classes are provided by exceptional outside vendors, while others are designed and taught by the Ambient National Training Team. Vendors such as Morgan Consulting, Dallas Training and Consulting Services, Inc., Franklin/Covey, Aarthune, and Genesis have developed customized curriculums for Ambient. NETg and PPI/Teknowlogy are providing state-of-the-art technical training exclusively to Ambient employees. Our graduated training program for consultants is described in the following paragraphs.

Computer-based training (CBT)—Ambient provides a library of 150 titles in client/server and mainframe courses. These courses are available in a variety of access formats, including the Internet. Candidates enrolled in the CBT classes are tested and their progress is monitored. Receiving a passing score on the test qualifies a


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candidate to advance to simulations. A key component our CBT classes is a formal certification process to support specific technical career paths (e.g., mainframe programming, database administration, client/server developer, systems architect, network engineer).

Simulations—Through simulations, consultants acquire the skills needed to develop practical, real-world applications. It takes approximately 80–120 hours to complete each simulation. Simulations are developed in the following areas: Databases, Groupware, Development Tools, Operating Systems, and Web Technologies. The consultant may select the application used to complete the simulation. For example, if the consultant chooses Development Tools, then Visual Basic, PowerBuilder, Oracle Forms, Visual C++, or C may be used. If the consultant chooses Operating Systems, then NT or UNIX may be used. Simulations training are available electronically and via the Internet.

Instructor-led technical training—A Ambient consultant who has successfully completed the CBT courseware and the simulations class is eligible to attend one of Ambient’s customized 2-day instructor-led classes. Instructor-led training is available for Oracle Forms, Oracle Developer 2000, Java, Lotus Notes (developer), NT Workstation, NT Server, PowerBuilder, and Visual C++.

Tuition Reimbursement is another major vehicle in Ambient’s effort to keep consultants at the forefront of technology. Further, every Branch has a budget allocation for consultant travel and training.

Ambient Career Path:

The career path for a consultant is designed so that they may progress vertically or horizontally through their Ambient career.

A consultant may progress vertically on the technical career ladder from one technical grade to the next. Promotion is based upon experience, technical training and most importantly client satisfaction. A consultant remains on this ladder if they wish to stay on a technical path.

While most of our consultants elect to stay on the technical path a consultant may progress horizontally to a technical manager career path. The first step on this ladder is the consultant leader position that is both a technical and supervisory position.

A third path is a substantial career switch into technical recruiting. A fourth path is into account management. Lastly, if an employee possesses the skills to manage people and business activities they may be a candidate for our Partner Program.

Recruiting

Ambient has an effective database of current and potential employee consultants and an efficient recruiting process that allows us to support our clients in a timely and responsive manner. We are able to meet our commitments and be responsive to our clients because of our resource pool, reserve staff, proprietary recruiting database and successful recruiting process.

When the State requires a consulting skill Ambient will immediately access its database to identify Ambient consultants that are available. A search is conducted for local consultants with the appropriate skills and availability to provide a match to the open requirement. This is accomplished by using print media, the Internet, referrals, existing resumes on file and contacting existing Ambient consultants. The resumes of these potential employees are then provided to the State for approval and the selected candidates are invited to be interviewed by the State.

If the previous steps of the process fail to produce an acceptable consultant for the State, Ambient’s technical recruiters have relationships with subcontractors to assist us in our consultant search. Normally within 48 hours of receiving a request Ambient will provide the State applicable resumes for the job positions they are attempting to fill. Additionally, Ambient is usually able to provide the State


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the selected consultant within 10 working days of the State’s decision. We are able to meet our commitments and responsiveness because of our very successful recruiting process.

Ambient continues to hire the best technologists in the industry to ensure our client’s success and the success and growth of our organization. Often the best recruits come from an employee referral, which is why we frequently sponsor internal campaigns to find new consultants. Ambient also retains a pool of recruiters who are in touch with industry trends within their regions, are linked by our private wide-area network, and can and do communicate client requirements across the country to quickly match a candidate’s skills and experience to each client’s specific information technology requirements.

Before hiring a candidate, Ambient conducts extensive reference checks including past employment, educational history and technical competency. Technical recruiters and operations specialists skilled in analyzing background information contact a minimum of three references before a candidate is considered for any position. Our reference check covers many questions about the candidate’s prior performance, and each conversation, whether by telephone or in person, is summarized in our proprietary database to develop and retain historical information needed for proper evaluation.

Our hiring process includes three types of candidate interviews: telephone screening, personal interview and technical interview. The process includes several steps, summarized below:

Skills Analysis—Our trained and experienced technical recruiters and our technical support staff analyze applicant resumes for specific skills and platform experience. Applicants who have the appropriate skills are invited for an in-depth interview at Ambient.

Personal Interview—During a face-to-face interview, we share general aspects of the potential work with the applicant. We look for an interest in this type of work, and the proven capability to perform. We also look for a match with the client’s corporate culture.

Technical Screening and Testing—Technical staff members who are familiar with the client’s technology base, project directions, and environment also screen candidates.

References—Each applicant must provide a minimum of three references. Technical recruiters and operations specialists skilled in analyzing reference information over the telephone contact each of these references. Our reference check covers 20 questions about the candidate’s prior performance. Ambient IS views the reference process as more than a technical skills validation. We also focus our attention on the candidate’s cultural fit for a client and a job.

Work Samples—When requested by our clients, we ask for work samples from the candidates.

Many of our client’s require our employees to take specialized tests before they are selected for assignment. For technical proficiency testing, Ambient uses Bookman Consulting’s TeckChek. TeckChek is an online technical knowledge checker that measures actual current proficiency rather than potential ability.

Besides these specific testing programs, technical staff members who are familiar with the client’s technology base, project directions and environment screen candidates for technical ability. These technical experts conduct extended interviews with a candidate evaluating the candidate’s claimed technical expertise. All of these screening techniques are designed to provide objective evaluation of the candidate’s technical ability.

4. Describe how you plan on providing additional personnel if it becomes necessary to properly staff projects.


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We will primarily staff projects with in-state employees. If necessary, we will call on resources from our St. Paul, MN, New York, NY, or Boston, MA offices for supplemental staff. We will also hire additional staff as necessary to complete projects.

5. Describe your company's ability to uniquely address problems and issues related to the service category.

To ensure that our clients have the infrastructure to support their IT strategy, Ambient Consulting, LLC offers highly specialized networking services focused on enterprise network planning, design, implementation and operations. We provide a solid foundation to support today’s complex distributed network infrastructure through consistent and structured methodologies, as well as the latest in networking certifications such as MCSE, CNE, and Windows 2000. Ambient Consulting’s networking services include planning and modeling, installation, system integration, technical support, desktop management, security, disaster avoidance and data/voice/video integration.

Ambient’s ability to provide business solutions from conception to implementation is supported by our practice-based structure. Ambient consultants, on average, have more than 10 years technology and industry experience. Our 14 practices have a variety of skill sets to draw from in order to successfully complete the State’s project. We will assemble a team using subject-matter-experts in order to provide the expertise needed. Once the team is selected an engagement manager will be assigned to ensure overall project success. Staff resumes will be provided at project inception. Samples of our staff’s specific certifications include:

certified quality analysts through the Quality Assurance Institute certified software test engineers certified software quality engineers certified project managers (PMPs) certified Microsoft Network specialists Lotus Notes certified staff certified eConfidence SilkPerformer consultants certified product instructors rational certified testers and instructors

6. Describe your company's practices in adopting client policies and methods.

We will certainly adopt the policies and methods of our clients when they have established methods that work well for them.

In cases where the agency hasn’t established a necessary policy, we will recommend one based on industry standards/best practices or based on our extensive industry experience.

Ambient customizes its approach to meet your specific needs and business environment. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the deployed technology supports the required business processes and functional requirements. Ambient draws from a variety of tools and techniques during the course of the project.

Specific tools that are tailored to meet the project needs include:

facilitated workshops requirements definition process improvement best practices data and process modeling custom development


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prototyping rapid application development package implementation application architecture data warehousing project management methodology

7. List each type / brand of operating system/ communication system you are experienced with in each category below and make comments.

a) Mainframes: IBM machines

Ambient has experience with IBM Mainframes at many different clients. We have been doing this for many years. The list of clients and projects done is too long to list here.

b) Midrange / Minicomputer: AS/400

Locally, we do not have a large contingent of consultants with AS/400 skills. We are light in this area because most of our clients don’t need this particular skill.

c) Client / Server / Distributed Systems: UNIX, NT, Windows 2000, Novell

Ambient has experience with Client / Server / Distributed Systems: UNIX, NT, Windows 2000, Novell at many different clients. We have been doing this for many years. The list of clients and projects done is too long to list here. Most of our consultants are certified in these areas.

d) Desktop: NT, Windows 95-98-2000

Ambient has experience in supporting Windows 95/98/2000 and NT workstations and servers, at many different clients. We have been doing this for many years. The list of clients and projects done is too long to list here. Most of our consultants are certified in these areas.

e) LAN: UNIX, NT, Windows 2000, Novell

Ambient has supported networking protocols TCP/IP and IPX, at many different clients. We have been doing this for many years. The list of clients and projects done is too long to list here. Most of our consultants are certified in these areas.

f) Languages and DBMS: Oracle, SQL Server, Sybase, DB2

Ambient Consulting has consultants with experience in the following areas.

DB2 DbaseIV DMS-II FoxPro IDMS Image IMS Integra-4 MS Access MS SQL Server Oracle


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Sybase Progress Transact-SQL

g) Describe your products / experience with Databases.

Administration: We have been providing database administration for hundreds of clients over the last 17 years on all major databases such as Oracle, SQL Server, Sybase, etc.

Application Development tools: We have been providing application development for hundreds of clients over the last 17 years on all the latest technologies. We maintain the latest certifications and have partnerships with most of the leading tool vendors

End user tools: We maintain partnerships and certifications in the market leading tools

Structure and methodologies: Ambient Consulting is experienced in most of the methodologies such as Rational, SDM, Method/1, XP, etc.

Other: Many of our clients ask to design and model their databases based upon their business dimensions.

7. What general software applications have you experience in?

With 225 consultants that average over 10 years experience, we can boast not only experience, but also market leadership in most software applications. We have partnerships and certifications with most of the leading vendors such as Microsoft, Sun, IBM, Rational, Informatica, Business Objects, etc..

8. Please describe any experience and deployed solutions in each of the following specific technologies below.

a) Help desk solutions / technologies

Our Networking Consulting Practice supplies this service to our customers.

Sears

Customers calling into the Sears Help Desk were experiencing extended wait times while attempting to retrieve Credit information. Agents were overwhelmed with the high volume of calls, especially during the holiday season. Ambient helped implement an IVR solution that would automate answers to the most frequently asked credit questions. Additionally, management reports identifying high volume call times, most frequently asked questions, number of calls requiring live assistance were developed. These reports would allow management to better prepare the agents skill set. Immediately following implementation of this system, the voice response application was able to handle 50% of the total calls coming into the call center. Management was able to acquire system usage reports via the WEB, which allowed them to better prepare their agents for their job.

Sears Canada

Ambient’s MCT Practice teamed with Lucent Technologies and AT&T Canada to build a voice response solution for Sears Credit. This solution provides Sears Credit with network-based IVR to assist their customers with various credit card inquires.

The Sears Credit application was designed to automate caller inquiries referencing account related topics, Sears Club information, Sears Credit Card information, or any other questions regarding


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Sears Credit. The application enables callers to reach resolution to their query most efficiently via call routing and automated host response. Callers may navigate through the application using speech recognition or touch-tones to respond to a series of voice prompts. Incorporating English and French voice prompts, the application supports client’s literate in either language. Caller responses are recorded and maintained by a web server allowing administrators the ability to report on system usage. Three voice response units distributed between two locations serve over 20 thousand callers a day.

b) Data development

Our Data Warehousing Practice supplies this service to our customers.

City of Minneapolis

Ambient worked with the City of Minneapolis to create a data warehouse that gives them the capability to report from diverse data sources for internal management, state and federal requirements and budgeting purposes. Ambient devised strategies to capture agency knowledge and automate the matching process to put the data sources together in a logical way.

c) Data modeling

Our Data Warehousing and Business Systems Consulting Practices supplies this service to our customers.

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension

Guided by information engineering principles, Ambient used a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches. Significant activities included: project planning, scope analysis, estimates and approval to proceed. Process decomposition to level 2 was used as the means to determine the data modeling scope effort. This was a significant effort. Ambient spent a considerable amount of time analyzing all data elements in 23 existing information systems and defined business requirements for information by conducting 22 facilitated sessions for requirements definition. After finalizing a logical data model, Ambient then produced a final report that presented the various model components and Ambient’s recommendations for process improvement.

GE Capital Fleet Services

Ambient provided GE Fleet Services with analysis, design and implementation for their fleet billing information Web reporting and date warehousing project. This includes analyzing their existing billing process to inventory the methods, files and scheduling used in their then-current system. Ambient developed and executed the plan to extract the required data and deliver it to the Web reporting software. The project required resolving differences among many different products, platforms and systems software, as well as ongoing coordination between paper and online systems.

The Deliverables included report and data requirements, logical data model, dimensional data model and design, development and implementation for their data warehouse.

d) Facilitating and consulting

Our Business Systems Consulting Practices supplies this service to our customers.

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension

Guided by information engineering principles, Ambient used a combination of top-down and


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bottom-up approaches. Significant activities included: project planning, scope analysis, estimates and approval to proceed. Process decomposition to level 2 was used as the means to determine the data modeling scope effort. This was a significant effort. Ambient spent a considerable amount of time analyzing all data elements in 23 existing information systems and defined business requirements for information by conducting 22 facilitated sessions for requirements definition. After finalizing a logical data model, Ambient then produced a final report that presented the various model components and Ambient’s recommendations for process improvement.

e) Photogrametery and remote sensing

no experience

f) Data collection and clean up mapping

Our Data Warehousing Practice supplies this service to our customers.

GE Capital Fleet Services

Ambient provided GE Fleet Services with analysis, design and implementation for their fleet billing information Web reporting and date warehousing project. This includes analyzing their existing billing process to inventory the methods, files and scheduling used in their then-current system. Ambient developed and executed the plan to extract the required data and deliver it to the Web reporting software. The project required resolving differences among many different products, platforms and systems software, as well as ongoing coordination between paper and online systems.

The Deliverables included report and data requirements, logical data model, dimensional data model and design, development and implementation for their data warehouse.

Fine Host

Ambient conducted a solution assessment result and design document to Fine Host Corporation. It was recommended that Fine Host develop a Web based thin client solution with an information system to collect financial data from food service sites across the company.

Ambient provided Fine Host with resources to assist in the analysis, design, construction, testing and implementation phases to support data collection from Fine Host remote sites. This included the assessment, implementation and development of the technical infrastructure for a scaleable we based interface to collect financial data.

g) GIS / ESRI Software / Mapinfo

no experience

h) Electronic Commerce / EDI

Our eBusiness Technologies Practice supplies this service to our customers

eBenX

eBenX is undertaking the initiative to position its organization as an e-commerce solution for benefit administration. To support this initiative they are building a web-enabled solution to facilitate information transfer between brokers and healthcare carriers. The system will increase product selection, reduce sales cycle time, and reduce the cost of benefit administration.


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Ambient Consulting is responsible for full life cycle delivery of this product. Ambient is providing all nationwide business research and requirements definition. Ambient System Architects are translating all requirements into the appropriate architecture design. Ambient has developed an HTML based thin client solution utilizing Java Applets. We are designing the object model and utilizing JSP and Java servlet technology to contain business logic on the application server. Additionally, we are collaboratively enhancing the existing Sybase relational data model to support object design and business requirements. We are also using EJB technology to implement the security module of this product. Ambient has performed all web design and developed intricate web-enabled prototypes to enable user interaction and facilitate understanding business requirements and design. Ambient is providing the project management and quality assurance team to ensure successful delivery of functionality and incorporation of appropriate measures into the project. Ambient is also responsible for executive level and nationwide user presentations of the product through the requirements and implementation phases of this effort.

i) Document management

We have a practice that focuses on Electronic Document Management.

The Minnesota Department of Health (DOH)

DOH had an existing imaging system installed and operational. To become Y2K compliant DOH determined the need to convert the existing Watermark system to FileNET’s Panagon Document Services (DS) products. The Panagon products are scaleable and can address DOH’s growth and needed functionality, specifically a web client front-end.

It was necessary to convert the existing Watermark controlled documents to Panagon DS. This was achieved through a custom import application, which reads the attributes from the existing SQL database, reads the associated image, and creates the document object in Panagon. The FileNET Panagon system included utilizing Oracle as the relational database management system (RDMS), allowing DOH's new imaging system the ease of future integration with other existing application systems. All client stations where reconfigured with FileNET's Desktop software for an out-of-the-box solution to image browsing and retrieval. The existing scan and index applications were updated for use with the new Panagon Document Services and Oracle server. The Panagon Web server software will be loaded onto a DOH Web server. The Panagon web product allows Web access to Panagon library documents through a standard web browser.

j) Telecommunications wide area network

Our Networking Consulting Practice supplies this service to our customers.

Our qualifications in telecommunications includes a staff with a wide range of skills from network design, firewalls, voice over data, telephony, wireless access and hand held devices. In addition to our network consulting practice, Ambient boasts a Mobile Computing and Telephony (MCT) practice.

Ambient understands the State’s organization and your unique needs. We combine our in depth industry and technical knowledge with our expertise and apply innovation and technology to bring strategic advantages to your business. Drawing on our telecommunications industry understanding and experience, we are positioned to help the State maximize opportunities within the changing global marketplace. We have expertise in Telecommunications and have listed several project descriptions below:

Network Design

Ambient has experience in network design, at clients such as Pillsbury and Gray Plant Mooty


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Mooty & Bennett, PA.

Firewall

Ambient has experience in supporting firewalls at Rivertown Trading and Gray Plant Mooty Mooty & Bennett.

System Administration

Ambient has experience in supporting routers and traffic management at Gray Plant Mooty Mooty & Bennett, PA.

Internet Support

Ambient has experience in providing Internet support, from firewall administration to strategic planning, at such clients Gray Plant Mooty Mooty & Bennett, PA, and Rivertown Trading.

k) Biometrics

no experience

l) Wireless networking

Our Mobile Computing and Network Consulting Practice supplies this service to our customers.

m) IT staffing

We are able to pull from any of our practices to meet this need as required.

Ambient is a business-led, problem solving organization focused on absolute project delivery across the nation. We began as a market leading IT staffing company with unparalleled access to the broadest array of technical talent. We added companies with specialty knowledge in telecommunications, finance, government and other industry expertise and wrapped it all up in the best project management practices.

n) Graphic / web design

We have a focus group that focuses on Graphic Design and Web Usability. For larger design efforts, we will partner with a specialty firm.

Target Corporation

The DSD Store Workbench application was a web-based application developed for Target Corporation by Ambient Consulting to replace aging reporting systems that were not delivering timely and accurate information. The goal was to provide an accessible, intuitive, easy to use web-based application that provided store management with real-time key measurement and top opportunity information. The key users of the applications were all Department Store managers.

Utilizing a formal usability lab for evaluating the application, Ambient Consulting designed detailed prototypes for each section of the application, facilitated and reported on navigability, terminology, screen design and layout of the website(s). Assessment and validation usability labs were conducted during the early development and post-development phases respectively with highly successful results. The usability labs significantly decreased overall development time due to early validation of screen heuristics.


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o) Other

We also have practices that focus on Telephony, Business Process Reengineering, Testing and Quality Assurance


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ITQ EXHIBIT E -- COST DATA SHEET FORMAT

COST DATA SHEET for ITQ Number BD80200S102 Revision 1.0

FOR SERVICE CATEGORY: Administration

COMPANY NAME: Ambient Consulting, LLC______________ date 7/13/2001

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICERATE PER HOUR NOT TO EXCEED

DatabaseLAN/WANOperating SystemWebMessagingSecurityEmerging/Niche Technology

110.00110.00110.00110.00120.00125.00130.00

.Note: The SP may be able to have additional line items added at a later date to this ITQ, IF it is in the same service category as originally qualified for under the ITQ, and If such a request is approved by the STATE. In such case, an addendum will be issued by the STATE.

Submit additional sheets as necessary. RATE PER HOUR is to be in US dollars and is firm for the duration of ITQ, except that changes to the rates per hour may be made upon approval by the STATE once every 12 months from date of the ITQ execution and no change will be allowed over 5% for each line item without justification. In such case, an addendum will be issued by the STATE.


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Tuesday, July 31, 2001

Documents

Transcript of Tuesday, July 31, 2001