[Request for Information (RFI)]{.underline}

[On]{.underline}

[Data Model Harmonization and Visualization Tools]{.underline}

[Background]{.underline}

The Inter-agency Core Data Types Working Group is chartered to define
and develop core data models for use in cross-agency information
exchanges. A core data model is a data model applicable across more than
one information domain. To facilitate the rapid development of such core
data models the group seeks information from vendors on tool support for
data model harmonization and visualization.

[Information Requested]{.underline}

Provide information on software tools to support data harmonization
process as described in the following paragraphs.

Data Model Harmonization is the process of comparing similar conceptual
and logical data models to determine the common data elements, similar
data elements and dissimilar data elements in order to produce a
resulting unified data model. Some possible features of a Harmonization
tool are:

-   Import. The ability to import data models into the tool from various
    representation formats including:

    -   Entity Relationship Models (i.e. ERWIN).

    -   Unified Modeling language (UML).

    -   eXtensible Markup Language (XML) Schema.

    -   Resource Description Framework (RDF).

    -   Web Ontology Language (OWL).

-   Analyze. The ability to linguistically and semantically analyze the
    components of multiple data models to determine equivalence,
    similarity and dissimilarity.

-   Visualize. The ability to construct multi-modal views of the data
    models to assist in comparison analysis. Possible visualizations
    are:

    -   "Side-by-Side" visualization. The process of comparing models
        must be supported by robust "side-by-side" visualization of two
        or more data models.

    -   Similarity visualizations with lines and color shading to
        represent equivalence, similarity and dissimilarity.

    -   Other innovative visualizations to reveal subtle linguistic or
        semantic aspects of the data.

-   Collaborate. The ability to harmonize and visualize models with
    multiple users simultaneously and to jointly create the resultant
    data model.

-   Create. The automated ability to extract common data elements across
    models to produce a new resultant skeleton model that can be further
    refined by a manual process.

-   Transform. The ability to map and convert the source data models
    into the resultant format or other source formats.

-   Export. The ability to save the resultant data model in multiple
    representations (the same set of representations available to
    import).

[Responses]{.underline}

Responses should be identified with an RFI No., and are due by February
28, 2005. Please send a Microsoft word document with your response
electronically to <MCOE@dhs.gov> .

This RFI is for information and planning purposes only and should not be
construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the
Government. The Government does not intend to award a cooperative
agreement on the basis of responses to this RFI nor otherwise pay for
the preparation of any information submitted or for the Government's use
of such information.