Request for Information (RFI) on Data Harmonization Tools

Request for Information (RFI)

Data Model Harmonization and Visualization Tools

Background

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

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

Responses should be identified with an RFI No., and are due by February 28, 2005.  [Editor's Note:  The RFI # is 
RFI02032005.]


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.