WASHINGTON – The U.S. Government Printing Office hit another milestone in meeting the changing information preservation needs of the Federal Government with the release of a Request For Proposal (RFP) for the Master Integrator of the Future Digital System, also referred to as FDsys. The launch of the RFP marks a major point in GPO’s timetable to create a new content management system that will provide permanent public access to all Federal Government information. “Our first step was to form a basic concept and vision, and then we sought feedback from industry experts before we finalized the requirements needed to transform how GPO provides open, quick, permanent access to information published by all three branches of the Federal Government,” said Mike Wash, GPO’s Chief Technical Officer. “The next step - in the creation of FDsys - is like building a house, and this is the point in the process where we are looking for a general contractor to help design the system to meet our needs.” The RFP will allow industry experts the flexibility to propose solutions for the system which will help ensure that FDsys takes advantage of the best tools for effective digital information management and preservation in the information age. The structure will be designed to support all publications within the scope of GPO’s Federal Depository Library Program, whether printed or born digital. Firms have 30 days to submit a proposal. An extensive evaluation period will follow and the length will depend on the number of responses. Once complete, a contract will be awarded to build and design the system to GPO’s specifications in a series of three phases. More information on FDsys and copies of the solicitation are available electronically and may be downloaded from the GPO Web site at http://www.gpo.gov/projects/fdsys.htm. The RFP is also offered on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site at http://www.fbo.gov/spg/GPO/PSPSD/WashingtonDC/FDsys2006/Attachments.html.