So what they want is a custom application so that users with no technical ability can query the database. It must be fast because the current application is not fast enough. It must be written in a language so that users with no technical ability can modify the code. About the only thing I can think of would be to let the DBAs write views/stored procedures for the data required. And drop the results into a grid in Access. The biggest issue is that this type of solution can either fast or it can be easily maintainable by non technical people. I just don't see how you will get both.