049A3F-03-Q-0036

The federal government plans to negotiate a sole source contract with Griffith, Ballard, & Company, located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for the maintenance and licensing of proprietary software. The contract includes a base year and four option years, reflecting a multi-year commitment. This sole source award is justified under the authority of FAR 6.302.1, which allows for such acquisitions without competition when specific conditions are met. Although the contract is being officially advertised to comply with the notification requirements of FAR 5.2, it is not open to competitive bidding. The contract is identified by the solicitation number VA-SNOTE-030909-002 and was posted on September 9, 2003. While details such as the NAICS code, type of set-aside, and specific agency or location information are not provided, the primary point of contact for inquiries is Pam Hayes, who can be reached via phone or email. The agreement underscores a focus on software maintenance services critical to government operations and emphasizes the proprietary nature of the software requiring the sole source approach.