58--Notice of Intent to Award a Sole Source Purchase Order for M2MS Power

The U.S. Department of Energy's Southwestern Power Administration plans to award a sole source purchase order to McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., operating as the Platts Division, located in New York, NY. This procurement, conducted under FAR 13.106(b)(1), is for a subscription to the Market to Market and Settlement (M2MS) Power service, specifically covering the Southeast and ERCOT regions. The acquisition aligns with NAICS code 511120, which corresponds to businesses involved in software publishers, with a small business size standard of 500 employees. This notice is not a solicitation for quotes or proposals but serves to gauge interest and capability from other firms for potential competitive procurement. Interested parties were required to express interest and demonstrate their ability to meet the requirement via email to the assigned Contracting Officer by June 14, 2013. The document clarifies that the government's decision to conduct a competitive procurement is discretionary, and it explicitly states that there is no obligation to award the contract as a result of this notice. Additionally, the Southwestern Power Administration will not be liable for any expenses incurred by firms in response to this communication. A Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition accompanies the notice, supporting the rationale for this sole source approach. The procurement pertains to a subscription service critical for operational purposes in specified power regions, emphasizing the unique nature of the product supplied by McGraw-Hill's Platts Division.