76 -- Health Topic Report

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plans to award a sole source purchase order to The Associated Press in New York, NY, for a one-year contract to provide new services related to the Health Topic Report. This procurement is authorized under FAR part 6.302-1, as The Associated Press is identified as the only known source with the necessary expertise to deliver the required services. The contract is not open for competitive proposals, and no solicitation has been issued for this requirement. However, other firms that believe they can offer the services are invited to notify the Contracting Officer in writing within 15 days of the synopsis publication date, although the Government retains full discretion regarding whether to pursue a competitive process based on such responses. The contract, titled "76 -- Health Topic Report," was posted on December 14, 2004, under solicitation number 000HCB12-2005-15764. Interested parties can direct inquiries to Contract Specialists Christine N Pettie or Deborah S McCune via email or phone provided. The purpose of collecting notifications from other firms is solely to determine if competition is warranted. The CDC emphasizes that any decision to forgo competition remains at its discretion, underscoring the unique qualifications of The Associated Press in this context.