D -- Custom Computer Programming Services for NIST Measurement Assurance Program (MAP)

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DoC), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland requires a Contractor to provide custom computer programming services for one of its legacy systems used by the NIST Measurement Assurance Program. History of the activities surrounding this specific requirement: The Engineering Metrology Group (EMG) in the Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory of NIST is the primary calibration laboratory for the United States. EMG has developed specialized software to implement its Measurement Assurance Program. This software is an integrated set of programs that manages the complete calibration cycle, including customer information, data taking and analysis, report writing, statistical process control, and management of the master gauge system. Currently there are versions for gauge blocks, thread wires, angle blocks and sphere diameter. All of these will be merged into a single lab system. There are also auxiliary programs to interface a number of instruments into this system as well as those of the M48 CMM and dilatometer. Why the Government has a need for this requirement: The current system being used by NIST was developed in Hewlett Packard BASIC, and has been used and occasionally modified for over the past twenty (20) years. These changes need to be integrated into a single system, and to ensure future changes can be made and supported we have decided to have the system to be re-written such that such changes and support can be easily done. Because of some limitations in our instrument interfaces, the software system LabView will need to be used for communicating to instruments. High level overview of the deliverables or other project outputs (more details will be in RFP): Base Period: Validation of core GAGE program using data generated in the EMG Gage Block Laboratory. Development of detailed descriptions of the angle block, wire, cylinder, and sphere diameter systems in parallel to the GAGE system for gage blocks. Interface programs for auxiliary sensors into existing software systems will be documented and validated. Option Period I: Coding, documentation, and validation of software for angle, wire, cylinder, and ball calibrations. Procurement Method: This will be an unrestricted, full and open competitive procurement to be conducted under FAR Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation, procedures, since NIST has determined that a small business set-aside is not appropriate based on its market research and has received approval from the U. S. Dept. of Commerce, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business (OSDBU) to conduct this procurement on an unrestricted, full and open competition basis based on NIST's market research. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 541511 will apply to the procurement, with a small business size standard of $21.0 million. The Government contemplates award of a single Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) completion type contract consisting of a base period of one year and one one-year option period for services specified in the performance work statement that will be included in the RFP. A Request for Proposals (RFP) is anticipated to be posted on www.fedbizopps.gov on or about June 13, 2005, with proposals due thirty (30) days after RFP release date. The solicitation, solicitation amendments, and all questions and answers related to this procurement will only be made available via www.fedbizopps.gov. Potential offerors are encouraged to monitor www.fedbizopps.gov periodically to determine when the RFP has been posted. The incumbent Contractor for this acquisition is American University, Washington, D.C. Interested parties must submit a proposal in response to Section L of the solicitation in order to be considered for award of any resultant contract. No - bidders list is being maintained for this procurement. Instructions for how to submit questions relating to this acquisition will be included in Section L of the RFP when it is posted to www.fedbizopps.gov. No telephone questions/inquiries will be entertained. Proposals will be due no later than thirty (30) days after RFP release unless the RFP is amended to extend the due date for proposals. All responsible sources may submit an offer in response to the RFP after it is posted.