D -- Data Processing and Telecommunication Services

The Department of Commerce/National Institute of Standards and Technology intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Mink Hollow Systems, Inc.,120 Ashton Road, Ashton, MD to provide implementation of the control software for the Reference Microarray Scanner(MAS). In 2006, Mink Hollow Systems developed the requirements/specification and initial design documents for the control software of the new NIST MAS. Mink Hollow Systems is developing the computer software drivers for controlling the devices in the system. A substantial portion of these tasks involve their becoming familiar with the hardware components that make up the MAS and their understanding what this complex system is supposed to do and how it should do it. Should NIST award this new requirement to another vendor, that body of knowledge and understanding that was acquired in the initial phases of the project would be lost and would have to be reacquired by the new vendor. Not only would this be an additional cost to the new vendor, but it would delay the project and require a substantial investment of additional time by the NIST technical contact and other NIST personnel to bring the new vendor up to speed. Staff time is currently not available to repeat this necessary educational effort for a new vendor.Mink Hollow System is located near NIST, so travel for on-site consultations during the performance of this work is not an impediment. This is essential since extensive collaboration with NIST staff will be required to carry out this work. Mink Hollow System?s proximity to NIST allows them to be very flexible in their interactions with NIST staff, which makes it much easier to schedule interactions, thereby saving the Government time and maintenance, and testing of the system software will have to be done on-site. The selection of a vendor local to NIST will greatly expedite this process and will result in considerable savings in costs and time to the Government. A fixed price purchase order will be issued on or about March 14, 2008 and performance will be through approximately September, 2008. The Government intends to solicit only this one source under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b). Interested concerns may identify their capabilities by submitting a capability statement that demonstrates in written narrative format their ability to meet the requirement and objectives as described in this synopsis. Capability statements may be e-mailed to Barbara.Suhrie@nist.gov. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. This notice is not a request for quotation. A determination by the Government whether to compete this proposed requirement is solely within the discretion of the Government.