D -- NOTICE OF INTENT - SOLE SOURCE ANNOUNCEMENT - SERVICE IN THE AREA OF EDIT METHODOLOGY AND PROCESSING SYSTEMS THAT INTERFACE WITH COMPLEX EDITS

Under the authority of Federal Acquisition Regulation, Part 6, Subparts 6.301 and 6.302, the U.S. Census Bureau intends to contract on a sole source basis for services to provide expert advice and assistance in the area of edit methodology and processing systems that interface with the complex edits. The highly specialized nature of this work requires exceptional expertise in the design and testing of edits particular to the specific requirements of the Census Bureau. In order to complete this project in the timeframe required, the contractor will need to have a thorough understanding of each of the major components and subsystems that interface with the edit. The edit is parameter driven and interfaces directly with another database that contains each of the edit factors for all countries and harmonized codes. A complete understanding of the relationship between the edit and the parameter files is essential to the success of the conversion. Additionally, explicit knowledge of the structure and programming logic used to develop the parameters database will be necessary to properly integrate an edit written in a different computer language. Extensive experience writing customized software to edit and analyze import and export transaction level data using both Cobol and SAS will be necessary to ensure that a learning curve of the subject matter doesn't impede or impair our ability to meet the tight schedule reflected in the contract. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the government. In doing so, interested sources must submit technical capabilities, pricing, and other information that demonstrates their ability to meet the Census Bureau's needs. Detailed capabilities must be submitted to the U.S. Census Bureau, Acquisition Division, 4700 Silver Hill Road, Room #1557 (Mail Stop 1700), ATTN: William Russell, Suitland, Maryland 20746. This synopsis is not to be considered a request for quotations or proposals. No solicitation document is available and telephone requests will not be honored. No contract will be awarded on the basis of offers received in response to this notice, but offers will be used to determine if a comparable source is available and more advantageous to the government. If no affirmative written response is received within 10 days from the publication of this synopsis, a contract may be issued to the proposed contractor without further notice.