D -- PURCHASE SERVICE AND SUPPORT FOR PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE

The United States Department of Agriculture's Animal Health Plant and Inspection Service (APHIS), under the Marketing and Regulatory Programs' Administrative Services Division, is seeking to procure services and support for Imagenet software on a sole source basis from FoodConnex Workwide of Auburn, California. This procurement is intended to support the Agricultural Marketing Services (AMS) ongoing efforts to provide digital imaging services critical to food inspection programs. The government plans to acquire software upgrades along with unlimited sales and technical support for a six-month period. This acquisition is justified under the statutory authority 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as FoodConnex Workwide is identified as the only responsible source capable of meeting the agency’s requirements for this proprietary software. Interested parties are invited to respond in writing or by telefax within seven days of the notice publication; telephone responses will not be accepted. The procurement aims to ensure continuity and enhancement of digital imaging capabilities essential for food inspection activities managed by AMS.