DA10--VINCI: SAS Software/ Core Maintenance - New Task Order (VA-26-00024618)

The Department of Veterans Affairs, through its Technology Acquisition Center in Eatontown, New Jersey, has awarded a sole-source task order under the GSA Federal Supply Schedule to Executive Information Systems, LLC for the renewal and maintenance of SAS Grid Manager for Platform software licenses supporting the VINCI research infrastructure. This procurement, identified by solicitation number 36C10B26F0176 and award number 47QTCA18D0081, was conducted under FAR 8.401(b) and GSAM/R 538.7104-3(b)(1)(ii) due to the proprietary nature of SAS software, which is uniquely capable of sustaining the VINCI system’s critical operations, including daily processing of 100 terabytes of data across over 1,000 research projects. The contract includes a 12-month base period with two optional 12-month periods, bringing the estimated total value to between $518,989.20 and $1,556,967.60, with pricing assumed to remain consistent across all periods. Performance is remote, administered from the VA’s Eatontown office, while support is delivered by the vendor’s team in Bethesda, Maryland, with no physical delivery or packaging requirements specified. The contractor is obligated to provide annual renewal of licenses for 160 Grid Cores, quarterly software updates, and emergency patching within 48 hours of high-risk vulnerability identification, ensuring uninterrupted access to high-performance analytics essential for Veteran care research. No competitive evaluation took place, and no formal inspection criteria, quality standards, or key personnel designations are listed, as the award hinges entirely on the exclusivity of SAS software and its indispensable compatibility with the VA’s legacy VINCI environment. The only publicly identifiable point of contact is Amanda J. Bleses, with payment, accounting, and contracting officer details withheld or not specified in the available documentation. The acquisition complies with mandatory public disclosure requirements for sole-source justifications, and while no socioeconomic certifications or security clearance mandates are imposed, the award confirms that only EIS, Inc., as the authorized reseller with proprietary access to SAS source code, can fulfill the technical requirements. The contract is structured as a firm-fixed-price delivery order under the GSA FSS, with invoicing likely processed through Wide Area WorkFlow, and no alternative vendors or solutions are deemed viable under current operational constraints.