IBM Annual Commercial IBM Software Maintenance (SWM) Renewal and Software (SW) Licensing Revisions

This is a combined synopsis and solicitation for the commercial brand name (IBM) items that are listed in Attachment A to the Brand Name Justification (BNJ) included as supporting documentation to the synopsis. Because of the URGENT nature of this action, proposal responses shall be based on the content of this announcement and a written solicitation will NOT be issued. It is CRITICAL any small business providers, interested and qualified, RESPOND to this synopsis BY the DUE DATE and TIME cited. NO EXTENSIONS or EXCEPTIONS will be GRANTED. This extremely short response duration is necessary because of requirements and funding uncertainties, only recently resolved, and the need for the Government to avoid having significant reinstatement costs triggered, by renewing, on or before 30 June 2009 (thereafter IBM granted 90-day grace period for SWM renewal expires), SWM for BNJ Attachment A part numbers beginning with an - E. Because of the limited response time, MINIMAL PROPOSAL input is being REQUIRED. Specifically, FSA has negotiated, on a bottom-line basis, special pricing with IBM that IBM has agreed to extend to each OFFEROR (small business IBM reseller in good standing) that responds to this request for quotation (RFQ). Accordingly, each interested OFFEROR shall PROPOSE a SINGLE PERCENTAGE VALUE that it will use, both as a markup to this special negotiated IBM pricing and to any subsequent modifications to a resulting contract, if successful, for possible additional requirements FSA may need (until the next annual SWM renewal occurs) that it will apply to IBM pricing derived using special negotiated IDIQ pricing criteria. Also, at its DISCRETION, for the immediate (firm) requirement (items listed in Attachment A to the BNJ or a subset thereof), each OFFEROR may apply an ADDITIONAL PERCENTAGE DISCOUNT to the imputed offered pricing that FSA would derive by applying the proposed single percentage value. To clarify, as a hypothetical example, if an offeror's special IBM negotiated pricing was $4,000,000 and that offeror proposed a 2% (special percentage value [can be a fraction of a percent]) markup, FSA would derive an imputed quoted price, for the immediate requirement, of $4,080,000. However, that offeror might also propose an additional discount, for example, one-half (.005) of one percent, which would reduce this FSA derived imputed quoted priced by $20,400 from $4,080,000 to $4,059,600. In this hypothetical example, the $4,059,600 would be the price evaluated to decide on lowest price. And, the price for any subsequent purchases would be calculated by applying the 2% (special percentage value) to the applicable IBM price derived using special negotiated IDIQ pricing criteria. OFFERORS MUST also in a position, if selected, to PROCESS A CONTRACT with FSA, by noon on 30 June 2009 or sooner. This means if an OFFEROR is selected, as soon as it is notified it must immediately submit its certification and representations; pass an EPLS check; be current for billing and shown as a small business in CCR; be in good standing with IBM, as an authorized reseller; and have no other existing barriers in place that would delay award of a contract, such as being required by IBM to have a lock box account, but not having one. IF FEASIBLE, the U.S Department of Education, Federal Student Aid (FSA), INTENDS to make an contract AWARD on or before noon on 30 June 2009, to that responsive and responsible offeror, in good standing with IBM, that offers the lowest price for the immediate requirement (items in Attachment A for the BNJ or a subset thereof). HOWEVER, AT ITS DISCRETION, FSA reserves the right to acquire the items in Attachment A of the BNJ, by exercise of an existing option Commercial contract type procedures will be used. Responses to this synopsis shall be forwarded, via email, to contact@example.gov with information copy to contact@example.gov.