MEEC COOPERATIVE PURCHASING SOFTWARE LICENSING

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Bell Industries, 9211 Arboretum Parkway STE 500, Richmond, VA 23236-5404, to acquire academic licenses and product updates for PC operating systems and desktop productivity application under the authority 41 U.S.C. 253 (c) (1) and FAR 6.302-1(b)(1). Microsoft has identified that NLM is eligible to participate in a unique Academic Enterprise Agreement which provides Microsoft academic software licenses for at substantially lower rates than available through other academic licensing programs. The agreement, - Intergovernmental Cooperative Purchasing Agreement Maryland Educational Enterprise consortium" (MEEC), is available only through the University of Maryland as the steward of the Maryland Educational Enterprise Consortium. The agreement will be acquired in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 12 - Acquisition of Commercial Items and FAR Part 13 - Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The North American Industry Classification System code for this acquisition is 423430. This notice of intent is not a Request for competitive Quotations (RFQ), nor is an RFQ available. Vendors may identify in writing their interest and capability in response to this requirement or submit a proposal. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However all responses received no later than the closing date of this announcement will be considered by the government. A determination by the government not to compete this proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. By submitting a quote, the vendor will be self-certifying that neither the requestor nor the principal corporate officials and owners are currently suspended, debarred, or otherwise ineligible to receive contracts from any federal agency. Failure to do so may represent grounds for refusing to accept the quote. Through its submission, the vendor acknowledges the requirement that a prospective awardee must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database prior to award, during performance and through final payment of any contract resulting from this. Period of Performance: The anticipated period of performance is twelve (12) months from the date of award plus two option years.