Notice of Intent - Scantron Equipment Maintenance

The United States Department of Defense (DoD), Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), Acquisition and Contracting (AQ) Office proposes to enter into a contract on a basis of other than full and open competition with Scantron Corporation, of Eagan, MN on behalf of the Background Investigation Enterprise Systems (BIES) Program Executive Office (PEO). The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 13.106-1(b) - Solicit from a Single Source. Contracting Activity: DCSA AQ, 27130 Telegraph Road, Quantico, VA 22134 Requesting Activity: BIES PEO, 27130 Telegraph Road, Quantico, VA 22134 DCSA's Background Investigation Program Management Office (BI/PMO) utilizes a suite of business applications that have different platforms and frameworks that allows for external federal employees and contractors, as well as DCSA staff and contractors, to manage the entire life cycle of investigative services. The entire life cycle of investigative services include, but are not limited to, accessing case data, performing analysis of investigative items, and producing reports about the status of cases and case items. DCSA currently owns and utilizes Scantron scanning equipment to assist in the processing of security clearance related paperwork that requires a bubble scanning device. This equipment is used to reduce and/or eliminate the need for manual review of forms associated with the security clearance process. The DCSA BIES program has a requirement for maintenance and repair services of these existing Scantron scanning devices. This includes scheduled periodic maintenance services in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended schedule for each item, as well as ad-hoc repair service calls due to equipment failure or breakdown. DCSA BIES requires maintenance support specifically for Scantron Corporation equipment. Given that the Government already owns the specific equipment in need of maintenance and repair services, the requirement is specific to Scantron equipment and cannot be met through maintenance services of any other brand of equipment. Replacing this type of hardware would require additional costs in analyzing system requirements, as well delays in procurement, and there would be no real benefit to procuring both new equipment and its associated maintenance. Being these devices are currently in use through Operations and Maintenance (O&M), it is more cost effective to contract for maintenance services rather than conducting a technical and business impact assessment for procuring and installing new hardware to support this process. Scantron readers support the translation of bubble forms used throughout the investigative process. Not having maintenance on current readers and scanners places the BIES mission at risk in the event that breakage or a service need is required and cannot be supported. This would result in a significant delay or degradation in processing forms required for background investigations, and in turn would impact both the DCSA mission and potentially the Government security clearance process as a whole. No other vendors are capable or authorized to conduct maintenance or repair services on Scantron manufactured equipment. Market research conducted supports this based on viewing the manufacturer's web page, searching GSA Advantage, a DoD Enterprise Service Initiative (ESI) search, and a request for information (RFI) posted to NASASEWP. Query efforts did not successfully identify any other businesses. Additionally, the Contract Specialist received confirmation from Scantron that there are no authorized third parties capable of providing maintenance support to Scantron equipment. Period of Performance: One-12 month base year plus two-12 month option periods. (April 01, 2022 - March 31, 2024). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 811212 - Computer and Office Machine Repair and Maintenance, and the size standard is $30 million. No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, all responsible sources interested may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. The Government will consider responses received by 12:00 p.m. EST on 29 March 2022. Inquiries will only be accepted via email to Kelsie.Kautz.civ@mail.mil and Lynda.m.horton.civ@mail.mil. No telephone requests will be honored. A determination by the Government not to compete the 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 in the future. Each response should include the following business Information: a. Contractor Name, Address, b. Point of Contact Name, Phone Number, and Email address c. Contractor DUNS d. Contractor Business Classification (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, hubZone, veteran owned, etc.) as validated in System for Award Management (SAM). All offerors must register in the SAM located at http://www.sam.gov e. Capability Statement