Notice of Intent - Sole Source (6-month Extension 18PNB180237)

SYNOPSIS: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) hereby provides notice of its intent to negotiate a six-month extension to an existing purchase order (1333ND18PNB180237) with Copper River Enterprise Services LLC, 1577 C St, Suite 201, Anchorage, AK 99501-5164. The applicable authority FAR 13.106-1(b)(1). A Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition has been prepared. The NIST has a sole source requirement for the continuation of Off-Site Tape Storage services for NIST, to act as a "bridge to a new competitive award for these services. NIST's Infrastructure Services Division (ISD)uses CommVault to provide highly automated, centrally scheduled backups of computers on the NIST network. The CommVault system backups up the computer through the NIST network to tape storage in the Central Computing Facility. Tapes are then sent to an off-site data storage facility to ensure the location meets continuity of operations requirements. Off-site tape storage services are a continuing need for NIST. These tapes are created for the continued protection of the data owned by ISD customers in the support of their business and mission needs. The off-site data storage facility is required to ensure that the data is stored in a location that meets the continuity of operations and disaster recovery needs of ISD customers. This requirement is for the Contractor to provide labor, materials, supervision, a remote storage vault, and Courier service for a weekly pick-up/delivery from/to NIST Gaithersburg, Maryland campus to a remote storage vault and from/to NIST Boulder, Colorado campus to a remote storage vault. The proposed contractor, Copper River Enterprise Services, LLC, has the necessary capability and expertise to ensure continuity of services for NIST's off-site tape storages needs. This six-month extension is meant to act as a "bridge" while the Government solicits and awards a new purchase order for these services. The Government cannot experience any form of lapse with these services. Furthermore, there must be continuity of services for the Disaster Recovery exercise that the agency must run in Q2/Q3 of FY2019. An extension of the existing order with Copper River Enterprise Services, LLC is the only way to ensure there is no lapse, particularly if there is a lapse in appropriations due to a Federal Government shutdown in December 2018. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. A determination not to compete this requirement, 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. NIST will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties in responding to this notice of intent. Only written responses will be considered. As a result of analyzing responses to this notice of intent, the Government shall determine whether a solicitation will be issued. Any prospective contractor must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) in order to be eligible for award. Information concerning SAM registered requirements may be viewed via the Internet at http://sam.gov. INSTRUCTIONS: All interested parties shall submit clear and convincing documentation demonstrating their capabilities to satisfy the requirements listed above to Chantel Adams by email at chantel.adams@nist.gov, no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, December 19, 2018. Fax inquiries will not be accepted. The capability documentation should include general information and technical background describing in detail the prospective contractor's capabilities and experience that will demonstrate the ability to support these requirements.