--Notice of Intent to Award a Sole Source Procurement

The Government intends to award a sole source purchase order to HAYES, Inc., located in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, for a subscription to their online service providing access to the HAYES Medical Technology Directory and its accompanying newsletter, HAYES Alert. The contract will cover the period from October 1, 2003, through September 30, 2004, serving the TRICARE Management Activity based in Aurora, Colorado. This procurement is being conducted under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 and is not a result of a formal solicitation; no request for proposals or quotations will be issued, and no contract will be awarded based on responses to this notice alone. The notice functions primarily to identify whether comparable sources or offers exist that may be more advantageous to the Government. Interested parties must submit detailed capability statements by November 7, 2003, either by mail or fax to the designated contact. If no suitable alternatives are identified, the Government will proceed with the sole source award without further notice. The discretion to forgo competition rests entirely with the Government, and telephone inquiries or solicitation documents will not be provided. The contracting activity is governed by the Department of Defense office at Fort Carson, Colorado.