Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Online CEB Learning and Development Leadership Council Subscription

This is not a request for quotations or an announcement of a forthcoming solicitation, but merely a notification of the Social Security Administration's (SSA) intent to issue, on a sole-source basis, a firm fixed-price purchase order to Corporate Executive Board (CEB) for a yearly electronic membership to the Learning and Development Leadership Roundtable. The membership is an online web-based system that will be accessed through SSA's Intranet via the Digital Library, which is password protected; or individuals can establish their own account through the Technology Innovation Board (Technology Research Tools site). SSA staff use the resources provided by the CEB to conduct IT and E-commerce research in support of SSA's online services initiatives. SSA will use the on-line resources provided by CEB to obtain the following services: - Web Site Portal - Research resources, benchmarking, decision support centers, events, conferences, meetings, teleconferences, and webinars. - IT Learning Centers - Training modules designed to enhance the key IT management skills of IT staff. The courses available provide SSA with a series of audio-based lessons covering a range of topic areas, such as business engagement, value demonstration, and project management. - Executive Productivity Network Connect - Access to a comprehensive network of senior level executives focused on best practices. - Customized Research Request - Customized research project where CEB research managers will collaborate with SSA to determine the type of research that will provide the most suitable support. - Hard Copy Studies - Quarterly research studies are available online and as hard copies. - Annual Executive Retreat - Highly interactive, confidential, vendor free one-day meetings. The member-driven agenda is anchored by company case studies and an opportunity to interact with program principals to disseminate key insights from each program's member-driven research. - On-site Research Briefing - Personalized research briefings conducted by the CEB senior research director. These are annual briefings per program/council are customized to meet SSA requirements across a broad range of topics. Workshops begin with presentation and discussion of relevant program research, and then transition to hands-on exercises to create deliverables that SSA can use to launch new initiatives. Under the authority of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 6.302-1, the Contracting Officer has determined that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The CEB Leadership and Development Roundtable membership is only available from its producer and manufacturer and not through dealers or distributors. The period of performance will be for twelve months, beginning October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017. This requirement is utilizing procedures in FAR Part 12 in conjunction with procedures in FAR Part 13. A determination by SSA not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of SSA. Information received will be considered for the purposes of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. The government does not intend to pay for information provided in response to this notice. Written responses to this notice shall contain sufficient documentation to establish a bona fide capability to fulfill this requirement. Responses shall be submitted by 12:00PM ET on Thursday, July 28, 2016. If SSA does not receive an acceptable response to this announcement by July 28, 2016, in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), negotiations will be conducted with Corporate Executive Board as the only source and a purchase order will be issued without any additional notices being posted. Respondents should refer to 0500-16-1008 in their responses. All responses must be submitted via email to Scott.Pinney@ssa.gov. Phone calls regarding this matter will neither be accepted nor returned.