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Notice of Intent to Sole Source – Soft Computer Corporation (SCC)

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NOI-OD-26-003941Federal

Contract Overview

Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.

AI Contract Overview

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center has issued a Notice of Intent to sole source Soft Computer Corporation (SCC) for the continued acquisition of software and hardware license and maintenance services supporting its proprietary Laboratory Information System (LIS). The LIS, integral to managing high volumes of patient data, test results, and diagnostic information, is critical to patient safety and clinical operations, making uninterrupted system functionality mandatory. SCC is the sole source authorized to maintain and support the LIS due to its proprietary ownership of the source code and unique technical expertise. No third-party maintenance is permitted, reinforcing the necessity for sole-source continuation of services under FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This acquisition covers ongoing support for SCC’s IBM hardware and AIX operating system environment, encompassing various software modules such as SoftPathDX, SoftBank, SoftLab, and others critical to clinical laboratory data management. The contract spans a base year plus four one-year options, requiring 24/7/365 support and a rapid four-hour hardware replacement guarantee to minimize downtime. Maintenance services include software updates, interface compliance with standards like HL7, and adherence to HIPAA and Section 508 accessibility requirements. The firm-fixed-price contract emphasizes mission-critical continuity and patient safety, with stringent service level agreements and escalation procedures embedded. While technical and operational requirements are comprehensive, no standardized FAR contract clauses or special contract requirements such as security clearances or organizational conflict of interest provisions have been explicitly documented. Comments on this sole-source intent may be submitted to the NIH contracting office prior to the closing date, underscoring the agency’s commitment to transparency despite the non-competitive procurement.

General Info

NIH sole sources Soft Computer Corp for critical LIS software, hardware support, 24/7 service, five-year term.

Agency

Department Of Health And Human Services → National Institutes Of Health Olao

NAICS

513210 - Software Publishers

Place of Performance

Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA

Set-Aside

NONE

Documents

Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition for NIH LIS Support

7 pages · justification-and-authorization

High

SCC Soft Computer Corp. Lab System Maintenance and Support Statement of Work

sow

High

NOI-OD-26-003941 Notice of Intent to Sole Source – Soft Computer Corporation

2 pages · notice-of-intent

Low

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Uniform Contract Format

Timeline

PhasePresolicitation

PostedMar 10

Presolicitation

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Organization & Contact Information

AgencyDepartment Of Health And Human Services → National Institutes Of Health Olao

Contacts1 person available

OfficeBETHESDA, MD, 20892, USA

Organization / AgencyDepartment Of Health And Human Services → National Institutes Of Health Olao

Office AddressBETHESDA, MD, 20892, USA

Contacts

Chris Ryssa Nix

contact@example.gov

Full Description

This is a notice of intent, not a request for a quotation. A solicitation document will not be issued and quotations will not be requested.

This procurement is acquisition is to continue to obtain Soft software and hardware license and maintenance services for the IBM hardware and AIX operating system for servers that support the existing Laboratory Information System (LIS). Soft Computer Corporation (SCC) has been the incumbent since the initial install of the software and due to its proprietary nature they have performed the ongoing maintenance and support on the system. The current LIS software system is proprietary to SCC who developed it. SCC does not permit 3rd party maintenance and will not release their source code to other entities.

As the LIS modules in the Clinical Center are currently handling large volumes of patient data and test and diagnostic results, it is absolutely imperative that there be no interruption in the ongoing operation/functioning of the existing system. Patient safety is of great concern if there is a system failure or interruption in service. Therefore it is critical that the system continues to be maintained by SCC who is the only source capable of providing the necessary maintenance, including making revisions to the source code as circumstances may dictate.

Because the LIS helps support patient diagnosis and care activities, it is deemed a mission critical system for the Clinical Center. The proprietary status of the system to SCC clearly demonstrates that they are the only firm qualified to perform the required maintenance services.

This acquisition is being conducted using policies unique to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13 –Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Subpart 13.106-1(b)(1), For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstance of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6-Competition Requirements.

Comments to this announcement, referencing this posting number, may be submitted to the NIH, Clinical Center, Office of Purchasing and Contracts, prior to the closing date specified in this announcement, to the attention of Ryssa Nix, Contract Specialist via email to contact@example.gov by close date.

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