This is a Notice of Proposed Contract Action under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (FAR 13) and Other Than Full and Open Competition (FAR 6.302-1). Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. This notice is for information only; a solicitation will not be issued. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. No contract will be awarded on the basis of offers received in response to this notice. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541513 with a small business size standard of $25.5 Million average annual receipts. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Rome Research Site (RRS) requires Information Technology (IT) services. Work to be performed consists of providing IT core services to support RRS, as well as applications development, testing, integration and support functions. The government intends to negotiate a sole source contract with NCI Information Systems, Inc., 11730 Plaza America Drive, Suite 700, Reston VA 20190. This action is to add six (6) one month options IAW FAR 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services. A competitive RFP will be issued once Netcents-2 NetOps Small Business is available for use. It has been determined that this is a logical follow-on contract due to the fact that the current contractor, NCI Information Systems, Inc., will be doing the same highly specialized scope of work that is currently being provided to keep our IT service running. If a new contractor were to be awarded this contract at this time, unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency's needs would occur in a multitude of ways. The incumbent contractor, NCI Information Systems, currently has knowledgeable, qualified personnel in place to fulfill the requirement. Additionally, NCI Information Systems already has the security clearances required and access to the required system accounts as well as accurate processes and procedures set in place to keep the IT network maintained at the required service level. NCI Information Systems is familiar with RRS's existing tools, applications, site-specific processes and procedures, and their personnel have the required certifications and accounts. Obtaining a new contractor at this time would cause an unacceptable delay due to the time it would take to get cleared contractor personnel in place, their access to the required accounts and the hours needed to train them to do a job that the incumbent can perform on day one and has been doing very well for the past 7 years. Due to the vital nature of the IT services in accomplishing the RRS mission, the current contractor would be required to provide all reasonable support to the Government and the new contractor to ensure an orderly transition and minimize any impact on the RRS operations. The incumbent contractor would be required to prepare a transition plan, and provide sufficient number of personnel to conduct a joint inventory of all Government-furnished equipment, Government-provided facilities, publications, accounts, and records with the successor contractor and the Government to ensure inventories/accounts are accurate and complete. The incumbent contractor would be required to provide familiarization and allow the new contractor to observe monthly operations, facilities, work, equipment locations, and reporting procedures. Additionally, the learning curve needed to get a new contractor up to speed involves a significant amount of Government time and effort as well, given the close level of collaboration required for successful performance. Continuing this as a logical follow-on contract eliminates this unacceptable delay. It is the intent of the Government, and considered to be in the Government's best interest, to re-compete this work at the time the Netcents-2 NetOps Small Business multiple award contracts is available for ordering. This contract is currently under protest and the time frame for resolution is unknown at this time. The pricing conditions and potential contractors involved are expected to differ from the previous Netcents-1 contract; it is therefore reasonable to conclude that the result will be an extremely competitive environment through which the substantial duplication of cost to the Government described in the paragraphs above may be recovered. Additionally the issuance of this contract will allow sufficient time to allow Netcents to conclude their protest and RRS to issue a solicitation on Netcents-2 NetOps SB. The resulting delivery order will allow sufficient time to get a potential new contractor fully staffed, cleared and onto our site without unacceptable delays. This is a notice of proposed contract action and not a request for competitive proposals; however, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement and/or market pricing, which shall be considered by the agency. All inquiries should be sent by email to the point of contact listed. Responses must be submitted by the date/time listed on the notice. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government. Responses received will be evaluated; however a determination by the Government not to compete the proposed procurement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The Government anticipates an award date on or before 01 April 2015. A J&A authorizing the use of FAR 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services will be attached to this notice after award in accordance with applicable regulations.
