SSJ: Specialized Technical Support Services (STSS)

This contract is a sole-source justification for the continuation of Specialized Technical Support Services (STSS) under the National Institutes of Health, specifically to support the Center for Information Technology and Office of the Chief Information Officer. The action is authorized under GSAR 538.7104-3(b)(1)(iii) due to the incumbent contractor’s unique, non-transferable institutional knowledge and deep operational integration with NIH systems, making a competitive process impractical without risking critical service disruption. The award is for a firm-fixed-price contract valued at $6,772,567.00, covering a base period from June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026, with mandatory and optional extensions extending performance through May 31, 2027. Services include project management, technical writing, financial analysis, property and network security support, telecommunications, executive coordination, and administrative functions essential to NIH operations. Performance occurs primarily at NIH facilities in Bethesda, Maryland, with contractor personnel embedded in mission-critical environments requiring direct system access and ongoing security compliance. The justification emphasizes operational continuity, risk mitigation, and fair and reasonable pricing based on historical GSA MAS pricing, with no formal evaluation factors or technical scoring applied due to the non-competitive nature of the award. A re-competition is scheduled for January 2027, preceded by a 60-day transition period to ensure seamless service handover. The Contracting Officer is Donald Ledwig, with Chantel Steward serving as the Contracting Officer’s Representative, and the total aggregate contract value under prior and current actions reaches $12,415,080.76. No standard FAR clauses, packaging requirements, inspection criteria, or offeror certifications are explicitly detailed, as the document serves solely as a formal justification for exception to fair opportunity rather than a full solicitation or contract.