The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) intends to issue a sole source contract to Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) in its capacity as a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) for technical support and continued development, governance, and coodination of the NGA Ontology Foundry. The anticipated period of performance consists of a base period of 12 months plus four 12- month option periods.

The proposed contract action falls under the statutory authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(3), as implemented by FAR 6.302-3 Industrial mobilization; engineering, developmental, or research capability; or expert services.  Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(3)(B), and as  implemented by FAR 6.302-3, “the head of an agency may use procedures other than competitive procedures only when—it is necessary to award the contract to a particular source or sources in order—to establish or maintain an essential engineering, research, or development capability to be provided by an educational or other nonprofit institution or a federally funded research and development center.” JHU/APL is one of the not-for-profit organizations established as a UARC by the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD (R&E).  UARCs are research organizations within a university or college that are established to develop and maintain Government-defined research, development, or engineering capabilities designated as essential and to provide those essential capabilities to the Department of Defense through long-term, strategic relationships.

THIS NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 5.2 AND IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS.  However, responsible sources may identify their interest and capabilities with respect to this requirement.  A determination by the Government not to compete this action based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.  The Government will not be responsible for costs incurred by interested parties in responding to this notice.