This is a pre-solicitation / non-competitive (notice of intent) synopsis to award a purchase order without providing for full and open competition. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Office of Acquisitions (OA), intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a noncompetitive sole source basis to Subject7, 11121 Stackhouse Ct., Potomac, MD 20854 to provide the Proof by Subject7 Software as a Service (SaaS) with annual maintenance to the NHLBI Information Technology and Assessment Center (ITAC).

BACKGROUND

Custom applications and web browser are repeatedly modified, upgraded and patched. Each new iteration must be fully tested before release. This acquisition will satisfy the security requirement to perform complete and accurate testing of each application and browser modification.
The NHLBI needs to have automated smoke tests established to enable broad testing of its custom applications in support of required security and functional patch upgrades. Smoke testing also needs to be performed on an array of targeted browsers to uncover issues before browser upgrades occur. This is a new requirement.

PURPOSE

The ITAC is requesting the purchase of the software in order to test and perform functional regression and acceptance testing for software applications in order to support required security and functional patch upgrades.

PROCUREMENT

The contractor shall provide five (05) user licenses and one (01) server license with annual maintenance of PROOF BY SUBJECT7, a scalable Software as a Service (SaaS) cloud-based test automation platform.

JUSTIFICATION

The sole source determination is based on the fact that PROOF BY SUBJECT7 can only be obtained directly from Subject 7 as there are no authorized resellers for this Software as a Service (SaaS).

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 13.106-1(b) Soliciting from a single source (for purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold) and only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 541511, Custom Computer Programming Services, and the Small Business Size Standard is $25.5M. This acquisition is being conducted under FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, therefore the requirements of FAR Part 6, Competitive Requirements, are not applicable (FAR Part 6.001). The resultant award will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 05-76 (August 25, 2014).

This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

All responses must be received by September 29, 2014 at 9:00 a.m., EST and must reference synopsis number NHLBI-CSB-(HL)-2014-278-RMD. Responses shall be submitted to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Office of Acquisitions, COAC Services Branch, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 6144, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7902, Attention: Renee Dougherty. Responses may be submitted electronically to [email protected]. Faxes will not be accepted. Responses will only be accepted if dated and signed by an authorized company representative. "All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency."