The Department of Commerce/National Institute of Standards and Technology intends to award a twelve (12) month sole source purchase order, to VeriSign, 487 E. Middlefield Road Mountain View, CA 940434047, to provide Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificates to NIST staff who administer SSL web servers. SSL web servers provide for the encryption of data between computer systems at NIST and web browsers in use anywhere on the Internet. VeriSign is the only vendor that NIST is aware of that can provide SSL certificates which enforce a 128 bit encryption key between NIST web servers and web browsers in use at NIST and by users on the Internet. The appropriate VeriSign information is configured within the most popular browsers in use today. The Government intends to solicit only this one source under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b). Interested concerns may identify their capabilities by submitting a capability statement that demonstrates in written narrative format their ability to meet the requirement and objectives as described in this synopsis. Capability statements may be e-mailed to [email protected]. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. This notice is not a request for quotation. A determination by the Government whether to compete this proposed requirement is solely within the discretion of the Government.

Bid Protests Not Available