SB1341-16-RQ-0185_Attachment_2_Brand_Name_Justification_(Ref._16-01425).pdf

Brand Name Justification

Solicitation Number SB1341‐16‐RQ‐0185

The MathWorks‐brand software products and services allows NIST researchers in both Gaithersburg and

Boulder to use MathWorks products to enable them to perform high‐level technical computing language and use an interactive environment for algorithm development, data visualization, data analysis, and numeric computation that serve the missions of their laboratory and the agency.

Current MathWorks licensed products are critical to the success of NIST researchers for their work. There are multiple current projects dependent on the past and current MATLAB runs and configurations.

Terminating the use of the MathWorks MATLAB and tools licenses will significantly interrupt the flow of the output of these ongoing projects and will severely hamper NIST research efforts. Furthermore, NIST researchers who have run public domain MathWorks look‐alike products find those products do not satisfy their needs.

The MathWorks Software Maintenance Service (SMS) provides:

• Access to new features and usually deliver in general releases twice each year.

• Direct technical support provided by MathWorks support staff to resolve technical issues and get technical solutions through telephone, e‐mail, and Web assistance provided by specialized support engineers.

• Ability of the online license management to view license details, manages user permissions, activate software, and get passcodes for previous releases, and obtain order status.

• Ability to add new products to the existing license at any time. A SMS subscription allows access to the latest release to ensure compatibility with new versions of MathWorks products.

• Bug fixes are received via twice‐yearly general releases and periodic Web updates, as well as interim solutions from MathWorks technical support.

Without this software license and related toolbox products NIST would not be able to complete current in‐progress work, and fifteen years of investment in developing technical capabilities to get to the current state would be wasted.