Sources Sought Notice_NIH NLM OCCS_Establish Dark Fiber Connectivity 04-10-2023.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE: Mid-Atlantic Dark Fiber Connection for the National Library of Medicine (NLM) , Office of Computer and Communications Systems (OCCS)

Notice Number:

75N97023Q00034

Issued By:

National Library of Medicine (NLM), Office of Acquisitions (OA) https://www.nlm.nih.gov/oam/oamhome.html

Key Dates:

Capability Statement Due Date: April 21, 2023, by 11:00AM EST

This Small Business Sources Sought Notice (SBSS) is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to identify qualified small business concerns including 8(a), HUBZone or Service-Disabled Veteran-owned business concerns that are interested in and capable of performing the work described herein. The NLM does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses received nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. This requirement is assigned North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 517110-Wired Telecommunications Carriers with a size standard of 1,500 is being considered.

As a result of this Sources Sought Notice, the NLM may issue a combined synopsis solicitation through FedBizOpps. THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against the NLM shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought Notice or the NLM’s use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement.

The Office of Computer and Communications Systems (OCCS) provides efficient, cost-effective computing and networking services, technical advice, and collaboration in informational sciences in support of the research and management programs offered through the NLM.

The OCCS develops and provides the NLM backbone computer networking facilities, and supports, guides, and assists other NLM components in local area networking. The Division provides professional programming services and computational and data processing facilities to meet the NLM program needs; operates and maintains the NLM Computer Center; designs and develops software; and provides extensive customer support, training courses and seminars, and documentation for computer and network users.

The OCCS helps to coordinate, integrate, and standardize the vast array of computer services available throughout all of the organizations comprising the NLM. The Division also serves as a technological resource for other parts of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and for other Federal organizations with biomedical, statistical, and administrative computing needs.

The Division promotes the application of High-Performance Computing and Communication to biomedical problems, including image processing.

The OCCS staff develops computer-based systems for information retrieval applications, conducts computer science and engineering research and development, and consults and collaborates in the area of advanced electronic office automation facilities. In addition, the OCCS support software systems to perform these services, and conduct research and evaluations for best fit solutions to information access needs.

1. Background Information

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) plans to continue to make use of the Next Generation Internet/Internet2 services available through the Mid-Atlantic Crossroads (MAX) organization, part of the University of Maryland College Park, via its primary connection, for continued access to the domestic and international research and development advanced networking community and requires this dark fiber connection to provide continuity of operations.

2. Objectives

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) plans to continue to make use of the Next Generation Internet/Internet2 services available through the Mid-Atlantic Crossroads (MAX) organization, part of the University of Maryland College Park, via its primary connection, for continued access to the domestic and international research and development advanced networking community and requires this dark fiber connection to provide continuity of operations.

3. Scope

The scope of this procurement is the acquisition of dark fiber connectivity and related support services.

4. Description of Work

The Contractor shall provide the NLM with the following:

Dark fiber (i.e., fiber unlit-by-electronics) for a single connection between the National Library of Medicine (NLM) Telephone Equipment Room Building 38A 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20894 (NPA/NNX 301/435) and the Mid-Atlantic Crossroads (MAX) consortium facilities located at the University of Maryland Computer and Space Sciences Building, Building #224 Room 0312B, College Park, MD 20742-

2411 (NPA/NNX 301/405).

The dark fiber must be installed and tested at a level that will ensure fiber meets 100G data transfer standards, with minimal dB loss. Certified test results shall be provided to the NLM upon completion.

Clearly defined maintenance intervals and notification windows. This shall include the identified maintenance classification and the lead time for notifications sent to customers.

Clearly defined process for the NLM to directly report incidents or outages.

5. Government Furnished Property (GFP)

The Government will provide adequate conduit into the building and confirm access facilities to the building are available for fiber provisioning. The Government will also locate private utilities on the premises if construction is required. Any construction requirements will be at the expense of the Contractor and must be coordinated with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).

The Government will ensure the demarcation point is accessible and in an environmentally controlled location.

The Government will provide space in a 19” wide data rack for the required hardware.

Government will provide a dedicated power outlet and common ground.

The Government will complete inside wiring before the arrival of the installation technicians and extend the wiring from the demarcation point to the location where the NLM edge router is located.

7. Contract Type

This is a firm fixed price contract.

8. Place of Performance

National Library of Medicine Building 38A 8600 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20894

9. Period of Performance

The period of performance shall be for a 12-month Base Period plus four (4) successive 12-month Option Years from award date. The anticipated award date is August 1, 2023.

10. Deliverables/Delivery Schedule

The Contractor will work with the NLM staff to continue providing technical support as needed at the request of the COR.

11. Deliverable Title Due Establish Dark Fiber Connectivity 8/1/2023

12. Post-Award Evaluation of Contractor Performance

Contractor Performance Evaluations

Interim and final evaluations of the Contractor performance will be prepared on this Purchase Order in accordance with FAR 42.15. The final performance evaluation will be prepared at the time of completion of work. In addition to the final evaluation, interim evaluations will be prepared annually to coincide with the anniversary date of the Purchase Order.

Interim and final evaluations will be provided to the Contractor as soon as practicable after completion of the evaluation. The Contractor will be permitted thirty days to review the document and submit additional information or a rebutting statement. If an agreement cannot be reached between the parties, the matter will be referred to an individual one level above the Contracting Officer, whose decision will be final.

Copies of the evaluations, the Contractor responses, and review comments, if any, will be retained as part of the Purchase Order file, and may be used to support future award decisions.

Electronic Access to Contractor Performance Evaluations

The Contractors may access evaluations through a secure Web site for review and comment at the following address: http://www.cpars.gov.

13. Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)

The following Contracting Officer’s Representative(s) (CORs) will represent the Government for the purpose of this Purchase Order:

COR: TBD

The COR is responsible for: (1) monitoring the Contractor's technical progress, including the surveillance and assessment of performance and recommending to the Contracting Officer changes in requirements; (2) interpreting the SOW and any other technical performance requirements; (3) performing technical evaluation as required; (4) performing technical inspections and acceptances required by this Purchase Order; and (5) assisting in the resolution of technical problems encountered during performance.

The Contracting Officer is the only person with authority to act as agent of the Government under this Purchase Order. Only the Contracting Officer has authority to: (1) direct or negotiate any changes in the SOW; (2) modify or extend the period of performance; (3) change the delivery schedule; (4) authorize reimbursement to the Contractor for any costs incurred during the performance of this Purchase Order; (5) otherwise change any terms and conditions of this Purchase Order; or (6) sign written licensing agreements. Any signed agreement shall be incorporated by reference in Provision 32.0, ATTACHMENTS, of this SOW.

The Government may unilaterally change its COR designation.

How to Submit a Response:

1. Page Limitations:

Interested qualified small business organizations should submit a tailored capability statement for this requirement not to exceed 10 single sided pages including all attachments, resumes, charts, etc. (single spaced, 12 point font minimum) that clearly details the ability to perform the requirements of the notice described above. All proprietary information should be marked as such. Responses should include a minimum of two pages demonstrating experience over the past two years meeting the requirements of this notice. Statements should also include an indication of current certified small business status; this indication should be clearly marked on the first page of your capability statement (preferable placed under the eligible small business concern’s name and address). Responses will be reviewed only by NIH personnel and will be held in a confidential manner.

2. Due Date:

Capability statements are due no later than 11:00 am. EST on April 21, 2023.

3. Delivery Point:

All information furnished must be in writing and must contain sufficient detail to allow the NLM to determine if it can meet the unique specifications described herein. Written responses can be emailed to Kathy Elliott, Contracting Officer at Elliottk@mail.nih.gov or mailed to the address located under Point of Contact. All questions must be in writing and emailed to Elliottk@mail.nih.gov. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. In order to receive an award, Contractors must have valid registration and certification in the System for Award Management (SAM) through www.beta.SAM.gov. No collect calls will be accepted. Please reference number 75N97023Q00034 on all correspondence.

Disclaimer and Important Notes:

This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, an RFQ may be published on FedBizOpps.

However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation(s).

Point of Contact:

Inquiries concerning this Notice may be direct to:

Kathy Elliott 6707 Democracy Boulevard, Room 105Q29 Bethesda, MD 20817 Elliottk@mail.nih.gov