W9124J-26-Q-SPCH_Sources Sought - Intent to Sole Source.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS NOTICE

SOLICITATION NUMBER: W9124J-26-Q-SPCH

NOTICE TYPE: This is a Sources Sought Notice ONLY.

This Sources Sought Notice is to provide Speechmatics automatic speech recognition (ASR) software. This hardware and software suite will be used Army-wide at various installations to record and translate legal military proceedings for the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps. The information received will be used within the Mission and Installation Contracting Command - Fort Sam Houston Contracting Center (MICC-FSH) for market research in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 – Market Research and will not be disclosed outside of the organization.

The U.S. Government currently intends to award a contract for Speechmatics automatic speech recognition (ASR) software on a Sole Source basis but is seeking vendors that may be able to perform this requirement in order to support a competitive procurement. Accordingly, the U.S.

Government highly encourages all interested businesses (large and small) to respond to this sources sought notice. In addition, small businesses, in all socioeconomic categories (including, 8(a) Business Development Program, Small Disadvantage Business, Historically Underutilized Business Zone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Women-Owned Small Business concerns), must describe their identifying capabilities in meeting the requirements at a fair market price, i.e., information which may help support a set-aside.

The proposed sole source Firm Fixed Price contract to eVerbatim Inc., for Speechmatics automatic speech recognition (ASR) software. The statutory authority for the sole source procurement is FAR subpart 12.201-1: For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), only one source reasonably available, urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name, or industrial mobilization.

This notice is for planning and informational purposes only and SHALL NOT be considered an Invitation for Bid (IFB), Request for Quotation (RFQ), or Request for Proposal (RFP). There is no obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services described in this Sources Sought Synopsis. This office does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this Sources Sought Synopsis or reimburse respondents for information solicited and provided. No funds have been authorized, appropriated, or received for this effort.

Response to this SSS does not guarantee or exclude your participation in the forthcoming acquisition process. Any information provided by the Government under this notice is preliminary and may be updated or changed prior to release of the solicitation. All submissions will become Government property and will not be returned.

The U.S. Army requires information to determine the availability of resources to provide Speechmatics automatic speech recognition (ASR) software. This hardware and software suite will be used Army-wide at various installations to record and translate legal military proceedings for the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps as defined in the attached Statement of Work (SOW).

The Government seeks to procure Speechmatics, automatic speech recognition (ASR) software. This hardware and software suite will be used Army-wide at various installations to record and translate legal military proceedings. This system will work in unison with Total Eclipse Professional Voice Reporter

Version (VoX) Software, including integrated hardware and software, to record all court-martial proceedings and other legal proceedings to support its mission to ensure the swift administration of the military justice system.

The information received from this SSS will be used by the Government as a preliminary planning tool for the purposes of obtaining information regarding the availability and capability of qualified businesses under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 513210, Software Publishers.

The associated size standard is $47.0 Million. The anticipated period of performance is one (1) 12-month base year and (3) 12-month option years.

EXISTING CONTRACT:

The current government contract is: W9124J-23-P-0027.

In order to determine if sources capable of satisfying the agency’s needs exist, the Government will consider all Sources Sought responses received, particularly those received from 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, or small businesses. Responses to this SSS permit the contracting officer, in accordance with FAR subpart 19.1, to consider an acquisition for the small business socioeconomic concerns (i.e., 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or WOSB programs) and to consider a small business set-aside (see FAR subpart 19.1). Small businesses, in all socioeconomic categories, are highly encouraged to identify capabilities in meeting the requirements at fair market prices. Provide suggestions on how the requirement could be structured to facilitate competition by and among small business concerns. Describe any conditions that may limit small businesses from participation.

SUBMITTAL INFORMATION:

Interested Offerors having the required specialized capabilities / qualifications to support some, or all of the work identified in the SOW are asked to answer the following questions and submit a capability statement. Capability statements shall contain the following information:

1. Name of the firm, point of contact, phone number, email address, UEI number, CAGE code, a statement regarding small business status (including small business type(s)/certifications(s) such as SDB, 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, etc.) and the corresponding NAICS code.

2. Information in sufficient detail regarding previous experience on similar requirements to include contract number, organization supported, indication of whether as a prime contractor or subcontractor, contract value, and point of contact with current phone number. Briefly identify how the referenced contract relates to the services described for this requirement. If applicable, identify any unique characteristics or alternative solutions to the performance of work.

3. For this type of work, what are your actual percentages and dollars in subcontracting to large business, small business, and all sub-categories (small disadvantage business, woman owned small business, HUB zone small business, service-disabled veteran owned small business, and HBCU/MI)?

Note: See FAR 52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontracting (Deviation 2021-O0008, Revision 1).

4. Identify how the Army can best structure this requirement to facilitate competition by and among small business concerns.

5. The NAICS code contemplated for this requirement is 513210 with a size standard of $47.0 Million. In your opinion, does this NAICS code fit this requirement? If not, which NAICS code would you suggest and why?

6. Identify any condition or action that may be having the effect of unnecessarily restricting competition with respect to this acquisition. Please contact the MICC Advocate for Competition, Scott Kukes, at scott.d.kukes.civ@army.mil or 210-466-3015, if you believe that this action is unreasonably restricting competition. Include the subject of the acquisition, this announcement, and the MICC POC information from the Sources Sought Synopsis notice.

Provide the specific aspects that unreasonably restrict competition and the rationale for such conclusion.

YOUR RESPONSE TO THE SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE: The Government will not review general capability statements; please ensure submissions are tailored to this requirement and information requested in the attached Statement of Work (SOW). The Government requests Capabilities Statements be submitted electronically in PDF or MS Word format. Offeror's responses shall not exceed ten (10) pages single-sided - standard 8 ½ X 11 pages using not less than 10-pitch font -- and shall describe the offerors technical expertise in sufficient detail to make an informed determination of the offerors ability to successfully perform the services described in the attached Statement of Work (SOW).

All responses shall be received no later than 4 September 2026 at 12:00 pm CDT. Please respond via electronic mail (email) to the Contracting Officer, Jared Kiser, and Contract Specialist, Tim Hallahan, at the following: jared.l.kiser.civ@army.mil and timothy.d.hallahan.civ@army.mil. All questions MUST be in writing and should also be directed to the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist. In all responses, please reference W9124J-26-Q-SPCH in the subject line.

Verbal questions will not be accepted. This SSS is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. No telephonic responses will be accepted.

Primary Point of Contact:

Timothy D. Hallahan II Contract Specialist Email: timothy.d.hallahan.civ@army.mil

Secondary Point of Contact:

Jared L. Kiser Contracting Officer Email: jared.l.kiser.civ@army.mil

Contracting Office Address:

2205 Infantry Post Road, Bldg. 603 Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234-1361 United States mailto:%20scott.d.kukes.civ@army.mil%20 mailto:jared.l.kiser.civ@army.mil mailto:timothy.d.hallahan.civ@army.mil mailto:timothy.d.hallahan.civ@army.mil mailto:jared.l.kiser.civ@army.mil