Druid Platform and Chatbot License Renewal

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE

Air Force Materiel Command, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB OH, intends to negotiate a sole source Firm-Fixed Price contract for the renewal of Druid AI Inc. Platform and Chatbot License in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 13.5, as supplemented with additional information in this notice. The contract will be awarded to Druid AI Inc. Market research was previously conducted, and it has been determined that this is a sole source requirement IAW FAR 13.106-1(b) and AFFARS 5313.106-1(b).

This is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation is available at this time. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. Interested sources must respond in writing with clear and convincing evidence to support their ability to provide the required supplies/services within ten (10) days of this publication. A determination by the Government not to compete this action based on responses received is solely within the discretion of the Government.

Authority: 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), Justification: Supplies required are available from only one or a limited number of responsible source and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

Market research was conducted to determine if another brand name manufacturer could satisfy this requirement. No other "chatbot" company met the needs and time frame necessary to meet this request.  At this time, DruidAI is the only company that sells this product.  As such, they are the sole provider for this requirement.

Col (S) Todd Dye has been appointed as Ombudsman to hear concerns from offerors, or potential offerors, during the proposal development. The purpose of the Ombudsman is to communicate contractor concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations to the appropriate government personnel. Existence of the Ombudsman does not diminish the authority of the program director or the contracting officer. Accordingly, the Ombudsman does not participate in the preparation of solicitations, the evaluation of proposals or the source selection process and, therefore, for routine matters on individual solicitations, please contact the buyer at the telephone number listed herein. When requested, the Ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. Any questions regarding this acquisition should be directed to the Contract Specialist, Grant Allen, at e-mail: grant.allen.5@us.af.mil. Should you desire to contact the Ombudsman, Col (S) Todd Dye can be reached at e-mail: ASCA@us.af.mil.