NOTICE OF INTENT - Sonnet Software License and Support

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division intends to negotiate with Sonnet Software Inc., located in Syracuse, New York on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR Subpart FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) for a Sonnet Software license. Statutory authority for sole source is 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1), Only one responsible source. The statute is being implemented using simplified acquisition procedures under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901.

The sole source determination is based on the Government’s market research which determined only Sonnet Software, Inc., can provide the licenses, maintenance, security upgrades, and technical support for these licenses and existing licenses that meet all the required minimum technical specifications as identified in the attached specifications document. Additionally, NIST currently has a license for the existing Sonnet platform by Sonnet Software, Inc. for the high-frequency planar electromagnetic (EM) software. Sonnet software has been identified as a need for NIST researchers in a number of Laboratories.  The original equipment manufacturer, Sonnet Software, Inc., does not authorize third-party resellers within the United States for any of its product lines.  Use of non-Sonnet high-frequency planar EM software platforms risks project impact and delays due to training and program rework, which will incur significant resources in funding and manpower while either stopping or substantially delaying the completion of project milestones. 

NAICS Code is 513210, Software Publishers, with a Size Standard of $47M. NIST anticipates negotiating and awarding a firm-fixed-price purchase order to Sonnet Software, Inc. for this requirement.

Interested parties that can demonstrate they could satisfy the requirement listed above for NIST must clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing on or before the response date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation. Information submitted in response to this notice will be used solely to determine whether competitive procedures could be used for this acquisition. If competitive procedures are not used, it is estimated that an award will be issued by 7/9/2024. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to clifford.nicholson@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted to clifford.nicholson@nist.gov no later than 6/10/2024 at 10:00 a.m. MDT.