06/16/2025- Sole Source Rescinded-this will be a competed acquisition: Notice of Intent to Sole Source eCase Audit Software
Closed Special Notice Posted
- Solicitation number
- FY25-0086
- Agency
-
Citizen and Immigration Services
Department of Homeland Security
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- Place of performance
- Washington, District of Columbia 20002, United States
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a Special Notice on June 6, 2025, announcing their intent to award a sole source contract to AINS, LLC (dba OPEXUS) for twelve software licenses of eCase Audit Software. The notice indicates this is a rescinded sole source that will now become a competed acquisition, despite the original justification for sole source procurement. USCIS had initially justified the sole source approach based on their existing use of OPEXUS eCase system, the software's compatibility with agency security policies, GSA FedRAMP certification, and the exclusive licensing arrangements that would enable seamless integration. The procurement was to be conducted under simplified acquisition procedures in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1). The agency conducted market research comparing multiple audit software solutions and determined that OPEXUS met their specific configuration and consistency requirements.
The primary objective of this notice was to inform potential contractors of USCIS's procurement plans and provide an opportunity for interested parties to express capability before the final procurement decision. The original sole source justification included not only the software licenses but comprehensive services including initial implementation, technical support, user training, documentation, data migration, and multi-level contractor support with specific response time requirements. Interested contractors were required to submit information via email to designated USCIS contacts by June 16, 2025, at 1:00 PM EST, though the notice explicitly stated it was not a request for quotation and no formal solicitation would follow. The government retained full discretion to determine whether to proceed with competitive procurement based on responses received, with all submissions being evaluated solely to assess whether a competitive process should be conducted. Contractors needed to demonstrate capability to provide the complete scope of software and associated services that OPEXUS was originally positioned to deliver exclusively.
Notice text
Notice of Intent to Sole Source eCase Audit Software.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Office of Contracting (OCON) intends to award a Sole Source contract to AINS, LLC (dba OPEXUS), 1101 17th ST NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20036-4739, to procure twelve (12) software licenses of eCase Audit Software.
The proposed procurement will utilize simplified acquisition procedures and will be awarded on a sole source basis in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) and as specified below.
Market Research was conducted comparing multiple audit software. OPEXUS eCase Audit Software meets the needs of USCIS. USCIS is currently using OPEXUS eCase system and implementation of OPEXUS eCase Audit Software is configurable, which would streamline and be consistent with the agency’s security, policies, and needs. This will allow USCIS greater flexibility to configure data migration needs within USCIS and the software is also yellow and red book complaint. In addition, OPEXUS eCase Audit is also General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) certified. This unique functionality, compatibility and consistency can only be found in the OPEXUS audit software product.
The exclusive licensing for existing OPEXUS software by USCIS (resulting in seamless integration), and the cost of switching to another product, explain why only one source is reasonably available under FAR13.106-1 and provide the best value on continuing to meet the agency’s needs without disruption to our mission-critical services.
Based on market research conducted by the Contract Specialist, OPEXUS eCase Audit Software is potentially available from resellers. If the requirement was strictly for the software, an exception to fair opportunity may not be justified. However, the requirement includes the following:
- Initial Implementation & Technical Support for Local Deployment
- User Training & Documentation
- One-Time Data Migration
- Specific Response Times for Technical Issues, including reachback for five (5) contractor personnel levels of support (Project Manager, Business Analyst(s), System Configurator(s), Help-Desk Support, and Security Compliance)
The Government’s market research confirms OPEXUS is the only one that can provide all of these services, in addition to the basic software.
In accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), only one source is reasonably available, as this product is the only one that can meet USCIS' configuration/consistency needs based on exclusive product licensing and the services (training/migration/tech support) incidental to the software are only provided by OPEXUS.
This acquisition is being procured using Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13 - Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Subpart 13.106(b)(1)(i), for purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), Contracting Officers may solicit from one source if the Contracting Officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name or industrial mobilization).
This proposed contract action is Sole Source only.
This Notice of Intent is not a request for quotation. No solicitation or RFQ will be forthcoming.
Interested parties may identify their interest and submit information in response to this notice by email to vanh.phun@uscis.dhs.gov or brian.r.rose@uscis.dhs.gov, no later than June 16, 2025 at 1:00pm EST.
A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract is entirely at the discretion of the Govnerment.
This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive quotations.
However, all quotations received by the closed date specified herein will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed contract based upon responses based to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitve procurement.
On GovTribe
Work this opportunity
- Track it in your pipeline
- Find teaming partners
- Similar opportunities
- Ask GovTribe AI about this opportunity