Notice of Intent to Sole Source for Microsoft Consulting Services

The Social Security Administration intends to negotiate with the Microsoft Corporation (MSFT), located at 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 600, Washington, DC, 20015, on a sole source basis under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c) and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subsection 6.302-1. These authorities provide an exception to the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) when there is only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

The vast majority of the agency's Local Area Network environment is a Windows Production Environment (WPE), consisting of desktop computers and servers that operate on MSFT operating systems and productivity software products. The agency tests all hardware and software purchased in the agency's technical laboratory prior to release into the WPE. The technical laboratory's purpose is to test and confirm compatibility with Government proprietary and other software by simulating current workload requirements. As part of this testing, the agency relies on contractor support to help design the laboratory; test products; assist in deployment; and modify proprietary MSFT Windows source code to ensure compatibility within the agency's network.

The agency intends to acquire on-site MSFT support services. The primary purpose of these support services is to provide the agency with direct access to MSFT developers and source code, as well as access to internal MSFT business plans. Specifically, the agency requires the contractor:

• Assist the agency with matching technology to business functions;
• Provide the knowledge transfer of MSFT products so the agency can independently work with MSFT products, tools, and technologies;
• Provide guidance and support on designing, planning, migration, tuning, and optimizing MSFT products, tools, and technologies;
• Diagnose and resolve operating system software defects and limitations; and
• Provide guidance for operating system software to address the agency's evolving application requirements.

The agency's ongoing efforts to successfully adopt new information technology require these support services. The agency recently completed its migration Windows Vista to Windows 7, and MSFT Exchange 2008 to MSFT Exchange 2010, which are currently on going activities.

MSFT is the only known responsible source that has access to 1) MSFT proprietary software code; 2) future software releases; 3) confidential MSFT planning documents and business plans. MSFT system engineers are uniquely qualified because they have advanced knowledge of strategic product technology, understanding of their applications, detailed understanding of MSFT systems design specifications, and understanding of MSFT source code. For these reasons, the agency believes MSFT is the only source that can provide the level of support necessary.

Written responses to this notice shall contain sufficient documentation to establish a bona fide capability to fulfill this requirement. Verbal responses are not acceptable and the agency will not provide consideration to any responses not in writing. This is a notice of intent and the agency has not issued a solicitation. Therefore, the agency will not respond to requests for solicitation copies and will not pay for information received in response to this announcement. A determination by the agency not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the agency's discretion.

The agency will consider information received solely for determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Interested parties must submit any response to this notice no later than five business of this announcement. If you have any questions regarding this announcement, please notify the point of contact listed below.