Notification of the SEC's Intent to Award a Single Source Purchase Order to Morningstar, Inc.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a Special Notice announcing its intent to award a single-source purchase order to Morningstar, Inc. for a subscription to their Hedge Fund database. The notice, posted on March 7, 2025, outlines the agency's plan to procure a specific database as part of its ongoing hedge fund industry surveillance efforts. The Contracting Officer has determined that Morningstar is the only source capable of meeting the SEC's specific requirements in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13.106-1(b). While acknowledging that multiple hedge fund databases exist, the SEC emphasizes that Morningstar's database contains unique information critical to their comprehensive data analysis needs.

The purchase order is anticipated to have a base period of 12 months with four potential 12-month option periods, and the total value will remain below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold. The SEC plans to award the purchase order to Morningstar, Inc. on or about April 22, 2025, with a response deadline of March 13, 2025. Although this is not a competitive solicitation, the agency will consider submissions from interested parties who can demonstrate their capability to meet the requirement. Potential contractors are encouraged to identify their interest and potential to respond by the specified due date. The primary objective of this procurement is to enhance the SEC's hedge fund industry surveillance capabilities by obtaining a specialized database that complements other existing information sources. Contractors interested in this opportunity should carefully review the specific requirements and be prepared to provide comprehensive evidence of their unique capabilities.