Sophia Software Maintenance Agreement

INTRODUCTION
This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This acquisition is being conducted in accordance with the procedures of FAR Part 13--Simplified Acquisition Procedures and FAR Part 12--Acquisition of Commercial Items.

The solicitation number is HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-NOI-2016-267 and the solicitation is issued as a PRE-SOLICITATION, NOTICE OF INTENT, to award a contract on a noncompetitive basis to Wellspring Worldwide Inc. located at 222 N. LaSalle St. Suite 1200 Chicago, IL 60654.

REGULATORY & STATUTORY AUTHORITY
This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13--Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Subpart 13.106-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, and FAR Part 12--Acquisition of Commercial Items and is NOT expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13--Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6--Competition Requirements.

The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-88, dated May 16, 2016.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE
The associated NAICS code for this requirement is 541511 with size standard of $27.5 million.

CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION
The non-competitive determination is based upon the market research conducted as prescribed in FAR Part 10--Market Research. A Sources Sought Notice was posted to FedBizOpps referencing the detailed requirements, and no responses were received from sources who have been granted rights to the proprietary software; and therefore, able to fulfill the requested services The results of market research concluded that only Wellspring Worldwide is capable of meeting the needs of this requirement for the purposes of continuity of science and equipment compatibility. Currently NCATS OSA is utilizing the Well Springs database for the following: Material Transfer Agreements, Confidentiality Agreements, Cooperative Research and Development Agreements, Licenses Agreements, Employee Invention Reports, Research Collaboration Agreements and additional unique agreements depending on the needs of NCATS. In order to continue tracking all future and current agreements and inventions reports, create tech transfer reports for the congressionally mandated NCATS annual report, obtain Well Spring support and receive regular system updates/enhancements, the NCATS OSA requires an annual Well Spring maintenance contract.

This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice.

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

Purpose and Objectives
The purpose of this acquisition is to provide annual maintenance for the Knowledge Management System, Sophia, located in 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850. Sophia covers customer data cleaning/uploads, support by phone and email during regular business hours, as well as regular software updates/enhancements which are currently released on a quarterly basis

Project Description
The vendor will provide throughout the period of performance; customer data cleaning/uploads; support by phone and email during regular business hour regular software updates/enhancements which are currently released on a quarterly basis. This scope is to be completed remotely and without the supervision of the IC.

Delivery/Period of Performance
Base Period: June 25, 2016 to June 24, 2017
Option Period One: June 25, 2017 to June 24, 2018
Option Period Two: June 25, 2018 to June 24, 2019
Option Period Three: June 25, 2019 to June 24, 2020
Option Period Four: June 25, 2020 to June 24, 2021

Contract Type
A firm fixed price purchase order within the Simplified Acquisition threshold is anticipated. Payment shall be remitted using Electronic Funds Transfer on a NET30 basis.

RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS
Responses to this solicitation must include sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities of providing the product or service. Offerors must provide both 1) a technical response and 2) a separate price quote. The price quote shall include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, delivery days after contract award, delivery terms, prompt payment discount terms, F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), product or catalog number(s); product description; and any other information or factors that may be considered in the award decision. Such factors may include: past performance; special features required for effective program performance; trade-in considerations; probable life of the item selected as compared with that of a comparable item; warranty considerations; and maintenance availability.

APPLICABLE TERMS AND CONDITIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The following FAR clauses and provisions shall apply to this solicitation:

1. All Offerors MUST be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.

2. FAR clauses 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items (May 2015) and 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items (October 2015) apply to this acquisition.

In addition, the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size must be included in the response. All Offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov."

CLOSING STATEMENT
All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. All responses must be received by the closing date of this announcement must reference solicitation number HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-NOI-2016-267.

Responses shall be submitted electronically to Stacey Polk, Contract Specialist, at Stacey.polk@nih.gov. U.S. Mail and Fax responses will not be accepted.