Intent of Notice Emergency contract

The Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) is seeking a procurement exemption to order supplies from their sole vendor, Higgins, to print firearms licenses through the Massachusetts Instant Record Check System (MIRCS). MIRCS is utilized to print firearms license cards, with an annual volume fluctuating between 85,000-115,000 cards. Higgins has been the vendor for over 23 years, providing the custom license cards, laminate, print ribbons, and specialized card printers that are integrated with the MIRCS system. Without the ability to purchase these supplies through Higgins, the DCJIS would be unable to meet the statutory 40-day timeframe for issuing firearms licenses. The Notice of Intent does not provide details on pricing terms, set asides, or funding sources, but rather focuses on the critical nature of the MIRCS system and the necessity of continuing to work with Higgins as the sole vendor for the required supplies and equipment to print the firearms licenses within the statutory timeframe.

The Notice does not mention any set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond. As Higgins has been the incumbent vendor for over 23 years, they are likely the only contractor capable of providing the specialized supplies and equipment required to integrate with the MIRCS system. The Notice also does not provide any information on possible award values or budget ranges for this procurement.