SPECIAL NOTICE
D -- Notice of Intent (Sole Source) - CMVP Testing Support Services
- Notice Date
- 5/7/2020 11:12:44 AM
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 611710
— Educational Support Services
- Contracting Office
- DEPT OF COMMERCE NIST GAITHERSBURG MD 20899 USA
- ZIP Code
- 20899
- Solicitation Number
- NOI-20-02013
- Response Due
- 5/21/2020 8:00:00 AM
- Archive Date
- 06/05/2020
- Point of Contact
- Hing Pan Wong, Phone: 3019756289
- E-Mail Address
-
hingpan.wong@nist.gov
(hingpan.wong@nist.gov)
- Description
- The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate on a sole-source basis with the NCS PEARSON, INC., of Minneapolis, MN, under the authority of 41 US 3304(a)(1) for Cryptographic Validation Program Computer-based Testing support services for a base period of six (6) months, and two 6-month option periods, 18 months total.� Background Information and Basis for Sole Source The NIST promotes the U.S. economy and public welfare by providing technical leadership for the nation�s measurement and standards infrastructure. NIST�s responsibilities include the development of management, administrative, technical, and physical standards and guidelines for the cost-effective security and privacy of other than national security-related information in Federal information systems. In advancing its mission objectives, NIST must validate cryptographic modules and cryptographic algorithms, and ensure independent, National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) accredited laboratories meet competence and performance criteria for conducting algorithm and module testing. NIST�s Computer Security Division�s (CSD) objective is to administer a computer-based competency exam to NVLAP accredited laboratory testers for the Security Testing, Validation and Measurement (STVM) Group�s Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP).� In order for the CMVP to achieve its mission of validating FIPS 140-2 and FIPS 140-3 modules, the organization must assess the proficiency of NVLAP accredited laboratories that test cryptographic algorithms and modules for compliance with FIPS 140.� 85% of the testing centers must be within 30 miles of the Cryptographic and Security Testing (CST) accredited laboratories, be owned and operated by the testing company and staffed only with testing company employees.� The validation program also requires at least 85% of the testing centers have a fail-safe mechanism for verifying test candidates' identities and for protecting the exam content. In March 2019, the Secretary of Commerce signed the FIPS 140-3, causing a major change in the way cryptographic systems are validated by NIST before the Government can purchase these products. The validation changes must be implemented and begin accepting submissions on September 22, 2020. CMVP is implementing the necessary changes to the testing procedures so that testing to the new standards can begin. Under contract with NIST, NCS Pearson Inc. (PearsonVue) has developed and updated a NIST-provided 200-question, computer-based competency exam to replace the existing testing ending June 2020.� The new exam must be available for worldwide administration beginning in July 2020 so that test labs can become and remain certified to submit FIPS 140-3 reports starting September 2020.� PearsonVue is the only contractor capable of administering the current competency exam because the 200 question test bank PearsonVue has developed is part of its proprietary testing system.� As such, NIST intents to negotiate a sole source contract with PearsonVue for the administration of this exam to prevent disruptions to the program. General The North American Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 611710 - Educational Support Services.� The small business size standard is $16.5 million in annual revenue. No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, responses received by the date/time listed on this posting will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be used to considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Interested parties that believe they could satisfy the requirements listed above for NIST may clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing on or before the response date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to Hing Pan Wong at hnw6@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted so that they are received at hnw6@nist.gov no later than the aforementioned due date.�
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
(https://beta.sam.gov/opp/f9e1e30446ab46499c7b12f06f12a087/view)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
- Zip Code: 20899
- Country: USA
- Zip Code: 20899
- Record
- SN05649695-F 20200509/200507230203 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
SAM.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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