SPECIAL NOTICE
D -- Collaborative Blockchain Research Support Services
- Notice Date
- 3/4/2021 7:08:52 AM
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541519
— Other Computer Related Services
- Contracting Office
- DEPT OF COMMERCE NIST GAITHERSBURG MD 20899 USA
- ZIP Code
- 20899
- Solicitation Number
- NIST-NOI-21-7700981
- Response Due
- 3/14/2021 9:00:00 AM
- Archive Date
- 03/29/2021
- Point of Contact
- Lauren P. Roller, Phone: 3019753062
- E-Mail Address
-
lauren.roller@nist.gov
(lauren.roller@nist.gov)
- Description
- NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE Collaborative Blockchain Research Support Services Announcement Type: Special Notice Announcement Number: NIST-NOI-21-7700981 PSC Code: DA01 � IT and Telecom � Business Application / Application Development Support Services Subject: Collaborative Blockchain Research Support Services � Introduction This is a notice of intent, not a request for a quotation. A solicitation document will not be issued and quotations will not be requested. Purpose The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate a firm-fixed priced purchase order on a sole source basis with Prometheus Computing, LLC located at 15 Wildwood Drive, Sylva, NC 28779-6525. The purchase order will be for collaborative blockchain research support services for a base period of six months from date of award and one subsequent six-month option period. � Authority This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.501 allowing the Contracting Officer (CO) to solicit from one source. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541519 � Other Computer Related Services with a size standard of $30 Million. Background and Description The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) Computer Security Division (CSD) promotes understanding of new technologies across the nation and U.S. government agencies. Part of this information sharing has been performed by the blockchain and distributed ledger technologies (DLT) program within CSD.� NIST�s responsibilities include the development of management, administrative, and technical standards and guidelines for newly emerging technologies such as blockchain and DLT. In advancing its mission objectives, NIST must evaluate and develop guidance for how multiple U.S. agencies can conduct collaborative, peer-to-peer blockchain and DLT systems. Blockchain and DLT systems are inherently collaborative solutions, where multiple parties work together towards the system�s goals. As such, it is necessary to understand the complexities that such systems would hold when collaborating between different U.S. government agencies, and as well as multiple layers of government and external organizations. There are many nuances and complexities to discover and overcome, system requirements for running an interagency blockchain system and differences/difficulties in the authority to operate (ATO) process. NIST has a requirement for support for the completion of the Authority to Operate (ATO) process as it relates to implementation of a blockchain proof of concept application for government-wide grant tracking. This requirement is associated with previous government-wide blockchain grant tracking development and investigation of the relevant ATO process under competitive task order SB1341-15-CQ-0010 / 1333ND20FNB770039 with Prometheus Computing LLC (Prometheus). Please see the attached Performance Work Statement�for details. � Sole Source Determination The sole source determination is based on the following: � NIST, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) and the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), has been developing a proof of concept government-wide blockchain application for grant tracking since January 2020. This research and development process has been supported since inception by Prometheus via a competitively awarded task order. No other contractor has the necessary technical understanding of the on-going research or the ability to provide continuity of scientific research for this effort. The previous work performed by Prometheus provided significant insight into the requirement that cannot be duplicated without duplicating the previous efforts.� Inability to continue the blockchain ATO effort to completion with the contractor that supported the work from inception would substantially jeopardize the schedule and subsequently be detrimental to the collaboration among the agencies. The government-wide blockchain application research effort has involved internal exploration and testing of Department of Treasury systems, including cryptographic function issue identification, and collaborative interagency relationships requiring mutual trust. It is important for information technology security purposes that this work be limited to as few researchers as possible. Inability to continue the ATO process for the blockchain development research through to completion with the original contractor would jeopardize security as well as the trust and confidence of collaborating agencies in NIST. Therefore, only Prometheus Computing, LLC is capable of meeting the Government�s needs. Information for Interested Parties 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 by 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 Ms. Lauren Roller, Contract Specialist, at Lauren.Roller@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted via email to Lauren.Roller@nist.gov so that they are received no later than March 14, 2021 at 11:00 AM Eastern Time. Each response should include the following Business Information: Contractor Name, Address, Point of Contact Name, Phone Number, and Email address Contractor DUNS Contractor Business Classification (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, hubZone, veteran owned, etc.) as validated in System for Award Management (SAM). All offerors must register in the SAM located at http://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/#1 Capability Statement
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
(https://beta.sam.gov/opp/e2944c00c19f4feab5d553af8fd13243/view)
- Place of Performance
- Address: USA
- Country: USA
- Country: USA
- Record
- SN05932959-F 20210306/210304230107 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
SAM.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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