SPECIAL NOTICE The Social Security Administration (SSA) intends to negotiate, on a sole-source basis, with MicroSoft Corporation for Microsoft~s Information Technology Service to assist the Agency in its transition to Microsoft products and provide SSA personnel with the institutionalized knowledge transfer to perform independently with the products in the National IWS/LAN contract. Microsoft Corporation is considered the sole-source for these service in that the software code and planning information relative to the direction of future software releases is proprietary to Microsoft. This information is critical to the knowledge of the internal operation of the software and the ability to modify the software to provide specialized functionality required by SSA. Knowledge of software code and internal Microsoft information on future release is necessary for the Agency to align its business strategies with future technology. This is not a Request for Quotation, or an announcement of a forthcoming solicitation. Request for copies of solicitation in response hereto will not be honored or acknowledged. The Government does not intend to pay for information provided in response to this publication. This award will be placed in accordance with FAR Part 12- Commercial Item, and FAR Part 13.6 Test Program for Certain Commercial Items. In accordance with FAR Part 5.203(a) and (b), any responses must be received in writing, and addressed to the referenced Contracting Officer within 7 days of the issue date of this synopsis. Any response to this announcement must reference JTMS97. FAXED RESPONSES SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED.

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