Rural Development, USDA, Property, Procurement, and Mail Management Branch, FC-702, 1520 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103

D -- MAINTENANCE SOL psmd-98-c-03 DUE 082898 POC patricia a. darian, contracting officer, (314) 539-2596 WEB: Federal Acquisition Clauses, http:/www.ARNet.gov/far/. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented, with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation to be provided. A written solicitation will not be issued and any requests for a solicitation package will not be acknowledged. This synopsis shall serve as Request for Quotations numbered PSMD-98-C-03 which seeks written proposals for the type of maintenance outlined herein. Proposals will be accepted until close of business August 28, 1998. This synopsis and incorporated provisions/clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-06. This acquisition will be processed unsing the Simplified Acquistion Procedures. Proposals received in response to this notice will be considered for award to the responsible offeror submitting the lowest overall cost to the Government. Questions relating to this notice shall be submitted in writing no later than August 21, 1998 and sent via facsimile. Answers will be provided in writing via facsimile before time for proposals expires. This procurement is set aside for small business. The small business standard is under SIC Code 7378 which is $18 million or less. The following provisions/clauses are applicable to this acquisition: FAR 52.212-1, Instruction to Offerors-Commercial (Aug 1998), 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items (Mar 1996), 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items (Apr 1998), 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items (Aug 1996). A completed copy of provision 52.212-3 shall be submitted with proposal to be considered for award. Copies of the above provisions/clauses are available upon written request and sent via facsimile at (314) 539-2480. The following are the specifications of the acquisition: SMARTnet Maintenance, Cisco Product number CON-SNT-HVFED4, for 145 each Cisco Routers, model 2505. SMARTnet maintnenace shall provide Rural Development with software maintenance support, registereed access to Cisco Connection online (CCO), advance replacement of hardware, and technical support required for self-maintenance. This service shall include the following features: a) Telephone callback by the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) for all calls within one hour, for hardware, configuration, and software problems, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., local time, Monday through Friday excluding Cisco observed holidays, b) 24-hour, 7-day Priority 1 and 2 telephone suppport, c) Critical problem escalation, d) Electronic mail inquiries and responses, e) Software updates via CCO or media, upon request, f) One set of new manuals with each software update, or CD documentation for each unit under contract, upon request, g) Registered access to CCO, 24-hours per day, 7 days per week, and h) Next-business-day delivery of replacement hardware, provided the request is received prior to 3:00 p.m. local time. The period of coverage will be September 1, 1998 through August 31,1999. Routers are located at various locations across the United States. Each location will be responsible for dealing directly with Cisco TAC on hardware/software problems. Facsimile offers will be accepted at (314) 539-2480. Posted 08/12/98 (W-SN236050). (0224)

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