D -- INTERIM SOLE SOURCE EXTENSION OF CONTRACT WITH VERIZON MARYLAND FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

Notice Date

May 24, 2001

Contracting Office

DHHS, Program Support Center, Division of Acquisition Management, ADP Branch, Room 5-95 Parklawn Bldg., 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857

ZIP Code

20857

Point of Contact

Michellee Edwards, Contract Specialist, (301) 443-6412, Contracting Officer, Christie A. Goodman

E-Mail Address

PROGRAM SUPPORT CENTER (medwards@psc.gov)

Description

On December 1, 1991, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Program Support Center (PSC) awarded a ten year (with options) contract to Verizon Maryland, Inc. The contract expires on November 30, 2001, and the PSC is seeking a one year extension with two six month option periods. The PSC intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Verizon. The contract provides a wide variety of services to HHS customers in the Maryland suburbs including: dial tone, voice mail, ISDN transport services, modem pools, maintenance on customer provided equipment, and daily adds, moves, and changes. Currently, the network includes more than 58,000 lines, 28,000 of which are ISDN, at 73 locations. The largest of these locations is the campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. The PSC began the process of the follow-on contract several years ago, and was proceeding with full and open competition. Since that time, however, other contract mechanisms have been put in place which HHS must consider as means to acquire the services. The evaluation of other contract mechanisms is a lengthy process, and the decisions required to proceed with a follow-on acquisition will not be made prior to the current contract expiration. Verizon is the only contractor that can provide the services during this interim phase without disruption of service. The statutory authority for other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. As the incumbent contractor with in-place management, operations and support systems, Verizon is uniquely situated to provide services during this interim period. It is critical to the missions of HHS agencies that services continue uninterrupted, without loss of functionality, features, or degradation of services while the future of the services are being evaluated. This extension should allow sufficient time to proceed with the analysis and plan for the follow on requirement. Vendors who are interested in this interim acquisition must demonstrate in writing that they can meet the Government's requirements within 45 days from the date of publication. Responses must include a written narrative statement of capability, including detailed technical information and other technical literature demonstrating the ability to meet the requirements by the contract expiration date. In addition to the cost for the interim services, the evaluation of other sources shall consider the impact to switch services, including network features and functionality, security, disconnect and reconnect of the assets to the network, compatibility issues, provisioning, and maintenance. Failure to submit adequate documentation will result in the Government proceeding with a sole source extension to Verizon. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. No solicitation package is available for this requirement, therefore, requests for such documents will be considered invalid responses. See Numbered Note 22.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010529/DSOL002.HTM (W-144 SN50M9Z8)