D -- CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PAYMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Notice Date

September 14, 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

Solicitation Number

233-02-0004

Point of Contact

Michellee C. Edwards, 301-443-6412

E-Mail Address

PROGRAM SUPPORT CENTER (medwards@psc.gov)

Description

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Program Support Center (PSC), Division of Payment Management (DPM) has a Blanket Purchase Agreement under the General Services Administration's Federal Supply Schedule, Part 70, with Logicon, Inc. The agreement is expected to expire on October 31, 2001. The PSC is in the process of developing a competitive requirement for the follow-on services consisting of the operation and maintenance of the Payment Management System (PMS), but needs more work from the system developer, Logicon, Inc., before another Contractor could begin working on the system. Therefore, the PSC is seeking a sole source contract with Logicon for approximately 11 months. During this period, Logicon will continue to develop, maintain, and operate the new PMS. The technical support will be provided in the following areas: (1) database engineering to accomplish database maintenance and production support for the databases comprising the new PMS; (2) code, implement and test designated Software Change Requests; (3) configuration change management support through the Merant PVCS product software; (4) system testing support; (5) Unix/mainframe file transfer support utilizing the Sterling Commerce "Connect:Direct" software package; and (6) the documentation of the application software that relates the database schema, the business rules, and the application logic. DPM requires that all components that comprise the software and infrastructure operate flawlessly so that the PMS operates with the utmost reliability and consistency. Logicon, as the sole developer of the current system, is the only company that possesses sufficient expertise and hands-on experience with the PMS code. Logicon is the only contractor that can provide the services 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, Logicon is uniquely situated to provide services. It is critical to the missions of HHS agencies that services continue uninterrupted, without loss of functionality, features, or degradation of services while the competitive acquisition is being planned and executed. Agencies rely heavily on data from the PMS for their financial systems. Annual audits are performed on the PMS and other systems analyzing the integrity of data to and from the PMS. The audits of both HHS and non HHS agencies, ongoing at this present time will be adversely effected due to missing or incorrect data. This is particularly crucial since PMS has been designated as one of two Federal payment systems for the entire Federal Government. This extension should allow sufficient time to finish critical system changes and competitively solicit and award the new 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 services, the evaluation of other sources shall consider the impact to services. Failure to submit adequate documentation will result in the Government proceeding with a sole source contract to Logicon. 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. 20010918/DSOL015.HTM (W-257 SN50X617)