Sole source for MIMSY XG software database services

U. S. Department of State intends to award a sole source contract to Willoughby Associates, Limited, located at 266 Liden Street, Winnetka, Illinois 60093, for the collections management database services, operated through MIMSY XG software. The Department proposes to enter into this contract under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253 (c) (1) only one available source and no other supplies or services will satisfy the Department’s requirements. The Department of State, Bureau of Public Affairs (PA), U.S. Diplomacy Center (USDC) currently utilizes Willoughby’s MIMSY XG software to maintain a database of over 2,500 artifacts of historical value to the Department of State. The office of the Diplomatic Reception Rooms of the Department of State also relies on this software to maintain their database of highly valuable decorative and fine art objects. The software for the database was installed at the Department of State during FY02 under Purchase Order #SLMAQM01C0253. Choosing another vendor would not be cost efficient and would result in significant additional costs to the Department of State for installing new software, data migration and staff re-training would be required. In addition, loss of service would pose material risk to Secretary of State materials and State Department collections. Willoughby Associates, Limited is the only company that offers the MIMSY XG software and support. Willoughby is not a reseller of any other software products and MIMSY XG is not available through any other source or resell vendor. This software is critical to the mission and function of Bureau of Public Affairs, U.S. Diplomacy Center. MIMSY XG is a highly sophisticated software combining ease of use with numerous customizable features. Users may attach an unlimited number of media files (image, word processing, audio, etc) to records in the database which is a proprietary feature. This notice is neither a request for competitive proposals nor a solicitation of offers. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.