Maintenance on equipment Installed by Yorktel Corporation

The Social Security Administration (SSA) intends to negotiate solely with Yorktel Corp. located at 81 Corbett Way, Eatontown, New Jersey 07724, for a firm fixed-priced order for the purchase of maintenance on government owned audiovisual, central control console, and presentation equipment installed by Yorktel Corporation. This action is in accordance with 41 U.S.C. § 251, et seq., and 40 U.S.C. § 50 as implemented by the Multiple Award Schedule Program, and under the procedures of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subsection 8.405-6 "Federal Supply Schedules-- Limiting Sources." Specifically, FAR 8.405-6 provides that orders placed under Federal Supply Schedules (FSS) are exempt from the competition requirements in Part 6 of the FAR. However, we are further restricting consideration pursuant to the following authority: FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B) Only one source capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services are unique or highly specialized. SSA recently upgraded three of its lecture classrooms by installing new equipment with state of the art, improved functions to provide training to employees. The equipment installed consists of a programmable Crestron switcher, video teleconferencing equipment, 508 listening devices, DVD player, sound system, microphones, projectors, and televisions. Yorktel, the company that installed the new equipment, created a customized computer program for the programmable Crestron switcher, making Yorktel the proprietary owner. The switcher required a special program to recognize when the rooms where combined as one large lecture room and when they were serving as two individual lecture rooms. This allows the system to turn on and off different functions in each room depending on whether the rooms are combined or separated. Yorktel also provided individualized switcher software to route audio and video equipment in each room. Yorktel provided the installation and the programming with a one-year manufacturer warranty. This acquisition for a maintenance contract with Yorktel will provide telephone help desk support, dispatched onsite technician support to repair equipment, and repair or replacement of malfunctioning equipment. Yorktel is the proprietary owner of the specific programming that makes the Crestron switcher operate. Yorktel can deactivate it. Without the programming, we would not be able to program video sources into the monitors. We would not be able to hear instructors without microphones or audio from the equipment. We would not have audio augmentation for employees with disabilities. We would not be able to call and receive Video Teleconferences. Yorktel must be selected as the maintenance provider; otherwise, we would have to do a complete full and open re-compete for the design and installation of the equipment already installed. This would be unnecessary for something that already exists. In addition, the classrooms would not be available for use during the installation of the new equipment. The Government has determined not to compete this proposed order based upon this information. This is not a request for quotation. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed order is solely within the discretion of the Government. Greg Shanklin Contract Specialist Office of Acquisition and Grants Social Security Administration Phone 410-965-9517 Fax 410-965-9560