NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: PITNEY BOWES

The Social Security Administration intends to negotiate under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 on a sole source basis with Pitney Bowes Business Insight, One Global View, Troy, NY 12180. The specific circumstances that justify restriction for this acquisition is FAR 6.302-1 - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Pitney Bowes StreamWeaver software has been in use at SSA for over five years and is peculiar to one manufacturer (brand name item). As a part of SSA's standard mailing process StreamWeaver is used to standardize notice print/mail file formats for all agency applications which are either printed in the NCC Print Mail Facility (PMF) or are transmitted to contractor locations for printing, inserting and mailing. This procurement requires Pitney Bowes to customize its proprietary software product to fit SSA's print mail needs. The Special Notice Option (SNO) project includes notices that are typically printed locally at field offices and DDS's. As a result, SSA requires that the software expand the enclosure reference table size, as well as allow for channel command code changes. StreamWeaver customization support will allow for SSA to make changes to this Pitney Bowes proprietary COTS product to further the needs of the Agency and ensure accurate mailing of all notice types to our customers. No other source is known to be able to access and modify the StreamWeaver product proprietary code in order to make the necessary modifications. The resultant purchase order will have a period of performance of approximately sixty (60) days. This notice is neither a request for a competitive proposal nor a solicitation for offerors. This notice should not be construed as a commitment by the Government. Any responsible firm that feels it has the capability to provide this requirement and has similar capabilities and resources as Pitney Bowes may respond in writing no later than June 21, 2010 with capability statements and information describing in full detail their capabilities to accomplish SSA's objective. Additionally, respondents should cite specific examples of their experience in providing the required services. Interested parties that feel they can provide these services may respond by submitting their capability statement by email to [email protected] . All responses shall reference Notice Number SSA-NOI-10-3568. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. If no responses are received by the cutoff date above, the SSA will proceed with sole source negotiations with Pitney Bowes. Again, all questions and submissions in response to this notice must be submitted in writing to the email address listed above. Verbal responses will not be considered. Telephone calls regarding this matter will not be accepted, nor will they be returned.