This serves as a “Notice of Intent” to award a sole source task order for telephone system maintenance services to Avaya, Inc. under the GSA Schedule IT 70 contract, pursuant to FAR 8.4. The General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Service (FSS) is responsible for supporting an integrated phone system to service offices located in the continental United States (CONUS). In the early 1990’s, FSS established a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) in Ft Worth, Texas that integrated its call centers located throughout the CONUS. The intent was to standardize technology to reduce maintenance and overhead costs as well as leverage existing technology for future expansion, such as voice over IP (VOIP). The competitive award was made to Avaya, and encompasses all of the FSS call centers in Fort Worth, Texas as well as FSS offices located in Philadelphia PA, Forest Park GA, Kansas City MO, Lampoc CA, Auburn WA, and Crystal City headquarters office locations also leverage off the Fort Worth, Texas Avaya voice system. Subsequently, FSS has added enterprise functions and installed Avaya desktop phones throughout the organization. The telephone system also now supports COOP survivability and redundancy requirements needed to sustain critical operations in the event of an emergency. The scope of this effort includes: Case Management Support – on minor and major trouble reports FSS through a Single Point of Contact (SPOC). Upon notification, FSS will be given the option to either call the designated team for status or go to the Avaya customer support website. For major troubles, FSS will be notified all troubles that are not cleared by EXPERTtm. Major Troubles are defined in the service agreement (attached). Enhanced Remote Service (ERS) – Remote diagnostic and repair service for Avaya components. This includes trouble isolation, trouble referral, cooperative testing, case management, and resolution related to Local Exchange Companies (LEC’s), Inter Exchange Carriers (IXC’s) and vendors of network interface equipment (Channel Service Units, T1 Cabling, and Multiplexers) for lines that terminate in Avaya switches. Off-Board Alarming – Provide priority treatment for off board alarms associated with network facilities. FSS requires this automated capability to defray the costs of hiring full time staff.This procurement is conducted under the authority of Section 201 of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 USC 501). The Federal Acquisition Regulation basis is cited in FAR Subpart 6.302-1(b)(1), “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will Satisfy Agency Requirements When there is a reasonable basis to conclude that the agency's minimum needs can only be satisfied by- (a)(2)(ii) Supplies may be deemed to be available only from the original source in the case of a follow-on contract for the continued development or production of a major system or highly specialized equipment, including major components thereof, when it is likely that award to any other source would result in- (A) Substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition; or (B) Unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency's requirements. (See 10 U.S.C. 2304(d)(1)(B) or 41 U.S.C. 253 (d)(1)(B).); and (b)(i) Unique supplies or services available from only one source or only one supplier with unique capabilities; or (2) The existence of limited rights in data, patent rights, copyrights, or secret processes; the control of basic raw material; or similar circumstances, make the supplies and services available from only one source; or (4) When the agency head has determined in accordance with the agency's standardization program that only specified makes and model. The Avaya phone system is proprietary, and there are no authorized resellers of the maintenance services for corporate enterprise/Government enterprise users. Existing staff is only trained in the management and support of the Avaya servers. All interested parties should request additional information, communicate concerns, or direct any questions concerning this acquisition to Holly Carr 202-329-7250, email:
[email protected]. This notice of intent is not a request for proposals, nor a solicitation for offers.