Under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, The U.S. Census Bureau (USCB) intends to negotiate a sole source contract with Flagship Customs Services (FCS), located in Silver Spring, Maryland, for the continued support of an Automated Export System hereinafter referred to as AESDirect. The AESDirect is a US government Internet-based service operated by the Foreign Trade Division of the USCB. Since September 1999 this service has been provided by FCS. AESDirect is designed to provide a convenient internet-based electronic filing service that allows authorized parties to electronically file their Shipper Export Declarations (SEDs). AESDirect offers a broad based selection of filing options ranging from Interactive Web-based entry of data, for lower volume filers, to a fully automated Virtual Private Network (VPN) data exchange for large volume filers. FCS developed the AESDirect and has operated, supported, and maintained the system since1999. FCS is responsible for ALL aspects of the AESDirect Service including: Software/Service specification, development, testing, deployment and maintenance; Data center facility provision, management and operation; Telecommunications installation, configuration and operation; Technical support; Client account registration and amendment; Customer support; Overall service performance and quality assurance. In addition FCS operates two mirrored data centers to support and run the AESDirect Service. These data centers consist of a primary production data center and a mirrored disaster recovery data center. For all of these activities FCS has worked closely with the FTD and where appropriate with the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to ensure the on-going success of the AESDirect Service. The outstanding success of these working relationships is one of the key elements to the on-going success of AESDirect. The period of performance for this requirement will be for a base period of one year with the option to extend for four (4) 1 year periods. It is the Government’s belief that only Flagship Customs Service can satisfy the BOC’s requirement. This is not a request for competitive proposals; however, responses received within the required time will be reviewed and evaluated. Interested companies having the capability to provide the above described services should submit, in writing, their capability statement with cost information to the above address, Attn.: Gloria Smith, email to
[email protected], or fax @ (301) 457-1785 within 15 days of this notice. No telephone requests will be honored. No contract will be awarded on the basis of offers received in response to this notice, but offers will be used to determine if a comparable source is available and more advantageous to the Government. If no responses are received within 15 days from the date of this notice, a sole source contract with Flagship Customs Service will be pursued without further notice.