Notice of Intent to Sole Source – SCC Soft Computer

The purpose of this acquisition is to continue Soft software and hardware license and maintenance

services for the IBM hardware and AIX operating system for servers that support the existing Laboratory Information System (LIS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center (CC) Department of Clinical Research Informatics.

Product Service Code: 6515 Medical Instruments, Equipment, and Supplies

NAICS Code: 513210 Software Publishers

Place of Performance: Bethesda, MD 20892 USA

POTS: 26-004269

Description:

This is a notice of intent, not a request for a quotation. A solicitation document will not be issued and quotations will not be requested.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) intends to award a fixed price purchase order to Soft Computer Consultants INC, located at 5400 Tech Data Dr., Clearwater, FL 33760, on a firm fixed price sole source award basis to provide software and hardware license and maintenance services to the National Institutes of Health.

The current LIS software system is proprietary to SCC who developed it. SCC does not permit 3rd party maintenance and will not release their source code to other entities. As the LIS modules in the Clinical Center are currently handling large volumes of patient data and test and diagnostic results, it is absolutely

imperative that there be no interruption in the ongoing operation/functioning of the existing system. Patient safety is of great concern if there is a system failure or interruption in service. Therefore it is critical that the system continues to be maintained by SCC who is the only source capable of

providing the necessary maintenance, including making revisions to the source code as circumstances may dictate. Because the LIS helps support patient diagnosis and care activities, it is deemed a mission critical system for the Clinical Center. The proprietary status of the system to SCC clearly demonstrates that they are the only firm qualified to perform the required maintenance services.

This acquisition is being conducted using policies unique to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Subpart 13.106-1(b)(1), For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstance of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6-Competition Requirements.

Interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities in response to this posting. The determination by the Government not to compete the proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.

Comments to this announcement, referencing this posting number, may be submitted to the NIH, Clinical Center, Office of Purchasing and Contracts, prior to the closing date specified in this announcement, to the attention of Kristin Nagashima, Contract Specialist via email to Kristin.nagashima@nih.gov by April 29, 2026 at 8am EST.