Freezer Inventory Software: Freezerworks Base Edition

Notice of Intent to Sole Source

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 Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate on a sole-source basis with Dataworks Development, Inc., in accordance with FAR 12.102, for Freezer Inventory Software: Freezerworks Base Edition.  The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 513210 – Software Publishers, with a small business size standard of $47.0 million.

Background Information and Basis for Sole Source

The purpose of this acquisition is to procure the Freezerworks Base Edition software, a comprehensive sample management solution designed for individual teams. This system will replace a legacy homegrown database that is difficult to update and query. The new software will enable real-time monitoring of SRM locations, track temperature excursions, and fulfill the audit requirements of NIST’s quality systems.

NIST Materials Measurement Laboratory (MML) has identified Freezerworks Base Edition as the only freezer inventory software that can meet NIST’s requirements.  Freezerworks has been in continuous use at the NIST Hollings Marine Laboratory (HML) for their specimen bank since 2010. To maintain uniform inventory control across different NIST locations and minimize potential operational problems, MML must utilize the same software foundation. Using the same software platform across NIST facilities ensures that data structures, metadata fields, and reporting protocols remain consistent. This standardization is critical for the management of SRM inventory that is distributed across multiple locations.

Freezerworks also utilizes a proprietary 4D database engine. Dataworks Development, Inc. is the sole author and provider of this architecture, and they are the only entity capable of providing the "Customer Care Program" renewals required for technical support, security patches, and database diagnostics. Further, Dataworks Development Inc. only sells Freezerworks Base Edition software directly to its customers and does not use authorized resellers. Therefore, this is a sole source purchase that the Government must make directly from Dataworks Development, Inc.

General

No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, responses received by the listed due date, will be considered by the Government.

A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

Interested parties that believe they could satisfy the requirements listed above for NIST may clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing on or before the response due date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to Anthony Banovic at anthony.banovic@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted so that they are received at anthony.banovic@nist.gov no later than the aforementioned due date.

Each response shall include the following Business Information:

1. Contractor Name, Address,
2. Point of Contact Name, Phone Number, and Email address
3. Contractor (SAM) Universal Entity Identification (UEI)
4. Contractor Business Classification (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, HUBZone, veteran owned, etc.) as validated in System for Award Management (SAM). All offerors must have an active registration in www.SAM.gov.
5. Capability Statement