D -- Websphere DataStage Support

Military Sealift Command (MSC) intends to procure Websphere DataStage Premier Support on a sole source basis from International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). IBM will provide support and maintenance to MSC in the form of e-Service, telephone support, and Product Problem support. IBM will also provide to MSC one copy of each product release, maintenance release and/or rapid release during the period of performance beginning at time of award until 30 September 2006. MSC believes that IBM is the only source capable of providing the required services of this procurement. As a result, this acquisition will be made on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) which states that full and open competition need not be provided when the supplies or services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. Information about the capabilities of other companies will be considered.