D -- RECORD SUPPORT SERVICES

The Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement intends to award a sole source bridge contract to Choctaw Management Services Enterprise (CMSE) for the Record Support Services. The statutory authority for this sole source procurement is 10 U.S.C. 2304(d)(1)(B) and 41 U.S.C. 253 (d)(1) (B) per FAR 6.302-1(2)(ii)(B). This is an interim action intended to ensure continuity of support by providing a temporary "bridge" contract between the Record Support Services contract (COW-8-C-0002) and the competitively awarded successor for the Blanket Purchase Agreement for the Record Support Services to CMI Facilities Contractor pending resolution of the GAO protest. The period of performance will be from October 1, 2003 through no later than March 31, 2004. The new contract will include a three-month base period with 1 three-month option period. The bridge contract will allow for a continuation of the services that were provided under legacy INS contract COW-8-C-0002. The bridge contract is required to continue the services while the award is protested at Government Accounting Office (GAO) and for the orderly transition of the order under the competitively awarded BPA. Services under the current contract include records management support services provided to two records management entities: the DHS Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) and the DHS Office of Records Management (ORM). The safe, accurate, secure and timely management of the Service's records is critical to these two programs if they are to achieve their DHS mission. It is in the best interest of DHS to have the aforementioned services performed without threat of disruption in service. Numerous outside agencies, in particular law enforcement, greatly rely upon data compiled within our systems that would permit them to make rapid decisions regarding the status of immigrant and non-immigrant visitors to this country. There are urgent and compelling circumstances that significantly affect the interest of the United States. These types of circumstances do not permit waiting for a decision to be made based on the merits of this protest. Therefore, it is crucial that the incumbent contractor continue performing Record Services Support functions until the protest situation has been resolved. Substantial duplication of cost to the Government not expected to be recovered through competition and unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency's requirements for a critical system would result - i.e. a break in service for this critical system. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, the Government shall consider all responses received by the date identified above. Written responses to this synopsis shall contain sufficient documentation to establish a bonafide capability to fulfill the requirement. A solicitation is not available. Please email the Contracting Officer with responses or questions regarding this requirement at [email protected].