The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Austin Automation Center (AAC), Austin, TX intends to negotiate sole source with Symark Software of Westlake Village, CA for their PowerPassword software. This software enforces the requirement for complex passwords in UNIX systesm; it keeps a password history so that the same password cannot be re-used within a given timeframe; and it allows the administrator to synchronize passwords across multiple UNIX servers. Based on market research, these functional requirements were not found in other software products. Accordingly, the statutory authority for this sole source procurement is 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1). The scope of the proposed contract includes software maintenance services for 12 months (24X7 support, maintenance and upgrades as well as unlimited walk-throughs) and on-site training and deployment. The software will be licensed for 100 servers regardless of size or capacity, and will become the standard software to procure as the organization grows. The award will be made as a commercial acquisition under FAR Part 12. The anticipated period of performance for software maintenance is August 1, 2003 through July 31, 2004. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. HOWEVER, interested parties must respond in writing and the response must be received within seven (7) calendar days of this notice (7/31/03 NOON Central Time). In addition, responses must include pricing and documentation in sufficient detail to allow evaluation of the software functions/features, maintenance service, and prices. In providing information on price, the response must include the vendor=92s published commercial price list, and GSA contract and price list (if one exists). Interested parties will be considered only if the Government determines that other sources are available to meet the Government=92s needs. The determination to open competition based on responses received is solely within the discretion of the Government. No solicitation documents are available and requests for such will not be acknowledged. If one is issued, no additional synopsis will be published. No telephone inquiries will be accepted. Responses may be faxed to 512-326-6028 to the attention of the Contracting Officer, with the hard copy to follow in overnight mail.

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