The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with SamKnows Ltd., 25 Harley St, London, England, for continued data collection, testing and verification services under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b). A contract was competitively awarded in April 2010 to SamKnows to obtain measurement and test data using software and hardware proprietary to SamKnows. Its "white box" hardware containing proprietary software has been deployed to approximately 9,000 panelists who were selected to participate in the study based, in critical part, on statistically relevant selection criteria proprietary to SamKnows and whose identity is known only to SamKnows. An additional one year contract is necessary to obtain data collection for 2014. Maintaining the same approach to data collection and analysis is essential to enable the FCC to develop time series assessments of changes in the panel's broadband use over different periods. It also will avoid the introduction of new methodologies that could compromise the policy value of the data gathered in the studies. Another vendor would not be able to replicate the measurement study using the same proprietary processes and existing panel participants, thereby compromising the integrity of the collection process and the compatibility of the data for purposes of comparative studies, projections, etc. SamKnows is the only source that can collect, analyze and provide this data from the same group of approximately 9,000 panelists.

This notice of intent is not a request for proposals or quotations. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement by submitting a written response to the contracting officer by December 17, 2013, no later than 1:00pm Washington D.C. local time. Timely responses will be considered by the Government solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to compete the requirement. Responses must include information sufficient to enable the Government to evaluate the person's capability to meet the FCC's requirements stated above. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.

Bid Protests Not Available