Renewal of Blaise Software Licenses

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Information & Technology Division (ITD), in Washington, DC intends to negotiate on a sole source basis a contract with Westat, Inc., 1600 Research Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20850-3129, for the renewal of Blaise 4 software licenses manufactured by Statistics Netherlands (CBS).NASS requires Blaise 4 licensing to accommodate 14 developers; 800 intv = 214 usage units CATI and CAPI (500 enumerators and 300 editors). The program office requests Blaise Component Pack (BCP) (150-224) and 2 Blaise Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) Server licenses. The requirement includes licensing for a Base Year and 2 Option Years.The circumstance permitting other than full and open competition is FAR 6.302-1(a)(2) and 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1), 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. The manufacturer of the Blaise software, Statistics Netherlands (CBS), has confirmed that since 2001, Westat, Inc., has been the sole distributor of the Blaise software in North and South America and those conditions shall continue through 2024. Westat, Inc. is the only vendor with the ability to license Blaise software in supplies needed in these continents. Thus, Westat, Inc. is the only source determined capable of supplying NASS’s requirement for renewal of Blaise software licenses.Anticipated Date of Award:   10/30/2021THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. This notice is for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. Vendors that believe they can provide the services listed above are invited to submit substantiating documentation in writing to the identified point of contact. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. A determination by the Government to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely at the discretion of the Government.