Inactive

Amendment 1 - 5/4/2022: The Primary Point of Contact was changed from Martin F. Nemec to Liubov Kriel. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) intends to solicit and negotiate a non-compe... Amendment 1 - 5/4/2022: The Primary Point of Contact was changed from Martin F. Nemec to Liubov Kriel. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) intends to solicit and negotiate a non-competitive modification to contract number 75D30120C08364, awarded to Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP on June 1, 2020. This notice is provided in accordance with FAR 5.203(a). The purpose of the original contract is to provide HHS the services of an expert patent litigation firm to provide legal services to HHS in order to protect the Government’s rights in patents filed by HHS regarding the ability of certain medications to prevent HIV. HHS’s Office of the General Counsel, not unlike other executive branch counsel offices, does not have the adequate level of expertise or resources needed to defend patent claims in adversarial settings. HHS and DOJ are in need of additional resources and support to assist with this litigation due to the complexity of the scientific issues and the predicted volume of the discovery needed. Knobbe has spent extensive time already learning the patents, their prosecution histories, the relevant science, and other related documents. Awarding an entirely new contract for this additional work would be expensive in both money and resources, and it would create a scenario where two different vendors will have to work each other as part of the performance of these services, which will cause many complex legal and privacy issues. The authority permitting other than full and open competition is FAR 6.302-1, "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements." This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, all quotations/responses received within fifteen (15) days of the issuance of this notice will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government to compete this proposed contract action (modification) based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Any quotation/response should be emailed to Martin F. Nemec at oga2@cdc.gov, and to Sherrie Randall at iom2@cdc.gov, by 11 a.m. ET on May 11, 2022.