SRD License Key System

This document details a clarification Q&A regarding a procurement initiative by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to implement its first-ever licensing and entitlement management system for Standard Reference Data (SRD). Currently, NIST grants licenses solely through terms and conditions without an enforcement mechanism. The new system aims to manage approximately 80 SRD products, prioritizing paid data and focusing on around 100 SKUs within Tiers 1 and 2. NIST is pursuing this initiative to enforce licensing compliance—particularly across different geographical regions—and to track distributor sales of its proprietary products.

This federal solicitation document outlines the applicable Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Commerce Acquisition Regulation (CAR), and local National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) clauses and provisions. Key provisions and clauses incorporated by reference cover standard federal contracting requirements, including System for Award Management (SAM) registration, small business set-asides, and labor standards. Full-text clauses establish options to extend services (up to 6 months) and the contract term (up to 60 months total), with the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, MD, designated as the place of acceptance. Agency protest procedures are detailed, directing filings to Contracting Officer Don Graham or the Head of the Contracting Office. Local NIST terms dictate operating procedures during campus status changes, such as inclement weather or funding lapses. During a lapse in appropriations, contractors must stop work unless they are designated as excepted or are fully funded and do not require campus access. Finally, billing instructions mandate electronic invoice submissions containing specific contract details to INVOICE@NIST.GOV, as well as electronic payment requests through the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) system.

This Statement of Work (SOW) outlines a requirement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Material Data Division (MDD) to acquire a software license key system for Standard Reference Data (SRD). The system is intended to secure three tiers of SRD products, enforce single-use licensing, prevent unauthorized distribution, and track global distributor sales while complying with geographic restrictions. The contractor must deliver a system capable of fully integrating with Salesforce and Active Directory/Single Sign-On using PIV authentication. Key technical specifications include generating unique license keys for multiple formats, supporting modular and add-on access, utilizing NIST SP 800-52 encryption standards, implementing geographic fencing, requiring a semi-annual network "heartbeat" check-in, and ensuring customer anonymity. Additionally, the solution must possess a FedRAMP Moderate authorization or a comparable FISMA-compliant federal agency Authority to Operate (ATO). The procurement includes a 12-month base period and four 12-month option years for usage and support. The contractor is responsible for remote installation, configuration, providing electronic documentation, and conducting technical training for up to 20 personnel. Following deployment, NIST will perform functional testing for one week to verify geographic fencing and licensing mechanics before formal acceptance. Standard commercial warranties and dedicated IT support are required throughout the contract's duration.

This federal Request for Quotation (RFQ), solicitation number 1333ND26QNB640575, is a 100% small business set-aside for an SRD License Key System. Issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) Part 12, this commercial procurement seeks firm-fixed-price quotes for one base contract line item (CLIN) and four subsequent option periods. The applicable NAICS code is 513210, with a small business size standard of $47 million. To be eligible for award, vendors must maintain an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). Quotations must be submitted via email to Donald.Graham@nist.gov by September 11, 2026, at 10:00 AM Eastern Time. All clarifications or questions regarding the solicitation must be submitted to the same address by September 8, 2026. Submissions must include technical information demonstrating compliance with the Statement of Work, up to three recent and relevant past performance references, and complete pricing for all license, subscription, and maintenance periods. NIST intends to award a single, firm-fixed-price purchase order to the responsible quoter representing the best value to the government, based on a trade-off evaluation of technical acceptability, past performance, and price.