Software and Hardware license and maintenance services for systems integrated among different NIH labs from Soft Computer Consultants Inc. (Notice of Intent to Sole Source)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center is seeking to acquire proprietary software and hardware license and maintenance services for its Laboratory Information System (LIS) from Soft Computer Corporation (SCC). This sole-source acquisition, justified under FAR 6.302-1, is due to SCC being the sole developer and maintainer of the LIS software, which is critical for patient care, research documentation, and processing large volumes of patient data. The current system has been in use since 1996, and previous attempts to find alternative vendors have been unsuccessful because other vendors lack authorization from SCC to support the proprietary system. The contract is a firm-fixed-price agreement with a base period from September 2025 to March 2026, and an option period from April 2026 to March 2027. Replacing the system would incur significant costs and risks, including potential interruptions to patient care and research data. The NIH will continue to monitor the market for alternative solutions but considers a viable alternative highly unlikely.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center requires ongoing maintenance and support for its Soft Computer Corp. Lab System. This Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract encompasses a range of software modules including SoftPathDX, SoftBank, SoftLAB, SoftMic, and SoftTotalQC, among others. The Offeror must provide 24/7 operational support, OEM hardware support via IBM, and database administration support for Oracle and DB_VISTA. Key requirements include maintaining system availability at 99.5%, adhering to Section 508 accessibility standards, and providing timely problem resolution based on severity levels. The contract spans a base year and four option years, with mandatory qualification criteria including Letters of Authorization from Soft Computer Corp. for support and resale.

The NIH Clinical Center requires continued sole-source maintenance and support for its proprietary Laboratory Information System (LIS) software, provided by Soft Computer Corporation (SCC). This system, critical for patient care and scientific research, automates lab processes and integrates with other clinical systems. The sole-source justification is based on SCC's proprietary software and its policy against third-party maintenance, as well as the significant cost and risk of switching to a new system due to staff retraining and potential service interruption. The current contract, identified as a follow-on, firm-fixed-price support service, expires on 9/26/2025, with a base period from 09/27/2025 to 02/28/2026. Market research confirmed SCC as the only capable provider, and efforts to find alternative sources via SAM.gov were unsuccessful.