RECOVERY-This notice is provided for information purposes only.  This opportunity was available only to Veritas authorized resellers holding GSA FSS.  Additional Veritas products are required for the expansion of the existing enterprise backup and recovery infrastructure.  In accordance with FAR 8.405-6(b)(1), this is a brand name requirement.  Veritas Storage Foundation is proprietary software.  It is currently developed and maintained by Symantec.

We are conducting this acquisition under the authority of the Multiple-Award Schedule Program (FAR 8.401), and ordering, software maintenance consistent with the policy and procedures set forth at FAR 8.405-6.  This FAR subpart provides that "orders placed under Federal Supply Schedules are exempt from the competition requirements in Part 6" of the FAR.  However, FAR 8.405-6 requires SSA to provide a Limited Source Justification when restricting consideration under paragraph (b) of 8.405-6.  Paragraph (b) of FAR 8.405-6 permits restricted consideration to items peculiar to one manufacturer (i.e., a particular brand name item, product, or a feature of a product, peculiar to one manufacturer).  The FAR cautions "brand name specifications shall not be used unless the particular brand name, product, or feature, is essential to the Government's requirements, and market research indicates other companies similar products, or products lacking the particular feature, do not meet, or cannot be modified to meet, the agency's needs."  FAR 8.405-6(b)(1) (emphasis added).  As discussed below, only Veritas, or one of its resellers, are capable of meeting our needs.