SSC requires an enterprise Kubernetes-based container solution(s) and is issuing this communication to notify the industry of an upcoming RFI on July 23, 2024.In the summer of 2023, SSC issued an Invitation to Qualify (ITQ) to create a shortlist for a forthcoming Request for Proposal (RFP). Industry feedback suggested that the criteria outlined in the Statement of Work (SOW) were restrictive, potentially limiting the pool of qualified bidders. Consequently, SSC decided to cancel the ITQ, review the SOW's scope, and re-evaluate the procurement strategy with a new competitive process taking into consideration SSC’s evolving mandate.Our revised procurement strategy reflects SSC's commitment to fair and transparent competitive processes. SSC will proceed with an RFI and host a webinar to facilitate further engagement with the vendor community, allowing for feedback on our requirements before issuing an official RFP. As part of our new procurement strategy, a Fairness Monitor (FM) has been engaged as an impartial third-party reviewer for the duration of the competitive process. The FM will assess all relevant documentation, including RFI, RFP, and evaluation criteria, attend consensus meetings and debriefing sessions, and monitor communications with bidders. This includes bidder questions and responses, requests for clarification, email exchanges, and debriefings.
SSC Notice of RFI enterprise Kubernetes-based container solution- Amendment 000