[oclug] DND Sole Source Acan

[Richard Lamothe]

On Sat, 17 Feb 2001, burns wrote:
> > DND has just set the wheels in motion after 17:00hrs today to sole source a
> > 50K seat desktop upgrade from win95 to MS2000. Thats right 50K seats that are
> > now permanently locked into a sole supplier (MS), completely legal and with
> > further ownerouse implications when active directory protocols are
> > considered. 
> 
> Unless challenged... it's an ACAN.

Which stands for Advance Contract Award Notice. Normally there is a 15
day period within which to challenge the ACAN. It can be a legitimate
sole sourcing procurement technique if used properly: it is definitely
illegitimate to use an ACAN if there are functional equivalent products
available in the marketplace. 

See the NAFTA non-discriminatory fair trade rules at:

http://www.flora.org/flora/server/comnet-www/1746

Chris: Can you provide more details? When was the ACAN published on
Merx? What specifically was being purchased, just a desktop  upgrade? If
so, what Linux company would offer a functional equivalent? Corel? I
rather suspect not. How about Red Hat? The challenge must be undertaken
with a firm that can offer a functionally equivalent competitive
product.   

-----------------------------------------------------
Richard Lamothe 
http://www.plcom.net/
613 231 5597
134 Sparks St., Ottawa.On.Ca, K1P5B6