The Department of Commerce (DOC) National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate on a sole-source basis with the University of Maryland under the authority of 41 US 3304(a)(1) for Mid-Atlantic Crossroads (MAX) Network services to the Internet2 research network, Solicitation # NOI772000-19-00680. The NIST Advanced Network Technologies Division requires access to the Internet2 research network to conduct Network Technology research and to collaborate with other Government agencies, research and non-profit organizations. The Internet2 research network has an ultra-high speed bandwidth, runs research protocols and applications not found in residential and commercial networks. Access to this network is connected through the metropolitan optical network run by the MAX. MAX is a non-profit consortium founded by universities in this region to provide pioneering efforts in advanced networking, and to provide researchers access to the Internet2 research network for conducting research. MAX is the only Maryland access point to the Internet2 research network. MAX uses the UMD Office of Research Administration and Advancement for the day to day administration of contract actions and billing. Therefore, UMD is the only entity capable of meeting this requirement. The period of performance is a base year plus four option years, to equal five years total, with the contract beginning on October 1, 2019. Read more here.