Enterprise-Wide Electronic Perpetual Access to Selected Journals - National Agricultural Library

This Sources Sought Notice is being issued for informational purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS). ARS is conducting a Market Survey to identify the availability and interest of firms as potential sources for enterprise-wide electronic perpetual access to selected journals for the National Agricultural Library, located in Beltsville, Maryland. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this project is 513120 (Periodical Publishers) with a Size Standard of 1000 employees.

Background: The National Agricultural Library (NAL) requires un-embargoed, perpetual (post-cancellation) electronic access over the internet to the subscribed contents of BRILL Life Sciences Collection of electronic journals published between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025 for use by all USDA employees, contractors, authorized public on-site users, cooperators and volunteers working on behalf of USDA and acting within the scope of their relationship with USDA, and COUNTER compliant usage data for each journal on a monthly basis.

Project Scope: Brill USA (Brill) is the official publisher and copyright holder of the Brill Life Sciences electronic journal collection. As such, Brill may authorize other vendors to manage subscription and invoicing for this publication, but only Brill, as the copyright holder of the publications, can and will provide un-embargoed perpetual access to its full contents, along with COUNTER usage data. The journal contents are unique and not available from any other source.

Having perpetual access rights granted by BRILL will give USDA users access in perpetuity to the electronic journals for which NAL purchases access. If NAL does not request perpetual access to subscribed material, its access to the material it has purchased will end if the journals are no longer published by the vendor. The anticipated Period of Performance is for one base year and four, one-year options. THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. Interested firms are invited to respond to this announcement by providing the following information:

1. Firm’s name, address, point of contact, phone number, and e-mail address.

2. Firm’s level of interest in competing on the solicitation when it is issued.

3. Firm’s Business Size. NO SOLICITATION EXISTS. THIS REQUEST IS INTENDED ONLY TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL SOURCES. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this sources sought announcement. The deadline to respond to this notice is Monday, November 25, 2024. Requested information shall be limited to no more than 2 pages. Interested firms are instructed to submit written responses by e-mail to angela.wingert@usda.gov. NO HARD COPY OR FACSIMILE SUBMISSION WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Cover letters and extraneous materials (brochures, etc.) will not be considered. No reimbursement will be made for any cost associated with providing information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information provided. All interested sources must respond to future solicitation announcements separately from responses to this market survey.