Electronic access for all USDA users and public on-site users to scientific journals published by CSIRO Publishing

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Agricultural Library (NAL) requires perpetual electronic access for all USDA users and public on-site users to scientific journals published by CSIRO Publishing. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Agricultural Library (NAL) also requires a "Read and Publish" service for all USDA employees.

This service will provide unlimited publishing of USDA articles in journals published by CSIRO for a set annual fee and without incurring Article Publishing Charges (APCs.) The contractor shall provide electronic access via the Internet to CSIRO journals for use by all USDA employees, authorized public on-site users, and employees of other federal agencies that are authorized by the publisher to use NAL’s DigiTop service. All USDA locations worldwide are to be considered authorized premises.

USDA employees and contractors, cooperators and volunteers working on behalf of USDA and acting within the scope of their relationship with USDA, as well as employees, contractors, cooperators and volunteers working on behalf of other federal agencies that are authorized by the publisher to use NAL’s DigiTop service, are considered authorized users of the journals.

In addition to internal use, authorized users have the right to use content of the journals for ordinary business, scholarly and educational purposes of the Government, including but not limited to viewing, printing, saving, reusing and disseminating content. The contractor shall make the CSIRO journals accessible 24 hours per day. Authorized users shall be granted access to the CSIRO journals through a mutually agreeable authentication process without any impediments.

The contractor shall provide the CSIRO journals in accordance with the following terms and conditions: The authorized users shall have the right to use content during the term of the subscription. The contractor shall grant perpetual data rights to the subscribed-to content. Upon request by NAL the contractor shall provide the subscribed-to or purchased content in the mutually agreed-upon electronic medium and format.

The right to perpetual use of the subscribed-to journal content will survive the termination of the contract for any reason. The circumstance permitting other than full and open competition is FAR 13.501and 41 USC 253(c)(5), only one responsible source and no other type of supplies or source will meet agency needs. NAL is mandated (7 U.S.C. 3101) to serve as the primary agricultural information resource of the United States.

One of its functions in that role is the acquisition of information in all aspects of agriculture and allied sciences. In support of this function, the NAL acquires journal publications in electronic format from publishers and makes the journals accessible to USDA employees and library patrons via the internet. In keeping with its charge to collect agricultural and related information, it seeks to maintain a collection of publications in various formats from a variety of publishers and sources.

CSIRO Publishing is an autonomous business unit within Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, CSIRO. CSIRO Publishing operates as an independent science and technology publisher. CSIRO’s internationally recognized publishing program covers a wide range of scientific disciplines, including agriculture, the plant and animal sciences, and environmental management.

CSIRO’s products are published in print and electronically, and their product range includes journals, books, magazines, and CD-ROMs. CSIRO, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, is Australia's national science agency. CSIRO is committed to Australia’s National Research Priorities, which have to do with climate adaptation, energy transformation, food futures, future manufacturing, mining, human and animal health, water, and ocean resources.

CSIRO Publishing operates as an independent science and technology publisher with a global reputation for quality products and services. It’s internationally recognized publishing program covers a wide range of scientific disciplines, including agriculture, the plant and animal sciences, and environmental management. Besides its extremely important journal content, CSIRO has well developed mechanisms for delivering the content to subscribers. Its platform efficiently provides access to CSIRO journals.

CSIRO’s continual investment in its information infrastructure and its compliance with newly emerging industry standards makes its information delivery mechanisms extremely reliable. CSIRO is the only vendor that can meet NAL’s requirement for complete and immediate access to CSIRO journal content, with perpetual access to the content issued during the period of performance. CSIRO is the only copyright holder of its publications and the only entity with the right to publish USDA-authored articles in its journals.

Anticipated Date of Award: 07/01/2024 THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. This notice is for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. Vendors that believe they can provide the services listed above are invited to submit substantiating documentation in writing to the identified point of contact. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. A determination by the Government to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely at the discretion of the Government.