Intent to Award a Sole Source - Elsevier Journals

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE The United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Agricultural Library (NAL) intends to issue an award to Elsevier B.V. on a sole source basis. Award will be made pursuant to FAR In accordance with FAR 13.501 and 41 USC 3304 §(a)(l ), the property and service needed is available from only one responsible source and no other type of property or service will satisfy the needs of the agency.

NAL requires un-embargoed electronic access via the internet to Elsevier publications for use by all USDA employees, authorized public on-site users, cooperators, and volunteers working on behalf of USDA and acting within the scope of their relationship with USDA. Access includes post-cancellation access rights to the content that is subscribed to by USDA for the full volume of each title. The contractor shall provide, on request by USDA, all purchased content in a mutually agreed-upon non-proprietary format.

Elsevier is the only copyright holder of its publications and thus is the only vendor that can meet NAL’s requirement for Elsevier journal access with perpetual, post- 2 cancellation access and data rights to the content issued during the subscription period. No source other than Elsevier is licensed to provide immediate, un-embargoed access to its publications and the perpetual access and data rights for Elsevier electronic journals.

Having perpetual access and data rights granted by Elsevier will give USDA users access in perpetuity to the electronic journal content for which NAL purchases perpetual access. If NAL does not secure the perpetual access and data rights to subscribed material, its access to the material it has purchased will end when the term of the subscription ends.

Maintaining electronic copies by obtaining the perpetual access and data rights from publishers fulfils NAL’s mandate to preserve our nation’s agricultural literature. The anticipated Period of Performance is for one base year and two, one-year options. THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTES. This notice is for informational purposes only and is not to be constructed as a commitment by the Government.

Potential sources who 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 contact based on responses to this notice is solely at the discretion of the Government.

The deadline to respond to this notice is June 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. The Point of Contact for this action is Angela Wingert and any response must be emailed to angela.wingert@usda.gov.