Protocols.IO Subscription

Notice of Intent to award a sole source purchase order under FAR 13.106-1(b)(2). The United States Department of Agriculture intends to contract with Springer Nature, on a sole source basis for a thirteen month subscription to Protocols.IO. at the ARS location in Lincoln, NE. This purchase is for a 13-month subscription to the protocols.io open-access web platform. Researchers can use this platform to create/share/collaborate on research methods, and the platform allows both open and private user options.

Importantly, protocols.io allows versioned publication of methods, assigning a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) to released protocols. Protocols.IO also has direct relationships with selected peer-review journals that allow methods developed on the protocols.IO platform to be submitted directly to journals for peer-review and publication. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government.

In doing so, interested sources must submit technical capabilities, pricing, and other information that demonstrates their ability to meet the Governments needs no later than response time provided. Detailed capabilities must be submitted to attached POC. This synopsis is not considered a request for bid/quote/proposal. No solicitation document is available and telephone requests for technical information will not be honored.

No contract will be awarded on a basis of offers received in response to this notice, but offers will be used to determine if a comparable source is available and more advantageous to the Government.