Environmental and Energy Politics E-Publication Subscription

The USGS is seeking the procurement of a subscription to a comprehensive site that provides daily e-publications that deliver current and relevant information on a host of current scientific topics including environmental and energy politics and policy of significant importance to the USGS scientific and administrative community. This subscription is provided to 14 personnel in the Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center staff. The USGS intends to sole source this award to E&E Publishing.

Any vendors who believe they may be able to provide similar services are invited to contact the Contract Specialist, Miranda Blankenship, via email at mblankenship@usgs.gov no later than 5:00PM EST, Tuesday, March 5th, 2024, with an affirmative answer.

Sole Source Justification States the Following Part: The Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey, plans to contract on a sole source basis. This document sets forth the justification and approval as required by FAR 13.106-1(b)(1).

The Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center intends to renew an existing contract for multi-user annual subscriptions to E&E News Daily, E&E Energy Wire, E&E Climate Wire, E&E Greenwire, and E&E News PM from POLITICO, LLC. The contract will be for a base period with four 12-month option periods.

As one of the preeminent scientific governmental organizations in the US, USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center has a requirement to access real time political and policy discussions and decisions affecting environment and energy as they relate to our mission and the conduct of our work. USGS needs to know when issues are on the congressional agenda.

For instance, USGS needs to be able to identify committee schedules; access easy-to-read explanations of the content in appropriations bills; receive clear, concise side-by-side analysis of major bills; get "Breaking News" alerts when there are important, timely developments; and see all the pieces in the environmental and energy political and policy picture.

E&E News from POLITICO, LLC., is the only service that provides real time (daily), congressional updates and comprehensive coverage of environmental and energy politics and policy, with an emphasis on application and how this will be affected by the current political atmosphere. The subscription also provides anticipated actions and reactions from both industry and conservation organizations (Federal, State and non-governmental), this service is non-biased and is not used as a tool to conduct lobbying activities.

Market research was conducted using the internet to ascertain if others could provide a service to meet the Governments minimum needs. None were identified. Further, RFQ 140G0123Q0206 was issued and no responses were received. Competition does not currently exist in the marketplace. As this is anticipated to be an annual procurement, EMA will continue to monitor the market and future needs will be competed to the maximum extent practicable.