# Fitch Ratings|Research & Data subscription service Canonical: https://abierto.us/opportunities/49ed8f9c1abd4d2faa1be05924e81906 - Notice type: Special notice - Status: Closed. Deadline was May 30, 2024 at 5:00 PM EDT - Department: Department of Agriculture - Agency: Usda, Departmental Administration - Contracting office: Usda, Ocp-Pod-Acq-Mgmt-Branch-Ftc (123144) - NAICS: 519290 Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services - Product or service code: R612 Information Retrieval - Place of performance: Washington, District of Columbia - County: District of Columbia (FIPS 11001). https://abierto.us/counties/district-of-columbia-dc-11001 - City: Washington. https://abierto.us/cities/washington-dc-1150000 - First posted: May 20, 2024 - Last posted: May 20, 2024 - SAM.gov: https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/49ed8f9c1abd4d2faa1be05924e81906/view ## Description NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITVE PROPOSALS. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) intends to enter into a sole source firm fixed-price contract with Fitch Solutions, Inc. under the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition, 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1) and Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1, Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, for Fitch Ratings|Research & Data. FAS requires an online subscription that provides ratings and research as well as leading analytical tools and ongoing surveillance. The subscription shall include in-depth bank analyses using the CAMEL (capital adequacy, asset quality, management, earnings, liquidity) analysis methodology commonly accepted by financial institutions and other entities that extend credit to banks. Only one subscription, Fitch Solutions, Inc. is available that provides this information. Fitch Ratings|Research & Data is a business unit of Fitch Solutions, Inc. and part of the Fitch Group, a global leader in financial information services with operations in more than 30 countries. Fitch Ratings is an online subscription service that provides ratings and research as well as leading analytical tools and ongoing surveillance. Included in the subscription is timely insights, objective opinions, credit analysis, as well as fundamental financials and market-based indicators on entities both rated and not rated by Fitch. Additionally, Fitch clients have access to experienced Fitch Ratings analysts all over the world to help them monitor up-to-the-minute rating changes, understand credit trends, and make informed investment decisions. Fitch is the only external rating agency which specializes and focuses on banks, and they provide significantly more bank analyses than any other external rating agency. Fitch’s network of offices in numerous countries throughout the world enables them to provide in-depth research and analysis in a timely manner. The Fitch Ratings subscription includes in-depth bank analyses, using the CAMEL (capital adequacy, asset quality, management, earnings, liquidity) analysis methodology commonly accepted by financial institutions and other entities that extend credit to banks. Fitch also rates these foreign banks using a methodology that is standardized and accepted throughout the investment community, thereby allowing FAS Risk and Asset Management (RAM) branch to compare banks of similar ratings. These reports and updates are designed to fill the analysis gap that RAM has when trying to analyze a bank solely based on its financial statements and without being able to visit the bank on an annual basis. The RAM branch reviews and approves limits for foreign countries and foreign banks for the Commodity Credit Corporation’s Export Credit Guarantee (GSM-102 and Facility Guarantee) Programs. Given limited travel funds, RAM can do very little travel to the countries in which these banks are domiciled. Therefore, RAM must utilize the reports generated by third parties such as Fitch Solutions, Inc. as a source of current information about countries, banking systems and specific foreign banks throughout the world to conduct financial analysis of these countries and foreign banks. Fitch has offices in many of these countries and spends significant time with each rated foreign bank to do an in-depth financial and risk analysis. Fitch also does an analysis of the sovereign government and the banking system in these countries. They provide updates on the banks which they review semi-annually or annually and peer review reports for higher profile banks. This allows comparison of a bank’s relative strengths, weaknesses, and other factors to its peers. RAM relies on these reports to conduct economic, financial and risk analysis to establish country and bank credit limits. This subscription allows up to 9 users to access ongoing reviews and reports for the current portfolio which encompasses approximately 100 foreign banks (though not all are rated by external rating agencies). The subscription includes financial and risk analyses of these individual banks as well as the banking systems and the countries in which they are located and operate. This Notice of Intent is not considered an Invitation for Bids (IFB), Request for Proposals (RFP), or Request for Quotations (RFQ) nor does it restrict the Government as to its ultimate acquisition approach. No solicitation document is available and telephone requests will not be accepted. Responsible sources capable of providing the required services may identify their interest and technical capability to meet this requirement. The Government will not reimburse firms for any costs associated with preparing or submitting a response to this notice. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competition based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The associated NAICS code for this acquisition is 519290, with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees. All responses must be submitted to the Government by email only to DJ Neal at dale.neal@usda.gov and shall be considered by the Agency. All responses must be submitted by 5:00 pm Eastern Time on Thursday, May 30, 2024. ## Publications - May 20, 2024: Special notice, due May 30, 2024 at 5:00 PM EDT. Notice 49ed8f9c1abd4d2faa1be05924e81906. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/49ed8f9c1abd4d2faa1be05924e81906/view ## Points of contact - DJ Neal, dale.neal@usda.gov, 9702955016 --- Source: SAM.gov Contract Opportunities bulk extract. Confirm deadlines on SAM.gov before responding. Cite https://abierto.us/opportunities/49ed8f9c1abd4d2faa1be05924e81906.