1-07_JA_55-9676-19_SCIFINDER_Redacted.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY

4555 OVERLOOK AVE SW

WASHINGTON, DC 20375-5320

Purchase Request No.: 55-9676-19/1300 J&A No.: J&A13.501-20-SP02

Estimated Cost: $573,095

Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition Under Simplified Procedures For Certain Commercial Items In Accordance With Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.5

On the basis of the following, I, as the Contracting Officer, hereby approve the use of a sole source proposed contractual action pursuant to the authority of: 41 U.S.C. 1901 41 U.S.C. 1903

1. The Naval Research Laboratory Contracting Division proposes to enter into a sole source contract with the American Chemical Society, under simplified procedures for certain commercial items included in FAR subpart 13.5.

2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved: sole source under procedures for certain commercial items in accordance with FAR 13.5.

This Justification and Approval (J&A) authorizes and approves the renewal to SciFinder online subscriptions package. The resulting contract will be Firm Fixed Price using Simplified Acquisition Procedure (SAP).

3. A description of the supplies and/or services required, including the delivery schedule and/or the period of performance (inclusive of all option periods), and the estimated dollar value of the acquisition.

The purpose of this contract is to provide access to licensed information content on the SciFinder platform. atent and journal content daily. Over 26,000 articles, patents, books from over 400 PhD analyst.

The contract for subscription to SciFinder platform and archives will be for a period of 3 years (Base + 2 Options).

It is estimated that subscription total cost for the three year period will be $573,095. Distributed as follows.

4. The statutory authority permitting sole source.

The authority for permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C. 1901(e)(2), implemented by FAR 13.501(a).

41 U.S.C. 1901 41 U.S.C. 1903

SciFinder Subscription Purchase Request No.: 55-9676-19/1300 J&A No.: J&A13.501-20-SP02

5. A statement demonstrating the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or the nature of the action requiring use of the authority.

Subscription to SciFinder Platform provides NRL chemists a license with access to substances resources and a tool identifying them, reaction schemes, step-by-step experimental procedures and thousands of global scientific research. Access to a multitude of cited publications, advances and technological standards, and the global network community of subject matter experts.

SciFinder offers a platform for machine learning & AI, computer-aided synthetic design, patent search and workflow enhancement. SciFinders s offers a Synthetic Planning feature, that for any known molecule, SciFinder will perform a full retrosynthetic analysis utilizing the renowned CAS collection of reactions, presenting results in a highly intuitive retrosynthesis plan. The plan is easily navigated to evaluate alternative routes and also offers quick access to information on material suppliers, step by step methods curated by experts, product yields, and more. SciFinder gives the users access to industry leading capabilities like patent Markush, searching and content such as chemically annotated patents, so you can stay on top of the technological landscape.

With over 400 PhD analysts on their Columbus, OH, campus that speak over 50 languages in total, all of the 26,000 articles, patents, books, etc., that come in through the door at CAS every day are translated into English, making SciFinder a completely English searchable database. In addition any searching done on the SciFinder platform is kept confidential.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure offers/quotes are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized in FEDBIZOPPS (as required by FAR 5.2) and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies.

A Request for Information was posted on Beta SAM, only one response was received. The Technical Cognizant assessed the proposal and found it did not capable of fulfilling the requirement.

Following guidelines for a sole source action a synopsis will be posted to Beta SAM to allow industry to comment and also allows the requirements office an opportunity to examine the results of industry inquiries and reach a conclusion concerning the potential degree of competition.

7. The anticipated dollar value of the proposed acquisition, including options if applicable, and a determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the government will be fair and reasonable.

The anticipated value of this action will be $573,095 over a 3-year period. A price analysis will be conducted by the Contracting Officer to determine that the offered price presented to the Government is fair and reasonable. Since this is a commercial subscription, online pricing is publicly available upon request through the CAS website.

8. A description of the market research conducted and the results or the reason market research was not conducted.

In accordance with FAR 10.001, market research was conducted to determine if sources capable of satisfying the subject requirements exist. The Chief Librarian (requiring activity) conducts ongoing market research for additional resources that can provide comprehensive research capabilities for NRL chemists and scientists. In addition, an RFI was posted to determine if other sources existed that could complete this requirement.

SciFinder Subscription Purchase Request No.: 55-9676-19/1300 J&A No.: J&A13.501-20-SP02

9. Any other facts supporting the use of sole source.

The level of access needed by NRL scientist cannot be obtained without going directly to the publisher, CAS. No other publisher, editor, or company owns or controls access to any of the products offered by CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society.

American Chemical Society (ACS), operating through its CAS division, located in Columbus, Ohio (www.cas.org), is currently the only organization in the world able to produce and offer the product known as SciFinder. ACS owns and controls all of the proprietary rights in this product.

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

11. A statement of any actions the agency will take to remove or overcome any future barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.

The library staff continually canvass the NRL scientists and chemists to determine their need to continue and advance their researches. Based on this need, the library staff reviews scientific literature and the marketplace to determine available sources and pricing to meet the needs of the NRL scientific community. If another potential source emerges, NRL will assess whether competition for future requirements is feasible.

Additionally, before exercising each option, the procedures in FAR 17.207-Exercise of options will be executed. Accordingly NRL will perform market research to see if a there is any other source that can satisfy the requirement.

SciFinder Subscription

CERTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION

Purchase Request No.: 55-9676-19/1300 J&A No.: J&AI3.501-20-SP02

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance, which are included in this Justification and its supporting acquisition planning documents, except as noted herein, are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW

I have determined that this Justification is legally sufficient.

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION

I certify that this Justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.