36C10X25Q0026 Notice of Intent to Sole Source.docx

SUBJECT*

Notice of Intent to Sole Source OVID Online Medical Journal Subscriptions

GENERAL INFORMATION

Department of Veterans Affairs

5202 Presidents Court, Suite 103 Frederick MD 21703

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contract Specialist Brian Hendren brian.hendren@va.gov

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

Special Notice Special Notice

DESCRIPTION

Synopsis This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes. This Notice is to inform all parties the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), Office of Procurement, Acquisitions, & Logistics (OPAL), Strategic Acquisition Center-Frederick (SAC-F), intends to solicit and award a single source contract with the following entity for the procurement of online journal subscriptions:

Ovid Technologies, Inc (a Wolters Kluwer Business) 1800 Dual Highway, Suite 200 Hagerstown, MD 21740-6636 USA.

This procurement is being conducted under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Parts 12 and 13 in accordance with (IAW) FAR Part 13.106-1(b) Soliciting from a single source.

Interested parties may convey their capability to meet this requirement as stated below by responding to this notice solely via email to Brian.Hendren@va.gov no later than December 13, 2024, 10:00 AM Eastern Time (ET). Respondents should reference “36C10X25Q0026” in the email subject line, clearly demonstrate their capability of meeting the Government’s requirements, and include their Unique System for Award Management (SAM) Unique Entity ID Number (UEI).

Description of Requirement The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Pharmacy Benefits Management Services (VHA-12PBM) has a requirement to renew their existing nationwide subscription with Ovid Technologies. This requirement ensures continuity of services and is aimed at enhancing the VA’s information and knowledge base in support of its mission to provide quality direct patient care. Clinical Pharmacists within the PBM require access to numerous databases containing various medical journals in their subject matter expertise such as diabetes, infectious diseases, cardiology, neurology, primary care, pharmacoeconomics, drug safety, oncology, immunology, dermatology, and general medicine topics. Utilizing these journals, Clinical Pharmacists can download citation information directly into a reference manager system and are used to evaluate clinical studies to improve the healthcare of our nation’s veterans.

The anticipated period of performance is a 12-month base period with four (4) annual option periods, to be exercised at the discretion of the government.

The proposed classification of this requirement is as follows:

· North American Industry Classification System (NAICS): 513120 - PERIODICAL PUBLISHERS

· NAICS Code Small Business Size Standard: 1,000 Employees

· Product Service Code (PSC): U004 - EDUCATION/TRAINING- SCIENTIFIC/MANAGEMENT

Deliverables

Evidence Based Medicine Reviews Annual Subscription

JAMA Oncology Annual Subscription

Journal of the National Cancer Institute Annual Subscription

Ovid User License (Online) Annual Subscription

Single Source Circumstances Based on market research and previous acquisition history, it has been determined that Ovid Technologies is the only source capable and authorized to provide the requirement above primarily due to exclusive copyright restrictions.

Additional Information All timely responses received will be reviewed; however, a determination by the Government not to compete the proposed procurement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competitively sensitive information contained in their response. A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. The Government is not responsible for any potential costs incurred from interested parties desiring to respond to this notice.