36C24126Q0159_1.docx

Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Notice

GENERAL INFORMATION

VA Connecticut

950 Campbell Avenue West Haven CT 06516

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contracting Specialist Chadwin Walker chadwin.walker@va.gov 203-932-5711

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Deliver Electronically to VISN 1

POSTAL CODE

COUNTRY

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation

Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation Amendment Combined Synopsis: Remove ICGE

Page 1 of

Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation

COMBINED SYNOPSIS: INTENT TO COMPETE AMONGST SB CLASS DISTRIBUTORS FOR JOURNALS DATABASE SUBSCRIPTION

GENERAL INFORMATION: This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services prepared In accordance with the format in FAR 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested, and a written solicitation will not be issued.

This Combined Synopsis solicitation: 36C24126Q0159 is issued as an RFQ. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) Number 2025-06, October 1st, 2025.

This combined synopsis is being solicited with the intent to award via SB (Small Business) competition, as a Small Business Set-Aside, IAW FAR 19.502-2(a), at Contract Opportunities. The SB Set-Aside will be competed amongst capable vendors who are authorized by the Software Publishers to provide the complex journals database required to provide VISN 1 with access to “the” 100+ journals. See Journals Product Listing: 1338 | VISN 1 Medical Journals 2026 on PP: 5-6. There are currently (2) known SB Class distributors authorized by all Software Publishers of the individual online Medical Knowledge Journals required for the one-year annual journal subscription compilation.

This is a requirement for a one-year annual journal subscription, a journals database compilation that provides access to 100+ journals for VISN 1 as required by the Journals Product Listing: 1338 | VISN 1 Medical Journals 2026 on PP. 5-6 and as supported by the Statement of Work (SOW) on PP: 7-9, below. The quotes will be submitted via email.

Competition is anticipated between the two (2) known capable and authorized SB Class distributors: J.E. Federal Enterprises, LLC, and Graham Advisory Network Inc. The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 513210 with a small business size standard of $47 million. The FSC/PSC is DA10. The competition will be a SB set-aside amongst capable vendors: J.E. Federal Enterprises, and Graham Advisory Network.

Product Service Code DA10

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Integrated Service Network 1 (VISN 1) requires a one-year subscription to a selection of 100+ electronic journal titles, and print if noted, from various publishers and medical, nursing and specialty associations. VISN 1 has standardized to this specific compilation on 100+ online Medical Knowledge Journals. The list of journals for FY26 is included on PP 5-6, Journals Product Listing: 1338 | VISN 1 Medical Journals 2026, submitted with the SOW (PP: 7-9).

Market Research has identified two (2) SB Class distributors who are capable and authorized to distribute this 100+ online journal compilation as one (1) annual Medical Knowledge Journal Subscription requirement: J.E. Federal Enterprises, LLC, and Graham Advisory Network Inc.

The quotations shall be for the VISN 1 Medical Knowledge Journals database as described in detail on PP: 5-6 in this Combined Synopsis: Intent to Compete/ RFQ as posted on Contract Opportunities. The required Platform is IT-related. FAR 25: The Buy American Act does not apply.

The currently known capable and authorized SB class vendors are: J.E. Federal Enterprises, LLC, and Graham Advisory Network, Inc. shall submit a quote for the Journals Database subscription based on the requirements of the Statement of Work listed below. All distributors providing a quote for the required Medical Knowledge Journals must be capable of distributing and must be authorized by the Software Publishers for the 100+ Medical Knowledge Journals, to distribute the specific Medical Knowledge Journal compilation subscription required.

1. FAR 52.212-1” Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Products and Commercial Services (FAR Overhaul Deviation)

(a) Submission of offers. Submit signed and dated offers to the office specified in this solicitation at or before the exact time specified in this solicitation. As a minimum, offers shall include—

(1) The solicitation number;

(2) The name, address, telephone number of the Offeror;

(3) The Offeror’s Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and, if applicable, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) indicator;

(4) Information necessary to evaluate the factors contained in the provision at 52.212-2 or as described in the solicitation;

(5) Responses to provisions that require Offeror completion of information, representations, and certifications (other than those collected via the System for Award Management (SAM)); and

(6) A statement specifying the extent of agreement with all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation and any solicitation amendments.

(b) Period for acceptance of offers. The Offeror agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm for 60 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers, unless another time period is specified in an addendum to the solicitation.

(c) Late submissions, modifications, revisions, and withdrawals of offers. (1) Offerors are responsible for submitting offers and any modifications or revisions to the Government office designated in the solicitation by the time specified in the solicitation.

Note: No late submissions of offers will be accepted without CO (Contracting Officer) approval.

(d) Contract award. The Government intends to evaluate offers and award a contract without discussions with Offerors. Therefore, the Offeror’s initial offer should contain the Offeror’s best terms. However, the Government reserves the right to conduct discussions, if necessary. The Government may reject any or all offers if such action is in the public interest, accept other than the lowest offer, and waive informalities and minor irregularities in offers received.

NOTE: This is a FAR 12, Straight SB Competition, price alone. This is not a negotiated contract; there will be no FAR 15 discussions.

(e) Debriefings. NA. This is a FAR 12, Straight SB Competition, price alone. This is not a negotiated contract. There will be no negotiations, no debriefings.

2. 52.212-2 Evaluation—Commercial Products and Commercial Services. As prescribed in 12.205(a)(2), insert a provision substantially as follows: EVALUATION—COMMERCIAL

PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES (DEVIATION DATE)

Evaluation factors. The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible Offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered.

Note: This is a FAR 12, Straight SB Competition. The final selection will be price alone.

The following factors will be used to evaluate offers:

(1) Full capability to supply all Line-Item requirements listed above, at the lowest price.

Award shall be made to the capable SB Class distributor/quoter, whose quotation is determined to be the lowest price.

· The respondent must be verifiable as an SB in SAM and on the SBA (Small Business Administration) SBS (Small Business Search) website, for the applicable NAICS: 513210.

· The respondent must be capable of providing all 100+ Individual Medical Knowledge Journals listed as one (1) compilation for an annual online journal subscription for the same, as listed on the 1338 | VISN 1 Medical Journals 2026: Journal Product Listing on PP 5-6.

· The respondent must be authorized by all individual Software Publishers listed on the 1338 | VISN 1 Medical Journals 2026: Journal Product Listing on PP 5-6, as being authorized to distribute their online journals, products, subscriptions.

· Pricing shall be entered for each line item as listed in the attached 1338 | VISN 1 Medical Journals 2026: Journal Product Listing on PP 5-6.

· The lowest price determination will be based upon the lowest total price for all individual Line-Items listed on the 1338 | VISN 1 Medical Journals 2026: Journal Product Listing on PP 5-6.

· Due to standardization to this journal requirement for VISN 1, no substitutions will be considered.

(b) Options (if applicable). NA for this requirement.

3. FAR 52.212-3: [Reserved] “Offerors Representations and Certifications–Commercial Items”

1. All SB distributors competing for this SB Set-Aside must be currently and actively registered in SAM, and must be designated as an SB in SAM.

2. All SB distributors competing must be able to provide proof that they are capable and authorized by all respective Software Publishers to provide and distribute all Medical Knowledge Journals required, as one (1) Medical Knowledge Journal subscription compilation including all 100+ online tiles listed on the 1338 | VISN 1 Medical Journals 2026: Journal Product Listing on PP 5-6.

3. All SB distributors must be verifiable as an SB for the applicable NAICS 513210 on the SBS (Small Business Search) database.

The following contract clauses apply to this acquisition:

· 52.212-4 Terms and Conditions—Commercial Products and Commercial Services.

As prescribed in 12.205(b)(3), insert the following clause: TERMS AND CONDITIONS—COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES (DEVIATION DATE)

· 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders—Commercial Products and Commercial Services.

As prescribed in 12.301(b)(4), insert the following clause: CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT STATUTES OR EXECUTIVE ORDERS—COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES (OCT 2025) NOTE: Per the FAR Overhaul Deviation, FAR 52.212-5 was not listed in the deviation, it was not changed. Therefore, you have to review FAR 52.212-5 in the regular FAR.

To facilitate the award process, all quotes must include a statement regarding the terms and conditions herein as follows:

"The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document without modification, deletion, or addition." –OR-- "The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document with the exception, deletion, or addition of the following:"

Quoters shall list exceptions(s) and rationale for the exception(s), if any.

Any questions or concerns regarding this solicitation should be forwarded in writing via e-mail to the Point of Contact listed below.

CC: Contracting Officer (CO): Deidra Thomas: deidra.thomas@va.gov

The lowest price will be the sole determining factor. Please submit your best price with the best discount applied. The award will be made to the pricing response most advantageous to the Government.

The full text of FAR provisions or clauses may be accessed electronically at http://acquisition.gov/comp/far/index.html

This is an open-market combined synopsis/solicitation for products as defined herein. The government intends to award a one-time contract/purchase order as a result of this combined synopsis/solicitation that will include the terms and conditions set forth herein.

E-mailed quotes will be accepted. Submission shall be received no later than 12:00PM EDT 02/19/26

Late submissions shall be treated in accordance with the solicitation provision at FAR 52.212-1(f).

STATEMENT OF WORK for MEDICAL JOURNALS FY2026

A. General Information Introduction:

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Integrated Service Network 1 (VISN 1) requires a one-year subscription to a selection of approximately 105 electronic journal titles, and print if noted, from various publishers and medical, nursing and specialty associations. The list of journals for FY26 is contained in a separate file, submitted with this statement of work.

Performance Period:

This subscription is for the period of performance from March 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027.

Objectives VISN 1Knowledge Information Service’s goal is to ensure uniform accessibility to high quality, up to date, medical and clinical, knowledge-based electronic resources across the network to improve clinical decision-making at the point of care.

Provides access VISN 1-wide to electronic journals in support of a wide spectrum topics for clinical care and research.

A VISN 1-wide centralized journal subscription purchase capitalizes on economies of scale.

Negotiating one VISN-wide license/contract for this collection of journals decreases contracting and reviewing efforts that would otherwise be required at the separate VA facility level.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Contractor shall be responsible for the management, labor and equipment necessary to provide access to (1) serial publication subscriptions (electronic journals with a rare exception for a print journal), (2) point of care subscriptions, and (3) related subscription requirements. Related subscription requirements include paying publishers, handling claims for non-receipt, processing changes in subscriptions status (renewals, new and cancelled subscriptions), facilitating the activation of online access, and submission of required reports and other service problems.

Approximately 90% of subscriptions placed by VISN 1 Knowledge Library will be renewal subscriptions.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Subscription Orders. The solicitation is divided into two parts. Contractor(s) must qualify under Part 1 in order to provide requirements under Part 2.

Part 1 - Basic Subscription Orders.

Contractor shall provide basic subscription orders that would include all tasks necessary to execute and manage orders for new and renewal subscriptions to serial publication subscriptions. These tasks fall into the following four critical areas, described in detail elsewhere in the solicitation:

(a) Ordering subscriptions;

(b) Serving as the fiscal agent with publishers, including making timely prepayments, processing refunds, claims, supplemental and bill-later charges;

(c) Ensuring timely and complete delivery of ordered subscriptions; and,

(d) Providing reports and other administrative support for subscriptions management.

Part 2 - Required Support Requirements.

Contractor shall provide support to cover a range of subscription-related products to the library, in addition to basic subscription orders and renewals described under Part 1.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

Basic Subscription Orders and Renewals.

Contractor shall provide subscription orders for all subscriptions in all media generally available via agents from foreign and domestic publishers, if the ordering customer can supply sufficient publication information. If the ordering customer cannot obtain publication information, the contractor will assist in obtaining the necessary information to obtain the journal.

The Contractor shall supply materials from a wide range of publishers.

Subscription Periods.

(a) Publisher permitting, the Contractor shall be required to place subscriptions at any time during the year, to provide common expiration dates for initial subscription and renewals whenever possible, and to assist in prorating for common expiration dates, as required by individual stations.

(b) The Contractor shall provide administrative and other requirements for each subscription placed until three months after its expiration or for the life of the subscription.

Direct Orders.

(a) Listing of any "direct only" subscriptions, meaning subscriptions which the Contractor cannot supply due to publishers licensing requirements establishes privity of this contract is required to be directly between the Department of Veterans Affairs VISN1 and the Publisher. The doctrine of privity in the common law of contracts provides that a contract cannot confer rights or impose obligations arising under it on any person or agent except the parties to it. These orders cannot be placed through this contract action without VISN 1 Contracting Officer approval and also compliance with the publishers’ requirements.

Payment.

(a) The Contractor shall pay all regular subscription orders in advance, prior to submission of first invoice.

(b) The Contractor shall make additional payments as necessary and be required to adjust for unforeseen contingencies, such as currency fluctuations, additional volumes, access, and any other unexpected fees.

(c) The Contractor shall maintain complete records of all bibliographic and financial transactions of each Station for up to three years. The Contractor shall provide to the VISN 1 immediate access to these records on demand. If required by VISN 1 the Contractor shall provide copies of these documents at no cost. The Contractor shall retain the original records on-site.

Administrative Services. The Contractor shall provide the following administrative services to support subscription ordering services:

(a) Claims for missing, defective or mutilated issues. The Contractor shall be the contract liaison for all VA VISN 1 stations in obtaining from the publisher replacement copies of print periodicals found to be defective, mutilated, lost in transit, or otherwise missing, provided the loss is reported within sixty calendar days. Contractor shall provide back issue ordering if requested. Contractor shall respond to Stations' claims within ten (10) calendar days of the claim. The Contractor shall offer electronic claims services at no additional charge. The Contractor shall, upon request of the government, demonstrate or make available for review its electronic claims system prior to contract award.

(i) The Contractor shall provide each Station with the necessary training and written documentation to enable each Station to effectively use the electronic claiming system.

(ii) The Contractor shall supply the VA and all "ship-to" addressees with full service assistance in claiming missing issues.

(iii) The Contractor shall handle claims for any subscription for up to three months after the life of the subscription.

(a) Access Issues. The Contractor will assist in ensuring access to all journals under the current contract responding back within one business day.

Personal Representative. The Contractor shall assign a representative by name to provide personalized in-house assistance for VA Station account.

(c) Library Management Reports

Claims Lists.

The Contractor shall provide to the station a monthly listing of all outstanding claims and any responses received from the publishers. The report shall be cumulative, by title, for all unresolved claims.

(i) Statistical and Usage Access reports The Contractor shall provide access/usage statistics to the VISN1 Knowledge Information Service representatives on a quarterly schedule. The usage statistics should be in “COUNTER R5” and Standardized Usage Statistics Harvesting Initiative (SUSHI) Protocol (ANSI/NISO Z39.93-2014; https://www.niso.org/standards-committees/sushi ) if available, or latest version. The COUNTER Code of Practice provides a framework for the recording and exchange of online usage statistics for the major categories of e-resources (journals, databases, books, reference works, and multimedia databases).

Licenses Contractor and publishers frequently have license agreements for their electronic publications, systems and software products. Licenses may be for the subscription agent’s proprietary products, or publisher’s proprietary products. All license agreements will be between the VISN 1 and the Contractor/Publishers. Such individual licenses shall only pertain to the VA library for whom they were negotiated. License agreements will be reviewed, approved, signed and enforced by according to local procedures. Contractor’s proposals must contain copies of all Contractor proprietary licenses for all items offered.

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification for Single Source Awards IAW FAR 13.106-1 For Over Micro-Purchase Threshold but Not Exceeding the SAT

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C241-26-AP-0699

1. Contracting Activity: Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 1, Knowledge Information Service.

2. Brief Description of Supplies/ Services required and the intended use/Estimated Amount:

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Integrated Service Network 1 (VISN 1) requires a one-year subscription to a selection of 105 Medical Knowledge Journals (Electronic Journal Titles).

3. Unique characteristics that limit availability to only one source, for the reason that no other supplies or services can be used. The Medical Knowledge Journal subscription provides 105 journals that encompasses various medical specialties required for the VISN 1 VAMC. VISN1 has standardized to a specific mix of Medical Knowledge Journals that have been proven to provide the best value to VISN 1 clinical, social work, and nursing staff, due to the medical knowledge content that these individual journal platforms collectively provide for medical knowledge and training. Due to the nature of the library information knowledge base required by VISN1 staff and library team, there are limited pool of medical knowledge distributors who are authorized by individual medical information journal publishers to configure and customize Medical Knowledge Journal configurations, and who have the expertise and experience compiling medical journal subscriptions to meet specific knowledge requirements for VISN1 healthcare journal subscriptions.

This is a curated list of multiple individual journals that focus on the clinical, nursing, social work and management subjects specific to the needs and requirements of the facilities in VISN1. The journal titles on the list are from eight major publishers (e.g. BMJ, Taylor & Francis, Oxford U Press) and individual organizations specializing in specific medical conditions and topics. The Journals Information subscription provides 105 journals that encompasses various medical specialties required for the VISN 1 VAMC.

VISN 1 has standardized to this specific configuration and compilation of journals for at least eight (8) years. This specific mix of Medical Knowledge Journals have been proven to provide the best value to VISN 1 clinical, social work, and nursing staff due to the medical knowledge content that these individual journal platforms collectively provide for medical knowledge and training.

This practice of compiling the journals into a single purchase has been accomplished for the VISN1 Library in previous years and has been successfully executed by EBSCO, Cox Subscriptions, and Graham Advisory Network.

4. Description of market research conducted and results or statement why it was not conducted: A search for NAICS 513210, returned 9,433 results for SBs. The results were sorted for keyword “Journals.” Sixty-two (62) potentially capable distributors were identified; two (2) were SBs. ADDSUP was searched for keyword “Journals Database” fourteen (14) vendors were found. An additional ADDSUP search was conducted to better identify potentially capable Medical Knowledge Journal distributors, (19) SB distributors were identified as experienced and who have the authorization and the expertise to provide the customized Medical Knowledge Journals required by VISN1.

The requirement is for a customized Medical Knowledge Journal configuration that combines multiple journal subscriptions into smaller, focused collection of journals (contracts). This Medical Knowledge Journals contract is complex and requires vendors who have the knowledge, capabilities, and publisher affiliations to create the required journal collections and who are also competent to quote pricing for the journal subscriptions compiled from multiple publishers and associates. Assembling journal collections reduces the number of capable competitors and simplifies management of the required compilation of Medical Knowledge Journals. Market research conducted by VISN1 Librarians has identified vendors in this market who have historical and demonstrated capability to handle this acquisition: EBSCO Subscription Services (Large Company), Cox Subscriptions Inc (Other Than Small for NAICS 513210), Graham Advisory Network (SDVOSB), and J.E. Federal Enterprises LLC (SDVOSB)

Additional market research was conducted. Contracting verified that the required Journals database platform is not available from any mandatory source. GSA Advantage, GSA E-Library, and FPDS websites were searched for Journals Databases. GSA Advantage was searched using the keyword “Journals database” which resulted in multiple contracts awarded to EBSCO Information Services, LLC. An FPDS search for “Journals database” received twenty-four (24) hits for the VA with the most awards to EBSCO Industries Inc. GSA Advantage indicated that EBSCO holds FSS contracts for a variety of Education Journals, primarily focused on Business, Industry, and the Humanities. EBSCO does provide a Healthcare Educational Journal, but does not include all journals required, and is not eligible for an SB competition; it is an LB.

Market research was expanded to seek SB (Small Business) opportunities to leverage competition to the maximum extent practicable. Based on the research, Cox Subscriptions Inc., J.E. Federal Enterprises, LLC, and Graham Advisory Network Inc are potentially capable of providing the required acquisition. The requirement is below SAT; LOS will not apply.

A Straight SB Set-Aside can be leveraged to compete to the maximum extent practicable. However, per the SBS search, Cox Subscriptions, is not an SB for the applicable NAICS 513210. They are an "Other Than Small Business" and are not eligible for a SB Set-Aside competition.

Nonmanufacturing Rule: There is no NMR waiver for NAICS 513210. Per VAAR 819.7003(d), without the NMR Waiver, the NMR is not satisfied; LOS applies. We cannot leverage a SD/VOSB set-aside. With the SBA NMR Exception, per FAR 19.502-2(a), the requirement is eligible for a Straight SB Set-Aside.

Recommendation: The recommendation is for a SB set-aside IAW FAR 19.502-2(a). Per VAAR 819.7003(d), VFCP cannot be leveraged without an NMR Waiver; the NMR is not satisfied. There are no mandatory sources who can supply this requirement. There are no mandatory SAC contracts nor non-mandatory NAC/FSS contracts. There are no SEWP or other National Contracts that carry the required software licenses. The NMR Tree supports an SB Set-Aside. The requirement is below SAT; the LOS (Limitations on Subcontracting) does not apply for the SBA NMR Exception. The strategy is for a brand name, open market, SB Set-Aside award.

5. Contracting Officer's Certification: Purchase is approved in accordance with FAR13.106-1(b). I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer

Good afternoon.

The following Request for Quote: 36C24126Q0159 has been posted on Contract Opportunities as a Combined Synopsis: Intent to Compete/SB Set-Aside RFQ.

Authorized Distributors for this Medical Knowledge Journal compilation are requested to provide a software publisher letter stating that they are authorized to distribute the 100+ online journals listed on the attached Journals Product Listing: 1338 | VISN 1 Medical Journals 2026, PP: 5-6. Authorized distributors are also requested to attach proof of their SBA verified SB Status for NAICS 513210, with their quote.

VISN 1 is looking to purchase a follow-on, sequential, one-year, Medical Knowledge Journal Subscription, an online compilation/collection of the 100+ individual online journals, listed on the attached Combined Synopsis: Intent to Compete-RFQ 36C24126A0159.

The items quoted must be a compilation, collection of the 100+ Medical Knowledge Journals listed on the attached Product Listing. The final journal subscription product must be identical to the journal Item Number/Description and Line-Item Title as listed on the attached journal Product Listing.

· Lowest Price for the annual Medical Knowledge Journal compilation/collection will be the final determining criteria.

· Please submit your best offer.

· Please consider and include all available discounts.

· Please list any contracts that may apply.

· Please note that the Scope of Work (SOW) is also attached above and is included in the Combined Synopsis.

· The product will be delivered to VISN 1. The Knowledge Information library address is: VAMC Jamaica Plain, 150 South Huntington Avenue, Jamaica Plain MA 02130-4817.

Product Listing: VISN 1 Medical Knowledge Journals Subscription: See Attached Product Listing We are looking forward to processing this order by 02/20/26. Please respond to RFQ by 02/19/26 at 12:00 PM (12 Noon) EST:

· Please let me know if you have any questions

· Please let me know if the due date and time will not work for your schedule.

Thank you in advance for submitting a quote via email to chadwin.walker@va.gov. Please copy the CO Deidra Thomas, deidra.thomas@va.gov.

Please note that my work schedule is: MON – FRI 6AM – 2:30PM

Respectfully, Chadwin Walker

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