36C77626Q0068.docx

SUBJECT*

BrowZine subscription FY26-HIG-831 (VA-26-00021838)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Program Contracting Activity Central

6150 Oak Tree Blvd, Suite 300 Independence OH 44131

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contract Specialist Sharif Ra El sharif.ra-el@va.gov 216-800-5076

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

DESCRIPTION

SPECIAL NOTICE – NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

BrowZine subscription

Contracting Opportunities Notice: 36C77626Q0058

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Program Contracting Activity Central (PCAC), intends to issue a sole source contract to THIRD IRON, LLC., for a subscription to BrowZine. This is an annual membership with a twelve (12) month base and four (4) twelve (12) month option years and six (6) month extension.

The Department of Veterans Health Administration (VHA), VA Library Network (VALNET), requires an existing, commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS), web-based, Browzine subscription product that will be made available throughout the VHA healthcare system.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Program Contracting Activity Central (PCAC) intends to solicit and negotiate with Third Iron, LLC., 4821 Fable Hill Pkwy N, Hugo, Minnesota 55038 USA: The requirement will simplify researcher workflow by expediting access to content. The combination of features and functionality offered will make available both (1) access to online resources and (2) user authentication and access to these resources. Supply and maintain a web-based method of establishing self-registration accounts for VA staff. Provide a system which organizes user groups and allocates resource access at the individual or group level. Supply a system which can utilize a link resolver resource, such as Serials Solutions. Provide expansive usage statistics on request to any account manager/administrator. Supply a system which accommodates approximately 130 VAMC accounts, with the capacity to accommodate/add more accounts; plus, or minus potential five VAMC accounts. Supply a system which functions independently from the VA computer network and requires no software to be loaded/uploaded to the VA computer network.

The procurement is being conducted by authority of FAR Part 6.103-1, "Only One Responsible Source and No Other supplies or services will satisfy Agency requirements" FAR 52.219-8 Utilization of Small Business Concerns and FAR 52.219-9 Small Business Subcontracting Plan will be included in this procurement.

The NAICS code for this procurement is 519290 and the Small Business Administration Size Standard is 1,000 Employees.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes. No solicitation document is available, and telephone requests will not be accepted. However, any responsible source who believes it is capable of meeting the requirements may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency, and a resellers agreement only if received by the closing date and time of this notice.

Responses received will be evaluated; however, a determination by the Government not to compete the proposed procurement based upon responses received to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.

Responses to this notice are due on or before Tuesday February 17, 2026, 9:00 a.m. EST to contract specialist, Sharif Ra El at sharif.ra-el@va.gov.

Contracting Office Address:

Department of Veterans Affairs Program Contracting Activity Central 6150 Oak Tree Blvd, Suite 300 Independence, OH 44131

Special Notice Special Notice

Special Notice

Statement of Work Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration VA Library Network BrowZine Subscription 2026

A. GENERAL INFORMATION

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), VA Library Network (VALNET) requires an existing, commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS), web-based access to the VA’s online journals. The requirement will enable users to access online journals on a mobile personal device that provides extra features, not available on other mobile ones. These subscriptions should be accessible with individual creations of a “book shelf” and several other mobile functions. The Third Iron complete (BrowZine) product presents library electronic journal collections that the VA has acquired in a user-friendly, browsable and readable format; and technology to simplify and expedite access to full. text articles and ejournals from the LNO library discovery service, databases and open web searching.

1. OBJECTIVES

Providing nationwide access to an authentication system for electronic resources that exists at the beginning of the subscription and throughout the period of performance of the subscription.

a. Promoting usage of online library resources and other VALNET services.

b. Providing identity and access control options to a varied number of account managers.

2. SCOPE OF WORK

The contractor shall:

1. Supply a combined method that will make available both (1) access to online journals and (2) user authentication and access to the VA subscribed journals.

2. Supply and maintain a web-based method of establishing self-registration accounts for VA staff.

3. Provide a system that supports Single Sign-On (SSO), ensuring that access can securely and efficiently be provided to VA staff with on-and-off-site access to electronic resources.

4. Supply a system where individual users can be manually added, edited and remove by the user.

5. Provide a system which organizes user groups and allocates journals access at the individual or group level.

6. Supply a system which can utilize a link resolver resource, such as Serials Solutions and access to Liblynx IPs. (157.230.189.45 and 162.243.143.27)

7. Provide expansive usage statistics on request to any account manager/administrator.

8. Supply a system which accommodates approximately 152 VAMC accounts, with the capacity to accommodate/add more accounts.

9. Supply a system which functions independently from the VA computer network and requires no software to be loaded/uploaded to the VA computer network.

10. Provide links to full text of journals/PDFs (where available) so that patrons can quickly access VAMC subscribed electronic journals.

3. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

12-month base period plus four (4) option years.

4. ACCESS, CONTENT, AND SUPPORT

The contractor shall assure:

a. The system is 508 compliant (http://www.section508.gov/). If the system is not 508 compliant, the contractor shall describe measures being taken to bring the system into compliance and date, within 12 months of contract award, that the system will be 508 compliant. Or, if the system is not 508 compliant, the contractor shall describe why no work is being done to make it 508 compliant.

b. The system is accessible via a variety of personal mobile devices including Apple and Android devices.

c. System downtime is minimal, and the VA project manager is notified when such occurs.

d. All site content and support of the system is the responsibility of the contractor.

f. Onsite and Remote instruction with training materials is available and designed to integrate solutions with maximum efficiency and effectiveness into the VA environment.

g. 152 Individually personalized User Portals available.

Third Iron Complete Third Iron Complete is a unique suite of products that simplifies researcher workflow by expediting access to content. The combination of features and functionality offered include:

BrowZine BrowZine visually presents the library’s e-journal collection in a browsable, readable format. Users can review journals by full volume and issue. Personalization features My Bookshelf and My Articles maximize productivity by allowing users to create “reading rooms” of favorite titles and receive notification of newly published articles (including articles in press) and save favorite articles for reading and referencing in the future. The library benefits from automatic updating of library holdings information in conjunction with commercial vendors such as Serials Solutions access via IP Address Range and commercial remote authentication vendors such as EZProxy and Liblynx.

LibKey Discovery LibKey Discovery enriches the library’s discovery environment by integrating key elements of Third Iron technology into standard library infrastructure, such as commercial and open source discovery products (Primo, Summon, EDS, TDNet), to provide multiple pathways to content and create workflow efficiencies. For example, one-click to millions of subscribed and open-access articles, cover art from over 25,000 journals, and direct links from article records back to the full journal issues.

LibKey Link LibKey Link enriches PubMed by integrating Third Iron technology to provide save user’s time. In one-click, users can access millions of subscribed and open-access articles from PubMed and seamlessly connect to content provided by their library.

LibKey Nomad LibKey Nomad is a browser extension from Chrome that connects users from citations found at websites, such as Google Scholar and publisher sites, to content from their library. In one-click, users can access millions of subscribed and open-access articles and seamlessly connect to the library’s document fulfillment such as ILL.

libkey.io libkey.io is a reference website where users can resolve DOI and PubMed IDs through library resources. If the article is available through library resources, libkey.io will deliver it in one-click. If the article is unavailable, libkey.io will link the request through the library’s document fulfillment, such as ILL.

Third Iron has a team of librarians who are knowledgeable about all aspects of the library systems and technology necessary to manage a library and its products, which means they can provide quality technical support and make tailored integration suggestions.

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