Chiltons and Nat Geo Sources Sought.pdf

This is a Sources Sought Synopsis published by the United States Air Force (the Government or USAF). There is no solicitation available at this time. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. The purpose of this sources sought notice is to conduct market research to determine whether there are businesses available capable of providing an alternative product that meets the characteristics below. The Air Force anticipates procuring this product as a FY26 base effort with a projected period of performance of 15 June 2026 – 14 June 2027. This effort will have two – one year option periods: Option year 1 – 15 June 2027 – 14 June 2028, and Option year 2 – 15 June 2028 – 14 June 2029.

Responses to this sources sought notice will assist in a determination of whether it is in the best interest of the Government to proceed with a competition.

FSC: 7630

NAICS: 519290

Size Standard: 1000 Employees

Subscription name: DoWL Chilton and National Geographic

1. Description: The Department of War (DoW) Library Program requires DoWL needs Chilton’s Auto Repair Manuals and National Geographic (Magazine, Kids, People, Animal, World and various media formats) package subscription.

Chilton’s Auto Repair manuals database provides information on repairing over 2,600 latest to vintage vehicle makes and models with comprehensive automotive expertise. The car repair database must be directed toward DIY repair. Information must include information in full text, diagrams, specification tables, troubleshooting guides, photos, illustrations, multimedia (videos and animation), and ASE test prep.

National Geographic Kids, National Geographic People, Animals, World, & National Geographic issues/content that is from Current date to back issues from 1888. Content including full-text books, magazines, videos, maps and National Geographic images.

National Geographic Kids includes the complete run of the magazine from the first issue in 2009 to the present and provides authoritative, age-appropriate digital content suitable for younger students in subjects like English Language Arts, social studies, and science.

2. Product characteristics or an equal item must meet to be considered:

1. Must Provide Chilton’s Auto manuals and National Geographic (Magazine, Kids, People, Animal, World).

2. Must provide National Geographic: People, Animals, and the World unlimited access to digital content that attracts, engages and informs students, educators, researchers and general readers including full-text books, magazines, videos, maps and National Geographic images.

3. Must provide National Geographic produced content of videos, images, maps, books and magazines from 1888 to present

4. Must provide National Geographic Kids includes the complete run of the magazine from the first issue in 2009 to the present and provides authoritative, age-appropriate digital content suitable for younger students in subjects like English Language Arts, social studies, and science.

5. Must provide Chilton’s Autor repair manuals database provides information on repairing over 2,600 latest to vintage vehicle make and models with comprehensive automotive expertise.

6. The car repair database must be directed toward DIY repair. Information must include information in full text, diagrams, specification tables, troubleshooting guides, photos, illustrations, multimedia (videos and animation), and ASE test prep.

7. Must include backfiles and unlimited simultaneous access to content by users.

8. Needs to have notes and highlight features to articles/topics that can be downloaded or printed by customer for later usage and work seamlessly with Google and Microsoft customer personal accounts for saving information for later usage.

9. Needs to have a mobile application that allows users to save articles, citations, and links

10. Must provide free staff training and complimentary marketing services.

11. Must be able to provide statistics for each branch of service and other categories.

12. Must work with contract POC to establish authentication methods to provide optimal accessibility for all eligible patrons.

13. Must work with the current contracted platform EBSCO Stacks for customer accessibility.

14. Security between the Website and server must be Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.3

15. Must be able to supply or allow retrieval of database usage statistics by Branch of

Service (Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Military OneSource/Other, and Navy)

16. Must have HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) with long duration deployed on the servers to mitigate/prevent man-in-the-middle attacks

17. Website certificates should be RSA 2048-bits (SHA256withRSA)

18. VCL must be able to test the platform to evaluate if it meets requirements. Must provide username and password to view content on platform.

The Government will consider responses received within 4 days of issuance of this notice.

Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct a full and open competitive procurement or a small business set aside competitive procurement. The Government will not pay for any information received in response to this announcement. If the Government competes this requirement, a synopsis shall be issued utilizing the combined synopsis/solicitation procedure identified in FAR 12.603. If this effort becomes a Small Business Set-Aside, FAR 52.219-14, Limitation on Subcontracting, will apply. Therefore, small businesses that want to be considered for a small business set-aside should demonstrate how they intend to comply. A determination not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is an administrative decision by the Government that is solely within its discretion.

Contractors should be aware of the following information:

1. Contractors must include the following information:

a. Points of contact, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers.

b. Identification as a large U.S. business, a small U.S. business, or a foreign business. Please note that size indicated should be based on the NAICS code for this effort listed above.

c. Identification of any other socioeconomic status including: Women-Owned Small Business, Economically Disadvantaged Small Business, 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, Veteran Owned Small Business or HUBZone.

d. Company CAGE Code or UEI.

e. Capabilities Statement

2. This requirement is not intended for specific brand name products. Offerors are encouraged to suggest products other than those that may be specifically referenced by brand name. Responses must address how alternate product meet the product characteristics specified above.

3. Submitted information shall be UNCLASSIFIED.

Any information submitted by respondents to this sources sought synopsis is strictly voluntary. The Government will not reimburse the respondents for any costs associated with their response. This synopsis does not constitute a Request for Proposals nor does its issuance restrict the Government as to its ultimate acquisition approach. The Government reserves the right to contact the submitting parties, on an as required basis, for further clarification on material provided.

Respondents should not construe this notice as a commitment by the Air Force for any purpose.

Responses should be emailed to Contracting Specialist: SSgt Christian Etner, christian.etner@us.af.mil and Contracting Officer: Gustavo Guadron, Gustavo.Guadron@us.af.mil no later than 12 May 2026, 4:00 PM CDT. Any questions should be directed to Gustavo Guadron through email.