Database Subscriptions Questions and Answers 3.docx

Question Set 3 ILSOS Illinois State Library Database Subscriptions

24-350SOS-LIBRA-B-41700

1. Are you currently using EZproxy and/or OpenAthens?

Although not uniform, libraries in Illinois do use EZproxy and/or OpenAthens. The State Library, itself, can utilize both.

1. Can you please provide a list of the referenced 177 special libraries?

See the attached Excel document. There are 6 fewer special libraries that are active as of this date.

1. Can you please provide a list of the referenced 145 academic agencies?

See the attached Excel document.

1. Regarding the Pricing requirements—we understand that a la carte pricing should be provided for each Digital Content Area. Can you please confirm, in the case of multiple databases offered in one Digital Content area—we can present a single, bundled price, correct (and no need to provide itemized pricing for each individual database)?

Vendors must submit a la carte pricing broken down by content area as outlined in the RFP. If it takes multiple databases to cover the entire content area, that price should be combined to one a la carte price for the content area.

1. Can you please clarify the points system for the vendor presentation and how this will be factored into the evaluation / overall scoring (if at all)?

There is no vendor presentation for this RFP. References to vendor presentations in Section B should be stricken.

1. Regarding the Exceptions to Solicitation and Contract Terms and Conditions—can we present exceptions to any portion of the solicitation document? Or can you confirm the sections for which exceptions are allowed? Are exceptions to any particular section disqualifying?

Within Section D of the solicitation document, D.2.8 through D.2.11 and D.4 are required and exceptions will not be given.

Exceptions to Section F, H, and I will be reviewed and negotiated after contract award.

1. Will the State agree to review and negotiate accepting the terms of our license agreements? Our ability to accept the solicitation terms may be contingent upon our license terms being included in the overall agreement. We would like to include these for review with our submission, as an additional attachment.

The license agreement should be submitted with the Exception to Solicitation and Contract Terms and Conditions referenced in the question above.

1. Regarding the Attachments Checklist—should Attachment 1 (Specifications/Qualifications/Statement of Work) take the form of an in-line response to Section D of the solicitation document?

Section D is divided into multiple sections starting with a brief summary in Section D.1. Section D.2 includes the requirements to meet the needs of ILSOS. Section D.3 requests a detailed proposal with associated timeline for review of mandatories and the evaluation of desirables. Section D.4 lists the mandatory requirements for the company and/or proposed personnel for the project. Section D.5 outlines how responses will be evaluated. Offerors may submit a response in the form of in-line response or in the desired format of their choice.

1. Regarding the Attachments Checklist—should Attachment 2 (Pricing) take the form of an in-line response to Section E of the solicitation document? And for this attachment, should we check the box "does the Attachment contain any pricing, cost or discount information?"

Offerors may submit a response in the form of in-line response or in the desired format of their choice. Yes, this box should be checked.

1. Regarding the Attachments Checklist—should Attachment 3 (Offer) take the form of a complete response to the solicitation document, with responses only required for red “click here to enter text” prompts?

For Attachment 3, the “offer” is the entire checklist printed and completed in Section C of the document. The responses to be reviewed and evaluated in regards to the overall RFP request should be contained in Attachment 1.

1. Regarding IPG registration—is this registration required for awarded vendors IPG registration is optional. Vendors can fill out the full Vendor