Sources_Sought.pdf

Sources Sought Synopsis

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 FY19 base effort with two (2) option years. The period of performance for this subscription is 1 January 2019 – 31

December 2019. Responses to this sources sought notice will assist a determination of whether it is in the best interest of the Government to conduct a sole-source acquisition or to proceed with a competition.

FSC: 7630

NAICS: 519130

Size Standard: 1000 employees

Subscription name: American Institute of Physics (AIP) Scitation

Supplier name: American Institute of Physics (AIP) Incorporated

Product description: The Scitation database is home to news, comment, analysis and research in the Physical Sciences. Scitation includes content from AIP Publishing, Acoustical Society of

America (ASA), American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), American Crystallographic

Association (ACA), Science & Technology of Materials, Interfaces and Processing (AVS), The

Laser Institute of America (LIA) and The Society of Rheology (Rheology). AIP Publishing contains research journals, conference proceedings and essential information for physical scientists. The ASA generates, disseminates, and promotes the knowledge and practical applications of acoustics. The AAPT enhances the understanding and appreciation of physics through teaching. The ACA promotes interactions among scientists who study the structure of matter at atomic (or near atomic) resolution. The AVS supports networking among academic, industrial, government, and consulting professionals involved in a variety of disciplines. The

LIA contains information regarding laser applications and safety. The Rheology contains information about the study of those properties of materials which determine their response to mechanical force.

Product characteristics an equal item must meet to be considered:

Full-text online access (where applicable) to journal articles in optics and physics, in either downloadable PDF or HTML format (PDF is preferred).

Must be able to provide journals similar in scope to those listed in the product description.

All graphical figures and citations of the original full-text article must be available within the digital document (object) that stands for that article.

Search interface that includes numerous primary categories and ability to perform keyword and other specialized topical queries for effective searches.

Individual account creation for saved searches and alerts.

IP authentication (institutional multi-user, single campus subscription).

Librarian-accessible COUNTER-compliant usage data for searches and downloads.

The Government will consider responses received within 20 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 DUNS Number.

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

3. In your response, you must address how your product meets the product characteristics specified above.

4. Submitted information shall be UNCLASSIFIED.

5. Responses are limited to of 10 pages in a Microsoft Word compatible format.

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 Lila Ivanovska at lila.ivanovska@us.af.mil and Joelynn Laux at joelynn.laux@us.af.mil no later than 26 October 2018, 2:00 PM EST. Any questions should be directed to Lila Ivanovska through email.

All responses should be received no later than 26 October 2018, 2018, 2:00 PM (Eastern).