JA_rbdigital_-_Stingray_Qello_sep_19_redacted.pdf

Single Source Justification (Simplified Acquisition)

SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE

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Section A: General Contract Information

Is this a Bridge Action as defined in the AF Bridge Action Reduction Plan? Yes No

Contracting Activity: AFLCMC/PZIEC

Project/Program Name: rbdigital Stingray Qello

Purchase Request/Identification Number: / FA8604-19-P-5065

Estimated Contract Cost (including Options):

Section B: Description of the Supplies/Services Required

Due to circumstances described herein, the activity requests authority to purchase electronic access to (rbdigital) Stingray Qello using Other Than Full and Open Competition as prescribed by FAR 13.106-1(b)

(soliciting from a single source), and 13.501(a)(Sole source acquisitions). This individual action will result in the award of a new Firm Fixed Price Contract. This sole source requirement will be acquired from the following organization:

The mission of DoD MWR Libraries is outlined in DoDI 1015.10 stating DoD Libraries will provide information resources and services required to accomplish the mission. The libraries support military personnel assigned to contingency operations, remote sites, and military missions IAW DoDI 1015.10, Military Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Programs.

The program provides professional military and voluntary education programs materials and services. Libraries also provide facilities, resources, and services to enhance the quality of life, regeneration, and resiliency for authorized customers. The DoD Library Consortium exists to create partnerships among the libraries within the various services of the DoD. They cooperatively acquire materials that are made available to military and civilian employees across the DoD. These resources relate to various overarching goals of the DoD such as recreation, physical wellness, emotional resiliency, and educational pursuits.

To meet these needs, the DoD libraries must procure resources that can be accessed globally, including in areas with low or no internet access, and provide the below stated requirements. These resources need to include access to education resources. This database is a vital leisure tool for DoD personnel. rbdigital is important to service personnel and library staff for having the ability to provide instantly accessible digital information in multiple platforms that can be streamed or downloading with no waiting. This subscription must be firm-fixed pricing so there is no increase when new titles are accessed. It should also not limit the number of titles or electronic checkouts per title. This database collection provides information that supports education and enhances quality of life for DoD personnel.

The DoD Libraries also require a resource that provides research for personnel development that meet the quality of life, regeneration, and resiliency as stipulated by DoDI 1015.10. To meet those needs, the DoD Libraries require a resource that provides diversified educational training. To meet their mission, the libraries must procure a supply that provides unlimited on-demand access to concert films, music documentaries, and music TV episodes. The libraries require access to Stingray Qello through iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV), Android devices (mobile phones, tablets, and Google TV), Sony TV, Playstation*, Windows 7 & 8 mobile devices, Amazon (Fire TV, Kindle Fire TV), Roku, and computers. The resource must be able to create video playlists (setlists) and it requires music and music information should be through full-length concerts and music documentaries which are added every week. Music should be from the 1920s to today with genres from classic to rock and reggae to country. Also the libraries require a recommendation feature to assist in selection of music and to create video playlists. Also, public performance rights must be included. The product has to interface with Air Force Portal, Army Knowledge Online (AKO), Marine Corps, Military OneSource, and Navy Digital Library (NDL) and provide password embedded URL's for access through Library OPACS. The only known source that can meet the mission requirements of the DoD libraries is rbDigital's Quello.

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Section C: Justification for Soliciting from a Single Source or Brand Name

Stingray Qello from rbdigital is a unique resource / database for the DoD Library Program. It supplies unlimited on-demand exclusive access to concert films from iconic and new artists from a wide variety of genres, music documentaries, episodes of MTV Unplugged, VH1's Classic Albums, Guitar Center Sessions, and Front Row Center, plus personal (video playlists) set-lists. This resources provides exclusive access to over 1500 live full-length concerts through the decades to today and offers music selections from the 1920s to current/popular artists/music from over 30 genres. Qello's Recommendation Engine is designed to show customers other selections to create their own playlist and personalize their music for download/view on their digital devices. Offer includes unlimited performance rights to the films. Offers thousands of the greatest artists' best performances at customer fingertips letting them discover incredible performances and reliving their favorite artists. The highest-quality music experience is for them to enjoy whenever they want, from their couch or on the go. Offers The Soundboard Blog by Legendary rock journalist from Rolling Stone magazine, Ben Fong-Torres, a senior editor. All of this enables DoD Libraries to complete their program mission as outlined in DoDI 1015.10, Section B. RBDigital is the exclusive provider of Stingray Qello so this database content cannot be obtained anywhere else. This is a "must order direct" company. RBDigital is the only known source capable of providing the item described above for the Department of Defense to accomplish the libraries' mission. There is no other known source in the market capable of providing these resources to the Department of Defense.

Section D: Efforts to Obtain Competition

In accordance with FAR Part 10, market research was conducted by synopsis of the proposed acquisition, advising industry of the pending acquisition and soliciting inquiries from interested parties. Moreover, the AFSVA/SVPL surveyed the market in order to determine if competition was obtainable. The library reviewed advertisements, new publications, and available conferences to ensure the course of action for a sole source acquisition was the most appropriate moving forward. Library staff reviewed relevant professional journals and publications to acquire information on the capabilities of the resources on the market. The products of other service providers were also compared and reviewed at library technology conferences. The libraries are in contact with other agency librarians to confirm the competitive environment for this supply, and seek out additional solutions for this requirement. Market research confirms that RBDigital is the only known source that can satisfy the Government's requirements and is intended to to support the DoD Library Programs quality of life and educational efforts.

An intent to award on a sole source basis notice was posted on Federal Business Opportunity Net and no qualified responses that could meet the requirement were received. The proposed sole source is the only known source able to satisfy the Government's requirements.

Section E: Steps to Preclude Future Single Source or Brand Name Awards

AFSVC/SVPL will keep an open dialog with the users/patrons and evaluate statistics to determine the necessity to use this resource to supplement its collection of research databases. AFSVC/SVPL will continue to survey the market for vendors to obtain competition in databases. The library uses publishers' advertisements, professional conferences, vendor demonstrations, customer suggestions and new publication reviews in conducting its surveys.

AFSVC/SVPL will attempt to obtain competition whenever possible by use of professional journals and trade exhibits. The AFSVC/SVPL personnel will continue to keep up-to-date and review new research databases to determine if another source will meet the needs of the students, faculty, and staff. We will also keep an open dialog with our patrons and usage statistics to determine the necessity for future purposes.

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Section F: Contracting Officer's Determination

I have determined, in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), that the circumstances of this contract action deem only a single source is reasonably available.

Date

12-Sep-2019

Typed Name and Rank/Grade of Contracting Officer Signature of Contracting Officer