JA_Redacted.pdf

Single Source Justification (Simplified Acquisition)

SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE

March 2018 SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE Page 1 of 2

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 Comics & Graphic Novels

Purchase Request/Identification Number:

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 Recorded Books Digital (RBdigital) Comics and Graphic Novels 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 Comics 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 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.

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

Comics and Graphic Novels from rbdigital is a unique resource and database for the DoD Library Program. It supplies access to comics and graphic novels to cover a broad range of publishers and imprints that allows the DoD Libraries to complete their program mission as outlined in DoDI 1015.10, Section III.

Comics and Graphic Novels has a collection of 16,000 major brand comics and graphic novels from over 93 publishers including Disney and Marvel®. The collection is searchable by title or series. The service provides checkout of comics as a volume or a single issue for 30 days that can be accessed through the company app or any online device. The

Single Source Justification (Simplified Acquisition)

SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE

March 2018 SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE Page 2 of 2 database must has a customizable patron interface which allows library branding.

RBdigital is the exclusive provider of Comics 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.

Section D: Efforts to Obtain Competition

Market research confirms that RBdigital Comics and Graphic Novels is the only known source that can satisfy the Government's requirements and is intended to to support the DoD Library Program quality of life efforts. AFSVC/SVPL keeps 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 survied the market for vendors to obtain competition in databases. The library used publishers' advertisements, professional conferences, vendor demonstrations, customer suggestions and new publication reviews in conducting its surveys.

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.

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

17-Jul-2019

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