JA_MFR-r.docx

Memo For Record Subject: Knovel software subscription for Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Funding No: N4523A15MP00247

The following paragraphs, in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13.106(b)(1)(i), are provided to support the limited source justification for proposed orders exceeding the micro-purchase threshold but not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold.

United States Navy’s Puget Sound Naval Shipyard is requesting the procurement of Knovel software subscription which is used to support Puget Sound Naval Shipyard’s system. The base period of performance is date of award through one year with an estimated start date of July 6, 2015 with two option years. This software support was previously procured under contract N001089-14-T-Q035, which expired in Fiscal Year 2014 but was not renewed. Fiscal Year 2015 operations and maintenance funding is provided for the procurement under number N4523A15MP00247. NAICS 511210, Software Publishers, with sales size standard of $38.5 million will apply to this acquisition.

Knovel is a web based application integrating technical information with analytical and search tools that provides electronic access to thousands of engineering and technical references from more than 90 publishers and societies. Many of these publications are updated on a frequent basis and Knovel will automatically include the new editions into their product. Knovel is the only company that has obtained copyright permissions from participating publishers and societies to combine the publications into one database. The search engine and analytical tools are unique to Knovel.

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard formerly contracted with Knovel. When the Navy General Library offered Knovel via Navy Knowledge Online, PSNS discontinued their contract. In August 2010, the Naval General Library discontinued access to Knovel, leaving their employees in a lurch to obtain needed technical information. Puget’s requirement is to obtain a technical subscription that provides all the needed engineering and technical references from one source.

Many of these publications are available for individual purchase, however purchasing hard copies individually and maintaining the current editions requires enormous amounts of time, storage, money and limits use to just one person at a time. For the ones available electronically, it would be extremely complicated for the end users to know where to look for the resources they need within separate databases. Knovel’s subscription is the only source that can provide the resources Puget Sound requires to obtain this information located in one subscription. Award to any other source would result in substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition and unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements.

Market research has confirmed there are no other products currently on the market that will meet the government’s requirements. The Knovel subscription is proprietary and is only available through Elsevier B.V., the original equipment manufacturer of Knovel software. Market research has revealed the products are available through Elsevier B.V. on the open market. As such, this requirement will be posted as a sole source requirement to Knovel via Fed Biz Opps (FBO).

Based on the justification provided by DISA, a determination has been made to solicit the above brand name requirement through FBO as a sole source procurement to the only available source, Elsevier B.V.

Prepared by:

Jenna Frey Contract Specialist

Concur

Betty A. Burris Contracting Officer