Elsevier SSJ_Redacted.pdf

PROCUREMENT SENSITIVE INFORMATION – FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Justification and Approval for Other than Full and Open Competition under FAR Part 13

In accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b), Contracting Officers may solicit from one source if the Contracting Officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available.

Per FAR 13.106-1(b)(2), this requirement is for supplies and services and exceeds the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) but is not greater than $7.5 million and the Contracting Officer reasonably expects, based on the nature of the supplies or services sought and on market research, that offers will only include commercial items.

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity:

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), Acquisitions Directorate

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved:

Issuance of a sole source award. This will be a firm fixed price follow-on contract with a base and one option year.

3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including estimated value):

USU’s Learning Resource Center (LRC) Department has a requirement for an Elsevier Subscription for access to medical journals and articles to include ScienceDirect Complete Freedom Collection, Cell Press Collection, Clinics Collection and Embase - Elsevier Limited.

The estimated value for this requirement, inclusive of options, is

The anticipated period of performance is 1 January 2025 - 31 December 2025, with an option to extend performance of 1 January 2026 - 31 December 2026.

4. Demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique certifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited:

USU’s Learning Resource Center requires the Elsevier Subscription as a continued resource for patient care, research, and continuing education. Medical journals consist of a unique set of articles published and copyrighted by a sole publisher; in order to access these resources, a subscription must be obtained. Elsevier is the sole publisher and copyright holder of the Elsevier Subscription resources required by LRC, meaning no other publishing company would hold the rights to provide the same electronic journals. The LRC has been utilizing the Elsevier Subscription since 2018, and must continue to purchase the subscription in order to maintain consistency with research and continuing education.

5. Procedures of FAR 13.5 were or will be used in accordance with 41 USC 1901 or the authority of 41 USC 1903 (including publicizing required justifications): X Yes No

If the notice to the Governmentwide Point of Entry (GPE) will not be publicized, indicate which exception applies: