HU000125Q0002 Amendment 1 Questions and Answers.pdf

HU000125Q0002 Questions and Answers

1. Can you provide the number of Full Time Employees for the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS)?

Answer: ~2,000.

2. Is there interest in adding AccessDermatologyDxRx or First Aid Forward? Should Case Files Collection be included with the price bid?

Answer: The Attachment 1 Journal Subscription list attached is inclusive of all titles for this requirement. No additional titles should be included in the quote.

3. Due to the challenge we are experiencing with the publishers sending us the renewal prices we need to submit our bid, can the bid due date be extended to 12/6/24?

Answer: The due date for this solicitation is updated to 10 December 2024.

4. Will there be any content that would need to go along with the titles or is it just the titles?

Answer: This requirement is for all inclusive access to the required journal subscriptions.

5. The solicitation mentions that the online journal subscriptions must be accessible to all registered USU patrons. Could you please provide an estimate of the total number of users who will need access (e.g., students, faculty, and researchers)? Additionally, can you confirm if the existing EZ Proxy server setup at USUHS is already configured to support the remote access requirements specified, or if there are any specific configurations we need to be aware of when quoting?

Answer: ~5K. Yes, the USU EZ Proxy server is configured to support remote access requirements. We are unaware of any specific configurations the offeror would need to be aware

of. These are almost all renewals.

6. To ensure we fully understand the scope of work and the technical specifications for the journal subscription system project, we have outlined key questions below. These will help us align our proposed solutions with your expectations and meet all necessary requirements.

i. Can you provide detailed descriptions or use cases for how users will access and interact with the journal subscription system?

Answer: This requirement is for access to online journal subscriptions, not a journal subscription system. Journals will be accessed through the LRC’s integrated library system.

ii. Are there any specific access controls or authentication mechanisms required for managing user permissions?

Answer: Yes, all LRC users are required to access the library’s subscriptions through a single sign on (SSO) authentication.

iii. What is the anticipated user load or number of concurrent users expected to access the system at peak times?

Answer: The LRC does not have this data.

iv. What are the security protocols required for remote access via the EZ Proxy server, and what compliance standards need to be met (e.g., ASA guidelines)?

Answer: Single Sign on required; CAS.

v. Is there a requirement for integrating existing systems at USU (e.g., user databases or internal content management systems) with the journal subscription platform?

Answer: See 4(i).

vi. What specific formats or content delivery mechanisms (e.g., APIs, SSO integration) are needed to deliver the journal subscriptions?

Answer: EZProxy.

vii. Are there any requirements for content caching or offline access for users?

Answer: No.

viii. What are the expected performance metrics, including latency and response time for the journal access service?

Answer: Continuous access to the required journals is expected throughout the period of performance of the contract.

ix. Are there any data storage or data retention policies that must be adhered to for user activity or subscription records?

Answer: User data must be physically stored in the USA. Any PII must be encrypted at least.

x. What level of scalability is required for the system, and is there a preference for a cloud-based or on-premise solution?

Answer: This requirement is for access to online journal subscriptions, not a system.

xi. What kind of ongoing technical support and maintenance will be required post-deployment?

xii. Will the system need periodic updates or versioning for journal content, and how should those updates be managed?

xiii. Are there specific key performance indicators (KPIs) or service level agreements (SLAs) that the solution must meet during the contract period?

xiv. What criteria will be used to evaluate the technical effectiveness of the proposed solution during acceptance testing?

xv. Are there any compatibility requirements with specific browsers, devices, or assistive technologies (e.g., screen readers for accessibility)?

Answer: Adobe, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge.

xvi. Is there any certification or pre-qualification needed for compliance with federal IT acquisition standards or other regulatory bodies?

Answer: Accessing the required online journal subscriptions complies with IT requirements.