JOFOC_-Springer_Nature_FBO_Posting.pdf

ORO F 542.25

(Rev. 08/18)

U.S. Department of Energy Integrated Support Center - Oak Ridge

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

FAR PART 6

I. IDENTIFICATION OF AGENCY AND CONTRACTING ACTIVITY

Requirement Originating Organization: The Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Identification Number (Purchase Request/Solicitation Number): TBD

Contracting Officer: Talia Burchfield Phone: 865-574-8007

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI) plans to contract by means other than full and open competition. This Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC) establishes the justification and approval for the use of one of the exceptions to full and open competition allowed by 41 U.S.C. 3304 as promulgated by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 6.302.

II. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING APPROVED

The proposed action is for access to 25 online journals published by Springer Nature.

• Nature US Edition

• Nature Biotechnology

• Nature Cell Biology

• Nature Chemical Biology

• Nature Chemistry

• Nature Climate Change

• Nature Energy

• Nature Genetics

• Nature Geoscience

• Nature Materials

• Nature Medicine

• Nature Methods

• Nature Photonics

• Nature Physics

• Nature Protocols

• Nature Structural & Molecular Biology

• Nature Reviews Cancer

• Nature Reviews Genetics

• Nature Reviews Immunology

• Nature Reviews Microbiology

• Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology

• The ISME Journal

• Nature Nanotechnology

• Scientific American

• Nature.com Complete

III. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET THE AGENCY’S NEEDS

OSTI requires online access to the Springer Nature periodicals in Section II above. Access is restricted to the Office of Science via a direct link provided to OSTI. Access is only provided to the Office of Science Program Offices, Laboratories and partners and is not publicly accessible.

The anticipated subscription period is January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019. The estimated cost is $97,692.26. The applicable NAICS Code: 519130, Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals, with a size standard of 1,000 employees.

IV. STATUTORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1 Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements, which authorizes other than full and open competition when supplies or services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source, and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

V. DEMONSTRATION THAT THE PROPOSED CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS OR THE NATURE OF THE

ACQUISITION REQUIRES USE OF THE AUTHORITY CITED

U.S. Department of Energy Integrated Support Center - Oak Ridge

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

These periodicals provide specialized research information for DOE scientists and researchers. The publications provided by Springer Nature are copyrighted and proprietary. The journals include published articles that contain work performed by DOE. This allows program managers to see what research has been performed so there is no duplication in research efforts. Only Springer Nature can deliver immediate electronic access to the most recent and previous issues of the periodicals. No other sources are authorized to provide online access as required.

There are no other known sources with equivalent capabilities.

VI. DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS MADE TO ENSURE THAT OFFERS ARE SOLICITED FROM AS MANY POTENTIAL SOURCES AS IS PRACTICABLE, INCLUDING WHETHER A NOTICE WAS OR WILL BE PUBLICIZED AS REQUIRED BY FAR

SUBPART 5.2 AND, IF NOT, WHICH EXCEPTION UNDER FAR 5.202 APPLIES

Market research was conducted in accordance with FAR Part 10 and included Internet searches for publishers that could provide the required periodicals. No other vendor was located that could meet the requirement. Therefore, there is no anticipated area of competition. A notice of intent to issue a sole-source award will be posted on FedBizOpps.

VII. DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE ANTICIPATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE

FAIR AND REASONABLE

The total estimated contract cost is $97,692.26. The price for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based on historical pricing and reliance on subject matter expertise. Certified cost or pricing data will not be required per FAR 15.403-1 (b) (3).

VIII. DESCRIPTION OF THE MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED AND THE RESULTS

Market research was conducted in accordance with FAR Part 10 and included Internet searches for contractors that could provide the required software application.

IX. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION SUCH AS:

a. Explanation of why technical data packages, specifications, engineering descriptions, statements of work, or purchase descriptions suitable for full and open competition have not been developed or are not available:

See Section V above.

b. When FAR 6.302-1 is cited for follow-on acquisitions as described in 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii), an estimate of the cost to the Government that would be duplicated and how the estimate was derived:

N/A

c. When FAR 6.302-2 is cited, data, estimated cost, or other rationale as to the extent and nature of the harm to the Government:

N/A

X. A LISTING OF THE SOURCES, IF ANY, THAT EXPRESSED, IN WRITING, AN INTEREST IN THE ACQUISITION

See Section VIII above.

U.S. Department of Energy Integrated Support Center - Oak Ridge

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

XI. STATEMENT OF THE ACTIONS, IF ANY, THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS TO COMPETITION BEFORE ANY SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITION FOR THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED:

OSTI will continue to conduct market research prior to awarding any follow-on actions to insure if any other publishers can be used to meet the agency requirement for access to the required journals.