Attachment J.4 - ER Solicitation Clarification Questions and Answers.xlsx

Sheet1

I’m unable to determine what electronic resources/services are being requested. The description states “Lot 1” etc. However, I didn’t find a description. The description of FEDLINK can be found in the Statement of Work (SOW) in Section C.1. BACKGROUND on page 7. (Information about FEDLINK can also be found on our website: www.loc.gov/flicc.) The basic explanation of the Lots can be found Section C.2. SCOPE, also on page 7. The full description of the Lots falls under Section C.3. REQUIREMENTS: Section C.3.1. - LOT I - ELECTRONIC DATABASES/PUBLICATIONS (pages 8 - 10); Section C.3.2. - LOT 2 - DOCUMENT DELIVERY SERVICES (page 11); Section C.3.3. - LOT 3 - ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS (page 12); and Section C.3.4. - LOT 4 - SPECIALIZED ACCESS/PRODUCT INTEGRATION (page 12)

A. How do Agencies determine if the publications they need are available through FedLink vendors? We work with a lot of independent publishers that are popular with our clients, but do not appear to be vendors. If a contracting officer is looking for a specific journal like the New England Journal of Medicine, then how would they determine whom, if anyone, it was available through? B. Is there a way for us to see what publications are currently available through FEDLINK? C. Can we see existing publishers/publications and other product availability? D. How do agency clients find/see what products are available? A list of the current IDIQ contracts is posted in the Vendor Services Directory on the FEDLINK webpage: https://www.loc.gov/flicc/contracts/vendorservicedirectory.html. Customers use this list to contact vendors to determine if their requirements can be met by specific vendors.

We are an SDVOSB & HUBZone company. How do we note this in our RFQ submission. FEDLINK is happy to consider all offers: there is no set-aside or preference established in the solicitation.

If a FEDLink customer needs their purchase to be channeled through a Small Business or Disadvantaged Business category, how is this done in the FEDLink system? Once FEDLINK electronic resources IDIQ contracts are awarded, customers may simply select which items they wish to purchase. No set-aside or preference is used.

When a Contract is awarded through FEDLink, is our company name listed as the company receiving the award? Yes.

When a Contract is awarded through FEDLink, is the End User government agency listed on the contract as our customer, or is FEDLink listed as the customer? FEDLINK is the end-user for purposes of the IDIQ contract.

Are we required to offer sales-volume discounts when total spending through the FEDLINK contracts exceeds the dollar-value thresholds shown in RFQ? Please see Pricing and Volume Discounts on pages 6 and 7 of the solicitation for more information.

Are we able to list SaaS systems used by Libraries and Educational institutions such as Ovid Synthesis, even if they are not in support of Lot 1 or 2? All items incorporated into the contract must directly relate to the specified Lots.

Can we add Items after the initial award? Yes. Items can be added to the IDIQ contract at any stage via request. After the request submission, FEDLINK will review to make an in-scope determination as well as complete a price reasonablness for the new items and if found within scope and price is fair, FEDLINK will add the new items via a contract modification to the IDIQ contract.

Do you have a sample response or response template? No. Please follow the submission instructions provided in Section L of the solicitation.

What supporting documentation do you require from our publishers/partners? Please review the submission instructions provided in Section L of the solicitation

What is the definition of resources vs. Serials? Find information on the Electronic Sesources and Serials on the FEDLINK website: https://www.loc.gov/flicc/contracts/index_contracts.html

For the Pricing Pages, do we have to use Pricing Schedule template or is our own spreadsheet containing the same details acceptable? Please use the pricing schedule attachment provided for your submission.

Block 12 on the solicitation, I believe is not applicable. We did not add info in our original form 5 years ago but want to confirm that it is ok to leave this field blank. You may leave Block 12 blank.

Blocks 23 and 24 as well as Section B will be shown on our pricing spreadsheet. Confirming it is ok to leave these blank on the solicitation form. Yes, you may leave those Blocks 23 & 24 blank.

If, upon completion of the solicitation, we are selected to move forward, will a new contract be negotiated and signed if an existing contract has not yet ended? Or would the existing contract be extended? If awarded a new contract, it will replace the current contract and a new contract number will be provided for the new contract award.