MRR SpringShare_FY23 KO SIGNED.pdf

MARKET RESEARCH REPORT FOR SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITIONS

SpringShare software for USAHEC

14 February 2023

Contracting Organization: MICC-Carlisle Barracks

Customer: United States Army Heritage and Education Center

Product Service Code: 7630 Newspapers & Periodicals

NAICS Code: 513210 Software publishers

Above NAICS Code was identified through a review of the U.S. Census Bureau’s website at http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/sssd/naics/naicsrch. The size standard is $47,000,000.

Portfolio: Knowledge Based Services

Estimated Value: The estimated value of this effort is $55,075 including all options and extensions in accordance with FAR 52.217-8.

Period of Performance: The period of performance including all options is:

Base Year: June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024

Option Year 1: June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025

Option Year 2: June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026

Option Year 3: June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027

Option Year 4: June 1, 2027 to April 30, 2028

Market Research Objectives:

- Refine the requirement in industry terms

- Increase competition

- Understanding of cost

- Increase small business participation

- Develop effective contract structure

Dates of market research: February 2023

1. Service Description

The USAHEC requires a cloud-based library software program and content management system to create/publish online curated resource guides and tutorials, coordinate patrons’ research consultation appointments with staff, organize/assign/respond to library inquiries from patrons regarding library services/materials/general information, create staff schedules, record/manage/disaggregate all manner of library statistics, generate reports (i.e.

usage) based on the required data specific to USAHEC's requirements for academic content to support USAWC curriculum and strategic leadership degree program.

2. Background

The previous ten years were purchased via credit card.

3. FAR Part 8/DFARS Part 208, Sources Screened

a. Use of other mandatory sources identified at FAR 8.003 for public utility services and leased motor vehicles does not apply.

b. FAR 8.002 Priorities for Use of Mandatory Sources. A search was conducted on the Ability One website for services which are on the Procurement List maintained by the Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (see Subpart 8.7).

_X_ Required service was not found on Ability One’s website.

___ Required service was found on Ability One’s website.

c. Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (FAR Subpart 8.6) website _X_ Required service was not found on Unicor’s website.

___ Required service was found on Unicor’s website.

d. Federal Supply Schedules, Government wide acquisition contracts, multi-agency contracts, and any other procurement instruments intended for use by multiple agencies, including blanket purchase agreements (BPAs) under Federal Supply Schedule contracts (e.g., Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative (FSSI) agreements accessible at http://www.gsa.gov/fssi Federal Service Schedules (see FAR Subpart 8.4).

_X__ Required services are not available through these sources.

__ Required services are available through these sources:

Enterprise Contracts Product or Service Code Description: 7630 Newspapers and Periodicals

GSA eLibrary 511120 Periodicals, Subscriptions, Online Book Selling and Lending Library Services

e. DFARS Subpart 208.74 Enterprise Software Agreements for commercial software and AFARS Subpart 5108.74 Enterprise Software Agreements _X_ Not applicable.

___ Required services are not available.

___ Required supplies are available and will be purchased using CHESS.

f. Preferred Sources list on Strategic Sourcing Initiatives site at https://spcs3.kc.army.mil/asaalt/zp/Strategic%20Sourcing/Initiatives.aspx was reviewed.

_X__ There is no preferred source for the services.

___ Preferred source is mandatory. The vehicle required for use is ___ Preferred source for the services was found on the website under ___ Preferred source for the services was found on the website but is not suitable to meet mission requirements.

4. Market Research Techniques Used.

Contacted knowledgeable people (Government and industry) in specific markets Obtained source lists of similar services from other contracting activities or agencies, trade associations or other sources (FEDLINK) Reviewed Federal Service Schedule contracts, and other Government contracts Reviewed SpringShare content management system’s product components offered in each vendor’s package to ensure all the required components are included:

(LibGuide CMS w/m Site Builder, LibAnswers, LibCal, LibInsight, LibStaffer, LibWizard) as well as the necessary number of user accounts

Compared cost for each vendor’s SpringShare package in addition to the cost to purchase from SpringShare LLC directly.

5. Market Analysis.

a. Environmental conditions: N/A

b. Commerciality assessment and terms and conditions:

Vendor must provide a cloud-based content management system that includes the ability for staff to create and publish curated interactive research guides and tutorials, create/manage staff scheduling and patron research appointments, respond to and organize patron inquires, maintain and disaggregate all matter of library data, generate reports, and create and manage forms/surveys/tutorials.

c. Performance requirements.

Provide patron point-of-service access to USAHEC’s online resources, curated instruction guides, and instruction services as well as provide USAHEC staff with data management tools. This cloud-based content management system’s software must include all the components necessary to manage instruction services, present curated resource guides, act as a patron point-of-access to the online library resources, and process patron inquiries and requests—all while maintaining/storing/disaggregating usage data to inform library resource allocation and decision-making.

These tasks fall into the following four critical areas:

- Provide point-of-service access for online resources

- Organize collection and resource information into specific areas of study—aligned with USAWC’s course offerings and outcomes

- Provide online interactive systems for patrons to make general inquiries, request materials, schedule research appointments, and request instruction assistance

- Provide data management for library instruction services, patron usage, staff and patron interactions, and patron inquiries. A major report functionality shall include the disaggregation of data on daily, monthly, and yearly interactions with patrons from a variety of service points and for a variety of purposes

d. Government’s leverage.

- Regular reports on patron interactions with resources and staff to inform library resource allocation and decision-making

e. Pricing Factors.

USAHEC desires lowest price technically acceptable (providing all required SpringShare components are included). This will be arrived at through cost estimates and competition between these four vendors: New Tech Solutions, Enterprise Tech Solutions, Strategic Communications, and SpringShare LLC (directly).

6. Potential Offerors Information.

New Tech Solutions Inc

POC: Rajesh Patel

Tel: 510-353-4070 ext. 307

Enterprise Tech Solutions

POC: Sanial Shak

(925) 400 6511

Strategic Communications

POC: Tina Michaels

502-813-8045

SpringShare LLC

POC: Dave Ware

617-939-7009

5. COMMERCIAL SUITABILITY

According to FAR Part 2.1, Commercial Item means –

(1) Any item, other than real property, that is of a type customarily used by the general public or by non-governmental entities for purposes other than governmental purposes, and –

a. Has been sold, leased, or licensed to the general public; or,

b. Has been offered for sale, lease, or license to the general public;

The software components and services are available for sale to the general public.

Conditions of sale are stated and would be the same for the Government as for the general public. Therefore, the library software items being requested are determined to be commercial items.

6. CONCLUSIONS

Through market research, USAHEC identified one (1) candidate, SpringShare LLC, that is appropriate for the bid process at this level of acquisition. Other vendors of SpringShare’s product either did not include all of the required components or offered the required components at a higher price than SpringShare LLC. It is therefore determined that it would be in the government’s best interest to award this as a Sole Source requirement.

Jennifer Wohlford Purchasing Agent

Greta Braungard Chief Librarian

Kevin Kaufman Contracting Officer