Notice_of_Intent_-_Elsevier_2024.docx

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT, NOT A SOLICITATION FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. A SOLICITATION DOCUMENT WILL NOT BE ISSUED AND PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE REQUESTED.

The National Institutes of Health intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Elsevier Inc., 230 Park Avenue FL 8, New York, NY 10169, for web on-line access service to Elsevier’s Science Direct®, database as well as access to online journals and books published or produced by Elsevier. ScienceDirect provides access to Elsevier publications and Elsevier provides subscription support for Elsevier publications selected by NLM subject matter librarians for the NLM collection and indexed in MEDLINE.

No solicitation exists for this requirement. The proposed contract action is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302. The product is a commercial item as defined in FAR Part 2.101. The period of performance shall be for one twelve (12) month period, with options to renew for four (4) successive twelve-month periods.

It is believed that Elsevier Inc. is the sole source for this requirement under the authority of U.S.C. 253(c)(1) as set forth in the Federal Acquisitions Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1 “Only one responsible source and no other supplies and services will satisfy agency requirements” because of the following: Elsevier B.V. is the sole owner of “Science Direct”, the only known source of the Elsevier titles on the world wide web; Elsevier developed the “Science Direct” on-line services and has exclusive proprietary rights to sell, distribute or provide online access to Elsevier’s Science Direct and it’s other databases.

Below is the Draft Statement of Work. This is NOT A SOLICITATION FOR COMPETIVE PROPOSALS. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement OR submit proposals which demonstrates their ability to supply the services described herein OR provide a capability statement that demonstrate how other potential databases can meet the requirements described. The capability statement and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow the Government to determine if the party can meet all the requirements of the Statement of Work. Capability Statements and related materials must be received by the Contract Specialist, no later than December 3, 2024 at 12 p.m. EST.

Written responses received after this date and time will not be accepted. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based on the responses received is solely within the discretion of the government. The information received will be considered solely for the purpose of whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Address responses via email only to the attention of: Keturah Busey, Contract Specialist, National Library of Medicine (NLM), Office of Acquisitions, email address: buseyk@mail.nlm.nih.gov.

DRAFT STATEMENT OF WORK

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) in Bethesda, Maryland, is part of the National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). NLM, the world’s largest biomedical library, acquires and preserves biomedical literature from throughout the world in all formats and languages. The Collection Development Program in the Collection Branch builds the NLM modern biomedical literature collection, including electronic journal subscriptions. Subject matter librarians at NLM have selected Elsevier publications, such as journals and e-Book, for inclusion in the NLM collection that are only accessible via the ScienceDirect platform.

II. OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this contract is to provide access to Elsevier electronic publications only available via the Elsevier ScienceDirect platform. ScienceDirect provides access to Elsevier publications and Elsevier provides subscription support for Elsevier publications selected by NLM subject matter librarians for the NLM collection and indexed in MEDLINE.

III. SERVICES

A. General Requirements

1. Independently and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall furnish all the necessary services, qualified personnel, equipment and facilities needed to perform the requirements.

2. All work under this contract shall be monitored by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) whose position is defined in the contract.

B. Specific Requirements

1. The contractor shall provide NLM electronic access to the electronic version of subscribed Elsevier publications through the web interface ScienceDirect. Access will be cumulative for articles published in the journals since 1995 or the first year a journal was offered on the ScienceDirect platform, based upon NLM’s previous investments.

2. The contractor shall provide options for acquiring e-books, online reference works, and backfiles of selected journals (journal articles published prior to 1995 or the first year a journal was offered on the ScienceDirect platform). Options should factor in all NLM’s previous investments in print and digital subscriptions, as well as NLM’s previous archive back file purchases.

3. The contractor shall provide an option for NLM to add new titles as the contractor adds to its holdings on ScienceDirect through acquisition or publication of new titles by Elsevier.

4. The contractor shall provide an option for NLM to add new titles to this contract throughout the year.

5. The contractor also shall provide an option for NLM to cancel selected journal titles.

III. GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

1. The Government will be responsible for including web links for the NLM community to access the Elsevier publications via ScienceDirect.

1. NLM will be responsible for creating a system to validate security for entrance into NLM websites.

1. Upon signature by the Government, the contractor license agreement will be incorporated into the contract.

IV. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND DELIVERABLES

1. The contractor shall provide a ScienceDirect administrative account to NLM for the purpose of generating usage statistics.

2. The contractor shall provide a quarterly report by the publisher Elsevier detailing all titles being provided and any upcoming status changes through this contract. This report should include the title, ISSN, eISSN, product ID number, publisher format, publishing status, journal title URL, NLM provided POL numbers, and any status related comments such as title changes, publisher changes, cessations, or transitions to open access. This report must be sent in spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel.

3. The contractor will supply customized reports about Elsevier publications upon request from NLM. Reports must be sent in spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel.

4. Contractor shall provide an annual title level price list for Elsevier publications. This list should include the title, ISSN, eISSN, product ID number, NLM provided POL numbers, price, and any status related comments such as title changes, publisher changes, cessations, or transitions to open access with associated credit amount. This report must be sent in spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel.