NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE.pdf

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

The Department of Commerce (DOC), International Trade Administration (ITA), Industry and Analysis (I&A), intends to negotiate and award a sole source Firm-Fixed-Price commercial contract for a performance period of twelve (12) months from date of award and acceptance with one (1) one-year option period to IHS Global Inc. (S&P Global Market Intelligence) for continued online subscription access to the Chemical Economics Handbook (CEH) and Directory of Chemical Producers—Worldwide (Internet Subscriptions).

This notice is published in accordance with RFO 12.102(a) and RFO Part 5 to determine whether responsible commercial sources exist capable of satisfying the Government’s minimum requirements.

This notice is not a solicitation or Request for Quotation (RFQ). No solicitation document is available.

Purpose

The Department of Commerce requires continued access to commercial chemical-industry data and analytical information used by economists and trade specialists throughout Industry & Analysis.

The subscriptions support the Department’s analysis of the domestic and international chemical industry, chemical production, companies, facilities, production volumes, international trade, and export activities.

The Chemical Economics Handbook and Directory of Chemical Producers—Worldwide are used by multiple Department of Commerce organizations, including Industry & Analysis, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and Enforcement & Compliance (E&C).

The information supports recurring Government activities including:

• Miscellaneous Tariff Bill analysis;

• Foreign Trade Zone requests;

• Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States examinations;

• Generalized System of Preferences examinations;

• Trade enforcement and trade-remedy analysis;

• Product-specific chemical rules-of-origin negotiations;

• Identification of U.S. suppliers for export requests;

• Export-promotion activities;

• Verification of information provided by domestic and foreign industries; and

• Market-access analysis and development of Government positions.

Minimum Government Requirements

The Contractor shall provide internet-based subscription access to the following:

Chemical Economics Handbook

The Government requires continued online access to the Chemical Economics Handbook (Internet Subscription) to support research and analysis of domestic and international chemical markets and industries.

The subscription must provide commercial chemical-industry information sufficient to support economists and trade specialists performing market, trade, production, industry, and policy analysis.

Directory of Chemical Producers—Worldwide

The Government requires continued online access to the Directory of Chemical Producers— Worldwide (Internet Subscription).

The subscription must provide information regarding chemical producers and facilities worldwide, including information necessary for Government analysts to research:

• Domestic and foreign chemical companies;

• Chemical production locations;

• Chemicals produced;

• Production volumes; and

• Chemical-industry activities and market information.

BIS uses this information in monitoring certain chemical facilities and exports, including analysis involving organic chemicals. E&C uses the information for background research concerning domestic and foreign companies, including confirmation of facility locations, chemicals produced, and production volumes.

Delivery and Access

Both subscriptions shall be provided electronically through internet-based access.

Access shall require individual username and password authentication for authorized Government users.

No Government-Furnished Property, Government-Furnished Material, Government-Furnished Equipment, or Government-Furnished Information is anticipated.

There are no special travel or material requirements associated with this acquisition.

Basis for Sole Source

Based upon the Government’s current information and market knowledge, IHS Global Inc.

(S&P Global Market Intelligence) is believed to be the only responsible source capable of providing the required Chemical Economics Handbook and Directory of Chemical Producers— Worldwide subscription products and the associated proprietary chemical-industry information required by the Government.

The Government requires continued access to these specific commercial subscription resources because they support recurring analytical, statutory, trade-policy, trade-enforcement, economic-security, and export-promotion activities throughout the Department of Commerce.

The Government’s intent to acquire these subscriptions on a sole-source basis is based upon the proprietary nature of the required commercial products and the Government’s need for continued access to the chemical-industry information and analytical capabilities described above.

Any source asserting that it can satisfy this requirement must demonstrate that it can provide commercial capabilities meeting all the Government’s minimum requirements.

Capability Statements

Interested parties that believe they are capable of satisfying the Government’s requirements shall submit a written capability statement.

Capability statements shall specifically demonstrate the ability to provide:

• Online commercial chemical-industry database access;

• Information comparable to the Chemical Economics Handbook;

• Worldwide chemical-producer information comparable to the Directory of Chemical

Producers—Worldwide;

• Domestic and international chemical-market information;

• Chemical producer and facility information;

• Identification of chemicals produced;

• Chemical production-volume information;

• Information supporting international trade and export analysis;

• Individual authenticated internet access for Government users; and

• Continuous subscription availability throughout the required period of performance.

General marketing materials or unsupported statements of capability will not be sufficient.

Responses should clearly explain how the proposed commercial solution satisfies each of the Government’s minimum requirements.

As previously stated, this is NOT a solicitation for quotations, quotation abstracts, a request for competitive quotations; or request for competitive proposals; There is no solicitation package available for review due to the Government’s intention to conduct this requirement as a sole source award. If a company determines that their company can meet all requirements mentioned above, the company shall submit a written response within 15 days from the date of publication of this synopsis for it to be taken into consideration by the Government. Responses must clearly and thoroughly defend any claims or assertions that attempt to refute the Government’s claim. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed action based upon responses to this notice is solely with the discretion of the Government.

Information received will normally be considered for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Information received on this notice must eliminate the Government's concerns and address how the required services can be provided.

If no qualified/affirmative responses are received within 15 days of this notice to determine whether a qualified source is more advantageous to the Government, a contract will be awarded to IHS Global Inc. (S&P Global Market Intelligence).

Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to Alicia Brister (ABrister@doc.gov). Telephonic questions or requests are strongly discouraged.