RBdigital JA updated signed.pdf

Single Source Justification (Simplified Acquisition)

SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE

March 2018 SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE Page 1 of 2

Section A: General Contract Information

Is this a Bridge Action as defined in the AF Bridge Action Reduction Plan? Yes No

Contracting Activity: AFLCMC/PZIEC

Project/Program Name: RBdigital Unlimited Audiobook Service

Purchase Request/Identification Number: FA8606-20-P-5030

Estimated Contract Cost (including Options): $152,000.00

Section B: Description of the Supplies/Services Required

Due to circumstances described herein, the activity requests authority to purchase electronic access to Recorded Books (RB) Digital Unlimited Audiobook Service using Other Than Full and Open Competition as prescribed by FAR 13.106-1(b)(soliciting from a single source), and 13.501(a)(Sole source acquisitions). This individual action will result in the award of a new Firm Fixed Price Contract. This sole source requirement will be acquired from the following organization:

Recorded Books, LLC 270 Skipjack Road Prince Frederick MD 20678-3410

The DoD Library Consortium wishes to procure rbdigital Unlimited Audiobook Service.

The mission of DoD MWR Libraries is outlined in DoDI 1015.10 stating DoD Libraries will provide information resources and services required to accomplish the mission. The libraries support military personnel assigned to contingency operations, remote sites, and military missions IAW DoDI 1015.10, Military Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Programs. The program provides professional military and voluntary education programs materials and services. Libraries also provide facilities, resources, and services to enhance the quality of life, regeneration, and resiliency for authorized customers. The DoD Library Consortium exists to create partnerships among the libraries within the various services of the DoD. They cooperatively acquire materials that are made available to military and civilian employees across the DoD. These resources relate to various overarching goals of the DoD such as recreation, physical wellness, emotional resiliency, and educational pursuits.

To meet these needs, the DoD libraries must procure resources that can be accessed globally, including in areas with low or no Internet access, and provide the below stated requirements. These resource need to include access to audiobooks. This database is a vital reference, educational, mission, and leisure tool for DoD personnel.

RBdigital is important to service personnel and library staff for having the ability to provide instantly accessible digital information in multiple platforms that can be streamed or downloading with no waiting. This subscription must be firm-fixed pricing so there is no increase when new titles are accessed. It should also not limit the number of titles or electronic checkouts per title. This database collection provides information that enhances quality of life for AF personnel, supports educational efforts, and mission.

The DoD Libraries also require a resource that provides research for personnel development that meet the quality of life, regeneration, and resiliency as stipulated by DoDI 1015.10. To meet those needs, the DoD Libraries require a resource that provides diversified e-audiobook collection.

Section C: Justification for Soliciting from a Single Source or Brand Name

Unlimited Audiobook Service from rbdigital is a unique resource and database for the DoD Library Program. It supplies access to e-audiobooks to cover a broad range of subject matters that allows the DoD Libraries to complete their program mission as outlined in DoDI 1015.10, Section B.

SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE

March 2018 SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE Page 2 of 2

Unlimited Audiobook Service has a collection of more than 8,000 titles new titles annually. The service provides access to e-audiobooks without limiting the number of titles or the number of electronic checkouts. The audiobooks are able to be accessed through the rbdigital app or online on any device. Unlimited Audiobook Service provides titles on the professional reading lists of all branches of service.

RBdigital is the exclusive publisher of their own audiobooks that has content not obtained anywhere else plus exclusive rights to other publisher's audiobooks. RBdigital has exclusive legal copyright to its content collection and is a "must order direct" company. RBdigital is the only known source capable of providing the item described above for the Department of Defense to accomplish the libraries' mission.

Section D: Efforts to Obtain Competition

Market research confirms that RBdigital is the only known source that can satisfy the Government's requirements and is intended to provide supplemental literacy, research, and education information and materials. The AFSVC/SVPL library staff extensively surveyed the market for vendors to obtain competition for this requirement. The library used vendors' websites, articles in profession library publications, demonstrations viewed at profession conferences, and customer suggestions in conducting research.

A sources sought was posted to BETA.SAM and no qualified responses were received. An intent to award on a sole source basis notice was posted on BETA.SAM and no qualified responses that could meet the requirement were received. The proposed sole source is the only known source able to satisfy the Government's requirements.

Section E: Steps to Preclude Future Single Source or Brand Name Awards

AFSVC/SVPL will keep an open dialog with the users/patrons and evaluate statistics to determine the necessity to use this resource to supplement its collection of subscriptions. AFSVC/SVPL will continue to survey the market for vendors to obtain competition in aircraft safety publications. The library uses publishers' advertisements, customer suggestions and new publication reviews in conducting its surveys.

Section F: Contracting Officer's Determination

I have determined, in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), that the circumstances of this contract action deem only a single source is reasonably available.

Date

04-Sep-2020

Typed Name and Rank/Grade of Contracting Officer

Joelynn K. Laux

Signature of Contracting Officer

March 2018 Page of Section A: General Contract Information Is this a Bridge Action as defined in the AF Bridge Action Reduction Plan?

Section B: Description of the Supplies/Services Required Section C: Justification for Soliciting from a Single Source or Brand Name Section D: Efforts to Obtain Competition Section E: Steps to Preclude Future Single Source or Brand Name Awards Section F: Contracting Officer's Determination I have determined, in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), that the circumstances of this contract action deem only a single source is reasonably available.

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