Redacted_JA-ForeignPolicy-TheSlateGroup-B051.pdf

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

April 2021 Page 2 of 4April 2021 Page 2 of 4

Due to circumstances described herein, the activity requests authority to purchase electronic access to the Foreign Policy Insider subscription from The Slate Group LLC, using Other Than Full and Open Competition as prescribed by AFFARS 5313.501-10 U.S.C. 2302b, Implementation of Simplified Acquisition Procedures (41 U.S.C. 1901) and 13.501(a)(Sole source acquisitions). This individual action will result in the award of a new firm fixed-priced contract. The base subscription period of performance will run from 30 September 2022 to 29 September 2023 with two (2) option years, extending the contract through 29 September 2025. This sole source requirement will be acquired from the following company: The Slate Group LLC

The DoD Libraries has a requirement for a subscription providing online global journalism and analytical research to meet mission needs.

As outlined in DoDI 1015.10, Military Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Programs, the Department of Defense (DoD) Libraries will provide information resources and services required to accomplish the mission of the Library and Information Services Program. The Library and Information Services Program consists of libraries that support readiness, the military mission, quality of life, voluntary education, professional and technical education and training, lifelong learning, transition and career assistance, and the leisure needs of military communities. DoD Libraries support military personnel assigned to contingency operations, remote sites, and military missions. The DoD Library Consortium exists to create partnerships among the libraries within the various services of the DoD and they cooperatively acquire materials that are made available to military and civilian employees across the DoD. These resources related to various overarching goals of the DoD such as professional, recreation, physical wellness, emotional resiliency, and educational pursuits.

To effectively implement mission needs, DoD Libraries provide global informational and journalistic materials to further the educational, quality of life and leisure needs of the DoD Library users. To adequately provide these services, the DoD Libraries require a subscription database which provides access to global journalistic online articles, print archives, online research tools, newsletters, news alerts, and app access. Access to information needs to be seamless, and must be available through the various military information portals and interfaces.

AFFARS 5313.501 - 10 U.S.C. 2302b, Implementation of Simplified Acquisition Procedures (41 U.S.C. 1901).

The Slate Group LLC provides subscription access to Foreign Policy Insider which allows full access to unlimited current and 50 years of archived journalistic articles on Foreign Policy's website, mobile app access, and both digital and print editions of Foreign Policy's magazine. Foreign Policy Insider also includes access to research and analytics covering major topics such as data governance, resources competition, geopolitical and competitive forces shaping markets, and risk and opportunities for business and organizations operating

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

April 2021 Page 3 of 4April 2021 Page 3 of 4 around the world. Online research tools provided through this subscription are from professionally curated sources which offer information on global perspectives and insights. The subscription provides data-driven intelligence on trends impacting geopolitics and includes special reports, power maps, special briefings, invitations to Foreign Policy live calls with editors and experts, and a graphics database offering charts and datasets based on analysis and comprehensive assessments of economic, technological and geopolitical trends impacting the world. Newsletters, news alerts, live events, and an administrative portal for access usage information is also included.

The Slate Group LLC is the only known provider of the Foreign Policy Insider subscription. Foreign Policy Insider is a unique resource/database providing information, both domestic and global in nature, to the user and is vital to the ongoing mission of the DoD libraries detailed in Section III. The combination of Foreign Policy's journalistic articles and Foreign Policy's research analytics along with it's offering of data-driven digital tools provides a comprehensive resource to DoD Library users. The Guidance, expansive coverage, and scalability is not known to be available or offered with comparable capabilities at a comparable or similar cost based on market research. Without this acquisition, the DoD Libraries' mission to provide military members and DoD civilians with information and research for personal development to meet quality of life and leisure needs would seriously be harmed or delayed.

A Sources Sought was posted on SAM.gov on 12 August 2022 for 15 days. This was an open market assessment release designed to identify other potential sources to satisfy the Governments requirements and no qualified responses that could meet the requirements were received. Additionally, an intent to award on a sole source basis notice was posted on SAM.gov on 30 August 2022 for 5 days and no qualified responses that could meet the Government's requirements were received.

AFSVC/VCL surveyed the market for vendors to determine if competition was available for the requirement.

The Library utilized sources such as publishers' advertisements, professional conferences, vendor demonstrations, customer suggestions, and new publication reviews to conduct its surveys. The Libraries are in contact with other agency Librarians to confirm the competitive environment for this supply, and seek out additional solutions for this requirement. After this market research, AFSVC/VCL was unable to identify any other source that could provide the requirement.

In accordance with FAR 13.106-3(a), the Contracting Officer shall determine that the proposed price is fair and reasonable. The basis of this determination is anticipated to be based on FAR 13.106-3(a)(2)(ii) and FAR 13.106-3(a)(2)(iii), and FAR 13.106-3(a)(2)(vii). The price shall be verified against current price lists, catalogs, or advertisements and by comparison to prices previously paid for similar items.

As described in Section VI above, market research, in accordance with FAR Part 10, was conducted by posting of a sources sought and a separate posting of a synopsis of the proposed contract action, advising industry of the pending acquisition and soliciting inquiries from interested parties. No qualified responses were received in reference to either posting.

Additionally, each year the Librarians/product owners attend numerous conferences hosted by entities such as the Public Library Association and American Library Association. These conferences host hundreds of

Sole Source (Including Brand Name) Justification - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

April 2021 Page 4 of 4April 2021 Page 4 of 4 vendors that serve the library community. Over the course of several days, the librarians conduct market research by conversing with the vendors and experiencing products first-hand.

Continuous market research is also completed by staying up to date on current and new product offerings and updates via various mailing lists as well as Internet searches completed by the product owners.

The proposed sole source is the only known source able to satisfy the Government's requirements.

The Slate Group LLC

AFSVC/VCL 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 related databases. AFSVC/VCL will continue to survey the market for vendors to obtain competition in related databases. The AFSVC/VCL personnel will continue to keep up-to-date and review new database subscriptions to determine if another source will meet the needs of the users. We will also keep an open dialog with our patrons and usage statistics to determine the necessity for future purposes.

As evidenced by my signature above, I have determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

As evidenced by my (our) signature(s) above, I (we) certify that any supporting data contained herein, which is my (our) responsibility, is both accurate and complete.