Redacted_J&A_Redacted.pdf

Justification and Approval (J&A) for Other Than Full and Open Competition

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NOTE: If a Justification and Approval was approved for the preceding acquisition, a copy of the approved J&A for the predecessor action must be included in the staff package for approval of the instant J&A. This applies to J&A staff packages that are submitted for review and approval at a level above the contracting officer. The predecessor J&A will be used as a reference document by the approving official.

Choose the funding level for this J&A Document:

< $700K > $700K and < $13.5M > $13.5M and < $93M > $93M

Contracting Activity: AFLCMC/PZIEC, Wright-Patterson AFB

Purchase Request / Local ID Number: F2MT517194AW04 00000 (Press Reader)

Program / Project (and PE, if applicable): ProQuest

Program Type (PEO or Other Contracting): Other Contracting

Authority (include full title): FAR 13.106-1(b) Soliciting From a Single Source & FAR 13.501(a) Sole Source Acquisitions

Estimated Contract Cost (including options): J&A Type: Class Individual

COORDINATION (AFFARS 5306.304(a) )

Date

Signature

APPROVAL (AFFARS 5306.304(a) )

Date

Signature

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I. Contracting Activity.

This justification and approval to request authority for Other Than Full and Open Competition supports requirements generated for the Air Force Libraries. The contracting activity for this requirement is the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Specialized Contracting Section (AFLCMC/PZIEC).

II. Nature and/or description of the action being processed.

Due to circumstances described herein, the activity requests authority to acquire electronic access to two ProQuest LLC databases (Press Reader and Books in Print) 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:

ProQuest LLC

III. Description of supplies/services required to meet agency needs.

The AF libraries program mission is outlined in AFI 34-150. Per the AFI, AF Libraries provide:

1. Information resources and services required to accomplish the AF mission.

2. Support military personnel assigned to contingency operations, remote sites, and military missions IAW DoDI 1015.10, Military Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Programs.

3. Professional military and voluntary education program materials and services.

4. Facilities, resources and services to enhance the quality of life, regeneration and resiliency for authorized customers.

The proposed effort covered by this individual J&A is for a 12-month subscription to the Press Reader and Books in Print databases.

a. Books in Print is a bibliographic database used in collection development to assist in the select library materials. The database contains publisher metadata about books, audiovisual materials, magazines, authors, and statistical reports that allows library directors to make smart purchasing decisions. Books in Prints offer great efficiency as they have collection of review from Library Journal, Booklist, Choice, and Publishers Weekly so directors do not need to have subscriptions to numerous library journals in order to get material reviews.

b. Press Reader provides online access to over 5,000 newspapers from over 100 countries. The collection of respected and well-read newspapers become available upon print publication and can be read in the original language or be translated into 60 other languages.

IV. Statutory authority permitting Other than Full and Open Competition.

13.106(b), Soliciting from a single source 13.501(a), Sole Source acquisitions

V. Demonstration that the contractor's unique qualifications or nature of the acquisition requires the use of the authority cited above (applicability of authority).

The ProQuest databases are a unique resource for the AF Libraries, not available from any other source, and they

Page 3 of 420 Apr 201720 Apr 2017 supplement the library's collections of books, journals, and newspapers for a broad subject area. Sole source acquisition is justified because ProQuest LLC has exclusive copyright to their data. They would not allow their data to be purchased from any other sources, nor do we have the option of going directly to other publishers.

Without this sole source acquisition, library users will be forced to purchase ProQuest information and journals on an on-demand basis. This creates inefficiency through an increased need of library resources, creation of unproductive processes and an increased use of the Government Purchase Card. In addition, buying on demand would greatly increase the cost. Accordingly, ProQuest LLC is the only firm capable of providing the supplies described above without the U.S. Air Force experiencing unacceptable delays and substantial duplication of cost that could not be recouped through competition.

VI. Description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable.

A Sources Sought notice (FA8604-17-P-5092) was posted from 28 July 2017 - 07 August 2017 requesting any interested firms to submit a capabilities package indicating their capability to provide these required publications, either separately or as one consolidated package. No responses to any of these relevant materials were received via FBO.gov. The market research (see section VIII) and synopsis confirms the publications required by Air Force Libraries are only available from ProQuest, LLC.

VII. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

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). This has been previously procured by AFLCMC/PZI for the AF Libraries and the price shall be verified against ProQuest's price lists, catalogs, or advertisements and by comparison to prices previously paid.

VIII. Description of the market research conducted and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

As described in Section VI above, market research, in accordance with FAR Part 10, was conducted by synopsis of the proposed acquisition, advising industry of the pending acquisition and soliciting inquiries from interested parties.

IX. Any other facts supporting the use of Other Than Full and Open Competition.

None.

X. List of sources, if any, that expressed interest in the acquisition.

At this time, no other sources have expressed an interest. The proposed sole source is the only known source that can satisfy the government's requirements.

ProQuest LLC

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XI. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required.

The contracting activity posted the Intent to Award Sole Source notice on FedBizOpps from 07 August 2017 - 14 August 2017 in order to obtain competition. No responses were received.

AFPC/SVPL will attempt to obtain competition whenever possible by use of professional journals and trade exhibits.

The AFPC/SVPL personnel will continue to keep up-to-date and review new research databases to determine if another source will meet the needs of the students, faculty, and staff. We will also keep an open dialog with our patrons and usage statistics to determine the necessity for future purposes.

XII. Certification by the Contracting Officer.

The contracting officer's signature on the Coordination and Approval Document evidences that he has determined this document to be both accurate and complete to the best of his/her knowledge and belief in accordance with FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii) and FAR 6.303-2(b)(12)

XIII. Certification by the technical/requirements personnel.

As evidenced by their signatures on the Coordination and Approval Document, the technical and/or requirements personnel have certified that any supporting data contained herein which is their responsibility is both accurate and complete in accordance with FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii) and FAR 6.303-2(c).