Redacted JOFOC_req 1095655.pdf

5. Demonstration of

NAL is mandated (7 USC 3101) to serve as the primary agricultural information resource for the country. One of its functions in that role is the acquisition of information in all aspects of agriculture and allied sciences. In support of this function, NAL acquires journal publications in electronic format from publishers and makes the journals accessible to USDA employees and library patrons via the internet.

The American Society for Microbiology is the only source for the 15 journals listed below:

1. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy®

2. Applied and Environmental Microbiology®

3. Clinical and Vaccine Immunology®

4. Clinical Microbiology Reviews®

5. Eukaryotic Cell®

6. Genome Announcements

7. Infection and Immunity®

8. Journal of Bacteriology®

9. Journal of Clinical Microbiology®

10. Journal of Virology®

11. mBio®

12. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews®

13. Molecular and Cellular Biology®

14. mSPHERE®

15. mSYSYTEMS®

The only method to obtain 100% of the content, with perpetual access rights, as soon as the article is published or release on the website, NAL must contract directly with the publisher, who has all of those rights. The library requires those rights to have the electronic journal serve the same purpose and fill the same needs as the subscribed print journals in the

NAL requires the most current and updated journals to be able to provide access to all USDA scientists, which in turn allows them to It is critical to the agency mission that NAL obtains 100% of the content of every journal, with perpetual access rights, as soon as the article is published.

6. Contract Opportunities Announcement/ Potential Sources

A Sources Sought Notice (SSN) was posted on SAM.GOV on April 12, 2023, and it closed on April 21, 2023, without any interest or capability expressed. This requirement will be publicized as a sole source synopsis on SAM.GOV.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Cost

A fair and reasonable determination will be made

8. Market Research

Market research was conducted through internet searches, analyzing historical procurement history for similar/identical items, NAL conversations with industry, and posting a Sources Sought Notice (SSN) on SAM.GOV. The SSN failed to yield any responses. The market research conducted confirms that one source is capable of performance.

Procurement History:

Order/Contract Period of Performance Total Cost AG3K06P060041 90 days $47,754.00 AG3K06P080057 365 days $44,824.00 AG3K06P090095 365 days $52,315.00 AG3K06P110074 365 days $54,407.60 AG32SBP130035 365 days $58,846.32 AG32SBC140006 1825 days (5 years) $331,477.92 1232SA19C0003 1825 days (5 years) $350,676.32

Market research has been conducted throughout the acquisition milestones. Market research will continue to be conducted through award and post award (before exercising option periods).

9. Additional Support

No other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition is available. Due to the proprietary nature of this requirement, it is not possible to develop technical data packages, specifications, or a statement of work that would enable competition. A determination has been made that only one contractor can fulfil this requirement.

10. Other Interested Sources

No sources have expressed any interest in this acquisition.

11. Actions Taken to Remove Barriers to Competition

The publications provided by the American Society for Microbiology are proprietary.

Therefore, only this vendor can provide perpetual access rights for all USDA-authorized personnel. In the event that the American Society for Microbiology journals are made available for distribution by other vendors in the future, with access rights, full and open competition will be pursued.