Redacted RB JA.pdf

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

SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE

18 Jun 2019 SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE Page 2 of 4

Due to circumstances described herein, the activity requests authority to purchase electronic access to Recorded Books Digital (RBdigital) Comics and Graphic Novels using Other Than Full and Open Competition as prescribed by FAR 13.501(a) (Sole Source Acquisitions) and

. This individual action will result in the award of a new Firm Fixed Price Contract. The anticipated subscription period of performance (PoP) will run from 30 September 2020 through 29 September 2021 with two (2) option year periods that can extend the PoP to 29 September 2023. This subscription will be purchased with FY20 0100 DoD Funds. This sole source requirement will be acquired from the following organization:

Recorded Books, Inc.

Comics and Graphic Novels has a collection of 16,000 major brand comics and graphic novels from over 93 publishers including Disney and Marvel®. The collection is searchable by title or series. The service provides checkout of comics as a volume or a single issue for 30 days that can be accessed through the company app or any online device.

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. The RBDigital database is a vital leisure tool for DoD personnel that gives personnel and library staff the ability to provide instantly accessible digital information in multiple platforms that can be streamed or downloaded with no waiting. The database collection provides information that not only enhances the quality of life for DoD personnel by allowing access to comics and graphic novels for recreational purposes, but also provides essential resources and materials for educational purposes.

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

18 Jun 2019 SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE Page 3 of 4

Comics and Graphic Novels from RBdigital is a unique resource/database for the DoD Library Program. It supplies access to comics and graphic novels to cover a broad range of publishers and imprints that allows the DoD Libraries to complete their program mission as outlined in DoDI 1015.10, Section III.

Comics and Graphic Novels

Market research confirms that RBdigital is the only known source that can satisfy the Government's requirements and is intended to to support the DoD Library Program quality of life efforts.

A sources sought notice was posted on beta.SAM.gov from 1 July 2020 through 15 July 2020 and no qualified responses were received. An Intent to Award Sole Source notice was posted on beta.SAM.gov from 20 July 2020 through 25 July 2020 and no qualified responses were received. The proposed sole source is the only known source able to satisfy the Government's requirements.

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

Recorded Books, Inc.

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 related databases. AFSVC/SVPL will continue to survey the

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

18 Jun 2019 SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE Page 4 of 4 market for vendors to obtain competition in related databases. The library uses publishers' advertisements, professional conferences, vendor demonstrations, customer suggestions and new publication reviews in conducting its surveys.

AFSVC/SVPL will attempt to obtain competition whenever possible by use of professional journals and trade exhibits. The AFSVC/SVPL personnel will continue to keep up-to-date and review new comic and graphic novel 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.