Sources Sought.pdf

This is a Sources Sought Synopsis published by the United States Air Force (the Government or USAF). There is no solicitation available at this time. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. The purpose of this sources sought notice is to conduct market research to determine whether there are businesses available capable of providing an alternative product that meets the characteristics below. The Air Force anticipates procuring this product as a FY26 base effort with a projected period of performance of 16 June 2026 – 15 June 2027. This effort will have two – one year option periods: Option year 1 - 16 June 2027 – 15 June 2028, and Option year 2 - 16 June 2028 – 15 June 2029.

Responses to this sources sought notice will assist in a determination of whether it is in the best interest of the Government to proceed with a competition.

FSC: 7630

NAICS: 516210

Size Standard: $47 Million

Subscription name: DAFL Overdrive

1. Description: The Department of the Air Force Library Program has the following requirement: Overdrive offers downloadable e-books, e-audio books, and movies for checkout through their online system. These materials include current fiction, non-fiction, language learning materials, reference and recreation materials. Must provide a large and growing catalog of books and audio books in digital format to add to existing DAFL collection on the OverDrive platfrom. DAFL VCL wants to add content to the existing 5 million worth of content already on the platform we have a contract for with DoD Libraries.

2. Product characteristics an equal item must meet to be considered:

1. Must be able to provide downloadable digital resources for collection materials such as e-books, e-videos, e-audiobooks, e-music including new releases, current best sellers, and back catalog for the Overdrive Digital Platform.

2. Materials include current fiction, non-fiction, language learning materials, reference and recreation materials. Must provide a large and growing catalog of books and audio books in digital format

3. Needs to have a mobile application that allows users to read digital content

4. Must provide free staff training and complimentary marketing services.

5. Must be able to provide statistics for each branch of service and other category.

6. Must work with contract POC to establish authentication methods to provide optimal accessibility for all eligible patrons.

7. Must work with the current contracted platform EBSCO Stacks for customer accessiblitity.

8. Must work with contract POC to establish authentication methods to provide optimal accessibility for all eligible patrons.

9. Security between the Website and server must be Transport Layer Security

(TLS) 1.3

10. Must be able to supply or allow retrieval of database usage statistics by Branch of Service (Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Military OneSource/Other, and Navy)

11. Must have HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) with long duration deployed on the servers to mitigate/prevent man-in-the-middle attacks

12. Website certificates should be RSA 2048-bits (SHA256withRSA)

13. Must be able to provide a login system for customers that meets the needs of active duty users and their dependents as well as retirees

The Government will consider responses received within 7 days of issuance of this notice.

Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct a full and open competitive procurement or a small business set aside competitive procurement. The Government will not pay for any information received in response to this announcement. If the Government competes this requirement, a synopsis shall be issued utilizing the combined synopsis/solicitation procedure identified in FAR 12.603. If this effort becomes a Small Business Set-Aside, FAR 52.219-14, Limitation on Subcontracting, will apply. Therefore, small businesses that want to be considered for a small business set-aside should demonstrate how they intend to comply. A determination not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is an administrative decision by the Government that is solely within its discretion.

Contractors should be aware of the following information:

1. Contractors must include the following information:

a. Points of contact, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers.

b. Identification as a large U.S. business, a small U.S. business, or a foreign business. Please note that size indicated should be based on the NAICS code for this effort listed above.

c. Identification of any other socioeconomic status including: Women-Owned Small Business, Economically Disadvantaged Small Business, 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, Veteran Owned Small Business or HUBZone.

d. Company CAGE Code or UEI.

e. Capabilities Statement

2. This requirement is not intended for specific brand name products. Offerors are encouraged to suggest products other than those that may be specifically referenced by brand name. Responses must address how alternate product meet the product characteristics specified above.

3. Submitted information shall be UNCLASSIFIED.

Any information submitted by respondents to this sources sought synopsis is strictly voluntary. The Government will not reimburse the respondents for any costs associated with their response. This synopsis does not constitute a Request for Proposals nor does its issuance restrict the Government as to its ultimate acquisition approach. The Government reserves the right to contact the submitting parties, on an as required basis, for further clarification on material provided.

Respondents should not construe this notice as a commitment by the Air Force for any purpose.

Responses should be emailed to Contracting Specialist: SrA William Sasser, william.sasser.2@us.af.mil and Contracting Officer: Gustavo Guadron, Gustavo.Guadron@us.af.mil no later than 12 May 2025, 4:00 PM CDT. Any questions should be directed to Gustavo Guadron through email.

mailto:william.sasser.2@us.af.mil