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 30 September 2026 – 29 September 2027. This effort will have three – one year option periods: Option year 1 - 30 September 2027 – 29 September 2028, Option year 2 - 30 September 2028 – 29 September 2029, and Option year 3 - 30 September 2029 – 29 September 2030.

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: $47M

Subscription name: Motor Auto Repair Subscription

1. Description: The Department of the Air Force Library Program requires require access to a subscription that provides access to a database that provides detailed, user-friendly repair guides for all manner of vehicles.

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

1. Database content must provide Powered by the automotive experts at MOTOR, Auto Repair Source provides library users with the most accurate, authoritative and up-to-date “do-it-yourself” service and repair information for thousands of domestic and imported cars, SUVs, vans and light trucks.

2. Content must offer precise and comprehensive wiring diagrams for all systems

3. Must be designed for touch-enabled devices such as laptops and tablets

4. Must offer a user-friendly search experience and access to a wealth of information to help users diagnose, repair and maintain today's complex vehicles

5. All content comes from the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and includes step-by-step DIY auto repair information, diagrams, maintenance schedules, parts and labor estimates, service bulletins and recalls. Diagrams and images can be easily magnified and printed.

6. Must also provide maintenance schedules and estimated labor times for the most commonly performed operations in a mechanical repair shop

7. Must provide engineering specifications/standards for the most common repairs and adjustments

8. Must provide Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), flowcharts and step-by-step diagnostic instructions covering powertrain, chassis, body, and network communication

9. Must provide part numbers, diagrams and pricing for thousands of the most commonly replaced parts, including manufacturer-suggested retail price to help users validate the cost of repairs and identify all iterations of a part number or part status (current, superseded, split, discontinued)

10. MOTOR Information Systems is the world’s premier supplier of automotive data. Since 1903, MOTOR has been providing customers with accurate, thorough and timely service and repair information to satisfy all their automotive needs. MOTOR is a division of Hearst Business Media, a Hearst company.

11. Access to information must be seamless, minimal response time between query initiation and query results, and search results within 5-10 seconds.

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

13. Security between the Website and server must be Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.3

14. Must be able to supply or allow retrieval of database usage statistics by Branch of

Service (Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Other, and Navy)

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

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

17. VCL must be able to test the platform to evaluate if it meets requirements. Must provide username and password to view content on platform

The Government will consider responses received within 12 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 29 July 2026, 4:00 PM CDT. Any questions should be directed to Gustavo Guadron through email.