SP800025Q0005 Amendment 0001 - All-In-One Subscriptions.pdf

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers is extended. is not extended.

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing items 8 and 15, and returning 1 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required)

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS.

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER

NUMBER IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation data, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not is required to sign this document and return copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

Questions and Responses

See Attached Continuation sheet (s)

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print) 16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

16C. DATE SIGNED

Previous edition unusable STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016) Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER

PAGE OF PAGES

5. PROJECT NUMBER (If applicable)

6. ISSUED BY

DCSO FORT BELVOIR

8725 JOHN J. KINGMAN ROAD

SUITE 1145 DCSO

FORT BELVOIR VA 22060-6223

USA

CODE SP8000 7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6) CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code) 9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

Questions and Responses

See Attached Continuation sheet (s)

SP800025Q0005

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

04/23/2025

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

CODE

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE

(X)

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQUISITION NUMBER

See block 14

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

04/23/2025

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

Amendment 0001

The purpose of this Amendment 0001 to amend the solicitation sections below and to provide questions and answers Solicitation SP8000-25-Q-0005.

If you intend to submit a proposal, please ensure that you review and provide all the required submittals and complete all applicable fill-in clauses in the SF1449 – Solicitation – Provisions and Clauses, including signing and dating the SF149 under BLOCKS 30(a) 30(b) and 30 (c)

Synopsis: Page 2 number 2

2) Quotes shall not exceed ten (10) pages total, single-sided; shall be double-spaced, and no smaller than Size 12, Times New Roman font. Past Performance questionaries are not included in the total page count.

SF1449: Page 3, Solicitation Instructions number 2

2) Quotes shall not exceed ten (10) pages total, single-sided; shall be double-spaced, and no smaller than Size 12, Times New Roman font. Past Performance questionaries are not included in the total page count.

Additional Questions

SP8000-25-Q-0005

1. In the event a vendor’s pricing does not include tax or tariffs, how is this assessed?

Response: Tariffs generally cannot be applied to digital products when they are transmitted electronically.

2. Are foreign currency transactions involved with this contract?

Response: US Dollar currency only

3. Is there historical publication pricing available to review?

Response: Unfortunately, there is no historical publication pricing to review.

Publication pricing should be obtained by reaching out to the listed vendor/subscription service and inquiring for pricing based on the # of required users.

4. Are the subscription accounts created in the Contractor name or DLA name?

Response: Subscription accounts are to be created in the DLA name. DLA will provide the email addresses of the users who need access to specific subscriptions after the award.

5. Is there an existing Bloomberg B Terminal and account that will continue to be used, or is a new terminal required? Would this be a procured or leased device?

Response: There are existing Bloomberg B terminal devices and accounts that will continue to be used. The device is currently leased by DLA at this time.

6. Which entity (contractor or DLA) is responsible for the Bloomberg B-terminal installation, on-site maintenance (if any), etc.?

Response: DLA is responsible for the Bloomberg B-terminal installation. There is no expected on-site maintenance due to the nature of the device. The contractor will ensure that the correct individuals at DLA have access to the Bloomberg B-terminal in the event that a user-change is required (due to change in responsibilities, career transition, etc.).

7. What level of online service is needed for Bloomberg B Unit?

Response: Access to a Bloomberg B Unit and the ability to use the B Unit is what is required. There are “no levels of service” within the Bloomberg B Unit.

If this question is in regards to what services the contractor must provide once the Bloomberg B Unit is with DLA: Little to no online service is necessary.

8. From SOW Section 4.0, paragraph 1, line 7: Is there a current delivery / renewal date?

Response: Delivery Date will be provided at provided at award.

9. Please clarify: On the Synopsis/Solicitation Cover Sheet, under Solicitation Instructions, paragraph 2 has "fifteen" written but lists (10) as the total pages. Is it fifteen or 10 pages total?

Response: This was a typo, 10 pages – We will amend the solicitation.

10. In Section B, the URL is unreachable for the Unit_of_Issue_and_Purchase_Unit.xlsx file. Could that file be provided to review?

Response: See attached.

11. SF1449, Page 43, Section K. Blocks are not present to check as per the instructions.

Response: Please ensure that you review and provide all the required submittals and complete all applicable fill-in clauses in the SF1449 – Solicitation – Provisions and Clauses, including signing and dating the SF149 under BLOCKS 30(a) 30(b) and 30 (c).

12. SOW Section 5.0 states DLA Strategic Materials will pay for subscriptions in full in advance. Does this mean in advance of the subscription service being activated with the Publisher/Vendor?

Response: Payments will be obligated in advance however contractor will submit a one time invoice for payment.

13. Do all 53 pages of the SF1449 need to be returned with the signed page and proposal submission?

Response: Please ensure that you review and provide all the required submittals and complete all applicable fill-in clauses in the SF1449 – Solicitation – Provisions and Clauses, including signing and dating the SF149 under BLOCKS 30(a) 30(b) and 30 (c).

14. What is the total number of end users or seats expected under this contract?

Response: Please see Attachment B – Subscriptions Providers

15. Is there an incumbent vendor currently fulfilling this requirement?

Response: Yes

16. If an incumbent vendor is current will a transition be needed?

Response: No

17. What evaluation weight or scoring criteria will be applied to technical acceptability

vs. price vs. past performance in determining award?

Response: The evaluation factors are not weighted. In accordance with the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection process, only those quotes/proposals found to be both Technically Acceptable for Factor 1 - Technical Acceptability and Acceptable for Factor 2 - Past Performance will be evaluated for Factor 3 - Price. This means "acceptable" for all factors. A contract award will be made to the responsible offeror with the technically acceptable quote/proposal that offered the lowest price.

18. For Additional Subscriptions as Requested, is there a known list of topics that may be requested?

Response: Please see Attachment B – Subscriptions Providers

19. For Print or PDF files, is there an e-mail address available for delivery?

Response: Emails will be provided to the awarding Contractor.

20. For the Option Period, what lead time given for continuation or non-continuation notification?

Response: 30-60 Days before the Period of Performance end date.

21. The Economist- When reviewing the quote, we saw that the client has this title listed as a two-year option. Does this mean since they are asking about option year pricing as well, that they would like pricing for 2025& 2026 and then 2027& 2028? Or are they just looking for pricing for one two-year subscription?

Response: Yes, DLA is requesting a quote for the option year as well.. Yes! We are requesting quote for the option year. The period of performance for this award is One (1) 12-Month Base Period plus One (1) 12-month Option Period. Therefore, 2025-2026 Base Year and Option One (1) 2026-2027.

22. Ground News- For this title there are three different plans/options and when we reached out for pricing the publisher provided pricing for all three. Can you please advise which option the client would like? The different plans are located at the following link: ground.news/subscribe can they please review the link and advise which out of the 3 they would like to subscribe to.

Response: – A group subscription should be requested with a group of 15 users with the Vantage level subscriptions. This can be found on their subscription page under “Group Subscriptions”

23. Publisher: Fastmarkets- We received the pricing for this title but a few days later they provided us with an updated pricing that included the title Company Database, the publisher advised that she spoke with DLA and advised that they would like this quote. However, it is not on the bid request list. Would you like Company Database added to the bid?

Response: No, the product titled “Company Database” should not be included within this bid. Although DLA may have made an inquiry to this product, we currently are not requesting access to the product.

24. Publisher: Benchmark Minerals Intelligence – We were informed by the publisher that this title appears to be a new order as the publisher couldn’t locate a previous subscription. The publisher advise that they would need more information to provide a quote. On the bid title list it says, “Industrial Minerals” but the publisher said Benchmark works on an array of critical minerals and attached the product list (since there are so many options), which does not list anything as simply “Industrial Minerals”. Can you please review the attached pdf and advise which subscription the client would like quote for.

Response: The specific product that DLA is interested in is the Rare Earth Forecast Reports. Alex Hewitt (ahewitt@benchmarkminerals.com) should be contacted in regards to a DLA Strategic Materials three-user license that he has previously provided a quote for to DLA Strategic Materials.

http://ground.news/subscribe mailto:ahewitt@benchmarkminerals.com

25. Project Blue Additional Reports – On the bid list this title says upon request, and we are unsure of what this means. We ask because there are active orders for 10 titles for Project Blue and we are not sure if we should be reaching out for pricing for these or are there additional titles that you would like a quote for? Would this mean you want the prices for the current active titles on this quote or if they will be quoted at a later date. Please clarify what is meant by upon request.

Response: DLA Strategic Materials personnel already have access to a number of reports from Project Blue. However, additional reports may be requested at a later date by DLA Strategic Materials personnel. Quotes are not necessary for the additional reports at this time and should be quoted at a later date when the reports are requested

26. Technically Acceptable Criteria Will value-added features such as blockchain audit logs, predictive alerts, and AI-enhanced data summaries be considered beneficial under the “technically acceptable” evaluation standard?

This will have no impact under the “technically acceptable” evaluation.

27. Use of AI and Automation Will DLA accept and evaluate the use of AI models for content summarization, trend detection, and automated reporting based on licensed sources, provided outputs are explainable and auditable?

DLA will not accept this at this time due to security reasons.

28. User Access Models Will DLA accept centralized access models using secure login, IP authentication, and multifactor authentication for managing web-based subscription access across named users?

Yes, DLA will accept centralized access models for managing web-based subscription access across named users.

29. Integration with DLA Tools Are there any preferred export formats (e.g., PDF/A, JSON, CSV) or expectations for integration compatibility with DLA tools such as Power BI, SharePoint, or Tableau?

There are no preferred export formats or expectations for integration compatibility.

Files should be able to be received in their original format as provided by the subscription provider unless requested otherwise.

30. Digital Subscription Delivery It is our understanding that all subscriptions listed in Attachment B may be fulfilled digitally, including by PDF or secure web access. Can DLA confirm this interpretation is correct?

Yes, this is the correct interpretation.

31. Named Users and Rotation May user access rights be rotated among authorized personnel within the allowed license count during the period of performance? Additionally, does the agency have an approximate number of named users expected by subscription category or in total?

Yes, user access rights may be rotated among authorized personnel within the allowed license count during the period of performance. This is critical as users may leave their current role and no longer be with DLA, leaving a license for another user unusable if it cannot be rotated to another. The total number of named users expected per subscription can be found in Attachment B – Subscription Providers.xlsx under the “documents” section of the solicitation.

32. Bundling of CLINs May vendors bundle related subscriptions into grouped CLIN lines (e.g., all Fastmarkets titles) if this results in cost or administrative efficiency?

As long as all related subscription (eg. All Fastmarkets titles) are made available to the required DLA Strategic Materials personnel, this is okay.

33. CLIN 0002 Allowable Costs Can vendors include administrative handling fees, expedited sourcing costs, and licensing surcharges under CLIN 0002?

Contract Award will be Firm-Fixed Price, LPTA

34. CLIN 0002 Approval Authority Will the COR have delegated authority to approve CLIN 0002 purchases, or must each be approved via Contracting Officer modification?

The Contracting Officer will issue all purchases and modifications.

35. Subscription Activation Timing Will all subscriptions under CLIN 0001 be expected to start immediately upon award, or may staggered activations be coordinated per DLA direction?

Staggered activations may be coordinated per DLA direction with a maximum allowable of 30 days before all subscriptions must be activated.

36. Performance Incentives Would DLA consider allowing vendors to propose pricing incentives or discounts if they exceed defined SLA thresholds (e.g., 100% delivery timeliness, 99.99% uptime)?

The Award will be Firm-Fixed Price.

37. FedRAMP Compliance Is FedRAMP Moderate or High compliance preferred or required for vendor-hosted web-based platforms?

DLASM does not utilize FedRAMP.

38. Data Security Practices Will adherence to EO 13960 (Trustworthy AI), NIST 800-53, and FISMA be sufficient to satisfy DLA’s internal cybersecurity and data usage compliance expectations?

No

39. Inclusion of Platform Certifications & Partners Will DLA allow offerors to reference platform partners (e.g., AWS, NVIDIA), industry awards, or third-party certifications in the technical and past performance narratives?

Please see the Synopsis/Solicitation page 3 number 9. Technical and past performance will be evaluated IAW FAR 52.212-2.

40. Incumbent Vendor Differentiation Are there any known pain points or challenges encountered under past contracts with prior vendors (e.g., Prenax, Amergreen, Cox) that offerors should consider addressing?

DLA-Strategic Materials, DCSO-C3 will not sign a Master Subscription Agreement

(End of Amendment Narrative)