Electronic Access - American Society for Microbiology Journals

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Agricultural Library (NAL) intends to award a sole source contract to the American Society Microbiology Journals. The purpose of this award is to provide electronic access via the internet for all USDA users to the American Society Microbiology Press Journals.
The National Agricultural Library (NAL) is mandated (7 U.S.C. 3101) to serve as the primary agricultural information resource of the United States. 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, the NAL acquires databases in electronic format from publishers and makes the databases accessible to USDA employees and library patrons via the internet. In keeping with its charge to collect agricultural and related information, it seeks to maintain a collection of publications in various formats from a variety of publishers and sources.

The American Society for Microbiology is the only source for the specific mix of journal titles needed by the National Agricultural Library (NAL). NAL has a need for current access to specific journal titles and the only source for these "ala carte" selections is directly through the American Society for Microbiology.

In order to get 100% of the content of every issue of a journal, with perpetual access rights, as soon as the article is published (or even earlier, now that they appear on websites) NAL must contract directly with the publisher, who has all of those rights (and obligations). The library needs those rights in order to have an electronic journal serve the same purpose and fill the same needs as the print journals subscribed to for the library collection.

NAL requires the most current and up-to-date journals to be able to provide access to all USDA scientists which in turn allows the scientists to meet the agency's mission. It's critical to the agency mission that NAL have 100% of the content of every issue of a journal, with perpetual access rights, as soon as the article is published.

The NAICS Code for this requirement is 511120 - Periodicals

THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. Authority for this sole source procurement is under 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1) as implemented in FAR 6.302-1(a)(2), one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. This notice is not a request for competitive quotations. No solicitation document is available and telephone requests will not be honored. Any firm that believes it can provide the services listed above may submit substantiating documentation in writing to the identified point of contact. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. A determination not to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely at the discretion of the Government. The Point of Contact for this action is Ms. Marian Dyson and any response must be emailed to Marian.Dyson@usda.gov. Verbal responses are not acceptable and will not be considered.

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