Electronic access via IP authentication for all USDA users and public on-site users to the Premium level of content of FT. com, published by Financial Times, Ltd.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Agricultural Library (NAL) intends to award a sole source contract to the Financial Times to provide immediate, continuous, uninterrupted, un-embargoed, Premium electronic access via IP authentication over the internet for all USDA users to the Financial Times via the FT.com website.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Agricultural Library (NAL) requires electronic access via IP authentication for all USDA users and public on-site users to the Premium level of content of FT.com, published by Financial Times, Ltd.

All USDA locations worldwide are to be considered authorized premises. USDA employees and contractors, cooperators and volunteers working on behalf of USDA and acting within the scope of their relationship with USDA, as well as employees, contractors, cooperators and volunteers working on behalf of other federal agencies that are authorized by the publisher to use NAL's DigiTop service, are considered authorized users of the journals. In addition to internal use, authorized users have the right to use content of the journals for ordinary business, scholarly and educational purposes of USDA, including but not limited to viewing, printing, saving, reusing and disseminating content.

The content shall be for use by all USDA employees, authorized public on-site users, and contractors, cooperators and volunteers performing work on behalf of USDA and acting within the scope of their relationship with USDA are considered authorized users of the database.

All USDA locations worldwide are to be considered authorized premises.

In addition to internal use, authorized users have the right to use the content of FT.com for ordinary business, scholarly and educational purposes of the Government, including but not limited to viewing, printing, saving, reusing and disseminating content in accordance with applicable copyright and fair use legislation.

The contractor shall provide access to the subscribed content and the administrative interface without imposing on the subscriber’s users any additional terms and conditions or similar restrictions that are not part of the contract. If the contractor’s system’s technical functionality prevents suppression of such terms and conditions or similar restrictions, the contractor agrees that any language, however construed and presented, is null and void and not binding on the subscriber’s users.

The circumstance permitting other than full and open competition is FAR 13.501and 41 USC 253(c)(5), only one responsible source and no other type of supplies or source will meet agency needs. 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 journal publications in electronic format from publishers and makes the journals 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 contents of The Financial Times are unique and not available from any other source.  The publisher holds the copyright to the contents.  FT.com is published for economists and those working in finance and is needed by U.S.D.A. researchers and analysts working on economic issues of concern to U.S.D.A. No other source, such as electronic resource providers (aggregators) may deliver contents without a direct license from the publisher. The above publisher is the only source determined capable of supplying NAL’s requirements for immediate and complete electronic access via the Internet for all USDA users to FT.com content. 

Anticipated Date of Award:   09/27/2023

THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. This notice is for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. Vendors that believe they can provide the services listed above are invited to 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 by the Government to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely at the discretion of the Government.