Notice of intent to sole source award to west publishing corporation for publication support services

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTE –THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE A SOLE SOURCE AWARD TO WEST PUBLISHING CORPORATION FOR PUBLICATION SUPPORT SERVICES

The Department of Defense (DOD), Washington Headquarters Services, Acquisition Directorate, (WHS/AD) on behalf of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (USCAAF) intends to award a sole source, firm fixed priced contract to West Publishing Corporation/West, A. Thomson Reuters Business, P.O. Box 64833, St. Paul, MN  55164-1803, to provide the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces the continuing subscriptions of 32 copyrighted print publications of various authors that are published and released during fiscal year 2022.  The United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (USCAAF) requires online legal research database services. USCAAF requires access to comprehensive legal databases that provide current and historical information/analysis on a wide-range of subjects, including case law, statutory law, constitutional law, criminal law, evidence, criminal procedure, ethics, administrative law, and national security law. 

The legal services subscription is only available thru West Publishing Corporation/West, A. Thomson Reuters Business. Westlaw has created a very comprehensive collection of databases that provide access to a wide range of legal resources, both primary and secondary sources and current and older materials.  Access to these resources would ensure that the most relevant supporting evidence is used in writing the Court’s orders and opinions. 
In addition to that, Thomson Reuters-West Publishing Corporation publications are copyrighted, and, therefore, are not available from other publishers.  Authors of these requested publications have entered into agreements allowing this vendor/publisher the sole rights to publish their works. 

As such this vendor has unique and proprietary legal databases and special editorial and navigation features that are not available elsewhere.

The anticipated award will be made under the authority of Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) 12.102.1(a)“Restricting Competition-only one source is available and the basis for the decision.” The NAICS code utilized for this procurement is 519290- “Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services”; Size Standard of 1000 employees.  The period of performance is estimated to be for one twelve-month base year period and four twelve-month option year periods.

This notice of intent is NOT a request for proposals or quotations. Requests for copies of a solicitation in response to this notice will not be honored or acknowledged. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed action based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether conducting a competitive procurement is in the best interest of the Government. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability by responding to this notice via email to whs.mc-alex.ad.mbx.ks@mail.mil , with a file size less than 5MB, Subject Line: Response to NOI AK060920261705, no later than 10:00 A.M. EST, 1 September 2026.  All information submitted should support the offerors’ capability to provide the services required and shall be furnished at no cost or obligation to the Government. The Government reserves the right to cancel the Sole Source Award.