Notice of Intent to sole source for Lhasa Ltd. database subscriptionContrac

The Environmental Protection Agency Office of Acquisition Management has published a Notice of Intent to sole source a database subscription renewal with Lhasa Ltd. This special notice announces the agency's intention to award a contract without competition for access to three specialized software programs: Derek Nexus, Meteor Nexus, and Sarah Nexus. The subscription will provide full membership to the Lhasa Ltd. database and accommodate ten users across the three software platforms. The notice was posted on August 21, 2025, and establishes the agency's justification for pursuing a sole source procurement approach. The contract falls under the NAICS code 541511 for Custom Computer Programming Services and PSC category DA10 for IT and Telecom Business Application Software as a Service.

The primary purpose of this subscription is to support EPA's New Chemical Division scientists in conducting risk assessments of new chemicals as mandated by Section 5 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This procurement directly supports Administrator Zeldin's Pillar 3 initiative focusing on Permitting Reform, Cooperative Federalism, and Cross-Agency Partnership through the new chemical review program's permitting and approval processes. Interested parties have until August 26, 2025, to respond to this notice, providing a brief five-day response window. The initial contract period will run from August 25, 2025, through August 24, 2026, with two additional option years extending the potential contract through August 24, 2028. Since this is structured as a sole source procurement, the agency has predetermined Lhasa Ltd. as the intended contractor, limiting competitive opportunities for other vendors. The database access and specialized software tools are positioned as critical resources enabling EPA scientists to fulfill their regulatory responsibilities under federal chemical safety legislation.