Notice of Intent to Sole Source; UpToDate Medical Reference Database
Closed Special Notice Posted
- Solicitation number
- 70Z02325CHSWL0001
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 519290 Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services
- Place of performance
- Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The U.S. Coast Guard, under the Department of Homeland Security, has issued a Notice of Intent to Sole Source for the UpToDate Medical Reference Database. The Coast Guard intends to award a sole source contract valued at $221,017.99 to UpToDate, Inc., the original content provider, for subscription and access to their proprietary Online Medical Reference Database. This procurement is being conducted under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) authority, citing that only one responsible source exists and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The contract will serve approximately 218 privileged and 750 non-privileged Coast Guard healthcare personnel. The notice was posted on September 2, 2025, with interested parties having until September 17, 2025, to respond.
The purpose of this sole source procurement is to provide Coast Guard physicians and healthcare personnel with evidence-based, peer-reviewed medical reference content that supports clinical decision-making and integrates with existing Defense Health Agency systems. The Coast Guard conducted extensive market research across multiple strategic sourcing vehicles including GSA, Veterans Affairs, and Defense Logistics Service, but found no alternatives that could meet their specific requirements. Alternative resources such as DynaMed, BMJ Best Practice, and PubMed were evaluated but determined insufficient for the Coast Guard's operational needs. The contract pricing is estimated at approximately $350 per person annually and will provide access through both personal and government-furnished devices. No set-aside provisions apply to this procurement, and the justification emphasizes UpToDate's unique technical knowledge, proprietary clinical tools, and specialized expertise that no other vendor can provide.
Notice text
General Description: The US Coast Guard (USCG) intends to award a sole source contract to UpToDate, Inc., the original content provider, for the subscription and access to their proprietary Online Medical Reference Database (MRD). This procurement is being conducted under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.
Rationale: The rationale for this sole source procurement is based on the Coast Guard physicians need for an Online Medical Reference Database provided by UpToDate, Inc. As the unique content provider, UpToDate possesses technical knowledge, proprietary clinical tools, and specialized expertise required to deliver evidence-based, peer-reviewed, physician-authored medical reference content. No other vendor has the capability to provide the required database access and associated services due to the proprietary nature of the content and platform.
UpToDate is uniquely capable of satisfying the government’s operational and clinical needs as described in the attached justification.
Actions Taken to Remove Barriers to Competition: A search was conducted of strategic sourcing vehicles (SSVs) for DHS and the Coast Guard, but none were in scope or provided this type of service. A deeper review was conducted of the Defense Logistics Service (DLS), General Services Administration (GSA), Veterans Affairs (VA), and SAM.gov, none of which identified an existing government vehicle capable of meeting this requirement. Market research confirmed extensive use of UpToDate by DHS, Universities, fellow Military Services, and many others on a sole-source basis.
Conclusion: Based on the unique capabilities of UpToDate, Inc., the USCG intends to proceed with awarding a sole source contract to UpToDate, Inc., for the subscription and access required.
For any questions or concerns regarding this notice, please contact Jamison Harned, Contracting Officer, at Jamison.w.harned@uscg.mil.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| 09.SAP-Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition for FAR 13.1.pdf |
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