Notification of the SEC's Intent to award a Single Source Purchase Order to The Financial Times Limited

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a Special Notice announcing its intent to award a single source purchase order to The Financial Times Limited for electronic subscriptions to the Financial Times newspaper. This procurement action is being conducted under FAR Part 13.106-1(b) as a non-competitive acquisition because the SEC's Contracting Officer has determined that The Financial Times Limited is the only reasonable source capable of meeting the agency's specific requirements. The publications provide specialized finance and business news coverage that is protected by copyright, making it impossible for alternative sources to fulfill this requirement. The anticipated contract structure includes a base year with one optional year, and the total value will remain below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold. The SEC plans to award the purchase order on or around August 20, 2025.

The primary purpose of this Special Notice is to inform the contracting community of the SEC's intention to proceed with a sole source procurement while providing an opportunity for interested parties to demonstrate their capabilities. Although this is not a competitive solicitation and no formal Request for Proposals will be issued, the government will consider responses from contractors who can identify their interest and capability to meet the stated requirements. Interested parties must submit their proposals or expressions of interest by July 31, 2025, to receive consideration. The procurement specifically targets electronic access to Financial Times content, which the SEC requires for its specialized finance and business news coverage needs. Any contractor believing they can provide equivalent services must demonstrate their ability to deliver the same copyrighted content and specialized financial reporting capabilities that The Financial Times Limited offers.