Science Citation Index-Expanded Subscription

The Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Integrated Service Network 5, issued a Notice of Intent to Sole Source on February 27, 2026, for a web-based subscription to the Science Citation Index-Expanded (SCIE). This special notice seeks qualified vendors to provide comprehensive online access to a scientific research database that covers over 9,500 major journals across 182 scientific disciplines, containing 61 million records and 1.1 billion cited references dating back to 1900. The VA intends to award a Firm Fixed Price contract with a one-year base period plus four one-year option periods to support unrestricted access for all HOME (Health Outcomes Military Exposures) staff and employees. The subscription must meet specific technical requirements including IP address validation and username/password authentication, accessibility from any web-enabled computer and remote VPN connections, and compatibility with major browsers such as Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome.

Interested vendors must submit their responses by 5:00 PM EDT on Friday, March 6, 2026, to naana.owusu-ansah@va.gov with required documentation including business name, business type, socio-economic status, point of contact information, GSA contract number if applicable, SAM UEI number, capability statement, and authorized distributor letter. The subscription service must support 508 compliance for accessibility, provide mobile device compatibility, maintain minimal system downtime, deliver responsive customer support within two business days, and furnish usage statistics at enterprise and IP levels. There are no specific socio-economic set-asides for this opportunity, and vendors should note that this notice is issued for planning and acquisition strategy development purposes and does not constitute a binding solicitation. The contracting office, located at the VA Medical Center in Washington DC, has assigned the Product Service Code R422 and NAICS Code 519290 to this procurement.