Sources Sought Notice – CAS SciFinder

Subject: Notice of intent to award a sole-source contract to The American Chemical Society

THIS IS A Sources Sought Notice ONLY.  The United States Military Academy (USMA), Library at West Point, NY intends to award on a sole source contract basis under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) Sole source (including brand name) acquisitions, to procure Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) SciFinder. This procurement is a comprehensive database for chemical literature, searchable by topic, author, substances by name or registry number

This notice is being published in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 5.101(a)(1) requiring the dissemination of information on proposed contract actions. This is a notice of intent to award a sole-source contract and is not a request for competitive proposals.

The proposed contract is for CAS SciFinder database produced by the Chemical Abstracts Service for chemical literature.

The Government intends to solicit with only one source under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), pursuant to the statutory authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) as implemented by FAR 13.106-1(b)(2). For purchases exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, the requirements at 13.501(a) apply to sole-source (including brand-name) acquisitions of commercial products and commercial services conducted pursuant to FAR subpart 13.5.

The Mission Installation Contracting Command (MICC)- West Point, on behalf of USMA Library, intends to award a sole source, firm fixed price contract to the American Chemical Society 1155 16TH ST NW, Washington, DC 20036 for CAS SciFinder.

The anticipated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 519290 with the associated size standard of 1000 employees.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to meet all aspects of the requirement. Responses should be addressed to Mr. Kelly Kotlik at kelly.p.kotlik2.civ@army.mil no later than 1100 hrs. EST on Monday, 3 February 2025. A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.

This notice does not constitute a Request for Quote (RFQ)/Invitation for Bid (IFB)/Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFQ, IFB or RFP in the future.  This notice does not commit the U.S. Government to contract for any supply or service.  Further, the U.S. Government is not seeking quotes, bids or proposals at this time and will not accept unsolicited proposals in response to the sources sought notice.  The U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this notice.

Any information provided in response to the sources sought will not be returned to the responder.  Each potential source is also requested to provide the contract number(s), dollar value(s) and brief description of work previously or currently being performed, which specifically demonstrates the contractor’s ability to successfully satisfy the requirements of the Technical Services.  Firms shall also provide point of contact information where available for the efforts cited above.

Not responding to this notice does not preclude participation in any future RFQ or IFB or RFP, if any is issued.  If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Governmentwide Point of Entry.  It is the responsibility of potential offerors to monitor the Governmentwide Point of Entry for additional information pertaining to this requirement.

In response to this sources sought, please provide:

1.  Identify any condition or action that may be having the effect of unnecessarily restricting competition with respect to this acquisition and identify alternatives or  solutions. Provide the specific aspects that unreasonably restrict competition and the rationale for such conclusion.

2.  Name of the firm, point of contact, phone number, email address, DUNS number, CAGE code, identify business size (large business or a small business), and if applicable, a statement regarding small business status (including small business type(s)/certifications(s) such as SDB, 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, etc.) and the corresponding NAICS code.

3.  Identify whether your firm is interested in competing for this requirement as a prime contractor or not.  Identify subcontracting, joint ventures or teaming arrangement that will be pursued, if any.

4.  Information in sufficient detail regarding previous experience (indicate whether as a prime contractor or subcontractor) on similar requirements (include size, scope, complexity, timeframe, government or commercial), pertinent certifications, etc., that will facilitate making a capability determination. 

5.  Information to help determine if the requirement (item or service) is commercially available, including pricing information, basis for the pricing information (e.g., market pricing, catalog pricing), delivery schedules, customary terms and conditions, warranties, etc.

6.  Identify how the Army can best structure these contract requirements to facilitate competition, including competition among small business concerns.

7.  Recommendations to improve the Army's approach/specifications/draft PWS/PRS to acquiring the identified items/services.