Wall Street Journal Digital and Wall Street Pro Subscriptions

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), a bureau within the Department of the Treasury, has published a special notice announcing its intent to issue a sole source contract to Dow Jones & Co., Inc. for Wall Street Journal Digital and Wall Street Journal Pro Central Banking subscriptions. The OCC plans to utilize simplified acquisition procedures under FAR 13.5 for commercial items, justifying the sole source approach under FAR 6.302-1 as only one responsible source can satisfy the agency's requirements. This proprietary newspaper service provides essential business news and financial sector developments that the OCC requires for bank supervision activities. The notice specifically covers subscriptions to both the standard Wall Street Journal Digital platform and the specialized WSJ Pro Central Banking service, which delivers global central banking news, analysis, and insights. The contract represents a renewal of the OCC's existing licenses with these publications.

The primary purpose of this special notice is to inform the market of the OCC's intention to proceed with a sole source procurement while providing an opportunity for other potential vendors to demonstrate their capabilities. Interested parties must submit pricing and technical documentation by August 22, 2025, to be considered for potential competitive procurement. The initial contract period will run from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, with four additional one-year option periods available. The OCC emphasizes that this notice is not a request for competitive quotes and that no formal solicitation document will be issued. Any information received will be evaluated primarily to determine whether the agency should reconsider its decision to conduct a sole source procurement. The agency retains full discretion in determining whether to proceed with competitive procurement based on responses to this notice.