ProQuest (MIcrofilm)

The Florida Department of State is pursuing a single-source procurement for an annual microfilm newspaper subscription through ProQuest LLC, specifically targeting five Florida newspapers: Florida Times Union, Orlando Sentinel, Pensacola News Journal, Tampa Bay Times, and Tallahassee Democrat. The procurement is for a one-year term from January 1, 2025 to December 21, 2025, with the primary objective of fulfilling daily research and archival requests from library staff, state employees, and the general public. The contract's key deliverable is comprehensive microfilm access to these newspapers, which are critical for historical research, particularly for obituary and article retrieval. The procurement is being conducted through Leon County, with a formal solicitation document (PUR 7776) detailing the intended single-source purchase. The total estimated procurement value is $65,404.00, and the due date for this opportunity is November 13, 2024. ProQuest has been identified as the sole source vendor, having attested that these specific microfilm materials are exclusively available through their organization.

This procurement appears to be a non-competitive, direct source acquisition without explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on organizational respondents. ProQuest LLC is the incumbent and sole identified vendor for these microfilm subscriptions, with no alternative third-party providers noted. The contract does not indicate any specific provisions for disadvantaged business enterprises or alternative vendor qualifications. The procurement is specifically for digital archival materials, suggesting potential integration with existing state library and research infrastructure. The budget range is precisely defined at $65,404.00 for the annual subscription, covering microfilm content from five major Florida newspapers. The procurement seems focused on maintaining continuous access to historical newspaper records for research and public information purposes, with ProQuest being recognized as the exclusive provider of these specific microfilm materials.