ProQuest (Microfilm)

Leon County, through the Florida Department of State, is pursuing a single source contract with ProQuest, LLC for an annual microfilm subscription covering five Florida newspapers: the Florida Times Union, Orlando Sentinel, Pensacola News Journal, Tampa Bay Times, and Tallahassee Democrat. The procurement is specifically for maintaining a comprehensive microfilm collection used by library staff, state employees, and the general public to provide research and information services as mandated by Florida Statutes. The procurement is structured as a sole source procurement, meaning ProQuest is the only authorized vendor capable of providing these specific microfilm materials. The contract's total value is $65,404.00, with the procurement notice issued on November 14, 2024, and responses due by November 19, 2024. The key deliverable is an annual subscription to microfilm collections that will support the State Library's statutory research and information service requirements. ProQuest has attested that these microfilm materials are exclusively available through their organization and not through any alternative third-party vendors.

There are no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on organizational respondents mentioned in the procurement documents. The contract appears to be directly awarded to ProQuest as the sole source provider without a competitive bidding process. The microfilm collection will integrate with the existing infrastructure of the Florida Department of State's Division of Library and Information Services, supporting their ongoing research and information service mandates. The procurement is targeted specifically at maintaining a timeless, durable, and comprehensive microfilm collection that enables continued public access to historical newspaper records. The contract represents a continuation of an existing relationship with ProQuest, utilizing their unique capability to provide these specialized microfilm subscriptions. The total contract value of $65,404.00 represents the annual cost for maintaining access to these five specific newspaper microfilm collections across the state.