Opportunity: Elsevier ScienceDirect Journal Platform Subscription renewal

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE-SOURCE DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT: This contract action is for the acquisition of supplies for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority and procedures of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 13.500(a). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Acquisition Solutions (OAS) intends to award a single source purchase order to ELSEVIER B.V., Radarweg 29 Amsterdam, Noord-holland, 1043 NX, Netherlands, for the acquisition of scientific and technical journals from the publisher Elsevier through their ScienceDirect platform. The anticipated period of performance is January 01, 2023 – December 31, 2024, with four (4) twelve (12) month option periods. The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 513120 “Periodical Publishers”. Its associated Small Business Size Standard is 1,000 employees. The Office of Mission Support (OMS), Environmental Information Offices (EIO), Office of Enterprise Information Programs, Libraries and Accessibility Division requires continuation of this subscription to the Elsevier Science Direct as well as the ScienceDirect Freedom Collection of journals to give EPA scientists access to the following specific journals that are only provided by Elsevier through their ScienceDirect platform: Science of The Total Environment, Chemosphere, Environment International, Water Research, and Environmental Pollution. Current usage statistics demonstrate that the above titles have collectively been accessed and referenced over 55,000 times by EPA science personnel during the year 2021. In addition to the specific titles mentioned above, EPA requires access to the collection of about 2,300 scientific peer-reviewed journals on the ScienceDirect platform that cover disciplines such as chemistry, computer science, earth and planetary sciences, energy, engineering, materials science, and mathematics. Access to these journals support the work of agency scientists who require articles to stay current on the latest research in their respective fields of expertise. In 2021, Elsevier journals were utilized over 300,000 times indicating a critical need by EPA researchers. Office of Enterprise Information Programs, Libraries and Accessibility Division is seeking to renew the existing subscription to the Elsevier Science Direct as well as the ScienceDirect Freedom Collection of journals because alternative publishers in the marketplace cannot meet the needs of the EPA researchers as they do not have the depth and breadth and specific titles offered in the Elsevier B.V. journals catalog. Elsevier B.V., is the sole supplier and only source reasonably available to meet the Government’s needs. EPA will solicit and negotiate directly with Elsevier B.V., and no solicitation will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals or quotations; however, if an interested party believes they can meet the above requirement, all responsible sources may submit a response which shall be considered by the agency. The information must be submitted in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow the Government to determine if the party can meet the requirement. Offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All interested parties must express their interest in writing via email to williams.phillip@epa.gov within fifteen (15) days after the date of publication of this notice. No faxed documents will be accepted.