T--IHS Subscription

Agency Contact Information: Acquisition Services Directorate National Business Center Department of the Interior 381 Elden Street, Suite 4000 Herndon, VA 20170 Mike McGuire [email protected] Place of Performance: Washington, DC. The Government intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, a firm-fixed-price (FFP) acquisition with IHS. This non-competitive action is being issued by the Acquisition Services Directorate under the authority of the Department of the Interior Franchise Fund on the behalf of the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Services (FAS). Description of Requirement: This is a world trade data base that provides current monthly import/export trade data for 85 countries. FAS, ERS and the World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB) use the data to project the outlook for global agricultural trade, determine country agricultural production, and to determine trade agricultural patterns for negotiating FTA's. Cooperators use the data, to determine trade patterns, market intelligence, and world agricultural competition. ERS uses it for long term economic studies. IHS publishes the official merchandise trade data by HS Code, for over 85 countries in its database. This data is updated monthly and includes export and import data from the most general to the most detailed level of the HS available from each reporting country. No other company or government agency, other than the UN, has collected such an extensive database and no one, in the public or private sector, has been successful in duplicating the IHS interface. The assembly of the data, cross checking, underlying calculations, standardized presentation of the resulting analysis, the single user-interface providing easy and effective navigation of such a large set of data makes the IHS database cost effective and efficient. The ability to access and manipulate the data offered in the format designed by IHS greatly enhances staff's ability to provide quick and accurate trade-related analysis. This action is being processed in accordance with FAR 13, only one responsible source. IHS currently provides this type of subscription. No other organization is known to provide this type of subscription. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities regarding this requirement by submitting a capabilities statement by the date specified herein. The period of performance for this effort will be one year and may include four one year option periods. The Government will consider all capabilities statements received by 1pm EST, Tuesday, August 1, 2017. Please be advised that it is the offeror's responsibility to assure the Government receives your submission on or before the specified due date. Submissions shall be sent electronically to Michael McGuire, Contracting Officer at [email protected]. This is NOT a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed action based upon responses to this announcement is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received is solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive acquisition. The Government reserves the right to issue a Request for Quote (RFQ) as a result of this announcement. Please be advised that this announcement may constitute the only notice that will be posted for this acquisition, based on the review of any responses to this notice.