The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Agricultural Library (NAL) intends to award a sole source contract to International Food Information Service (IFIS Publishing). The purpose of this award is to provide electronic access via the internet for all USDA users for selected Food Science and Technology (FSTA) database by purchasing a weekly data feed of updated FSTA records. The National Agricultural Library (NAL) is mandated (7 U.S.C. 3101) to serve as the primary agricultural information resource of the United States. One of its functions in that role is the acquisition of information in all aspects of agriculture and allied sciences. In support of this function, the NAL acquires databases in electronic format from publishers and makes the databases accessible to USDA employees and library patrons via the internet. In keeping with its charge to collect agricultural and related information, it seeks to maintain a collection of publications in various formats from a variety of publishers and sources. FSTA is a specialist abstracts database that, since 1969, has been the essential source of information on food science, food technology and human nutrition for anyone working in the food sector at any stage of the food manufacturing cycle. A wide range of food-related topics are covered in FSTA, including the chemistry and biotechnology of food, dietary information, food safety, public health issues, packaging, engineering and economics. FSTA contains more than 800,000 references; annual updates add approximately 18,000 references per year. Some 4600 publications in more than 40 languages are scanned regularly, including journals, reviews, standards, legislation, patents, books, theses, and conference proceedings. Abstracts with complete bibliographic details are produced from these original sources. Sources of all the materials abstracted are listed together with instructions for full text document delivery. Starting in January 2011, NAL has acquired FSTA records directly from IFIS and provides efficient database searching on its own platform, with other databases. To continue to make the FSTA database content available to its users, NAL must acquire the content directly from IFIS, the database publisher, in a format that will lend itself to NAL's uses. IFIS, the owner of the FSTA database, is the only vendor that can meet NAL's requirement for timely, ongoing delivery of FSTA database records in a format that will allow NAL to make the database records accessible on its own platform. Although the IFIS website lists the names of other vendors who provide FSTA database access, these other vendors, all provide access through their own proprietary platforms . Access to the FSTA database to be acquired through this proposed contract with IFIS is of vital importance to USDA researchers. USDA researchers have demonstrated the importance of the FSTA database to their research by their heavy past use of FSTA, made accessible through NAL's DigiTop service. During calendar year 2011, USDA researchers used the FSTA database 25,296 times. NAL would like to continue to subscribe to the FSTA database and make it accessible on the best possible platform so that USDA food researchers will be able to continue to benefit from using the valuable information in FSTA. The NAICS Code for this requirement is 519120 Libraries and Archives Authority for this sole source procurement is under 10 U.S.C.2403 (c) (1) as implemented in FAR 6.302-1, one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. This notice is not a request for competitive quotations. No solicitation document is available and telephone requests will not be honored. Any firm that believes it can provide the services listed above may submit substantiating documentation in writing to the identified point of contact. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. A determination not to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely at the discretion of the Government. The Point of Contact for this action is Mr. James Mills and any response must be emailed to
[email protected] . Verbal responses are not acceptable and will not be considered. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement no later than December 27, 2012.