Description
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking potential sources who have the capability to develop a process for the acquisition of serials, for licensing of electronic access for information resources, and/or for the purchase of commercial content information services for EPA staff, on-site contractors, and other parties as needed. The serial subscriptions may include electronic access only or prints copies only, or both, at EPA's discretion. This is a sources sought synopsis for written information only from all potential sources. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) No. 511120 applies. This is not a solicitation announcement for proposals and no contract will be awarded from this announcement. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with provided information in response to this announcement and any follow-up information requests. No telephone calls requesting a solicitation will be accepted or acknowledged. Responses shall not exceed 10 pages and standard company brochures are not desired. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) consists of 10 regional offices across the United States, Washington, D.C. Headquarters, and 13 research laboratories and field sites across the country. EPA’s National Library Network facilitates the dissemination of information in a wide variety of formats, including print and electronic, to support the research mission of the Agency. The libraries within EPA’s Network serve as the focal point for access to the Agency’s collection of monographs (books, technical reports, and documents), serials (journals, annuals, and newsletters), conference proceedings, maps, charts, material produced in microform, and electronic information resources. The libraries require access to scientific, biomedical, technical literature, and electronic information resources/products from a wide variety of publishers and content providers throughout the world. The licensed access methods could include the following: • IP-authenticated electronic access; • authenticated access via Applications Protocol Interfaces (APIs); • username/password authenticated access; • fulfillment of print subscriptions with associated electronic access; and/or • the purchase of print and electronic information products on demand at a negotiated price structure. Specific functions may include any or all of the following: • Provide print subscription and shipping services to scientific and technical journals with accompanying electronic access; provide print archives, or have print access where electronic access is not feasible • Represent the Agency in the negotiation of license agreements (as a third-party licensee); • Aggregate Agency requirements for licensed access, including apportioned costs to organizations for Agency-wide access agreements; • Efficient management of funds provided for licensing, including accurate and complete reporting to support informed decisions; • Provide the capability to use "deposit accounts" for transactional access to information products that are sold individually Specific publishers and/or products that may be included in such an arrangement include, but are not limited to: • Serials subscription agents (i.e. EBSCO, SWETS, etc.) • Legal Publishers/Aggregators (i.e. West Group, Lexis-Nexis, Bureau of National Affairs, etc.) • Scientific Publishers/Aggregators (i.e. Wiley and Sons, Springer-Kluwer, Taylor & Francis, Elsevier Science, Cambridge Scientific, Thomson/ISI, etc.) • Technical Publishers/Aggregators (i.e. ASTM, CRC Press, Thomson/Dialog, etc.) • Business Publishers/Aggregators (i.e. Dun & Bradstreet, Choicepoint, Mergent, Hoovers, etc.) Potential sources are invited to submit, in writing, sufficient information, which demonstrates their ability to perform all facets of these services. Responses shall include the vendor’s business status (e.g. large, small, small disadvantaged, etc.) and should be submitted to the following address: U.S. EPA , Attn: Cary Grigsby, RTP Procurement Operations Division (E105-02), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. Hand carry/courier address is U.S. EPA, Attention: Cary Grigsby, RTP Procurement Operations Division (E105-02), 4930 Page Road, Durham, NC 27703. Responses shall be submitted no later than May 31, 2005.