This is a Sources Sought Announcement Only. It is neither a solicitation announcement nor a request for proposals or quotes and does not obligate the Government to award a contract. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. Responses to this Sources Sought must be in writing. The purpose of this Sources Sought announcement is for market research to make appropriate acquisition decisions and to gain knowledge of potential qualified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses, Veteran Owned Small Businesses, 8(a), HubZone and other Small Businesses interested and capable of providing the services described below. Documentation of technical expertise must be presented in sufficient detail for the Government to determine that your company possesses the necessary functional area expertise and experience to compete for this acquisition. Responses to this notice shall include the following: (a) company name (b) address (c) point of contact (d) phone, fax, and email (e) DUNS number (f) Cage Code (g) Tax ID Number (h) Type of small business, e.g. Services Disabled Veteran Owned small Business, Veteran-owned small business, 8(a), HUBZone, Women Owned Small Business, Small disadvantaged business, or Small Business HUBZone business and (i) must provide a capability statement that addresses the organizations qualifications and ability to perform as a contractor for the work described below in italic. The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) located at 3601 S. 6th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85723 is seeking a potential qualified contractor that can provide journal subscription services to the VA Health Care System. Contractor shall be responsible for the management, labor and equipment necessary to provide subscriptions for databases, e-books, e-journals, point-of-care and other related online services from multiple publishing houses. Subscriptions shall include single or multiple addresses for domestic and foreign periodicals and related services. Related services include paying publishers, handling claims for non-receipt, cancellations, submission of required reports and other service problems. The Contractor shall provide these services for the VA Health Care System locations indicated. Title listings provided by VAMC Libraries will vary by each location. Approximately 85% of subscriptions placed by the Customers will be renewal subscriptions. Contractor shall provide basic subscription services that would include all of the tasks necessary to execute and manage orders for new and renewal subscriptions to publications. These tasks fall into the following four critical areas: (1) Ordering subscriptions; (2) Serving as the fiscal agent with publishers, including making timely prepayments, processing refunds, claims, supplemental and bill-later charges; (3) Ensuring timely and complete delivery of ordered subscriptions; and (4) Providing reports and other administrative support for subscriptions management. Contractor shall provide subscription services for all subscriptions in all media generally available via agents from foreign and domestic publishers, if the ordering customer can supply sufficient publication information. After the initial year, the Contractor shall forward a copy of the renewal list to the Station by July 15. The Station will review the confirmation list for accuracy, make any editing or other changes, and forward the confirmation list to the Contractor. Contractors shall place the renewal orders in an electronic format with the publishers within ten (10) business days of receiving the confirmation list or authorization to order, whichever is later. In those cases where follow up is required by the Contractor before an order can be placed, the Contractor shall notify the Station CO within five (5) business days of the problem and resolve in an expeditious manner. Contractors shall supply materials from a wide range of publishers, to include, but not limited to: Medical publishers General circulation periodical publishers Trade publishers University presses Societies and Associations, Scientific Societies and Associations, Non-Scientific Small Presses Non-paper format publishers Government agencies Quasi-Governmental organizations (e.g., United Nations, World Health Organization) Subject areas shall include materials in the following listing of subject/categories (Not intended to be all inclusive): Health Sciences Allied Health Sciences Social and Behavioral Sciences Science and Technology Management Business and Administration Marketing General Interest Delivery Locations Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) 3601 South 6th Ave. Tucson, AZ 85723 Northern Arizona VA Health Care System (NAVAHCS) 500 Hwy 89N Prescott, AZ 86313 New Mexico VA Health Care System (NMVAHCS) VA Cooperative Studies Program Clinical Research Pharmacy Coordinating Center 2401 Centre Avenue, SE Albuquerque, NM 87106-4180 Phoenix VA Health Care System (PVAHCS) 650 E. Indian School Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85012 Important Information: The Government is not obligated to nor will it pay for or reimburse any costs associated with responding to the sources sought synopsis request. This notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach. The Government will in no way be bound to this information if any solicitation is issued. The VA is mandated by Public Law 109-461 to consider a total set-aside for Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business set aside. However, if response by Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business firms proves inadequate, an alternate set-aside or full and open competition may be determined. No sub-contracting opportunity is anticipated. The North American Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 519190 All Other Information Services (27.5 Million). Notice to Potential Offerors: All offerors who provide goods or services to the United States Federal Government must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov and complete Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA). Additionally, all Service Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses or Veteran Owned Businesses who respond to a solicitation on this project must be registered with the Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Veterans Enterprise VetBiz Registry located at http://vip.vetbiz.gov. All interested Offerors should submit information by e-mail, mail, or ground carrier to: Southern AZ VA HealthCare System, 3601 S. 6th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85743 or by e-mail to
[email protected]. All information submissions to be marked Attn: Arcelia Medina Contracting Specialist, and should be received no later than 1600 AZ time on the due date found on page 1 of the sources sought notice.