Description
INTRODUCTION The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Program Contracting Activity Central (PCAC) intends to award a contract on a sole source basis to Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) for 'OCLC Cataloging' and 'WorldShare Interlibrary Loan' subscription services. These subscriptions would provide each library within the VA Library Network (VALNET) with unique authorization access to all subscriber benefits. BACKGROUND Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) is a nonprofit organization of cooperating library members which has developed a computerized system for creating and maintaining a regularly-updated database of bibliographic holdings and other information supplied by such members and other parties. OCLC's WorldCat online catalog platform is regarded as the world's largest network of library content and services. OCLC has created certain related products including, but not limited to, the WorldShare Interlibrary Loan product. REQUIREMENT DESCRIPTION The contractor shall provide cataloging subscription services to include individual VALNET library access to sufficient numbers of bibliographic records to catalog titles added to collections with the output being either catalog cards, or electronic MARC records for import into local online access catalogs. The contractor shall provide all VALNET libraries with database access that would allow for identifying holders of information materials from thousands of libraries globally. The contractor shall also provide VALNET libraries with the ability to add bibliographic records for titles that are held by VALNET libraries, but for which corresponding records do not already exist within the database. The contractor shall provide resource sharing subscription services which will provide VALNET libraries with the ability to manage interlibrary loan policies, automate interlibrary loan workflows, efficiently track borrowed and loaned material, and to join resource-sharing groups. Unique holdings codes for VALNET libraries are necessary to ensure that VA-owned material is consistently available across the network. CONTRACTOR UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS The size and scope of OCLC's union catalog is unique as it currently contains records identifying over 200 million individual titles, published and in manuscript, held by member libraries globally. This represents more than one billion location listings. Items cataloged in the OCLC union catalog represent approximately 470 languages, spanning over 4,000 years of recorded knowledge, in all formats (i.e. print on paper, microforms, electronic data and programs, sound and video recordings, motion pictures and broadcasts, scores, manuscripts, archives and ancient materials). This same system is used to fulfill interlibrary loan requests, simplifying the process between lenders and borrowers who are sharing the same platform. OCLC is the only source that offers the scope, volume, or utility relative to Cataloging and interlibrary loan services that is required by VA. OCLC has products and services for nearly every aspect of library management; the most important for VA being the interlibrary loan utility that serves as a resource sharing database for libraries. A VA library can locate almost any material across the U.S., or in some cases internationally and borrow it through their OCLC interlibrary loan subscription. While there are other such services, none are available as a package, nor do their bibliographic databases contain as many records. VA has been a subscriber to OCLC products for several years and has been an overall contributor for over 30 years. It is neither cost effective nor viable for a library network to change from one system to another on a short-term basis. Cataloging and interlibrary loan processes could be done manually; however, this would require a significant increase of library personnel. ADMINISTRATIVE The VHA PCAC anticipates a single award, firm-fixed price contract in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) parts 12 and 13. The anticipated contract period will be the 12 months beginning October 01, 2015. The applicable NAICS code is 519120 with a size standard of $15.0 million. The proposed contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source pursuant to the authority of FAR 13.106-1 (b). Responsible sources may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit a quotation or capability statement. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, responses received within fifteen days after date of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. (End of Notice)