This is a Sources Sought Synopsis published by the United States Air Force (the Government or USAF). There is no solicitation available at this time. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. The purpose of this sources sought notice is to conduct market research to determine whether there are businesses available capable of providing an alternative product that meets the characteristics below. The Air Force anticipates procuring this product as a FY21 base effort with one (1) 12-month option. The period of performance for this subscription is 30 September 2021 –29 September 2022. If the option would be exercise, it would extend the period of performance through 29 September 2023. Responses to this sources sought notice will assist a determination of whether it is in the best interest of the Government to exercise the existing option or to proceed with a competition.

FSC: 7630

NAICS: 519130

Size Standard: 1,000 employees

Subscription name: Baker & Taylor Kits

Supplier name: Baker & Taylor

Product description: Baker & Taylor DVD/Blu-Ray Kits and associated services for Air Force or Air Force-sponsored units located in isolated and remote geographic areas.

Product characteristics an equal item must meet to be considered:

• Must be able to provide materials for collection development in formats that include DVD and BluRay
• Must be able to offer two different DVD and BluRay kits with varying titles monthly
• The vendor must offer two types of flexible DVD/BluRay kit plans providing selection from a significant collection of new release or high demand titles
• The vendor must provide reliable monthly selection lists ensuring that selections will be new release or high demand titles
• The customer also desires the ability to select older titles re-released in DVD and BluRay titles that may not be on the selection lists
• The customer excludes the following content: all children's and comics/graphic novels materials.
• Each kit should be 1 box and shipped to requested locations
• Kit DVD A must consist of 10 DVD titles, selected from current popular titles. Will ship to: 50 sites, 12 monthly shipments of 10 DVDs per kit, for a total of 6,000 DVDs and must include option to purchase all titles included in kits
• Kit DVD B must consists of 10 DVD additional titles, selected from current popular titles. Will ship to: 20 sites, 12 monthly shipments of 10 DVDs per kit, for a total of 2,400 DVDs. Must include option to purchase all titles included in kits
• Must be able to provide material of new releases, current best sellers as well as a back catalog of older material
• NO Duplication of titles in the kits
• Requires access to the vendor's pre-publication lists with advance notice of new releases, and access to information about other titles available.
• Must include the following general content: all genres (for example: drama, comedy, mystery/thriller, fantasy/ science fiction, action/adventure, animation, foreign language); non-fiction and documentaries on general topics (for example: biography, travel, history, military, personal development, health and psychology)
• Shall provide a multi-tier web-based system for review and selection. The system shall offer access to information about publications such as reviews, selection lists, release dates, publisher's list prices, DVD covers, descriptions, etc. Librarians shall have their own unique logins to select items, build carts, and submit selections to the Contractor, or notifications to the ordering officer, who will then submit the selections to the Contractor.
• Selections shall be allowed at minimum once a month
• Items received in error or in unacceptable condition shall be replaced and shipped to the customer at no additional cost. Return of such items shall not be required.
• Shipping shall be via U.S. Postal Service First Class and Priority Mail, UPS, FedEx Ground, or similar to APO addresses, either New York, NY or San Francisco, CA. No international shipping is required.
• No technical or physical processing is required
• The vendor shall ship items in complete kits on a monthly basis. Kits must be packaged and labeled separately for each location. Must be able to dedicate customer service representative to resolve all service issues

The Government will consider responses received within 15 days of issuance of this notice. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct a full and open competitive procurement or a small business set aside competitive procurement. The Government will not pay for any information received in response to this announcement.

If the Government competes this requirement, a synopsis shall be issued utilizing the combined synopsis/solicitation procedure identified in FAR 12.603. If this effort becomes a Small Business Set-Aside, FAR 52.219-14, Limitation on Subcontracting, will apply. Therefore, small businesses that want to be considered for a small business set-aside should demonstrate how they intend to comply. 

A determination not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is an administrative decision by the Government that is solely within its discretion. 

Contractors should be aware of the following information:

1. Contractors must include the following information:

• Points of contact, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers.
• Identification as a large U.S. business, a small U.S. business, or a foreign business. Please note that size indicated should be based on the NAICS code for this effort listed above.
• Identification of any other socioeconomic status including: Women-Owned Small Business, Economically Disadvantaged Small Business, 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, Veteran Owned Small Business or HUBZone.
• Company CAGE Code or DUNS Number. 

2. This requirement is not intended for specific brand name products. Offerors are encouraged to suggest products other than those that may be specifically referenced by brand name. Responses must address how alternate product meet the product characteristics specified above.

3. Submitted information shall be UNCLASSIFIED.

4. Responses are limited to of 10 pages in a Microsoft Word compatible format.

Any information submitted by respondents to this sources sought synopsis is strictly voluntary.  The Government will not reimburse the respondents for any costs associated with their response.  This synopsis does not constitute a Request for Proposals nor does its issuance restrict the Government as to its ultimate acquisition approach.  The Government reserves the right to contact the submitting parties, on an as required basis, for further clarification on material provided.  Respondents should not construe this notice as a commitment by the Air Force for any purpose.

Responses should be emailed to Emily Dotson at [email protected] and Ashley Collins at [email protected] no later than 18 August 2021, 2:00 PM EST.  Any questions should be directed to Emily Dotson through email.

All responses should be received no later than 18 August 2021, 2:00 PM (Eastern).