The United States Air Force (the Government) intends to issue a Firm-Fixed-Price Purchase order to a single source, Niche Academy LLC, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) (only one source reasonably available) on or about 30 September 2021.  The period of performance (PoP) shall be from 30 September 2021 – 29 September 2022. Four one-year options are anticipated that would extend the PoP through 29 September 2026. 

FSC: 7630

NAICS: 519130

Size Standard: 1,000 employees

Subscription name:   Niche Academy Platform

Supplier name:  Niche Academy LLC

Product description: Niche Academy Platform is built to increase public awareness of library digital resources and help patrons learn how to use them. This service creates and maintains ready-to-use tutorials for specific electronic services in use. These services include for example, OverDrive, IndieFlix, Kanopy, and Ancestry Library.

Product characteristics an equal item must meet to be considered:

• Must be able to provide a platform that allows each tutorial to be branded and customized specifically for DoD Libraries
• Must be able to provide content/training providers including but not limited to: EBSCO, Gale/Cengage, ProQuest, and Overdrive
• Must be able to provide website integration options including widgets that can be presented within the library website as carousels, buttons, icons, or appealing promotional
• Provide continually updated staff/customer training / how-to’s for creating guides and using various library online resources
• Must be able to provide a platform that allows subscribers to create their own tutorials for staff or patron instruction

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations.  However, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the Government.  The Government will consider responses received within 5 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 decides to compete 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 solely within the discretion of the Government. 

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. If this posting specifically references brand name products, offerors are encouraged to suggest products other than those specifically referenced.  Responses must address how the alternate product meets the product characteristics specified above.

3. Submitted information shall be UNCLASSIFIED.

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

Responses should be emailed to Megan Porter at [email protected] and Ashley Collins at [email protected] no later than 16 August 2021, 2:00 PM EST.  Any questions should be directed to Ashley Collins through email.