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 an FY21 base effort with four option years. The period of performance for this subscription is estimated 1 September 2021 – 31 August 2026. Responses to this sources sought notice will assist a determination of whether it is in the best interest of the Government to proceed with a competition.

FSC: 7630

NAICS: 519130

Size Standard: 1,000 employees

Subscription name: EBSCO EBook Collections

Supplier name: EBSCO Industries, Inc.

Product description: EBSCO EBook Collections includes EBSCO Public Library and Cricket Media EBook Collections. Public Library Collection is a core general reference collection of more than 40,000 hand-selected e-books which features fiction titles for both adults and juveniles, as well as best-selling and highly-recommended titles from industry leading publishers. Cricket Media Collection is a unique e-book collection, available only through EBSCO and includes more than 750 unlimited access award winning titles, covering a wide range of subjects and designed to build strong literacy skills in young readers from pre-K to 8th grade. This special collection is offered as a cost effective annual subscription with new quarterly additions.

Product characteristics an equal item must meet to be considered:

• Must be able to provide to the Cricket Media content for ages pre-K to 8th grade
• Must be able to provide access to the 40K plus titles for both adults and juveniles from the EBSCO Public Library Collection
• Must be able to provide a user-friendly interface that increases the visibility of all titles in a library’s collection — whether they are included in publisher packages, aggregated packages, or individually subscribed e-resources
• The user interface needs to be customizable by users to meet the search preferences
• Needs to be able to apply limiters to expedite searching
• Needs to provide the option for a mobile application
• Must be able to provide password embedded URL’s for Library OPACs
• Must provide 24/7 unlimited and downloadable access for users
• Must be able to interface with the Air Force Portal, Army Knowledge Online (AKO), Marine Corps, Military OneSource, and Navy Digital Library (NDL) and the new OSD Library Services Platform (Stacks and EBSCO Discovery, HDQMWR-20-C-0009)

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 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 Megan Porter at [email protected] and Ashley Collins at [email protected] no later than 8 July 2021, 2:00 PM EST.  Any questions should be directed to Megan Porter through email. 

All responses should be received no later than 8 July 2021, 2:00 PM (Eastern).