SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS

THIS IS A Sources Sought Notice ONLY.  The U.S. Government currently intends to award a contract for USAWC Army heritage Education Center (AHEC) on a SOLE SOURCE basis but is seeking vendors that may be able to perform this requirement in order to support a competitive procurement. Accordingly, the U.S. Government highly encourages all interested businesses (large and small) to respond to this source sought synopsis.  In addition, small businesses, in all socioeconomic categories (including, 8(a) Business Development Program, Small Disadvantage Business, Historically Underutilized Business Zone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Women-Owned Small Business concerns), must describe their identifying capabilities in meeting the requirements at a fair market price, i.e., information which may help support a set-aside.

The proposed sole source Blanket Purchase Agreement contract to OverDrive for electronic books and audiobooks.  The statutory authority for the sole source procurement is FAR 13.106-1(b)(1): For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), only one source reasonably available, urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name, or industrial mobilization. OverDrive provides a custom collection of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and more that’s open to students, faculty, and staff 24/7. U. S. Army War College can select titles based on our own needs, from their catalog of more than 3 million titles from over 30,000 publishers. Users can access our OverDrive digital library using the award-winning Libby app on their phone, tablet, or computer. They can also send borrowed ebooks to Kindle (U.S. only) or download and transfer them to supported ereaders.

This notice does not constitute a Request for Quote (RFQ) or a promise to issue an RFQ in the future. This notice does not commit the U.S. Government to contract for any supply or service.  Further, the U.S. Government is not seeking quotes, bids or proposals at this time and will not accept unsolicited proposals in response to this sources sought notice.  The U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this notice.  Submittals will not be returned to the responder.  A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.  However, if a competitive solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Governmentwide Point of Entry.  It is the responsibility of potential offerors to monitor the Governmentwide Point of Entry for additional information pertaining to this requirement.  The NAICS code(s) is:  424920, Books merchant wholesalers, 200 employees; PSC code:  R419 Educational Services.

In response to this sources sought, please provide:

1.  Identify any condition or action that may be having the effect of unnecessarily restricting competition with respect to this acquisition and identify alternatives or solution solutions.  Also contact the MICC Advocate for Competition, Scott Kukes, at [email protected] or 210-466-3015, if you believe that this action is unreasonably restricting competition.  Include the subject of the acquisition, this announcement, and the MICC POC information from the Sources Sought Synopsis.  Provide the specific aspects that unreasonably restrict competition and the rationale for such conclusion.

2.  Name of the firm, point of contact, phone number, email address, DUNS number, CAGE code, identify business size (large business or a small business), and if applicable, a statement regarding small business status (including small business type(s)/certifications(s) such as SDB, 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, etc.) and the corresponding NAICS code.

3.  Identify whether your firm is interested in competing for this requirement as a prime contractor or not.  Identify subcontracting, joint ventures or teaming arrangement that will be pursued, if any.

4.  Information in sufficient detail regarding previous experience (indicate whether as a prime contractor or subcontractor) on similar requirements (include size, scope, complexity, timeframe, government or commercial), pertinent certifications, etc., that will facilitate making a capability determination. The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center requires the following services from OverDrive to be purchased. The services are needed to provide electronic books and electronic audiobooks to be purchased in support of research and coursework for the U. S. War College students, faculty, and staff.  The US Army Heritage and Education Center has regularly provided print material for the U.S. Army War College, and the faculty, students and staff are looking to provide access to electronic material, for resident and non-resident research needs.  USAHEC sees an increasing need to provide research material in multiple formats.

5.  Information to help determine if the requirement (item or service) is commercially available, including pricing information, basis for the pricing information (e.g., market pricing, catalog pricing), delivery schedules, customary terms and conditions, warranties, etc.

6.  Identify how the Army can best structure these contract requirements to facilitate competition, including competition among small business concerns.

7.  Recommendations to improve the Army's approach/specifications/draft PWS/PRS to acquiring the identified items/services.