THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. This notice is for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. This procurement will be processed pursuant to FAR part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items. No solicitation will be issued.

Potential sources who are licensed to provide the services listed are invited to submit substantiating documentation in writing to the identified point of contact. Information received will be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. A determination by the Government to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely at the discretion of the Government. Responses are to be received within 10 days of this notice. No telephone calls are being accepted.

The United States Department Agriculture (USDA), Agriculture Research Service (ARS), National Agricultural Library (NAL) intends to negotiate and award on a sole source basis, a one (1) year Firm Fixed Price contract to Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. for continuous electronic access via the Internet to selected scientific journals published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.  Electronic access shall be provided with a period of performance from January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018.

Award is pursuant to 41.U.S.C.253(c)(1)-Only One responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Only Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., as the copyright holder of its journals, can and will provide immediate current and perpetual access and perpetual data rights to its content.

Access shall be for all USDA employees, contractors, authorized public on-site users, cooperators, and volunteers performing work on behalf of USDA. All USDA locations worldwide are considered authorized premises. In addition to internal use, authorized users have the right to use journal content for ordinary business, scholarly and educational purposes of the Government, including but not limited to viewing, printing, saving, reusing and disseminating content

The publisher shall make the subscribed content accessible via the internet 24 hours per day. Authorized users will be granted access to the subscribed content through the IP recognition authentication process without any impediments.

Perpetual access: The right to perpetual use of the subscribed-to content will survive the termination of the contract for any reason. The contractor shall provide post-cancellation access via IP authentication to the subscribed-to content and access must survive the expiration of the contract.

The contractor shall grant Perpetual Data Rights to the subscribed-to content should the subscription not be renewed or terminated for any reason. Upon request, vendor will provide Content published within the subscription period via electronic files delivered to NAL in a mutually agreed- to electronic medium and format.

NAL is mandated by 7 USC 3125a to serve as the primary agricultural information resource of the United States. One of its functions is the comprehensive acquisition of material that contains reports of original research, new scientific findings, information of potential historical value, and information that would support USDA's research. In order to meet its mission, NAL must obtain immediate, un-embargoed access, with perpetual access and perpetual data rights, to journals and related information products that support USDA's research.

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