D -- ACCESS TO NEWS SOURCES

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Communication is seeking a vendor that can provide access to the international, natinal, state and local news sources or services, including but not limited to to All Associated Press (AP)international, national, state and local wires, Rueter wires including Rueter's Commodities and News 2000, AP Washington Report, Dow Jones Vision, Knight Ridder Tribune Business Financial wire, and Oster Dow Jones; vendors using a web-based platform to provide information retrieval, handling, searching, sorting, republication and storage date of interest to the Government, the Government will be reviewing any additinal information handling capabilities the may offer. The vendor must provide for access to all news in (near real time) is defined as within one (1) hour of the information being placed on a wire service or published-broadcast by a news outlet (this requirement is essential). The Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under authority of FAR 6.302. Interest parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received by the response due date, will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed contract will be based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of whether to conduct a competitive procurement. The contract will be for one year (from date of award through 9/30/05). This contract will be a firm-fixed price. THE SOLICITATION IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. The approximate solicitation release date is on or about 10/7/04. The solicitation will be available and distributed solely through the Government Point of Entry (GPE)Federal Business Opportunities web site http://www.fedbizopps.gov. All future information about this acquisition, including solicitation/amendments will be distributed solely through the web site. Interested parties must obtain a DUNS number and register in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR)(www.ccr.gov) in order to transact business with USDA. This procurement will be conducted in accordance with FAR Part 12, Commercial Items procedures.