D -- Information Services

The Department intends to issue a purchase order to EBSCO Information Services/EBSCO Publishing, 10 Estes Street, P.O Box 682, Ipswich, MA 01938 for subscription to provide access to selected electronic databases for the National Library of Education. Providing a central location within the Federal Government for information about education and providing comprehensive reference services on matters related to education. The Library maintains subscriptions to print copies to Mental Measurements Yearbook and Tests in Print; however, users prefer the online editions of these products as they are easily searchable and desktop accessible. Since the Library specializes in education literature, it is important that all major education databases be represented in its collection of information services. This procurement provides access to selected journals, commercial reference books, and grey literature for Library staff to use in responding to reference questions and for ED staff and selected contractors to use to conduct their own searches. The purchase order will include EBSCOHOST Mental Measures Yearbook (renewal), Test in Print (new), ERIC (renewal), EconLit with Full-text (new), Education Research Complete (renewal), Library Information Science and Technology Abstracts (renewal). In order to support the critical mission and recognizing EBSCO's status as the representative to the organization undertaking this work, ED intends to place a contract on a sole source basis to EBSCO, pursuant to FAR 6.302-1, 41 U.S.C. 253 (c)(1), for Information technology services, including telecommunications services related to providing access to selected electronic databases. Because all these databases operate on the EBSCOHost search engine platform and are unique to EBSCOHost, they are uniquely qualified to perform the needed work and is the only source that will satisfy ED's requirement. All responsible sources, however, may submit a proposal that shall be considered by the agency.