D--Renewal of Westlaw Timesharing Services

The U.S. Department of Energy plans to award a sole source contract to West Services, Inc. for continued access to Westlaw Legal Timesharing Services. This contract is designated for supplies or services to be negotiated with only one source under FAR 6.302, indicating no competitive bidding will take place. The notice serves as an announcement of the intent to award rather than a solicitation for proposals, although interested parties are encouraged to respond within 45 days by submitting their capability statements and pricing information electronically through the DOE's Industry Interactive Procurement System. The government retains discretion over whether to open the procurement to competition based on the responses received. The contract, titled "Renewal of Westlaw Timesharing Services," carries the solicitation number DE-RQ01-03IM00014 and was publicly posted on May 5, 2003. This renewal emphasizes the continued relationship with West Services, Inc., located in Washington, DC. While it is a presolicitation notice, no restrictions such as set-asides or specific NAICS codes are identified. The government is primarily focused on maintaining uninterrupted access to the specialized legal research services provided by Westlaw under this arrangement.