D -- software services subscription which provides 24 hour/day financial and economic news coverage with a leased T1 circuit

The Department of Commerce’s Commerce Information Technology Solutions Division plans to negotiate a sole-source contract with Bloomberg, LP to acquire a software services subscription that provides comprehensive, around-the-clock financial and economic news coverage. This service includes real-time data and analysis on economic statistics, indices, markets, currency rates, bond markets, company and political developments, energy markets such as oil and natural gas, and analytics with contributions from notable sources like the International Monetary Fund and the Federal News Service. The contract will be structured as a firm-fixed price agreement with an initial twelve-month base period starting August 1, 2002, followed by four optional one-year extension periods. The subscription service also involves the use of a leased T1 circuit to ensure continuous access to the information. This procurement is a sole-source negotiation without competitive bidding, and inquiries regarding the contract are to be directed to the assigned contract specialist within ten days of the notice’s publication. The contract emphasizes the need for uninterrupted and comprehensive financial data, reflecting the importance of timely information for the Department of Commerce’s operational and analytical functions. The office responsible for this contract is located in Washington, D.C., under the Department of Commerce’s supervision.