Direct Hosting and Software Maintenance

This is a notice of intent by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to contract with Ex Libris (USA) Inc., 1350 E. Touhy Ave., Suite 200E, Des Plaines, IL, 60018-3303; on a sole source basis to provide direct hosting and software maintenance on the FDA's Bioscience Library's Integrated Library System and associated modules (Aleph and SFX,) for a base period of 12-months with four 12-months option periods. The FDA purchased the Integrated Library System in 2007 and is currently using the Aleph and SFX modules. The Integrated Library system provides academic, research, and national libraries with the efficient, user-friendly tools and workflow support they need to meet the increasing requirements of the industry. In accordance with FAR 6.302-1 and 6.302-2(b)(2) the Government is contemplating an award on a sole source basis for the following reasons: a) To the FDA's knowledge Ex Libris is the only company that offers software maintenance for the ILS modules FDA is currently using (Aleph, and SFX). b) Any delay in service would result in serious injury, financial or other, to the Government. The NAICS code is 541519. This notice is not a request for competitive quotes; no solicitation document is available and telephone requests will not be accepted. However, sources may submit descriptive literature, fully documenting their capability to perform these services, which will be considered by the Agency. A determination to compete this procurement based on response(s) to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. A solicitation will be issued to Ex Libris (USA) Inc. no less than 15 days after the date of this notice unless the Government determines otherwise. All written inquiries must be submitted to Jacqueline Warren, Contract Specialist, via email at jacqueline.warren@fda.hhs.gov, no later than 12:00PM Eastern Time (ET), Thursday, January 8, 2015.