JOURNAL WHITELIST (AGRICULTURE & ALLIED DISCIPLINES) & JOURNAL BLACKLIST

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Agricultural Library (NAL), in Beltsville, MD, intends to negotiate on a sole source basis a contract with Cabell Publishing Co, 6875 Phelan Blvd, BEAUMONT, TX, 77706-5993, for continuous electronic access via IP authentication over the internet for all USDA users and public on-site users to the Cabell Publishing Co Journal Whitelist (Agriculture & Allied Disciplines) and Journal Blacklist databases. The contractor shall provide continuous electronic access via IP authentication over the internet to the Journal Whitelist (Agriculture & Allied Disciplines) and Journal Blacklist databases to NAL for use by all USDA employees, contractors, cooperators, and authorized public on-site users. All USDA locations worldwide are to be considered as authorized premises. Only USDA employees and contractors, cooperators and volunteers performing the work solely for and on behalf of USDA and acting within the scope of their relationship with USDA and authorized public on-site users are considered authorized users of the database. In this context, the word "Cooperators" refer to representatives of agencies with which USDA has entered into formal Cooperative Agreements. In addition to internal use, authorized users have the right to use the content of the Journal Whitelist (Agriculture & Allied Disciplines) and Journal Blacklist databases for ordinary business, scholarly and educational purposes of the Government, in compliance with any terms and conditions established by the contractor and agreed to in writing by USDA at the time of this award. The contractor shall provide monthly COUNTER-compliant usage data reports including IP addresses, in electronic format. The contractor shall provide help desk and training materials, including but not limited to web-based educational materials. The circumstance permitting other than full and open competition is FAR 6.302-1(a)(2) and 41 USC 253(1), the property and service needed by the National Agricultural Library is available from only one responsible source and no other type of property or service will satisfy the needs of the National Agricultural Library. The National Agricultural Library (NAL) is mandated (7 U.S.C. 3101) to serve as the primary agricultural information resource of the United States. One of its functions in that role is the acquisition of information in all aspects of agriculture and allied sciences. In support of this function, the NAL acquires journal publications in electronic format from publishers and makes the journals accessible to USDA employees and library patrons via the internet. In keeping with its charge to collect agricultural and related information, it seeks to maintain a collection of publications in various formats from a variety of publishers and sources. Cabell Publishing Co holds the copyright to the content of the Journal Whitelist (Agriculture & Allied Disciplines) and Journal Blacklist databases. No other vendor may deliver the contents without a direct license from the copyright holder, and Cabell Publishing Co has not licensed this database to other providers. Cabell Publishing Co is the only source determined capable of supplying NAL's requirement for the most thorough, reputable, and well-documented database of scientific journals' reliability, authority, and requirements for publication. Anticipated Date of Award: 09/28/2018 THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. This notice is for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. Vendors that believe they can provide the services listed above are invited to submit substantiating documentation in writing to the identified point of contact. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. A determination by the Government to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely at the discretion of the Government.