Sole Source Notification

This is a Sole Source Notice For the following: 1. Identification of the Agency and Contracting Activity: Agency: Library of Congress Requiring Activity: Acquisitions and Processing of Foreign Materials 2. Nature and/or description of the Action Being Approved: The minimum needs of the Library of Congress to acquire Collections from many underdeveloped countries can only be met by: - Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy LOC's requirements (FAR 6.302-1); 6.302-1 (2)(i) (A) Demonstrates a unique and innovative concept (see definition at 2.101), or, demonstrates a unique capability of the source to provide the particular research services proposed The Library needs an established international organization with reliable networks to assist with the acquisitions and processing of foreign materials in regions in which standard acquisitions methods cannot meet the Library's collection development needs. The organization must be well-established and have active relations with local governments, local publishers, local scholars, the U.S. scholarly community, and U.S. research libraries. The organization must be familiar with bibliographic record production standards and processes and have the capacity to perform this work. The Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) is the only U.S.-based organization that is in the best position to meet the Library's needs. CAORC's research centers are located in countries and regions from which it is difficult and financially not feasible for the Library to acquire materials by area experts. Established in 1981, CAORC - serves as a base for virtually every American scholar undertaking research in the host countries. CAORC's access to U.S. experts in the region, its network of center libraries, and global locations place it in a unique position to meet all of LC's acquisitions and processing needs. - Industrial mobilization; engineering, developmental, or research capability; or expert services (FAR 6.302-3); 6.302-3 (a)(2)(ii) To establish or maintain an essential engineering, research, or development capability to be provided by an educational or other nonprofit institution or a federally funded research and development center CAORC is an independent 501(c)(3) organization that is a not-for-profit federation of independent American overseas research centers. All centers are independently incorporated in the United States as private, not-for-profit organizations. Funding from CAORC comes from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Smithsonian Institution, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, institutional memberships, and center membership dues. Almost 300 American universities, colleges, museums, and research institutes and societies hold institutional memberships in CAORC's 22 member centers. CAORC and the centers annually grant more than 200 fellowships for overseas research to students and faculty at these and other American institutions. In addition, an average of 500 researchers from the Fulbright programs, the American Council of Learned Societies, the Social Science Research Council, and group projects, as well as independent scholars, affiliate each year with the CAORC overseas centers for facilities and research support services. 3. Description of the Services Required to meet the Agency's needs: The Library seeks assistance acquiring and processing materials in regions of the world for which standard acquisition methods do not work or are impracticable. This assistance includes acquiring materials for the Library's collections, providing bibliographic descriptions of that material, and shipping that material to LC-Washington. In addition, the Library needs a local representative to arrange access to digital works that are available online. 4. An Identification of the Statutory Authority Permitting other than Full and Open Competition: This acquisition is conducted under the authority of FAR Part 6.301, which authorizes under certain conditions, contracting without providing for full and open competition. If Any source is capable of performing service, please contact Library prior to Mat 17, 2010 by 3p.