Springer Nature Online Resources

SAM.gov

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

Solicitation Number:  75N98027Q00011

Title:  Springer Nature Online Resources

Classification Code:  7630

NAICS Code:  519130

Description:  Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals

This is a Small Business Sources Sought Notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations.

The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition.

Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice.

This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition.  It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract.  Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes.  No award will be made as a result of this notice.  The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice.  This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only.

Background:  

Springer Nature Group provides access to online resources, including over 2,600 journals in a wide range of scientific, technical and medical subjects, over 65,000 eBooks, and databases such as Springer Protocols. Links from PubMed, Web of Science, and the NIH Library website allow NIH staff to connect directly to the articles on the Springer Nature website following a search of the various sites. Springer Nature online resources allow NIH to provide enhanced and timely access to information NIH staff need to perform their work whether they are intramural researchers or extramural program administrators.

Purpose and Objectives:

The purpose of this acquisition is to procure access to the Springer Nature Group online resources to provide NIH staff with access to electronic versions of select Springer Nature journals, books, and databases.

Project requirements:

Independently, and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall:

• Provide the NIH and the HHS agency staff served by the NIH Library (DLS) access to the electronic version of select Springer Nature journals, purchased Springer eBook collections, and subscribed databases such as Springer Protocols through its web interface.  Access will be cumulative for articles published in the journals since 1997 (for Springer journal titles) or 2007 (for Nature journal titles) or the first year a journal was offered on the Springer Nature platform, based upon previous investments.
• Provide options for acquiring eBooks, online reference works, backfiles of selected journals, databases, and Content on Demand (COD) tokens. Options should factor in all previous investments subscriptions, as well as previous archive backfile purchases.
• Provide options for supporting open access publishing, including transformative agreements. The contractor shall also provide an option for DLS to withdraw from these agreements should its funding be reduced.
• Provide options to include all Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies with access to the same resources as identified in this contract.  The contractor shall provide options for including existing subscriptions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• Provide an option for DLS to add new titles as the contractor adds to its holdings through acquisition or publication of a new title. The contractor also shall provide an option for DLS to cancel selected journal titles should its funding be reduced.
• NIH may fulfill interlibrary loan requests in accord with Section 108 of the United States Copyright Law (17 USC Sec. 108, “Limitations on exclusive rights: Reproduction by libraries and archives”) and clause 3 of the Guidelines for the Proviso of Subsection 108(g)(2) prepared by the National Commission on New Technological Uses of Copyrighted Works.
• NIH shall retain perpetual access to all subscribed years of resources.
• The contractor shall agree to the incorporation of all license agreements into the contract.

Anticipated period of performance:

Base Year:      January 1, 2027 – December 31, 2027

Option Year 1: January 1, 2028 – December 31, 2028

Option Year 2: January 1, 2029 – December 31, 2029

Option Year 3: January 1, 2030 – December 31, 2030

Option Year 4: January 1, 2031 – December 31, 2031

Requested Response:

The intent of this sources sought notice is to define the procurement strategy (e.g. set-aside, sole source, unrestricted) for a solicitation that is intended to be posted soon. Interested contractors are requested to respond by (1) identifying how their proposed product meets or exceeds the project requirements listed above; and (2) providing product literature, white papers, or capability statements that demonstrate their bona fide ability to supply such an item within the time frame described above.

In addition, please state your business size status and whether you are the manufacturer or authorized distributor of the item you propose.

Please note that NIH is particularly interested in small business sources. If you are a small business, please state the type of small business (small business; HUBZone; service-disabled, veteran-owned; 8(a); veteran-owned; woman-owned; or small disadvantaged businesses) and your size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible.

The respondent must also provide their DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HubZone, etc.), pursuant to the applicable NAICS code and any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements.

The information submitted must be must be in an outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirements and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein.  A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required.

The response must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses.

All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contracting Officer.  Facsimile responses are NOT accepted.

The response must be submitted to Kevin Alvarez, Contracting Officer, at e-mail address kevin.alvarez@nih.gov.

The response must be received on or before October 19, 2026, 9:00am, Eastern Time.

Disclaimer and Important Notes:  This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a presolicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published at SAM.gov. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).