T--Fitch Solutions Subscription - Credit Points

Solicitation Number: D14PS00268 Title: Fitch Solutions Subscription - Credit Points Agency Contact Information: Acquisition Services Directorate National Business Center Department of the Interior 381 Elden Street, Suite 4000 Herndon, VA 20170 Place of Performance: Washington, DC The Government intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, a firm-fixed-price (FFP) acquisition with Fitch Solutions. This non-competitive action is being issued by the Acquisition Services Directorate under the authority of the Department of the Interior Franchise Fund on the behalf of the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Services (FAS). Description of Requirement: The Risk and Asset Management (RAM) branch of the Foreign Agricultural Services (FAS) reviews and approves limits for foreign countries and foreign banks for the Commodity Credit Corporations export credit guarantee programs. Given limited travel funds, RAM can do very little travel to any of the countries in which these banks are located. Therefore, RAM uses reports generated by third parties such as Fitch Solutions Inc. as a source of current information about countries, banking systems and specific foreign banks throughout the world in order to conduct their financial analysis of these countries and foreign banks. Fitch has offices in these countries and spends significant time with each rated foreign bank in order to do an in-depth analysis. Fitch also does an analysis of the sovereign government and the banking system in these countries and RAM relies on all of these reports to conduct its own analysis in order to establish country and bank credit limits. This subscription allows RAM access to the ongoing reviews and reports for 100 foreign banks (the FAS current portfolio encompasses approximately 150 foreign banks), including the specific analyses of these banks and the countries in which they are located as well as their banking systems. This service is used to enable RAM staff to fully identify and analyze the financial condition of foreign banks and U.S. banks that are granted credit limits or participate in CCCs export credit guarantee programs. This is a proprietary, electronic analytical service available from one and only one source. This action is being processed in accordance with FAR 13.501, only one responsible source, and solicited in accordance with FAR 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Fitch Solutions currently provides this type of subscriptions. No other organization is known to provide this type of subscriptions. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities regarding this requirement by submitting a capabilities statement by the date specified herein. The period of performance for this effort will be one year with four one year option periods. The Government will consider all capabilities statements received by 12pm EST, Monday, March 24, 2014. Please be advised that it is the offerors responsibility to assure the Government receives your submission on or before the specified due date. Submissions shall be sent electronically to Michael McGuire, Contracting Officer at contact@example.gov. This is NOT a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed action based upon responses to this announcement is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received is solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive acquisition. The Government reserves the right to issue a Request for Quote (RFQ) as a result of this announcement. Please be advised that this announcement may constitute the only notice that will be posted for this acquisition, based on the review of any responses to this notice.