SOLICITATION NOTICE
D -- Westlaw Publishing Database
- Notice Date
- 11/28/2017
- Notice Type
- Justification and Approval (J&A)
- NAICS
- 519190
— All Other Information Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of State, Office of Acquisitions, Acquisition Management, 1735 N. Lynn St., Arlington, Virginia, 22209, United States
- ZIP Code
- 22209
- Solicitation Number
- 19AQMM18F0048
- Archive Date
- 1/31/2018
- Point of Contact
- Luis "Cisco" Kagalis, Phone: 5713450583
- E-Mail Address
-
KagalisL@State.gov
(KagalisL@State.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Award Number
- 19AQMM18F0048
- Award Date
- 1/1/2018
- Description
- 1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity: The Department of State Office of Acquisition Management proposes to enter into a task order with exception to fair opportunity for the Westlaw database on behalf of the Office of the Legal advisor and the Ralph J. Bunche Library. This will be a firm-fixed price contract for the period of five (5) years. The total estimated cost of the proposed acquisition is $x.xx. 2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved. As a follow on to the current contract SAQMMA14F0387 awarded to West Publishing Corp (Large), dba Thomson Reuters (DUNS: 148508286; CAGE 89101), the Department seeks to continue its use of Westlaw Publishing, a product crucial to the conduct of legal research in support of the Department's mission. The current task order is due to expire on 12/31/2017. 3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the Department's needs. The requirement is to provide legal information via an online database to a limited number of staff in the Bunche Library and the L bureau. These supplies/services require that the vendor continue its provision of vital legal documents to L and Library staff in support of the Department's mission. The Office of Legal Advisers provides a variety of legal advice across all of the State Department in both domestic and international policy matters. This mission is wide-ranging and not only varies by geographic area, but also varies by specific subject matters. The Westlaw product supports the various missions of these attorneys- whether in support of policy or in labor and employment. 4. Authority permitting a Fair Opportunity Exception and the supporting rationale. This acquisition is conducted pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 4103 and 4106 as implemented by FAR 8.405-6(a)(i)(B) and substantiated by the following ☒ FAR 8.405-6(a)(i)(B) - Only one source is capable of providing the supplies or services required at the level of quality required because the supplies or services ordered are unique or highly specialized. Thomson Reuters (West Publishing) is uniquely qualified to provide these services to The Department of State based upon the following: a. They provide one-stop legal content, a flat rate deeply discounted from their per-use rate, unlimited on-site training, and 24/7 telephone support b. They provide indispensable legal resources, crucial to the legal needs of the Department, such as American Law Reports, AmJur 2d Library, CJS, Government Contracts Newsletters, all federal briefs, International Commercial Arbitration, Litigation Collection, Analytical Premier, along with full text of many important legal journals. c. They provide exclusive content offered by no other vendor including editorial enhancements, the West Key Number System, the National Reporter System, PastStat Locator, graphical statutes with interactive timelines, Uniform Laws Annotated, Corpus Juris Secundum, and their Practical Law system. 5. A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable. Access to the Westlaw Publishing database will be purchased through their GSA Federal Supply Schedule GS02F026DA versus their current Library of Congress (LoC) FedLink Express contract, LC14C7139, since it will end in 2018. Based on their schedule, along with the Department's historic use of the Westlaw product and the use of similar aggregated online databases, the Contracting Office determines that the anticipated price(s) will be fair and reasonable. By signing the justification the Contracting Officer makes a determination that this contract type will be the best value to the Government, and that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable. In addition, an analysis of pricing information will be performed that will consider commerciality, acquisition history, and other available pricing information in determining best value. 6. Any other facts supporting the justification. The team recently surveyed the market through internet searches via GSA Federal Supply Schedules (FSS) and general searches for third-party vendors. As a result, it is determined that the requested Westlaw Publishing Corp, dba Thomson Reuters, is only available and not carried through third-party resellers. Market research indicates that other companies' similar products do not meet or cannot be modified to meet the agency's needs based on the unique set of legal tools included in the Westlaw product. 7. Actions the agency May Take to Remove or Overcome Any Barriers to Increase Fair Opportunity before any subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services is made. The Office of the Legal Advisor's, and the Bunche Library's, requirement for Westlaw database information represents a compelling need for those functions to continue to provide expert legal analysis to the Department of State. Future requirements will be evaluated to determine whether an alternate brand/source can be used. The Government will continue to search the marketplace and alternative solutions will continually be researched to determine if they will function with currently used products. If the Government determines that Westlaw Publishing is no longer required or other product meets the Government's needs, then the Government will seek full and open competition for the required functionality. If similar requirements arise, every effort will be made to compete it to the maximum extent practicable.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/State/A-LM-AQM/A-LM-AQM/19AQMM18F0048/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: 2201 C St NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20520, United States
- Zip Code: 20520
- Zip Code: 20520
- Record
- SN04750700-W 20171130/171128231634-6c73a8de7409f2f06c57d6e8efbf3fc9 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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