U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Program Contract Service Center (3803R), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460-0001

D -- ELECTRONIC LEGAL AND NON-LEGAL RESEARCH SERVICES SOL RFQ-DC-99-00109 DUE 090799 POC Susan D. Meisner, Contracting Officer, meisner.susan@epa.gov WEB: click here to download a copy of the RFQ, http://www.epa.gov/oamhpod1/oppts_grp/dc9900109/index.htm. E-MAIL: click here to contact the contracting officer via, meisner.susan@epa.gov. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to award one or more purchase orders using the procedures of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 12 and for Electronic Legal and Non-Legal Research Services. The SIC Code for this procurement is 7375. Two copies of the proposal must be submitted by the due date. U.S. MAIL ADDRESS -- US EPA, 401 M Street, S.W., Mail Code 3803R, Washington, D.C. 20460, ATTN: Susan Meisner. (Proposals sent by U.S. Mail will not be considered "received" until such time as they are physically delivered via EPA's mail distribution system to the EPA Bid & Proposal Room in the Ronald Reagan Building.) HANDCARRY/COURIER/OVERNIGHT DELIVERY SERVICE should be submitted to US EPA, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Bid and Proposal Room, 6th floor, Room 61107, ATTN: Susan Meisner, Washington, D.C. 20004(all overnight delivery services deliver only to EPA's loading dock at the Ronald Reagan Building, and not directly to the Bid & ProposalRoom. From the dock, packages are routed to EPA's mailroom in the Ronald Reagan Building for internal distribution, including distribution to the Bid & Proposal Room. NO overnight delivery service packages are delivered directly to the Bid & Proposal Room. Because bids and proposals must be physically received at the Bid & Proposal Room to be considered officially received, offerors should not rely upon guaranteed delivery times from overnight delivery services). PROPOSALS ARE DUE: NLT 2:00 PM local Washington D.C. time, SEPTEMBER 7, 1999. This is a combination synopsis / solicitation. STATEMENT OF WORK: Background and purpose: The EPA seeks vendors to provide electronic legal and non-legal research information and services to the Agency's attorneys, administrative law judges, law clerks, investigators, and certain non-legal staff. There are approximately 1,400 potential users of such services, located in approximately thirteen locations nationwide (ten regions, D.C. metro area, Cincinnati, Research Triangle Park). Approximately 65% of research will be conducted in legal databases, 20% in public records databases, and 15% in news databases. The vendor will provide the following electronic information and services: Databases (legal): A broad spectrum of legal information including, but not limited to: full text of court cases, statutes, codes, regulations, law reviews, administrative decisions, citation services, legislation, legislative history, treatises, foreign country legal information, court rules, court dockets. Databases (non-legal): A broad spectrum of non-legal information including, but not limited to: 1) full text newspapers, news wires, magazines, journals; 2) medical information; 3) scientific and technical information; 4) patent and trademark information. Databases (public records): 1) publicly available information on companies including names, addresses, phone numbers, officers, and state of incorporation; 2) publicly available information on locating individuals including motor vehicle registration, drivers licenses, real and personal property records. Databases (people locators -- non-public): Information on locating individuals including address and phone number. Databases (financial): Information on U.S. and foreign companies including line of business, number of employees, sales, subsidiaries. Printing and downloading: Printing and downloading capability shall be provided. Software: System software shall be provided. The software shall include a communications component which allows access to the databases both by dial-up and via the Internet. Training: A variety of training options, including: 1) group training at vendor facilities or on-site at all Agency locations, and 2) individual training on-site at all Agency locations shall be provided. Training materials such as database directories, manuals, and current awareness newsletters shall be provided. Customer service: Toll free customer assistance shall be provided during EPA business hours nationwide as well as evenings and weekends. Passwords: Each user shall be provided an individual password. Procedures for the issuance of passwords will be established between the vendor and the Agency in order to control assignment of passwords. The vendor shall provide up-to-date lists of password holders to designated agency personnel upon request. Billing: Bill "groups" will be established at the direction of the agency in order to track usage of the system. Reports: Reports concerning Agency usage of the system, including breakdowns by bill group, geographic location, or by database categories (e.g. legal, news, public records, financial) shall be provided upon request. The period of performance shall be October 1, 1999 through September 30, 2000. EVALUATION CRITERIA: Evaluation will be made on the offeror's demonstrated ability to meet the requirements of the Statement of Work. Specifically, (1) Database Content -- adequacy of legal and non-legal electronic information sources provided; (2) Accessibility -- adequacy of methods of access to the electronic information; (3) Customer Support -- adequacy of customer support services; (4) Training -- adequacy of training, both on site and via alternative methods; As a part of their proposals, vendors should provide a maximum of ten passwords which will allow free access to the databases for a period of one week. Award(s) will be made based on best value to the government, price and other factors considered. Posted 08/19/99 (W-SN370140). (0231)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0020 19990823\D-0002.SOL)