Department of State, Office of Acquisition, P. O. Box 9115, Rosslyn Station, Arlington, VA 22219-0244

D -- COMPREHENSIVE ONLINE INFORMATION SERVICE SOL S-LMAQM-00-S-0102 DUE 090700 POC Gwendolyn-Strogen-Boozer, Telephone No.(202) 619-4381; Fax No.(202) 205-5466 17. THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN FAR SUBPART 12.6, AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION; PROPOSALS ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED. SOLICITATION NO. S-LMAQM-00-S-0102 IS ISSUED AS A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) AND A CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED USING THE CONTRACTING BY NEGOTIATION PROCEDURES. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 97-18. The Standard Industrial Classification is 7375. The Department of State (DOS), Office of International Information Programs (IIP), has an immediate requirement for a comprehensive online information service which can provide services such as those specified below. The contract will be for one year from about September 25, 2000 through September 24, 2001. The contract will provide for up to four (4) additional option years. Price quotes should be provided for those four (4) options years as well as for the base year of the service. All contracted services must be provided to DOS's IIP's Public Diplomacy Research Center (PDRC) in Washington, DC, to selected other users within IIP, and to the approximately 160 Information Resource Centers affiliated with American Embassies abroad, a number which will very likely increase over the next several years. Total number of users worldwide soon will be approximately 300-350. The service must provide the widest possible range of news, business, legislative, and related databases. It must include same-day, full-text, online versions of newspapers such as, and including (but not limited to), the NY Times, Washington Post, Washington Times, and Wall Street Journal (US and all international editions) and have an effective search engine and extensive searchable archives. It must be web-based. The successful offeror must have a demonstrably successful track record in providing effective, around-the-clock customer service to users domestically and abroad. It shall also provide appropriate training and training materials as necessary either by phone, by web, or in person in Washington, DC and at selected overseas locations. Interested offerors capable of performing these services should submit a proposal, which shall include narrative detailing experience, understanding of requirement, references and price. Instructions for proposals -- Proposals should contain two parts, a narrative proposal and a price proposal/quotation. Narrative proposals should include: 1. A listing of the news, business, legislative, and related databases proposed to be provided; 2. Information about the company's background, experience with the required sources of information and delivery of same to customers, track record of effectiveness, ability to provide training, and any other evidence to strengthen the proposal should be included; 3. Evidence that same-day, full-text online versions of the newspaper and other databases noted in the Statement of Work can be delivered to all of the DOS locations around the world; 4. Evidence that systems are web-based and have effective search engines and extensive, searchable archives available 24 hours a day and capable of being accessed by all DOS outlets; 5. Evidence that offeror provides around-the-clock customer services by email and/or phone; 6. Evidence that appropriate training will be available as part of the contract either by telephone and/or email and, as necessary, in person. Price proposals should include separate amounts for the base year plus each of the 4 (four) requested option years. 7. Proposals must also include prompt payment terms and correct remittance address if different from mailing address. Evaluation criteria: DOS will evaluate proposals based on the offeror's apparent ability to meet the requirements stated herein: 1. Appropriateness & suitability to our needs of the list of news, business, legislative, and related databases proposed to be provided. 2. Evidence that same-day, full-text online versions of the newspaper and other databases noted in the Statement of Work can be effectively delivered to all of the DOS locations around the world. 3. Systems are web-based, have effective search engines and extensive, searchable archives available 24 hours a day and capable of being accessed by all DOS outlets. 4. Offeror's ability to provide around-the-clock customer services by email and/or phone. 5. Demonstrate that appropriate training will be available as part of the contract either by telephone and/or email and, as necessary, in person. 6. Proposals must include price proposals for the base year plus four (4) one-year option periods. Delivery terms and point: Washington, DC. Contract performance period: date of award through September 24, 2001 with option to extend up to four (4) 1-year periods. The Government will award a firm-fixed price (FFP) contract resulting from this RFP to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to theRFP will be most advantageous to the Government. The provision at FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial Items and FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation of Commercial Items are applicable to this acquisition. The following clauses apply to this acquisition; FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commerical Items; FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items, including subparagraphs (b) (3, 6, 7, 8 and 9); and FAR 52.232-18, Availability of Funds. A completed copy of the provisions at FAR 52.212-3, Offer Representatives and Certifications -- Commercial Items must accompany the proposal. Failure to provide any of the above items may result in the rejection of your proposal. A company not possessing the above referenced clauses in full text, may contact the contracting office for a copy of the clauses which will be faxed to you. Proposals shall be in writing and must be signed by an official authorized to bind your organization. Proposals must be received at the Department of State, SA-44, Office of Acquisitions, 301 4th Street, SW., Room M-22, Washington, DC 20547 by September 7, 2000, by 2:00 P.M., Eastern Standard Time. All responsible sources may submit an offer for consideration. Posted 08/24/00 (W-SN489509). (0237)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0025 20000828\D-0003.SOL)

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