Page 3 of 3 This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products and commercial services prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 12.6, Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation for Commercial Products and Commercial Services, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested, and a written solicitation document will not be issued. This solicitation is issued as an RFQ. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2024-04 (effective 04/22/2024). This solicitation is set-aside for Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 513120, Periodical Publishers, with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees. The FSC/PSC is 7630, Newspapers and Periodicals. REQUIREMENT The Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office 12 (NCO 12), VISN 12, 115 South 84th St., Milwaukee, WI. 53214, is seeking to purchase Online Journal Access Subscription Services for the Captain James A Lovell FHCC, Library, located at 3001 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064-3048. The Government intends to award a firm fixed-price purchase order to the quoter offering the lowest priced technically acceptable quote. The offeror shall provide the brand name product referenced in the solicitation. All interested contractors shall provide quotations for the following: DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES: Contractor shall furnish access to their servers providing subscription services for a base period of 12 months and four 12-month options to extend, for a total period of performance of 60 months, for EBSCOhost Databases, Full Text On-Line Database Subscription, providing unlimited usage for simultaneous users for the Medical Databases. Contact person for Lovell, FHCC is Anne Baker, (224) 610-3698. DEFINITIONS/ACRONYMS: CO - Contracting Officer COR - Contracting Officer s Representative DVA Department of Veterans Affairs FHCC CAPT James A. Lovell, Federal Health Care Center COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY: The EBSCOhost Databases will be accessed by computer equipment already in place at the Lovell, FHCC Learning Resource Center/Medical Library Service in North Chicago, Illinois. The system's functionality must allow for ready access by customers computer terminals via Internet. OPERATIONAL UPTIME REQUIREMENTS: The system shall be operable and available for use 95% of the normal operating hours of the equipment unless otherwise stated in, HOURS OF COVERAGE. Downtime will be computed from notification of problem during normal work hours. Scheduled maintenance will be excluded from downtime during normal working hours as detailed herein. Operational Uptime will be computed during a month-long period. HOURS OF COVERAGE: The period of coverage 8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. The contractor shall respond via phone and/or other acceptable electronic communication within one (1) hour after notification to the EBSCOhost technical support department during normal work hours (excluding EBSCO Information Services recognized Holidays). Federal Holidays observed by the FHCC are: New Year s Day Martin Luther King Day President s Day Labor Day Memorial Day Independence Day Columbus Day Veteran s Day Christmas Day Thanksgiving Day RESPONSE TIME: Contractor's FSE must respond with a phone call to the COR or his/her designee within two (2) hours after receipt of telephoned notification during the normal working hours of 8:00 am to 4:30 pm CST if Notwithstanding, Technical Professionals will be available 24 hours a day to guide users through any access problems that may arise, Sales will be available during normal business hours to answer questions specific to clinical area of interest. Customer Technical Support Representatives will be available to answer questions about any of the EBSCO Information Services system, services, or subscription procedures. Contractor shall be responsible to coordinate the method of response with the COR or designated alternate. CONFORMANCE STANDARDS: All work shall be performed, and equipment shall function in conformance with all DVA safety standards, manufacturer's/industry standards, and other applicable state, local, national and industry standards. The full text of FAR provisions or clauses may be accessed electronically at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far. The following solicitation provisions apply to this acquisition: FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (SEP 2023) FAR 52.212-3, Offerors Representations and Certifications Commercial Products and Commercial Services Offerors must complete annual representations and certifications electronically via the System for Award Management (SAM) website located at https://sam.gov/ in accordance with FAR 52.212-3, Offerors Representations and Certifications Commercial Products and Commercial Services. If paragraph (j) of the provision is applicable, a written submission is required. The following contract clauses apply to this acquisition: FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Products and Commercial Services (NOV 2023) Addendum to FAR 52.212-4 FAR 52.204-7, System for Award Management (NOV 2024) FAR 52.204-16, Commercial and Government Entity Code Reporting (AUG 2020) FAR 52.217-9, Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (MAR 2000) VAAR 852.203-70, Commercial Advertising (MAY 2018) VAAR 852.211-72, Technical Industry Standards (NOV 2018) VAAR 852.219-73, VA Notice to Total Set-Aside for Certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (JAN 2023) (DEVIATION) VAAR 852.219-76, VA Notice of Limitations on Subcontracting Certificate of Compliance for Supplies and Products (JAN 2023) (DEVIATION) VAAR 852.232-72, Electronic Submission of Payment Requests (NOV 2018) VAAR 852.239-76, Information and Communication Technology Accessibility (FEB 2023) VAAR 852.242-71, Administrative Contracting Officer (OCT 2020) The following subparagraphs of FAR 52.212-5 are applicable: FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (MAY 2024) Refer to attached FAR 52.212-5 for subparagraphs the contractor shall comply with the following clauses, which are incorporated in this contract by reference, to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial products and commercial services. All quoters shall submit the following: Quotation in accordance with addendum to FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors, Attachment 1: Tailored FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Products and Commercial Services Authorization letter or other documents from the OEM verifying offeror is an authorized dealer, distributor, or reseller. Completed Buy American Certificate found at FAR 52.225-2, Buy American Certificate. Statement specifying the extent of agreement with all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation. Offers that fail to furnish required representations or information or reject the terms and conditions of the solicitation may be excluded from consideration. All quotes shall be sent to the Contracting Officer, Erica Grimslid at Erica.Grimslid@va.gov. Award will be based upon a comparative evaluation of quotes in accordance with the Simplified Acquisition Procedures of FAR 13. Comparative evaluation is the side by side pairwise comparison of quotes based on factors resulting in a Contracting Officer decision for the quote most favorable to the Government. Options will be evaluated at the time of the award. The award will be made to the response most advantageous to the Government. Responses should contain your best terms and conditions. 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors Commercial Products and Commercial Services (SEP 2023) (a) North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and small business size standard. The NAICS code(s) and small business size standard(s) for this acquisition appear elsewhere in the Request for Quote (RFQ). However, the small business size standard for a concern that submits a quote, other than on a construction or service acquisition, but proposes to furnish an end item that it did not itself manufacture, process, or produce is 500 employees, or 150 employees for information technology value-added resellers under NAICS code 541519, if the acquisition (1) Is set aside for small business and has a value above the simplified acquisition threshold. (2) Uses the HUBZone price evaluation preference regardless of dollar value, unless the offeror waives the price evaluation preference; or (3) Is an 8(a), HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned, economically disadvantaged women-owned, or women-owned small business set-aside or sole-source award regardless of dollar value. (b) Submission of Quotes. Submit signed and dated quotes to the office specified in this Request for Quote (RFQ) at or before the exact time specified in this solicitation. Quotes may be submitted on letterhead stationery, or as otherwise specified in the solicitation. As a minimum, quotes must show (1) The solicitation number. (2) The time specified in the solicitation for receipt of quotations. (3) The name, address, and telephone number of the quoter. (4) A technical description of the items being quoted in sufficient detail to evaluate compliance with the requirements in the solicitation. This may include product literature, or other documents, if necessary. (5) Terms of any express warranty. (6) Price and any discount terms. (7) "Remit to" address, if different than mailing address. (8) A completed copy of the representations and certifications at Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.212-3 (see FAR 52.212-3(b) for those representations and certifications that the offeror shall complete electronically); (9) Acknowledgment of Quotation Amendments. (10) Quotes should include a statement specifying the extent of agreement with all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation. Quotes that fail to furnish required representations, or information, or reject the terms and conditions of the solicitation may be excluded from consideration. (c) Period for acceptance of Quotes. The offeror agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm for 30 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of quotes, unless another time period is specified in an addendum to the solicitation. (d) Product samples. When required by the solicitation, product samples shall be submitted at or prior to the time specified for receipt of quotes. Unless otherwise specified in this solicitation, these samples shall be submitted at no expense to the Government, and returned at the sender s request and expense, unless they are destroyed during pre-award testing. (e) Multiple Quotes. Quoters are encouraged to submit multiple quotes presenting alternative terms and conditions, including alternative line items (provided that the alternative line items are consistent with FAR subpart 4.10), or alternative commercial products or commercial services for satisfying the requirements of this solicitation. Each quote submitted will be evaluated separately. (f) Late submissions, modifications, revisions, and withdrawals of quotes. (1) Quoters are responsible for submitting quotes, and any modifications, revisions, or withdrawals, so as to reach the Government office designated in the solicitation by the time specified in the solicitation. If no time is specified in the solicitation, the time for receipt is 4:30 p.m., local time, for the designated Government office on the date that quotes or revisions are due. (2) Any quote received at the Government office designated in the solicitation after the exact time specified for receipt of quotes is "late" and may not be considered unless it is received before purchase order issuance and the Contracting Officer determines that accepting the late quote would not unduly delay the acquisition. (3) If an emergency or unanticipated event interrupts normal Government processes so that quotes cannot be received at the Government office designated for receipt of quotes by the exact time specified in the Request for Quote, and urgent Government requirements preclude amendment of the solicitation or other notice of an extension of the closing date, the time specified for receipt of quotes will be deemed to be extended to the same time of day specified in the solicitation on the first work day on which normal Government processes resume. (g) Issuance of Purchase Order. The Government may issue a purchase order to one or more quoters as identified in the Request for Quote (RFQ). Therefore, the quoter s initial quote should contain the best terms from a price and technical standpoint. However, the Government may reject any or all quotes if such action is in the public s best interest. In addition, the Contracting Officer (CO) may issue a purchase order to other than the quoter with the lowest quoted price. (h) Multiple awards. The Government may accept issue a purchase order for any item or group of items of a quotation, unless the quoter qualifies the quotation by specific limitations. Unless otherwise provided in the quotation, offers may not be submitted for quantities less than those specified in the RFQ. The Government reserves the right to issue a purchase order for a quantity less than the quantity quoted, at the unit prices quoted, unless the quoter specifies otherwise in the quote. (i) Unique entity identifier. (Applies to all quotes that exceed the micro-purchase threshold, and quotes at or below the micro-purchase threshold if the Request for Quote (RFQ) requires the Contractor to be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).) The quoter shall enter, in the block with its name and address on the cover page of its offer, the annotation "Unique Entity Identifier" followed by the unique entity identifier that identifies the Quoter's name and address. The Quoter also shall enter its Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) indicator, if applicable. The EFT indicator is a four-character suffix to the unique entity identifier. The suffix is assigned at the discretion of the Quoter to establish additional SAM records for identifying alternative EFT accounts (see FAR subpart 32.11) for the same entity. If the Quoter does not have a unique entity identifier, it should contact the entity designated at www.sam.gov for unique entity identifier establishment directly to obtain one. The Quoter should indicate that it is an planning to submit a quote for a Government Request for Quote (RFQ) when contacting the entity designated at www.sam.gov for establishing the unique entity identifier. (j) Notification. The CO will not notify unsuccessful quoters that responded to this Request for Quotation (RFQ). (End of provision) To facilitate the award process, all quotes must include a statement regarding the terms and conditions herein as follows: "The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document without modification, deletion, or addition." OR "The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document with the exception, deletion, or addition of the following:" Quoters shall list exception(s) and rationale for the exception(s), if any. Submission of your response shall be received not later than 09:00 on June 23, 2025. Responses should be sent to the Contracting Officer, Erica Grimslid at Erica.Grimslid@va.gov. Hand delivered responses will not be accepted. Late submissions shall be treated in accordance with the solicitation provision at FAR 52.212-1(f). Any questions or concerns regarding this solicitation should be forwarded in writing via e-mail to the Point of Contact listed below. Point of Contact Erica Grimslid Contracting Officer Network Contracting Office 12 Erica.Grimslid@va.gov
