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Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Notice Page 34 of 34 Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation *= Required Field Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Notice ... Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Notice Page 34 of 34 Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation *= Required Field Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Notice Page 1 of 33 SUBJECT The purpose of Amendment 0003 provides answers to RFQ questions and adds the following 3.3 and 3.3.1 language to the Performance Work Statement. Amendment 0002 also extends the closing date until 10 a.m. EST on Friday, September 23, 2022. GENERAL INFORMATION CONTRACTING OFFICE S ZIP CODE* 21703 SOLICITATION NUMBER* 36C10X22Q0269 RESPONSE DATE/TIME/ZONE 09-23-2022 10:00 EASTERN TIME, NEW YORK, USA ARCHIVE 60 DAYS AFTER THE RESPONSE DATE RECOVERY ACT FUNDS N SET-ASIDE PRODUCT SERVICE CODE* 7610 NAICS CODE* 511120 CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS Strategic Acquisition Center - Frederick Department of Veterans Affairs 5202 Presidents Court, Suite 103 Frederick MD 21703 POINT OF CONTACT* Contract Specialist Jennifer Mack Jennifer.Mack1@va.gov (202) 320-0225 GENERAL INFORMATION CONTRACTING OFFICE S ZIP CODE* 21703 SOLICITATION NUMBER* 36C10X22Q0269 RESPONSE DATE/TIME/ZONE 09-13-2022 10:00 EASTERN TIME, NEW YORK, USA ARCHIVE 60 DAYS AFTER THE RESPONSE DATE RECOVERY ACT FUNDS N SET-ASIDE PRODUCT SERVICE CODE* 7610 NAICS CODE* 511120 CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS Strategic Acquisition Center - Frederick Department of Veterans Affairs 5202 Presidents Court, Suite 103 Frederick MD 21703 POINT OF CONTACT* Contracting Officer: Anne Hicks anne.hicks@va.gov Contract Specialist: Jennifer Mack jennifer.mack1@va.gov PLACE OF PERFORMANCE ADDRESS VACO 810 Vermont Ave NW Suite 1175 Washington, DC POSTAL CODE 20420 COUNTRY United States DESCRIPTION COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS General Information Document Type: Combined Solicitation/Synopsis Solicitation Number: 36C10X22Q0269, issued as a Request for Quotes (RFQ) Posted Date: 09/01/2022 Original Response Date: 09/13/2022 Current Response Date: 10:00 a.m. EST 09/23/2022 Product or Service Code: 7610 Pamphlets/Books Set Aside: N/A/Full and Open NAICS Code: 511120 Contracting Office Address US Department of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Ave, NW, Suite 1175 Washington, DC 20420 Questions and Answers Question 1. Whether companies from Outside USA can apply for this?      (like, from India or Canada) Answer 1. Per FAR Part 25, Companies outside of the US may submit proposals for evaluation provided they are not prohibited countries. Question 2. Whether we need to come over there for meetings? Answer 2. No, in accordance with the Performance Statement of Work travel is not applicable to this requirement. Question 3. Can we perform the tasks (related to RFP) outside USA? (like, from India or Canada) Answer 3. If customer service and support are available 24/7 this is not an issue and may be subject to ISSO approval. Question 4. Can we submit the proposals via email? Answer 4. Yes, proposals will be accepted by email as instructed in the Instructions to Offerors in the RFQ. Question 5. Could be pushed to Friday, September 16th. Answer 5. The closing date has been extended until 10:00 a.m. EST, September 20, 2022. Question 6. In the limitations Column could you define what "one per reference" means? Does that mean one page per reference? Answer 6. The language is being removed from this Column. Question 7. Can we lengthen the technical response and shorten the past performance section? We would appreciate it if you could allow us a minimum of 25 pages for the technical response and 5 pages for the past performance, not including the 3 resume pages. To ensure that vendors can present a complete and compliant Technical Capability that addresses all requirements, we respectfully request that the Volume I page limit increases from 6 pages to 35 pages. Answer 7. Yes, the technical response has been revised and the Volume 1 Page limit increased to 75 pages. Question 8. Do title pages, cover letters, and tables of content count against the page limits of each volume? Answer 8. No, title pages, cover letters, and tables of contents are not identified in the RFQ as part of the page limits of each volume. Question 9. Contract Line Items Price Schedule (Pages 4-10). Page 4 of the solicitation states that all interested companies shall provide quotations for the following contract line items. And to be considered responsive, contractors shall quote and be able to provide all lines items. The CLIN Schedule includes columns for both Price Per User and Total Price. Not every offeror provides pricing in the same way. For example, this offeror does not provide Per User pricing. Rather, we provide a monthly guaranteed price for the number of users needed by OGC. It is in providing this flat-rate fee for all users that we can achieve the most advantageous price for our customers. With this understanding that not all offerors price their services in the same fashion, will OGC allow offerors to fully fill out the CLIN Schedule possible, consistent with its standard pricing models, without being deemed non-responsive? Answer 9. Yes, OGC will allow offerors to use a monthly guaranteed price for the number of users needed and will allow offerors to fill out the CLIN Schedule to the fullest extent possible, consistent with their standard pricing models, without being deemed non-responsive. Question 10. Section 2.0 Objectives (Page 10). In Section 2.0, it states OGC has up to but not limited to 1,200 or more users. However, in the contract line items price schedule starting on Page 3 of the solicitation, CLIN 0001 indicates a need for 900 users. Each Option Year also indicates an increased user count across CLINs (e.g., CLIN 1001 has 1,041 users, CLIN 2001 has 1,145, etc.). Can OGC clarify the number of users requiring access to the proposed legal research subscriptions (CLINs 0001-4001)? Answer 10. The total number of potential users is 1200, however because this is a multiple award agreement a successful offeror may receive an order for fewer than 1200. Question 11. Does the increase in users for comparable CLINs (e.g., X001, X002, X003, etc.) reflect the anticipated increase in the number of users each option year? Answer 11. This is the estimated number per year. However, because this is a multiple award agreement a successful offeror may receive an order for fewer than the total number of users included in the CLINS. Question 12. Section 2.0 Objectives (Page 10). Section 2.0 states that the purpose of the acquisition is to establish a Decentralized Multiple Award Basic Purchasing Agreements for Legal Research Subscriptions It also states that the BPAs shall also meet requirements for smaller specialized subscription accounts with access to specific research database repositories and tools If the OGC chooses to award a BPA to more than one offeror, is it a correct understanding that only one offeror will be awarded per CLIN. For example, one offeror will be awarded the Primary Legal CLIN (CLIN X001), but the same or other offerors may be awarded the smaller specialized packages (CLINs X002, X003, X004, X005, X006, X007). In other words, there will not be more than one offeror awarded the same package. Can OGC please clarify? Answer 12. No, successful offerors will be awarded all CLINs. Each offeror must be able to provide all clin service however each user may not require all CLINs. Question 13. Does OGC expect that the individual task orders will be for the estimated number of users listed in the solicitation? For example, the task order for CLIN 0001 will be close to 900 users? Or is it feasible that an offeror may receive a task order for a much smaller subset of users (e.g., 10 users)? The reason that this is important to understand is that an offeror may provide larger discounts for a greater volume of users. If there is no guaranteed quantity of purchase, then there is no incentive for offerors to provide volume discounts. Please clarify. Answer 13. Because this is a multiple award agreement a successful offeror may receive an order for fewer than the total number estimated in the solicitation. Question 14. If OGC awards multiple BPAs, is it a correct understanding that each offeror may receive a Task Order or P-Card for the CLINs awarded to them each contract year? If this is not a correct understanding, can OGC please clarify? Answer 14. Yes Question 15. Section 3.2 Docket (Page 12). Docket research and tracking can sometimes be expensive due to the royalties charged for this type of data. To help ensure that offerors provide OGC with their most competitive price offer, can OGC please provide additional information about the docket research and tracking usage under OGC s current contract, including the following: a. What is OGC s standard use case regarding dockets access? Can OGC please provide usage information of the dockets court access? If the OGC requires the tracking of dockets: b. Can OGC please provide usage information with respect to tracking of dockets (e.g., rough number and common courts)? c. Does OGC anticipate that future use of tracking dockets will be in line with current usage? Or is an increase in usage anticipated? d. Can OGC please indicate what percentage of the cases involved daily tracks, weekly tracks, and monthly tracks? e. Can OGC please identify if there are any specific state courts of interest for docket tracks? f. If the OGC requires access to the underlying docket filings in PDF: Can OGC please provide information regarding PDF usage (e.g., rough number, common courts)? g. Can OGC please identify if there are any specific state courts of interest for PDFs? h. Does OGC anticipate that future use of PDFs will be in line with current usage? Or is an increase in usage anticipated? Section 3.5 Federal Contract Law Resources (Page 12). On page 12, Federal Contract Law Resources mentions the need for training resources. Can OGC clarify what training resources it requires (e.g., practice guides, continuing legal education)? Answer 15. For All docket related questions OGC s legal practice spans all states and U.S, territories. OGC does not have data regarding potential usages nor knowledge of whether usage may increase after award. Offerors will not be deemed non-responsive for incomplete State or Territory coverage so long as coverage is generally comprehensive (all Federal and majority of states and territories), however such gaps in coverage may impact on selection or size of order. Question 16. Section 3.5 Federal Contract Law Resource Page (Page 12) On page 12 Federal Contract Law Resources mentions the need for training resources. Can OGC clarify what training resources it requires (e.g., practice guides, continuing legal educations)? Answer 16. The training resources for Contract Law Resources do not have to include CLE, however CLE would be a way to meet this requirement. Practice guides could also meet this requirement if they provide instructive value, as could on-demand recorded training or live training events (which do not necessarily have to provide CLE credit). Question 17. Public Records/Background Checks (Page 12). On Page 12 of the solicitation, Public Records/Background Checks is included, but is not part of the Performance Work Statement outline. Can OGC clarify if this should be item 3.3, and thus the following items (Legal news, Federal Contract Law Resources, etc.) should be re-numbered as well? Revised Answer 17. Public Records/Background Checks are now included in the PWS. It is item 3.3. It was added back into the PWS as follows: 3.3 PUBLIC RECORDS/BACKGROUND CHECKS 3.3.1 Criminal AND Credit Histories The PWS was renumbered. Question 18. Instructions to Offerors, Section 2c Content Requirements (Page 18). The solicitation provides a page limit of 6 pages for Volume I. The solicitation also indicates that Contractors will be evaluated on the ability to provide a technical capability for each Contract Line item listed. Documents submitted will be used to determine technical acceptability. Given the level of detail required by the solicitation (6-page Performance Work Statement) and the need for offerors to provide OGC with sufficient detail, we respectfully request an increase in the number of pages allowed for proposals. Would OGC please consider extending the page limit to 75 pages? Answer 18. Yes, please see the answer to question 7. It states, the technical response has been revised and the Volume 1 Page limit increased to 75 pages. Question 19. Instructions to Offerors, Section 2c Content Requirements (Page 18). In the Instructions to Offerors, it states that Volume II of offeror s responses should be for past performance. However, in the chart provided, it states references should go in Volume I Technical ( 1 per reference ). Can OGC clarify where they want references located in responses? Answer 19. References may be provided with Past Performance information. Question 20. Instructions to Offerors, Section 2c Content Requirements (Page 18). On page 18 in the chart provided, Volume II mentions résumés are limited to 3 pages. However, there is no other mention of résumés anywhere else in the solicitation. Can OGC clarify if résumés are required as part of an offeror s response? a. If résumés are required, is it sufficient to provide résumés for key support personnel only? b. If résumés are required, in which volume should they be placed? c. If résumés are required, will they count against any applicable page limits? Answer 21. For question 20 with a, b, and c, included, OGC is waiving the resume requirement. Resumes are no longer required and will not be evaluated. The Resume language is removed. Question 22. Instructions to Offerors, Section 3a Volume I: Technical (Page 18). To assist OGC in the evaluation of proposals, we would recommend OGC allow offerors to provide a demonstration. Demonstrations will allow offerors the opportunity to present the products/services they are offering in response to the solicitation and would also give members of the evaluation committee an opportunity to ask questions about the offeror s proposal. Will OGC allow offerors the opportunity to provide a demonstration of their proposed solution? Answer 22. The offerors may be allowed to provide a Demonstration. After the review and evaluation of all proposals the Government reserves the right to conduct Demonstrations to those offerors who the Government finds are technically acceptable. Question 23. Basis for BPA Establishment (page 20). In the Basis for BPA Establishment, the solicitation indicates OGC intends to establish a minimum of two BPAs. However, on the following page it states the award shall be made to the quoter, whose quotation, is determined to represent the best value to OGC. Answer 23. This language is amended to read. The award shall be made to the quoter(s) whose quotations are determined to represent the best value to the Government Question 24. Under what circumstances would OGC make a multiple award. Or is it the intent of OGC to make a single award to a single provider? Answer 24. If there are two or more successful offerors a multiple award will be made. The intent is not to make a single award. Question 25. Contracting Can OGC clarify if it intends to contract under GSA, FEDLINK, or Open Market? Answer 25. The Award will be made through open market procedures Question 26. Deadline Extension Request. To ensure that offerors have an adequate opportunity to review the answers to questions and prepare their most cost-effective quote to meet the needs of OGC, this offeror respectfully requests that OGC extend the deadline for submitting bids to 5 business days after written answers to all submitted questions have been provided to offerors. Will OGC consider extending the submission deadline? Answer 26. Yes, the RFQ is extended until 10:00 a.m. EST September 20, 2022. Description This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 12.6, Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation for Commercial Items, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested, and a written solicitation document will not be issued. This solicitation is a "request for quotations (RFQ)." The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2022-07. The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 511120, with a small business size standard of 1000 employees. The Office of General Counsel, 810 Vermont Ave, NW, Suite 1175 Washington DC 20420, is seeking to purchase multiple online law subscriptions. All responsible sources may submit a response which, if timely received, must be considered by the agency. All interested companies shall provide quotation(s) for the following contract line items.  Period of Performance: November 1, 2022-October 31, 2023    UNIT OF ISSUE USERS UNIT PRICE TOTAL CLIN 0001 Primary Legal: including Federal, State, and Territory Case Law, Court Rules, Statutes, Regulations, and Administrative Agency Materials. Also includes Law Reviews and Journals, Treatises, and Analytical Content. Includes citation resources to assist in a correct citation format. Utilizes and ease of identifying related cases. Includes Legislative research/history tools including Federal and State bill and regulation tracking, committee reports, and hearing transcripts. Includes Briefs for State and Federal Courts. Includes Jury verdict research and analysis tool. Monthly, Per User Not to Exceed (NTE) 900 CLIN 0002  Docket: Fully searchable federal and state court dockets for all case types including complaints, briefs, motions, and orders. Coverage includes closed cases at least 15 years old. Include the ability to set alerts. Monthly, Per User NTE 500 CLIN 0003  Public Records/background checks - Includes Criminal and Credit histories Monthly, Per User NTE 300 CLIN 0004   Legal News - access to news relating to the practice of law on specific legal topics Monthly, Per User NTE 900 CLIN 0005   Federal Contract Law Resources - Resources specific to contracting and procurement including training resources Monthly, Per User NTE 500 CLIN 0006   Table of Authorities / Drafting Assistance Tool: Tool which scans documents to create a table of authorities with formatting suitable for federal filing Monthly, Per User NTE 300 CLIN 0007 Medical Malpractice Specialty - Resources specific to practice in health care and medical malpractice Monthly, Per User NTE 400   Period of Performance: November 1, 2023-October 31, 2024    UNIT OF ISSUE USERS CLIN 1001 Primary Legal: including Federal, State, and Territory Case Law, Court Rules, Statutes, Regulations, and Administrative Agency Materials. Also includes Law Reviews and Journals, Treatises, and Analytical Content. Includes citation resources to assist in a correct citation format. Utilizes and ease of identifying related cases. Includes Legislative research/history tools including Federal and State bill and regulation tracking, committee reports, and hearing transcripts. Includes Briefs for State and Federal Courts. Includes Jury verdict research and analysis tool. Monthly, Per User NTE 1041 CLIN 1002  Docket: Fully searchable federal and state court dockets for all case types including complaints, briefs, motions, and orders. Coverage includes closed cases at least 15 years old. Include the ability to set alerts. Monthly, Per User NTE 601 CLIN 1003  Public Records/background checks - Includes Criminal and Credit histories Monthly, Per User NTE 381 CLIN 1004   Legal News - access to news relating to the practice of law on specific legal topics Monthly, Per User NTE 1041 CLIN 1005   Federal Contract Law Resources - Resources specific to contracting and procurement including training resources Monthly, Per User NTE 601 CLIN 1006   Table of Authorities / Drafting Assistance Tool: Tool which scans documents to create a table of authorities with formatting suitable for federal filing Monthly, Per User NTE 381 CLIN 1007   Medical Malpractice Specialty - Resources specific to practice in health care and medical malpractice Monthly, Per User NTE 491    Period of Performance: November 1, 2024-October 31, 2025    UNIT OF ISSUE USERS CLIN 2001 Primary Legal: including Federal, State, and Territory Case Law, Court Rules, Statutes, Regulations, and Administrative Agency Materials. Also includes Law Reviews and Journals, Treatises, and Analytical Content. Includes citation resources to assist in a correct citation format. Utilizes and ease of identifying related cases. Includes Legislative research/history tools including Federal and State bill and regulation tracking, committee reports, and hearing transcripts. Includes Briefs for State and Federal Courts. Includes Jury verdict research and analysis tool. Monthly, Per User NTE 1145 CLIN 2002  Docket: Fully searchable federal and state court dockets for all case types including complaints, briefs, motions, and orders. Coverage includes closed cases at least 15 years old. Include the ability to set alerts. Monthly, Per User NTE 661 CLIN 2003  Public Records/background checks - Includes Criminal and Credit histories Monthly, Per User NTE 419 CLIN 2004   Legal News - access to news relating to the practice of law on specific legal topics Monthly, Per User NTE 1145 CLIN 2005   Federal Contract Law Resources - Resources specific to contracting and procurement including training resources Monthly, Per User NTE 661 CLIN 2006   Table of Authorities / Drafting Assistance Tool: Tool which scans documents to create a table of authorities with formatting suitable for federal filing Monthly, Per User NTE 419 CLIN 2007   Medical Malpractice Specialty - Resources specific to practice in health care and medical malpractice Monthly, Per User NTE 540    Period of Performance: November 1, 2025-October 31, 2026    UNIT OF ISSUE USERS CLIN 3001 Primary Legal: including Federal, State, and Territory Case Law, Court Rules, Statutes, Regulations, and Administrative Agency Materials. Also includes Law Reviews and Journals, Treatises, and Analytical Content. Includes citation resources to assist in a correct citation format. Utilizes and ease of identifying related cases. Includes Legislative research/history tools include Federal and State bill and regulation tracking, committee reports, and hearing transcripts. Includes Briefs for State and Federal Courts. Includes Jury verdict research and analysis tool. Monthly, Per User NTE 1260 CLIN 3002  Docket: Fully searchable federal and state court dockets for all case types including complaints, briefs, motions, and orders. Coverage includes closed cases at least 15 years old. Include the ability to set alerts. Monthly, Per User NTE 727 CLIN 3003  Public Records/background checks - Includes Criminal and Credit histories Monthly, Per User NTE 461 CLIN 3004   Legal News - access to news relating to the practice of law on specific legal topics Monthly, Per User NTE 1260 CLIN 3005   Federal Contract Law Resources - Resources specific to contracting and procurement including training resources Monthly, Per User NTE 727 CLIN 3006   Table of Authorities / Drafting Assistance Tool: Tool which scans documents to create a table of authorities with formatting suitable for federal filing Monthly, Per User NTE 461 CLIN 3007   Medical Malpractice Specialty - Resources specific to practice in health care and medical malpractice Monthly, Per User NTE 594     Period of Performance: November 1, 2026-October 31, 2027    UNIT OF ISSUE USERS CLIN 4001 Primary Legal: including Federal, State, and Territory Case Law, Court Rules, Statutes, Regulations, and Administrative Agency Materials. Also includes Law Reviews and Journals, Treatises, and Analytical Content. Includes citation resources to assist in a correct citation format. Utilizes and ease of identifying related cases. Includes Legislative research/history tools including Federal and State bill and regulation tracking, committee reports, and hearing transcripts. Includes Briefs for State and Federal Courts. Includes Jury verdict research and analysis tool. Monthly, Per User NTE 1386 CLIN 4002  Docket: Fully searchable federal and state court dockets for all case types including complaints, briefs, motions, and orders. Coverage includes closed cases at least 15 years old. Include the ability to set alerts. Monthly, Per User NTE 800 CLIN 4003  Public Records/background checks - Includes Criminal and Credit histories Monthly, Per User NTE 507 CLIN 4004   Legal News - access to news relating to the practice of law on specific legal topics Monthly, Per User NTE 1386 CLIN 4005   Federal Contract Law Resources - Resources specific to contracting and procurement including training resources Monthly, Per User NTE 800 CLIN 4006   Table of Authorities / Drafting Assistance Tool: Tool which scans documents to create a table of authorities with formatting suitable for federal filing Monthly, Per User NTE 507 CLIN 4007   Medical Malpractice Specialty - Resources specific to practice in health care and medical malpractice Monthly, Per User NTE 654 Performance Work Statement (PWS) PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT LEGAL RESEARCH SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES (LRS) BACKGROUND The Office of General Counsel (OGC) provides legal advice and services to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (SECVA) and all organizational components of the Department. The General Counsel is, by statute 38 U.S.C. §311, the Department s Chief Legal Officer. OGC serves as VA s in-house counsel and is committed to ensuring that every member of OGC is focused on how OGC s work impacts Veterans and has an understanding and commitment to the business priorities of our VA clients many of whom directly serve Veterans. OGC s attorneys act as business partners, providing sound legal expertise, and as needed, critical problem-solving skills and risk management advice. To carry out its mission, the legal professionals in OGC need reliable electronic access to online legal research resources. Additionally, other segments of VA also require legal research access to carry out their missions and mandates. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this acquisition is to establish a Decentralized Multiple Award Basic Purchasing Agreements for Legal Research Subscriptions for (LRS) for an estimated number of 1,200 or more users in OGC and various users in VA. While the expected future staffing for OGC is unknown based upon the implantation of the PACT ACT the users numbers are subject to change. The resultant decentralized Basic Purchasing Agreements (BPA s) shall also meet requirements for smaller specialized subscription accounts with access to specific research database repositories and tools which may also be provided for designated users. Ordering Procedures Individual orders against this BPA will be placed in accordance with FAR 13.3. All individual orders placed incorporate all terms and conditions of the BPA. Authorized Ordering Officials: All warranted contracting officers and Government Purchase Card holders within the Department of Veterans Affairs are authorized to place orders against this BPA within the limits of their respective authority. Competition Requirements: Task Orders with an estimated value that exceeds the Simplified Acquisition Threshold will be further competed based on price and any evaluation criteria identified in the RFQ. Task Orders not exceeding the SAT may also be competed. Preferred Method of Payment: The preferred method of payment under this BPA is the Government Purchase Card, when applicable. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES All services provided shall be inclusive into each individual subscription, accessible with one login for all items. PRIMARY LEGAL RESEARCH: VA requires unlimited access to the following legal content for VA users: Federal, State and Territory Case Law, Court Rules, Statutes, Regulations, and Administrative Agency Materials Law Reviews and Journals, Treatises, Analytical Content. Citation format, and resources to assist in correct citation format. Utilization and ease of identifying related cases. Legislative research and history tools. Federal and State bill and regulation tracking, committee reports and hearing transcripts. Briefs for State and Federal Courts Briefs for State and Federal Courts Jury verdict research and analysis tool DOCKET: Full searchable federal and state court dockets for all case types including complaints, briefs, motions, and orders. Coverage including closed cases at least 15 years old. Includes ability to set alerts. LEGAL NEWS: 3.3.1 Access to news relating to the practice of law on specific legal topics. 3.4 FEDERAL CONTRACT LAW RESOURCES 3.4.1 Resources specific to contracting and procurement including training resources. 3.5 TABLE OF AUTHORITIES/DRAFTING ASSISTANCE TOOL 3.5.1 Tool which scans documents to create table of authorities with formatting suitable for federal filing 3.6 MEDICAL MALPRACTICE SPECIALTY 3.6.1 Resources specific to practice in healthcare and medical malpractice. 3.7 ACCESS AND USER INTERFACE AVAILABILITY AND SUPPORT: 3.7.1 The offeror shall provide 24 hour 7 days per week online access and live customer support to VA users. 3.7.2 The offeror shall provide 24/7 telephone assistance for technical and legal research matters. The offeror shall also provide access to online training resources and to web-based training (scheduled in advance). 3.8 MENUS & STRUCTURE: Databases not included in a user s subscription shall not be visible to the user or the user must receive an indicator that the user is not entitled to that database. Inaccessible databases which a user does not receive an indicator or is made visible to a non-accessible user shall not be charged against the Government. Permissions for access must be received through the Contracting Officer Representative, (COR), or their authorized designee. The Vendor shall coordinate with the COR, or their authorized designees for usernames and passwords. 3.9 ACCESS METHOD: Access shall be direct via web browser 24 hours 7 days. Provide access through the Internet using a web browser acceptable to VA (currently Microsoft Edge and Chrome are acceptable) and single sign-on to all the Vendor s databases that are accessible online. With single sign-on the user authenticates to the Vendor s web-based system only and has direct access to the application. The Vendor shall identify the single sign-on protocols that they support in their proposal. 3.10 MAINTAINING RELIABLE ACCESS: 3.10.1 In the event of any access issues due to security or safety of the product website the Vendor shall work with VA s Office of Information Technology to remedy the issue. If Vendor s website cannot meet VA s requirement for safety and security that will be cause for termination for default. 3.11.2 Any issues preventing access to Vendor s resource for more than 8 hours will constitute adequate basis for termination for default, even after the issue is corrected. 3.11.3 Scheduled website maintenance notification shall be provided to the Government at least seven days in advance. Maintenance shall not be scheduled between 6:00am and 8:00pm Monday through Friday (Eastern Time) excluding Federal Government holidays. 3.11 SEARCH AND RETRIEVAL CAPABILITY: The product shall provide full text search and retrieval functionality that is appropriate for accessing court decisions, statutes, regulations, and other types of documents. The system shall provide the following minimum set of database search facilities: 3.11.1 The search function should be able to operate both in natural language and in controlled (Boolean) language. Boolean search operators equivalent...