Inactive
Notice ID:68HERD19R0004
This Sources Sought Notice is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation or commitment by the Government. This notice is intended stric...
This Sources Sought Notice is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation or commitment by the Government. This notice is intended strictly for Market Research. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A REQUESET FOR QUOTE (RFQ). NO SOLICITATION EXISTS AT THIS TIME. This is a Small Business Sources Sought Notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZOne small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 519120 ¿ Libraries and Archives with a small business size standard of fifteen million ($15,000,000). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina is conducting a Market Survey to help determine the availability and technical capability of qualified small businesses, veteran-owned small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and/or HUBZone small businesses capable of serving the needs identified below: Background The Environmental Protection Agency's Research Triangle Park (EPA-RTP) library is a part of the EPA National Library Network which encompasses independently managed libraries in EPA Headquarters, regional offices, research laboratories and field sites across the country. Agency librarians serve as the focal point for access to the Agency's collection of electronic and print resources including monographs (books, technical reports and documents), serials (annuals, journals and newsletters), conference proceedings, maps, charts, and other materials. An interlibrary loan service makes it possible for libraries to borrow from and lend to other Federal, academic and special libraries. The EPA National Library Network¿s library collections include material that covers a wide range of environmental, scientific, management, and policy areas. However, because EPA was formed by drawing together a number of existing Federal programs and activities, and because many of EPA's field sites conduct specialized scientific research, a number of the libraries have specialized collections of materials: for example, the EPA-RTP Library has an extensive collection of atmospheric and air pollution materials. For this reason, it is important that there be good communication between the libraries and an efficient and effective method of sharing collection holdings among the various libraries. Having ready access to information and data about the environment and related scientific, technical, management and policy information is critical to the ability of the EPA to carry out their mission. EPA managers recognized this when the Agency was established in 1970 and provided for a library system to support the staff located at RTP. The EPA-RTP Library currently comprises one main library fully staffed by Contractor personnel who provide library services to EPA-RTP researchers, managers, support staff, other EPA employees throughout the country and the public. The EPA-RTP library manages a collection of approximately 2000 journals, 7000 books, 18,000 print documents, and 150,000 microfiche documents and provides service to a potential customer base of approximately 3,000 employees located in RTP and other EPA locations. In addition, the library serves members of the public as they seek information for which the EPA-RTP librarians are exceptionally skilled at finding. The EPA-RTP Library is also one of three EPA repository libraries responsible for housing physical copies of EPA produced reports related to air and health effects. The EPA-RTP Library is an award-winning leader within the EPA National Library Network and is responsible for working on Agency-wide initiatives that include staffing a national chat reference service, conducting agency-wide training on library topics through the EPA National Library Network Training Program, and participating in workgroups related to the electronic library catalog, cataloging and serials tasks. The EPA-RTP Library also plays a key role in purchasing information resources, i.e. publications and databases, for the EPA-RTP and EPA-Cincinnati libraries and the Agency as a whole. In addition, as part of an agreement with other EPA locations, the EPA-RTP Library provides remote library services to other EPA locations that need supplemental support. Period of Performance The anticipated period of performance shall be a 12-month base period with (4) additional 12-month optional years. Contract Type The current contract type is Cost/Share. Contractors are welcome to propose alternate contract types. Purpose and Objectives The Contractor shall provide library support services in the EPA-RTP Library located in the EPA facility in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina during normal Government operating hours (8:00am ¿ 5:00pm), Monday through Friday. The staff at the EPA-RTP Library will also provide reference, interlibrary loan and online searching assistance as detailed in local Memorandums of Understanding to other EPA locations as part of the day-to-day library operations from the EPA-RTP Library location. Minimal teleworking related to temporary project work or adverse weather may be permitted for key personnel with prior approval. Travel to library related conferences and to other EPA locations to provide instruction is occasionally required. The Contractor shall have access to all materials and equipment necessary for performance of the contract. The Contractor shall not be required to provide, or maintain these materials, or equipment, including computer software. The services shall be performed in accordance with local guidelines and other policy and procedure documents that serve to guide EPA librarians on the national level (http://www2.epa.gov/libraries/epa-national-library-network-policy-and-procedures). Any personnel assigned by the Contractor to this contract shall possess the necessary skills, experience and education necessary to competently perform the functions described in this Performance Work Statement. Key personnel must hold a minimum of a Masters¿ level degree in Information and/or Library Science from an accredited University. Key Personnel Key personnel must hold a minimum of a Masters¿ level degree in Information and/or Library Science from an accredited University. Contractor Responsibility Independently, and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall furnish all necessary services, qualified personnel, materials, equipment, and facilities, not otherwise provided by the Government, to perform task assignments at the direction of the Contracting Officer¿s Representative (COR). Contractor Tasks The Contractor shall perform the following tasks: 1. Reference/Research Support 2. Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery 3. Content Acquisition 4. Content Management and Maintenance 5. Classification and Cataloging 6. Website, Software and Database Support 7. Marketing and Outreach 8. EPA National Library Network Support 9. Library Instruction Program 10. Collection Development 11. Space Management 12. Metrics, Statistics, Reports and Manuals 13. Optional Quantities Disclaimer and Important Notes This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organizations responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently determined the organization¿s qualifications to perform the work. Respondent should reply to the Contract Specialist listed below no later than Close of Business on April 29, 2019. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provided feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).
