Intent To Award Sole Source Springer Nature
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The U.S. Air Force intends to issue a Firm-Fixed-Price Purchase Order as a sole source to Springer Nature for access to SpringerLink and Nature.com Complete publications. This requirement supports the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). While this is an intent to award sole source, responsible sources may submit capability statements for consideration. Responses are due by February 10, 2026, 12:00 PM EST.
Purpose & Scope
This action provides essential online access to a comprehensive collection of scientific, technological, and medical journals, books, and reference works. The required publications include:
- SpringerLink: A vast online library from Springer-Verlag and other publishers, covering various scientific disciplines.
- Nature.com Complete: Full-text access to 80 titles from Nature Publishing Group and partner societies, with search capabilities across life science, physical research, and clinical review journals.
Key product characteristics an equal item must meet include:
- Full-text online access (PDF or HTML, PDF preferred) to journal articles in optics and physics.
- Graphical figures and citations available within digital documents.
- A robust search interface with primary categories and specialized topical queries.
- Individual account creation for saved searches and alerts.
- IP authentication for institutional multi-user, single campus subscriptions.
- Librarian-accessible COUNTER-compliant usage data.
Contract Details
- Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price Purchase Order
- Period of Performance: Award through December 31, 2026
- FSC: 7630 (Newspapers And Periodicals)
- NAICS: 519210 (Libraries and Archives)
- Size Standard: $21 Million
Submission & Evaluation
This notice is an intent to award sole source and not a request for competitive quotations. However, the Government will consider capability statements, proposals, or quotations from responsible sources received within 5 days of issuance of this notice (by February 10, 2026, 12:00 PM EST). Information submitted will be used to determine if a full and open competitive procurement or a small business set-aside is warranted. A determination not to compete is at the Government's sole discretion. If the requirement is competed as a Small Business Set-Aside, FAR 52.219-14 (Limitation on Subcontracting) will apply, and small businesses should demonstrate compliance.
Response Requirements
Interested parties must submit the following information:
- Points of contact, addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers.
- Identification as a large U.S. business, a small U.S. business, or a foreign business, based on NAICS 519210.
- Any applicable socioeconomic status (e.g., WOSB, EDWOSB, 8(a), SDVOSB, VOSB, HUBZone).
- Company CAGE Code and/or UEI Number.
- A detailed explanation of how their product meets all specified product characteristics.
- All submitted information must be UNCLASSIFIED.
- Responses are limited to 10 pages in a Microsoft Word compatible format.
Contact Information
Responses should be emailed to JaQuan Dangerfield (jaquan.dangerfield@us.af.mil) and Travis McCullough (travis.mccullough.1@us.af.mil). Questions should be directed to Ja’Quan Dangerfield via email.