The U.S. Geological Survey Library seeks to purchase Springer 2016 Earth and Environmental Sciences as well as the pre-2005 Earth and Environmental Sciences eBook Packages, as full-text electronic monographs published by Springer. These eBooks provide access to full text scientific monographs published in the geosciences and related scientific and technical disciplines. These eBooks constitute a core information product in support of USGS science. Access to the Springer eBook packages will be bureau- wide, 24/7 with unlimited concurrent usage across all sites regardless of geographic location. Users will be accessing the product remotely via the Internet. There are no additional administrative fees above the purchase price. Once purchased, access to all of the titles will be in perpetuity. The USGS is aware of no other source that can provide the above. Therefore, it intends to make an award to Springer Nature, unless it is contacted by any vendor who believes they can provide the same service. Vendors are invited to contact the Contract Specialist, Nicole Demby (
[email protected]) no later than 2:00PM EST, Thursday, August 10, 2017 with an affirmative answer. SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION STATES THE FOLLOWING PART: The following information is provided to demonstrate the proposed contractor¿s unique qualifications: eBooks published by Springer are the product of Springer who is the sole publisher, owner and distributor of eBooks published by the company. Purchase of these electronic books with the required terms is not available from another source. These eBooks support USGS research in geology, environmental health and toxicology, geophysics, environmental hazards, geography, cartography, hydrology, and earth systems sciences. The eBooks are unique in content and the publisher requires individual collections be purchased directly from them. Market research indicates titles can be purchased on an individual basis on a third party vendor platform, however there are no companies to purchase these eBooks from with the terms required by the USGS which are for perpetual ownership of the content and unlimited, simultaneous users across multiple physical locations. Springer works with these companies but strict guidelines are followed for purchasing collections. The use of the books would be subject to access restrictions imposed by the vendor selling the individual electronic books on Springer¿s behalf. Books purchased from third party vendors would not be owned by the USGS Library in perpetuity, as third party vendors do not own the content. Only the publisher offers access to its content across multiple sites to unlimited simultaneous users.