SOURCES SOUGHT
T -- Warehouse Distribution and Product Sales
- Notice Date
- 5/13/2004
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- U S GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, APS ACQUISITION OPERATIONS BRANCH, MS 205 12201 SUNRISE VALLEY DRIVE RESTON VA 20192
- ZIP Code
- 20192
- Solicitation Number
- 04HQ11-NoSolicitation
- Response Due
- 7/2/2004
- Archive Date
- 5/13/2005
- Point of Contact
- STACEY DIAMOND CONTRACTING OFFICER 7036487309 sdiamond@usgs.gov;
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to Point of Contact above, or if none listed, contact the IDEAS EC HELP DESK for assistance
(EC_helpdesk@NBC.GOV)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The US Geological Survey (USGS), Department of the Interior (DOI) distribution facility in Lakewood, Colorado currently disseminates USGS and other Federal agency scientific information products (maps, books, reports, and other products). Orders are currently taken by walk-in, phone, and through the World Wide Web. These products are disseminated in hardcopy, CD-ROM, DVD, and print-on-demand formats through a network of authorized USGS Business Partners as well as through walk-up and mail delivery mechanisms. These products constitute a substantial volume of items, currently more than 89,000 titles. During fiscal year (FY) 2004, the USGS will implement a phased transition from a hardcopy to an on-demand format for all topographic and some thematic map products in combination with a focus on softcopy online offerings from an electronic publications warehouse with hardcopy formats being produced by the private sector or others. By the end of FY 2005, USGS product distribution and warehouse functions in Lakewood will be downsized. Some products other than topographic maps will continue to be offered in hardcopy and optical media formats by the USGS. The USGS is interested in identifying organizations capable of warehousing and delivering USGS and other Federal agency hardcopy maps, books, reports and other related scientific information products that are in the public domain. Descriptions of methods of delivery to meet customer needs are being solicited from other organizations, public or private. The USGS is interested in identifying new strategies, technologies, and approaches for delivering products from digital files to print-on-demand and or lithographic printing provided by the private sector. Most products would start from digital files. The USGS is also interested in determining if there is public- or private-sector interest in the hardcopy distribution function as the USGS migrates to an emphasis on the aforementioned electronic warehouse distribution system. To understand the breadth of opportunities, the USGS is issuing this RFI. Please limit responses to 10 pages and note that responses can include information pertaining to all product lines or to specific product lines. 1) The USGS is seeking options for the dissemination of USGS and other Federal agency hardcopy maps, books, reports, and other related scientific information products currently managed by the USGS and options for managing this inventory. These products constitute a substantial volume of items. Please provide an inventory and delivery strategy? The USGS desires to greatly downsize or perhaps eliminate this hardcopy scientific information product inventory and warehouse operation, as currently maintained by the USGS. As a first step to replace this system-while maintaining the high level of service the USGS customer base expects-the USGS seeks to determine whether an interested organization, public or private, is capable of assisting in the downsizing of its current inventory and warehouse operation and in shifting this activity from the Federal government to the private sector. Please explain your strategies and ability to accomplish these tasks. 2) The USGS serves a wide range of customers, including its own employees; its partners, both those who participate in the production of USGS products and those who currently retail USGS and other Federal agency hardcopy scientific information products; other Federal agencies; members of Congress and their staffs; State and local governments; academia; industry; the general public; and foreign customers. With this diversity of customers, it is challenging to provide services that meet their various needs. How would you suggest organizing services and grouping customers to best serve them? The USGS will continue to announce availability of new products and information through a variety of mechanisms (i.e. press releases, conference and tradeshows, information bulletins). 3) USGS scientific information products are intellectual property produced by the USGS and must be recognized as such. The USGS visual identity must be maintained with the intellectual property. Explain how your organization will ensure that the USGS receives credit for its scientific work. How would you ensure that USGS identity or "branding" is maintained throughout the access and distribution process 4) Current prices for USGS products are developed to recover the costs associated with reproduction and distribution based on law and Executive guidance. For our paper map products, the USGS develops and implements prices with approval from the Secretary of the Interior while the Government Printing Office establishes prices for text products. Explain your pricing structure 5) Two important roles of the current USGS warehousing and distribution system are to provide USGS and other Federal agency scientific information products in times of emergency and to meet internal USGS scientific activity needs. How will your organization handle these emergency and internal product delivery needs 6) The USGS is seeking providers who will furnish any or all distribution and warehouse services currently handled by the USGS. The USGS will also consider proposals that include multiple distribution channels, selected product line offerings, and warehousing scenarios within the public or private sector. 7) An important assumption upon which to base your response is that the USGS will not compete with the provider by offering the same services provided through this RFI. However, the USGS will continue to provide free digital versions of information products through our Web pages. Information from you based on this assumption is requested. 8) How does your organization envision your relationship with the USGS (contract, totally divest to the private sector, other) 9) Given the public domain nature of USGS scientific information products, what is your organization's interest in these services? Would you like to suggest any terms or conditions that your organization would consider reasonable and necessary for committing to such services for the USGS 10) As the USGS moves toward a greater emphasis on free of charge softcopy delivery methods for some scientific information products, those products may no longer be restricted to a "standard" format. For example, there may not be a standard USGS topographic product. Instead of revising the mass-produced hardcopy USGS topographic maps, the USGS will focus on digital revisions within The National Map (the USGS online interactive map service). What impacts will this shift in delivery methods and the desire of the USGS to divest our current warehousing and distribution activities to the private sector have on your organization? A pre-RFI Response Conference will be held on June 2, 2004 at 10 a.m. EDST at Building 810, Denver Federal Center, Lakewood, Colorado. See http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/public/html/about.html for directions and all attendees must RSVP to the email address below by June 1, 2004 at 10 a.m EDST. The purpose of this conference is to allow potential service providers to meet with USGS representatives and to ask questions. Final proposals are due by 4 p.m. EDST July 2, 2004. This is not a procurement action. This RFI is a no-cost voluntary request. Industry organizations participating in this effort will do so at their own expense. This announcement does not obligate the United States Department of the Interior or any other Government organization to reimburse any participant expenses. No telephone inquiries will be entertained. This announcement is only for the purpose if identifying available sources. Any questions should be submitted to inventoryRFI@usgs.gov.
- Web Link
-
Please click here to view more details.
(http://ideasec.nbc.gov/j2ee/announcementdetail.jsp?serverId=GS1434HQ&objId=619775)
- Place of Performance
- Address: USGS Building 810 Denver Federal Center Lakewood, Colorado
- Zip Code: 80225
- Country: USA
- Zip Code: 80225
- Record
- SN00585648-W 20040515/040513212525 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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