Electronic access for all USDA users and public on-site users a plagiarism detection software for STEM literature coverage   2

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis a contract with Turnitin, LLC - developers of iThenticate, 2101 Webster Street Suite 1800, Oakland, CA, 94612 for electronic access for all USDA users and public on-site users to the iThenticate plagiarism detection software, through USDA's DigiTop Service.

The contractor shall provide IP-authenticated electronic access via the Internet to the iThenticate plagiarism detection software for use by all USDA employees, contractors, authorized public on-site users, cooperators and volunteers working on behalf of USDA and acting within the scope of their relationship with USDA. All USDA locations worldwide are to be considered authorized premises. In addition to internal use, authorized users have the right to use subscribed content for ordinary business, scholarly and educational purposes of USDA, including but not limited to viewing, printing, saving, reusing and disseminating content.

The Service shall include access to iThenticate with 1,000 Document* Submission Credits and for the Term A Document is defined as up to 25,000 words of text.

The contractor shall make the iThenticate plagiarism detection software accessible 24 hours per day. Authorized users shall be granted access to the iThenticate plagiarism detection software through the IP recognition authentication process without any impediments.

The contractor shall provide access in accordance with the following terms and conditions: The authorized users shall have the right to use the iThenticate plagiarism detection software during the term of the subscription.

The contractor shall provide access to the subscribed content and the administrative interface without imposing on the subscriber's users any additional terms and conditions or similar restrictions that are not part of the contract. If the contractor's system's technical functionality prevents suppression of such terms and conditions or similar restrictions, the contractor agrees that any language, however construed and presented, is null and void and not binding on the subscriber's users.

The contractor shall provide USDA with access to Help desk and training materials, including but not limited to live training sessions, users seminars, and web-based educational materials. Phone and email support will be available seven days a week, 24 hours per day.

The circumstance permitting other than full and open competition is FAR 6.302-1 and 41 USC 253(c)(5), only one responsible source and no other type of supplies or source will meet agency needs. NAL is mandated (7 U.S.C. 3101) to serve as the primary agricultural information resource of the United States.

iThenticate offers a subscription-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution. The service bundle known as plagiarism detection service, incorporates all aspects of the requirement. iThenticate , including its associated components, is a single source product developed and sold by Turnitin, LLC. This product is a unique service that is not offered by any other vendor or reseller in a similar format. The product may be procured only from Turnitin, LLC. No other source or competitor may legally modify or change the software nor would have access to the code to do so.

iThenicate was the only solution that met all requirements. Other solutions in the marketplace are geared for undergrad and grad-level assignments and do have sufficient STEM literature coverage to meet the needs of the ARS scientific research output.

iThenicate has been successfully utilized by USDA researchers through the DigiTop subscription for five years, beginning with order 1232SA19P0101. Due to reduction in scope of requirement, a purchase card has been used to renew the service for several years.

Anticipated Date of Award: 08/14/2023

THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. This notice is for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. Vendors that believe they can provide the services listed above are invited to submit substantiating documentation in writing to the identified point of contact. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. A determination by the Government to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely at the discretion of the Government.