R605--BrowZine Subscription POP 02/17/2026 - 02/16/2027 PO# 776-C60017 CO: Andrew Schoenecker

Active

Contract Opportunity

Request for Sole Source Justification Format >SAT

VHAPG Part 806.3 OFOC Page 1 of 4
Revision: 04 Effective Date: 12/15/25
Acquisition ID#: 36C776-25-AP-0354
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification and Approval (J&A)
For
Other Than Full and Open Competition (>SAT)
Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C776-26-AP-0354

Contracting Activity:

Department of Veterans Affairs Contracting Agency
Program Contracting Activity Central (PCAC)
6150 Oak Tree Blvd., Suite 300
Independence, OH 44131

Organizational Activity: Office of Health and Informatics
Procurement Title: BrowZine Subscription
Purchase Request: 776-26-2-3500-0007
Nature and/or Description of the Action Being Approved:

Request is for approval to use other than full and open competition (Sole Source) to award firm fixed price contract to Third Iron. The Department of Veterans Health Administration (VHA), VA Library Network (VALNET), requires a subscription to Third Iron complete, an existing, commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS), web-based, product that presents library electronic journal (eJournals) collections that the VA has acquired in a user-friendly, browsable and readable format; and technology to simplify and expedite access to full text articles from library discovery service, databases and open web searching.

The VHA s goal is to promote usage of online library resources and other VALNET services and to increase healthcare provider and researcher workflow efficiency by simplifying access to subscribed content.

This is an annual subscription plus four 12-month option periods and a six-month extension.

Description of Supplies/Services Required to Meet the Agency s Needs:

Description of Services: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), VA Library Network (VALNET), requires a commercial off-the-shelf web based subscription from Third Iron and will be made available throughout the VA healthcare system.
Supply a combined subscription method for Third Iron Complete which is a unique suite of products that simplifies researcher workflow by expediting access to content. The combination of features and functionality offered will make available both (1) access to online resources and (2) user authentication and access to these resources. Supply and maintain a web-based method of establishing self-registration accounts for VA staff. Provide a system which organizes user groups and allocates resource access at the individual or group level. Supply a system which can utilize a link resolver resource, such as Serials Solutions. Provide expansive usage statistics on request to any account manager/administrator. Supply a system which accommodates approximately 130 VAMC accounts, with the capacity to accommodate/add more accounts; plus, or minus potential five VAMC accounts. Supply a system which functions independently from the VA computer network and requires no software to be loaded/uploaded to the VA computer network.
Estimated Dollar Value: $303,598.00 (Base Year), Total w/ four (4) Option Years, and one (1) six (6) month extension (ME) = $1,706,608.00
Period of Performance:
FY26 Base 01/15/2026 through 01/14/2027
FY27 OY1 - 01/15/2027 through 01/14/2028
FY28 OY2 - 01/15/2028 through 01/14/2029
FY29 OY3 - 01/15/2029 through 01/14/2030
FY30 OY4 - 01/15/2030 through 01/14/2031
FY30 6ME 01/15/2031 through 07/14/2031

Statutory Authority Permitting Other than Full and Open Competition:

( X) (1) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements per 41 USC §3304(a)(1) as implemented by RFO 6.103-1;
( ) (2) Unusual and Compelling Urgency per 41 USC §3304(a)(2) as implemented by RFO 6.103-2;
( ) (3) Industrial Mobilization, Engineering, Developmental or Research Capability or Expert Services per 41 USC §3304(a)(3) as implemented by RFO 6.103-3;
( ) (4) International Agreement per 41 USC §3304(a)(4) as implemented by RFO 6.103-4
( ) (5) Authorized or Required by Statute per 41 USC §3304(a)(5) as implemented by RFO 6.103-5;
( ) (6) National Security per 41 USC §3304(a)(6) as implemented by RFO 6.103-6;
( ) (7) Public Interest per 41 USC §3304(a)(7) as implemented by RFO 6.103-7;

Demonstration that the Contractor s Unique Qualifications or Nature of the Acquisition Requires the Use of the Authority Cited Above (applicability of authority):

Third Iron Complete is a unique suite of products that simplifies researcher workflow by expediting access to content. The combination of features and functionality offered include:
BrowZine
BrowZine visually presents the library s e-journal collection in a browsable, readable format. Users can review journals by full volume and issue. Personalization features My Bookshelf and My Articles maximize productivity by allowing users to create reading rooms  of favorite titles and receive notification of newly published articles (including articles in press) and save favorite articles for reading and referencing in the future. The library benefits from automatic updating of library holdings information in conjunction with commercial vendors such as Serials Solutions access via IP Address Range and commercial remote authentication vendors such as EZProxy and Liblynx.Â
LibKey Discovery
LibKey Discovery enriches the library s discovery environment by integrating key elements of Third Iron technology into standard library infrastructure, such as commercial and open source discovery products (Primo, Summon, EDS, TDNet), to provide multiple pathways to content and create workflow efficiencies. For example, one-click to millions of subscribed and open-access articles, cover art from over 25,000 journals, and direct links from article records back to the full journal issues.
LibKey Link
LibKey Link enriches PubMed by integrating Third Iron technology to provide save user s time. In one-click, users can access millions of subscribed and open-access articles from PubMed and seamlessly connect to content provided by their library.
LibKey Nomad
LibKey Nomad is a browser extension from Chrome that connects users from citations found at websites, such as Google Scholar and publisher sites, to content from their library. In one-click, users can access millions of subscribed and open-access articles and seamlessly connect to the library s document fulfillment such as ILL.
libkey.io
libkey.io is a reference website where users can resolve DOI and PubMed IDs through library resources. If the article is available through library resources, libkey.io will deliver it in one-click. If the article is unavailable, libkey.io will link the request through the library s document fulfillment, such as ILL.
Third Iron has a team of librarians who are knowledgeable about all aspects of the library systems and technology necessary to manage a library and its products, which means they can provide quality technical support and make tailored integration suggestions.

Description of Efforts Made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as possible (including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by RFO Part 5 and, if not, which exception under RFO Part 5 applies):

Market research was conducted; this effort did not yield any additional sources that can meet the Government s requirements. There is no competition anticipated for this acquisition. Additionally, in accordance with FAR 5.201, the proposed action will be synopsized for Contracting Opportunities on SAM.gov. Any proposals that are received will be evaluated.

Per the Department of Veteran Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) Sections 810.001-70, The Small Business Administration (SBA) certification database on the SBA Veteran Small Business Certification Program (VetCert) portal was queried on 28 November 2025 utilizing NAICS 519290 to search for capable, verified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) & Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) concerns. The SBA search produced approximately 8 results.

The Contract Specialist reached out to Hayley Harris at Third Iron, LLC on 28 November 2025 to confirm if they are the only known publisher and seller of the BrowZine subscription services to which she confirmed on the same day.

SAM was utilized to ensure that Third Iron, LLC does not have any active exclusions.
Determination by the CO that the Anticipated Cost to the Government will be Fair and Reasonable:

The proposed pricing will be evaluated against the IGCE and historical pricing using the previous contract (36C77623P0038) and comparable pricing for similar, web-based resources will be used to ensure the price has been deemed fair and reasonable

Description of the Market Research Conducted and the Results, or a Statement of the Reasons Market Research Was Not Conducted:

As described in Section 6 above, market research, in accordance with FAR Part 10, was conducted by synopsis of the proposed acquisition, advising industry of the pending acquisition and soliciting inquiries from interested parties.

Any Other Facts Supporting the Use of Other than Full and Open Competition:

None

Listing of Sources that Expressed, in Writing, an Interest in the Acquisition:

No other entities have expressed in writing, or otherwise, an interest in providing a comparable resource to the VA Library Network Office.

A Statement of the Actions, if any, the Agency May Take to Remove or Overcome any Barriers to Competition before Making subsequent acquisitions for the supplies or services required:

Should the membership need renewal, market research will continue to be conducted assuring that no other organization can meet the needs of the VA. Additionally the notice required by FAR 5.201 will be posted on SAM.gov.

Requirements Certification: I certify that the requirement outlined in this justification is a Bona Fide Need of the Department of Veterans Affairs and that the supporting data under my cognizance, which are included in the justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.
_____________________________
Vincent Slatt
Interim Director
Library Network Office
Approvals in accordance with the VHAPM Part 806.3 OFOC SOP:

Contracting Officer Certification (required): I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.
_____________________________
Andrew Schoenecker
Contracting Officer
Program Contracting Activity Central (PCAC)
One Level Above the Contracting Officer (Required over SAT but not exceeding $900K): I certify the justification meets requirements for other than full and open competition.
_____________________________
Michael Mullen
Division Chief
Program Contracting Activity Central (PCAC)

DoC Review and Approval: I have reviewed the foregoing justification and find it to be complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief and recommend approval for other than full and open competition.
_____________________________
Richard Dahmen
Director of Contracting
Program Contracting Activity Central (PCAC)

VHA RPO HCA Review and Approval: I have reviewed the foregoing justification and find it to be complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief and approve for other than full and open competition.
_____________________________
Daryl A. Berg
Executive Director, RPO Central
Head of Contracting Activity

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