Commerce Dept. Awards $32.4M for CAS SciFinder & STNext Subscriptions, Extending Contract to 2027
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $32,377,603 ($32.4M)
Contractor: American Chemical Society
Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce
Start Date: 2025-09-01
End Date: 2027-03-31
Contract Duration: 576 days
Daily Burn Rate: $56.2K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: CAS SCIFINDER AND STNEXT WEB-BASED SUBSCRIPTION
Place of Performance
Location: COLUMBUS, FRANKLIN County, OHIO, 43210
State: Ohio Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Commerce obligated $32.4 million to AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY for work described as: CAS SCIFINDER AND STNEXT WEB-BASED SUBSCRIPTION Key points: 1. Significant investment in essential research and development tools for the USPTO. 2. Sole-source award raises questions about competition and potential cost savings. 3. Long-term contract (576 days) suggests critical, ongoing need for these services. 4. High value contract ($32.4M) warrants close scrutiny of pricing and alternatives.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $32.4M over approximately 2 years appears high for web-based subscription services. Benchmarking against similar large-scale information service contracts is needed to assess if this pricing is competitive.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, indicating a lack of competition. This method limits price discovery and may result in higher costs for taxpayers compared to a competitive procurement.
Taxpayer Impact: The sole-source nature of this award means taxpayers may be paying a premium for these subscription services, as competitive bidding was not utilized to secure the best possible price.
Public Impact
USPTO researchers and patent examiners rely on these databases for critical information. Access to comprehensive scientific and technical literature is vital for innovation and intellectual property protection. Potential for increased costs due to lack of competition impacts taxpayer funds allocated to R&D support.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- High contract value
- Lack of competition
Positive Signals
- Essential service for USPTO
- Long-term commitment indicates critical need
Sector Analysis
The Information Technology sector, specifically web search portals and information services, is crucial for government agencies like the USPTO. Spending benchmarks for similar large-scale database subscriptions are difficult to ascertain without more specific service details, but $32.4M is a substantial investment.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this procurement. The contract appears to be awarded directly to a large entity, likely the American Chemical Society, limiting opportunities for small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award necessitates robust oversight to ensure the government is receiving fair value and that the services provided are essential and appropriately priced. The Department of Commerce and USPTO should document the justification for the sole-source award thoroughly.
Related Government Programs
- Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services
- Department of Commerce Contracting
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award lacks competition
- Potential for inflated pricing
- Limited small business participation
- High contract value requires scrutiny
- Dependency on a single provider
Tags
web-search-portals-and-all-other-informa, department-of-commerce, oh, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Commerce awarded $32.4 million to AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. CAS SCIFINDER AND STNEXT WEB-BASED SUBSCRIPTION
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $32.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-09-01. End: 2027-03-31.
What is the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and have alternative solutions been thoroughly evaluated?
The justification for a sole-source award typically involves unique capabilities, proprietary technology, or a lack of available alternatives. For CAS SciFinder and STNext, the American Chemical Society is the primary provider. However, a thorough evaluation of potential alternative databases or aggregated procurement options should have been conducted to ensure no other viable, competitive solutions exist.
How does the per-unit cost or access fee compare to industry benchmarks for similar scientific and technical information databases?
Without specific details on the number of users, access levels, and specific modules included in the subscription, a direct per-unit cost benchmark is challenging. However, given the $32.4M total value, the agency should have internal or external benchmarks to validate that the pricing is reasonable compared to other large government or academic institutions accessing similar comprehensive databases.
What is the potential impact on USPTO's research and patent examination efficiency if these specific subscription services were not available or were significantly more expensive?
The unavailability or significant price increase of CAS SciFinder and STNext could severely hamper the USPTO's ability to conduct thorough prior art searches, analyze chemical and technical literature, and support patent examination. This could lead to delays in patent issuance, reduced quality of examination, and potentially stifle innovation by hindering researchers' access to critical information.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Information › Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services › Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: 1333BJ25R00150008
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1155 16TH ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC, 20036
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $109,863,103
Exercised Options: $32,377,603
Current Obligation: $32,377,603
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-09-01
Current End Date: 2027-03-31
Potential End Date: 2030-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-17
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