Interior's $8.17M OCLC EZPROXY VSAAS subscription for library services awarded to OCLC, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $8,172 ($8.2K)

Contractor: Oclc, Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2025-09-11

End Date: 2027-02-22

Contract Duration: 529 days

Daily Burn Rate: $15/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: OCLC EZPROXY VSAAS LIBRARY SUBSCRIPTION

Place of Performance

Location: DENVER, JEFFERSON County, COLORADO, 80225

State: Colorado Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $8,172.06 to OCLC, INC for work described as: OCLC EZPROXY VSAAS LIBRARY SUBSCRIPTION Key points: 1. Value for money is difficult to assess without comparable benchmarks for similar library subscription services. 2. The contract was not competed, raising questions about potential price overruns and lack of market-driven pricing. 3. Risk indicators are moderate, primarily related to the lack of competition and potential for vendor lock-in. 4. Performance context is limited to the provision of library subscription services, with no specific performance metrics provided. 5. Sector positioning is within the broader IT and information services sector, supporting government library functions.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total value of $8.17 million over its period of performance (approximately 2.5 years) for a VSAAS library subscription service is substantial. However, without specific details on the scope of services, user base, or comparable market pricing for similar government library subscriptions, a definitive value-for-money assessment is challenging. The lack of competition further complicates benchmarking against market rates or alternative solutions.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not competed among multiple vendors. This approach suggests that the Bureau of Land Management identified OCLC, Inc. as the only capable provider for this specific service, or that the circumstances did not allow for a competitive solicitation. The absence of competition limits the government's ability to leverage market forces to secure the best possible price and terms.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition means taxpayers may not be receiving the most cost-effective solution, as there was no opportunity for vendors to bid and potentially offer lower prices.

Public Impact

Federal employees and researchers will benefit from continued access to essential library resources and digital services. The service supports the operational needs of the Bureau of Land Management's libraries and archives. The geographic impact is likely nationwide, supporting dispersed federal employees and facilities. Workforce implications are minimal, as this is a service contract rather than a direct employment initiative.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may lead to higher costs than a competed contract.
Potential for vendor lock-in due to specialized nature of VSAAS.
Limited transparency on service scope and performance metrics.

Positive Signals

Ensures continuity of essential library services for federal users.
Awarded to a known entity in the library services sector.
Firm Fixed Price contract type helps manage cost certainty.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader Information Technology and Software as a Service (SaaS) sector, specifically serving the niche market of government library and archival support. The market for specialized library subscription services is often dominated by a few key providers, making sole-source awards more common in this area. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish without more granular data on the specific services provided and the scale of the user base.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that this contract includes small business set-asides or subcontracting requirements. As a sole-source award to a large established vendor, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal. However, it is important to ensure that any potential subcontracting opportunities are evaluated for small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically reside with the Bureau of Land Management's contracting officer and program managers. Accountability measures would be defined in the contract's terms and conditions, focusing on service delivery and adherence to the fixed price. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature and lack of publicly detailed performance metrics.

Related Government Programs

Federal Library and Information Network (FEDLINK)
General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule IT
Information Technology Enterprise Solutions

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks competitive pricing pressure.
Limited public information on service scope and performance metrics.
Potential for vendor lock-in with specialized VSAAS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $8,172.06 to OCLC, INC. OCLC EZPROXY VSAAS LIBRARY SUBSCRIPTION

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is OCLC, INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Bureau of Land Management).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $8,172.06.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-09-11. End: 2027-02-22.

What specific library resources and VSAAS functionalities are included in this OCLC EZPROXY subscription?

The provided data does not specify the exact library resources or VSAAS functionalities covered by the OCLC EZPROXY subscription. OCLC EZproxy is a service that provides secure remote access to a library's electronic resources. The subscription likely includes access to a range of databases, journals, e-books, and other digital content licensed by the Bureau of Land Management, facilitated through a secure proxy server. A detailed breakdown of included resources and functionalities would typically be found in the contract's statement of work or associated exhibits, which are not publicly available in this dataset. Understanding the specific content and features is crucial for assessing the value and necessity of the subscription.

How does the $8.17 million cost compare to previous spending on similar library services by the Department of the Interior or Bureau of Land Management?

The provided data does not contain historical spending information for similar library services by the Department of the Interior or the Bureau of Land Management. Therefore, a direct comparison to previous expenditures is not possible. To assess if $8.17 million represents an increase, decrease, or stable spending level, historical contract data or budget allocations for library subscriptions would need to be reviewed. Without this context, it is difficult to determine if the current spending is in line with past investment in these services.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this OCLC EZPROXY VSAAS contract, and how is performance being measured?

The available data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) or the methods used to measure the performance of this OCLC EZPROXY VSAAS contract. Typically, such contracts would include metrics related to service availability, uptime of the proxy service, user access success rates, and potentially customer support response times. The absence of this information in the provided data makes it challenging to objectively evaluate whether OCLC, Inc. is meeting the government's performance expectations. Further details would likely be found in the contract's statement of work or performance work statement.

Given the sole-source nature, what steps has the Bureau of Land Management taken to ensure fair pricing and prevent overpayment?

As this contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) would typically rely on mechanisms such as obtaining a Justification and Approval (J&A) for other than full and open competition. This process requires documenting why a competitive solicitation is not feasible or not in the government's best interest. To ensure fair pricing, the BLM would likely have conducted market research, reviewed historical pricing data if available, and potentially negotiated the price with OCLC, Inc. They may also have sought pricing information from other government agencies or industry benchmarks, although the effectiveness of these measures is difficult to ascertain without the J&A documentation.

What is the anticipated user base or number of individuals who will access these library services through the EZPROXY VSAAS?

The provided data does not specify the anticipated user base or the number of individuals who will access these library services through the OCLC EZPROXY VSAAS. This information is critical for understanding the scale of the service being procured and for evaluating the per-user cost, if such a metric were available. The user base could range from a few hundred specialized researchers to thousands of federal employees across various bureaus within the Department of the Interior. Without this data, it's difficult to contextualize the $8.17 million expenditure in terms of service reach.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services › Libraries and Archives

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 6565 KILGOUR PL, DUBLIN, OH, 43017

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: $8,172

Exercised Options: $8,172

Current Obligation: $8,172

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline