Intent to Sole Source OCLC Cataloging Subscription

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a sole source basis to OCLC, Inc. for a subscription to the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) database for cataloging and interlibrary loan (ILL) services. The subscription will provide access to the OCLC cataloging service, which includes participation in program for cooperative cataloging databases and initiatives. The period of performance is from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. * The sole source determination is based on NOAA's requirement that OCLC, Inc. is the only vendor that supplies subscription to the OCLC database for cataloging and ILL services. * OCLC, Inc. has spent over 50 years developing a worldwide shared catalog of library resources, which is utilized by and contributed to by more than 72,000 libraries in 170 countries. * The OCLC cataloging service provides access to the program for cooperative cataloging databases for participation in program for cooperative cataloging initiatives. * The subscription will enable NOAA library staff to create original cataloging and authority records for NOAA researchers and for works by NOAA researchers, which will enable the dissemination of NOAA research through a database used by a massive community of libraries around the world.