The Economist’s Digital Content Subscription - Intent to Sole Source
Department of Defense · Department of the Air Force · DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE
Account requiredWhy it scored this way
Every reason behind the verdict rather than the headline one — which of your certifications match, how much runway is left, whether the work is your size, and what we would need to know to sharpen it.
Written against this notice and what you have told us about your company. Anything we do not know is marked [NEEDS INPUT] in the draft rather than guessed at — read it before you send it.
Start a free trial to draft these. Nothing is sent to an agency on your behalf, ever — you get a document to review, edit and submit yourself.
Sources Sought response
A complete draft response — capability statement, relevant past performance, business size and socioeconomic status, and answers to the agency's specific questions.
Questions to submit
Genuine ambiguities and requirements that disadvantage a smaller bidder, drafted as questions you can submit before the Q&A deadline.
Past performance write-ups
Which of your prior awards best match this requirement, and draft write-ups in the format the agency asked for.
Solicitation details
Solicitation number
FA890326A067901
Notice type
Special Notice
NAICS
513120
Product service code
7630
Set-aside
Unrestricted
Posted
2026-08-17
Response deadline
Aug 20, 2026, 5:00 PM UTC
Place of performance
JBSA Lackland, TX
Contracting contact
vaughn.swinton@us.af.mil
Market intelligence
Account requiredWho wins this work, and what it pays
Comparable awards under NAICS 513120 at this agency — the incumbent, what they were paid, when their period of performance ends, and the real pricing distribution rather than the headline number. From public federal award records.
NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE The 772d Enterprise Sourcing Squadron (772 ESS) intends to award a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract to a single source, THE ECONOMIST NEWSPAPER, N.A. INCORPORATED, under the authority of RFO 6.103-1 (Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements) on 15 September 2026. The period of performance (PoP) shall be: 30 September 2026 – 29 September 2030. PSC: 7630 NAICS: 513120 Small Business Size Standard: 1,000 employees Subscription: The Economist’s Digital Content Subscription Supplier: THE ECONOMIST NEWSPAPER, N.A. INCORPORATED Product Description: The mission of the Department of Defense (DoD) Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) Libraries is to support military personnel assigned to contingency operations, remote sites, and military missions in accordance with DoDI 1015.10, Military Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Programs. To support mission readiness, voluntary education, and quality of life, DoD Libraries require a subscription to The Economist Online. The requirement is for 24/7 unlimited, simultaneous user access to the digital edition of The Economist through established authentication methods. The subscription includes searchable web-based access, the Economist mobile application, audio editions, podcasts, digital newsletters, and exclusive online content, including The Economist Briefings and Special Reports, which provide in-depth analysis of global political, economic, scientific, technological, and business topics, as well as the weekly Leaders articles featuring fact-based commentary on significant global events. · Must be able to provide access to an easily searchable and viewable version of the digital web-based version of The Economist journal. · Must provide access to The Economist app, audio versions, podcasts and digital newsletters. · Must provide access to the full weekly edition with the ability to bookmark articles. · Must provide access to The Economist morning briefing and other exclusive content available at The Economist Online website. · Must provide access to The Economist briefings and special reports, providing in-depth research and analysis on global topics spanning politics, economics, science and technology, and business. · Must provide The Economist weekly Leaders - fact-based opinion pieces on events shaping the global agendas. · 24/7 unlimited, simultaneous access and unlimited user access of digital version of The Economist. · Must work with contract POC to establish authentication methods to provide optimal accessibility for all eligible patrons. · Security between the Website and server must be Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.3. · Must be able to supply or allow retrieval of database usage statistics by Branch of Service (Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Military OneSource/Other, and Navy). · Must have HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) with long duration deployed on the servers to mitigate/prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. · Website certificates shall be RSA 2048-bits (SHA256withRSA) This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations. However, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the Government. The Government will consider responses received by 20 August 2026, 12:00 PM, CST for this notice. The Government will not pay for any information received in response to this announcement. A determination not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Contractors Should Be Aware of the Following Information: 1. Contractors MUST include the following information: a. Points of contact, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers. b. Identification as a large U.S. business, a small U.S. business, or a foreign business. Please note that size indicated should be based on the NAICS code for this effort listed above. c. Identification of any other socioeconomic status including Women-Owned Small Business, Economically Disadvantaged Small Business, 8(a), Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, Veteran Owned Small Business or HUBZone. d. Company CAGE Code and UEI. 2. If this posting specifically references brand name products, offerors are encouraged to suggest products other than those specifically referenced. Responses must address how the alternate product meets the product characteristics specified above. 3. Submitted information shall be UNCLASSIFIED. 4. Responses are limited to 10 pages in a Microsoft Word or PDF compatible format. Responses shall be e-mailed to Contracting Specialist: Homer Rios at homer.rios@us.af.mil and Contracting Officer: TSgt Vaughn Swinton at vaughn.swinton@us.af.mil @us.af.mil no later than 20 August 2026, 12:00 PM, CST
Contact
Point of contact
TSgt Vaughn Swinton
Role
not stated on this notice — SAM publishes a role for only about 5% of them, so this may be a contract specialist rather than the contracting officer
Email
vaughn.swinton@us.af.mil
Secondary
homer.rios@us.af.mil
Submit questions
Ambiguities and requirements worth clarifying, written as questions you can send before the deadline.
Opens in your own mail client, addressed and with a subject line — you write the message. GovSprint never sends anything on your behalf.
Emails open in your mail client and are sent from your address, so the reply comes back to you and the exchange stays yours. Confirm the correct channel and any question deadline on the notice before sending — many solicitations require questions in a specific way.
