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FEDLINK Information Alert 2004-2 TO: FEDLINK Customers FROM: Susan M. Tarr, Executive Director, FLICC SUBJECT: Direct Express Option(s) in Fiscal Year 2004 After a successful year-long pilot of FEDLINK's Direct Express option, FEDLINK has expanded the program to more than 90 percent of its online services vendors. Similar to making a purchase using the GSA schedule, FEDLINK customers can place orders directly with online services vendors via the Direct Express option. Under this streamlined purchasing process, products and service offerings will be as comprehensive as always--electronic database publications, document delivery services, associated print publications and specialized access options. Revolving Fund Establishes Authority for Direct Express Under Section 103 of P.L. 106-481 (2 U.S.C. 182c), which established FEDLINK as a revolving fund beginning in Fiscal Year 2002, FEDLINK can provide "the procurement of commercial information services, publications in any format, and library support services,...related accounting services,...related education, information and support services" to federal offices and to other organizations entitled to use federal sources of supply. In addition to interagency transfers for Transfer Pay services, FEDLINK can now accept fees from federal agencies that have "passed through" a vendor and have been earned for facilitating federal purchasing, i.e., the vendors pay the FEDLINK administrative fees. To establish this option, FEDLINK negotiated indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts on a sole source basis with online services vendors. An IDIQ allows the government to place orders for an indefinite quantity of commercially available supplies or services during a fixed period. Place the Order Directly With the Vendor With Direct Express, customers simply cite the FEDLINK contract number on their agency's purchase order and send it straight to the vendor. No synopsis nor further competition is required on purchases over $25,000 as the FEDLINK IDIQ establishes the vendors as sole source for their individual products and services. When comparing two vendors with similar databases, customers may want to compare prices or choose a vendor based upon their interface. The vendor receives the purchase order, sets up the customer's account and promptly issues passwords and/or authorization numbers. The vendor will then invoice the FEDLINK customer directly against their agency's purchase order. The customer's agency finance office pays the invoice (and any interest penalties) and reports disbursements to the customer. FEDLINK does not issue statements of account for Direct Express purchases. The vendor pays the FEDLINK fee based on the volume of quarterly sales of Direct Express customers. Direct Express customers are responsible for initiating the purchase, managing delivery of the products and services, and paying invoices. Online Services Vendors Now Participate in Direct Express More than 40 online services vendors have contracts with FEDLINK to accept Direct Express orders. (See the list below.) Last summer, FEDLINK staff issued a new request for proposal from these vendors and added the Direct Express option to their contracts. These same vendors are also available under Transfer Pay mode but are no longer available through the FEDLINK Direct Pay option. Vendors Participating in the Direct Express Option In Addition to Transfer Pay with Contract #s * BrightPlanet, Corp.--LOC04C-7040 * Cambridge Scientific--LOC04C-7010 * ChoicePoint, Inc.--LOC04C-7058 * Columbia University Press--LOC04C-7046 * Congressional Quarterly--LOC04C-7011 * CQ Press--LOC04C-7013 * CRIBIS Corporation--LOC04C-7049 * Dialog Corporation--LOC04C-7019 * Dun & Bradstreet--LOC04C-7018 * East View Information.--LOC04C-7030 * EBSCO Publishing--03CSFC70101 * Economist Intelligence Unit, N. A.--LOC04C-7023 * Economy.com, Inc.--LOC04C-7002 * Elsevier - MD Consult--LOC04C-7050 * Fastcase.com, Inc.--LOC04C-7014 * Gale Group--03CSFC70102 * Global Insight--LOC04C-7008 * H. W. Wilson--LOC04C-7035 * I.S.I.--LOC04C-7041 * InfoUSA--LOC04C-7005 * Inside Washington Publishers--LOC04C-7003 * Investigation Technologies (formerly Rapsheets.com)--LOC04C-7020 * Jane's Information Group--LOC04C-7037 * JSTOR--LOC04C-7043 * Knovel Corporation--LOC03C-7031 * LexisNexis / LexisNexis CourtLink--03CSFC70103 * LRP Publications--LOC04C-7060 * Market Research.com--LOC04C-7015 * Moreover Technologies--LOC03C-7051 * netLibrary, Inc.--LOC04C-7048 * NewsBank, Inc.--LOC04C-7009 * OECD--LOC04C-7006 * Ovid Technologies, Inc.--LOC04C-7038 * Periscope (United Communications Group)--LOC04C-7001 * Peterson's Guides--LOC04C-7044 * Press Association--LOC04C-7012 * ProQuest Information and Learning Co.--03CSFC70104 * Questel/Orbit--LOC04C-7059 * Research Libraries Group--LOC04C-7053 * RIA (Research Institute of America)--LOC04C-7042 * Serials Solutions--LOC04C-7032 * Standard & Poor's--LOC04C-7034 * Tax Analysts--LOC04C-7056 * TD Net--LOC04C-7054 * The Library Corp. (TLC)--LOC04C-7025 * UnCover Co. DBA Ingenta--LOC04C-7036 * West Publishing Corp.--03CSFC70105 * World Bank--LOC04C-7055 Transfer Pay Option Offers Customers More Account Options As cost effective as Direct Express is, most current members will continue to prefer transfer pay mode, which offers them more flexibility in managing their funds and provides more assistance with procurement processes. Under the Transfer Pay option, customers transfer both FEDLINK administrative fees and estimated annual service dollars to FEDLINK/Library of Congress (LC) via a signed Interagency Agreement (IAG), purchase order, or MIPR. On behalf of the customer, LC/Contracts issues a delivery order to the vendor in the amount specified on the IAG. After receiving the delivery order, the vendor provides service to the customer and submits the customer's invoices to FEDLINK. FEDLINK reviews the invoices, rejects improper ones, and pays acceptable ones from the customer's account. FEDLINK sends the customer copies of rejected invoices, paid invoices, and a monthly statement of account. If there are surplus funds in one vendor account, an amendment form can conveniently move these funds to another needed service. Another major benefit of Transfer Pay is extended order deadlines. Instead of having to fulfill a member's order either by providing services or by issuing delivery orders to vendors prior to the end of the fiscal year, before their funds expire, FEDLINK is able to accept signed IAGs with firm orders late in September every year and generate delivery orders well into October. In addition, FEDLINK is also authorized to accept IAGs and amendments by fax, pending receipt of originals via courier service or mail. This reduces the lead time necessary to add funds to purchase information products and services at the end of the fiscal year. More Information Is Available For questions on Direct Express, contact FEDLINK Network Operations by phone at (202) 707-4848 or by email to [log in to unmask] For assistance with your current accounts, please call the FEDLINK Fiscal Hotline at (202) 707-4900.