SDL Vendor Information

SDL Project Background

Since 1997, Statewide Database Licensing, a project of the Library Deveopment Program at the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State, has partially subsidized a database contract that serves most of the nonprofit libraries throughout the state. For an overview of participating libraries, see the project summary on the SDL "home page."

The contract currently provides a suite of databases that are divided into three components:

• Aggregated periodical database(s);
• National and Washington newspapers;
• K-12 resources.

ProQuest has held the contract throughout the project's history. See http://sos.wa.gov/q/PQ for a listing of the current package content. The value of the current contract is a little over $500,000, of which approximiately 50% is paid with federal LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) funding, administered through IMLS (The Institute for Museum and Library Services). The remainder of the cost is divided proportionally between the participating libraries.

Procurement Process

The current contract will expire June 30, 2021. Consequently, a formal procurement process will most likely occur at some point during 2020, in which one or more RFPs (Request(s) for Proposals) will probably be released. In addition to the components listed above, there may be additional components to the RFP, or there could be a separate procurement document, such as an RFI (Request for Information) whose purpose will be to solicit information for possible supplements to the basic package, in an effort to provide more choices to participating libraries. Additional federal funding to support such options depends on the level of interest, and is not guaranteed; funding may need to come from participating libraries. Such options could result in formal contracts, or they might provide informal group purchasing opportunities to libraries. Only opportunities which could provide significant savings or other advantages to Washington libraries would be considered.

Any procurement documents will be released through Washington's Electronic Business Solution (WEBS), the State of Washington's online procurement system. In addition, such release will be widely announced through the State Library's various online media, including the SDL project's e-mail distribution list, WALIBSDL. If your firm wishes to be individually informed of the release of any procurement documents, please send e-mail requesting same to Will Stuivenga, the SDL project manager (contact info below).

Contact Information

Direct all questions and information requests to the SDL Project manager:

Will Stuivenga
Cooperative Projects Manager, Library Development
Washington State Library
Office of the Secretary of State
[email protected]
360.704.5217
fax: 360.586.7575