RFP for Full Text Multidisciplinary Periodical Database Product(s)
(December 3, 2007 - July 1, 2008)

VIVA (through the JMU Procurement Office) has issued an RFP for a Full Text Multidisciplinary Periodical Database Product and/or additional Reference, Health, Information Technology, Education, and Business Full Text Databases for the Virtual Library of Virginia.

All communications regarding this RFP and the VIVA Community must be directed to the JMU Procurement Office, attention: Iris Moubray.

The full text of the RFP is available as a WORD Doc.

Here is the schedule for this RFP:
  • December 3, 2007: RFP released January 16, 2008
  • January 16-February 14:  Trials available for RFP Committee members
  • January 17-25: RFP committee reviews proposal
  • February 5: RFP Committee meets to score and select finalists
  • February 22: Resources for Users Committee meets
  • February 15-April 15: Trials available for all VIVA
  • March 11: RFP Demo Day at the University of Richmond.
  • March 18: VIVA member evaluation surveys due
  • March 19-27: RFP Committee compiles evaluations
  • March 28: RFP Committee Meeting
  • April 28-29: face to face meetings with RFP committee and finalists
  • May 2: Resources for Users Committee meeting
  • May 14: Steering Committee meets via Conference Call
  • May 15: Final Scoring by RFP Committee
  • TBD: Final (in-person) negotiations
  • June 15: Target date for Award Announcement
  • July 1: Selected database(s) available to VIVA

Trials of the finalists' products were available to all VIVA members (both public and private institutions) from February 15 - April 15. Authentication was by IP address.

EBSCO

Gale

Mergent Click on the "Enter Mergent Online" button on the top left of the landing page.

Proquest

The evaluation survey was available online. All VIVA librarians were encouraged to evaluate the 3 finalists for the full text multidisciplinary periodical database and to fill out the evaluation survey no later than March 18, 2008.

Vendor Demonstrations will be held on March 11, 2008. The VIVA Vendor Demonstrations for the RFP was held on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 in the Alice Haynes room, which is in the Tyler Hanes Commons of the University of Richmond. Directions to UR can be found at http://www.richmond.edu/about/directions/. A campus map can be found at http://www.richmond.edu/about/directions/campusmap.pdf. The Commons are right on the lake.

Parking: All attendees should apply for a visitor's parking permit at http://oncampus.richmond.edu/administration/police/parking/visiitorvehreg.htm. They will mail the permits out, so please make sure to give the Parking people more than a week's lead time.

Agenda:

9:00 AM: Coffee and Registration

9:30 AM: Introductions

9:45 AM: Gale Cengage Learning

11:00 AM: Break

11:15 AM: EBSCO

12:30 PM: Lunch

1:30 PM: ProQuest

2:45 PM: Brief Break

2:55 PM: Wrap Up

3:15 PM: Adjourn

Registration was handled by the VIVA Central Office. The Vendor RFP Demo meeting was open to all members of the VIVA community. There is no registration fee. A box lunch was provided. To register for the VIVA RFP Finalists Demonstration Meeting, please use the RFP Registration form. The last day to register to attend the RFP Demo Day was Wednesday, March 5.

List of Registrants.

Cancellations: There was no cost to attend the RFP demo but cancellations must have been received no later than Friday, March 7. "No Shows" were billed $10 to cover the cost of the food.

Travel Reimbursements: Mileage and parking will be reimbursed for all representatives of the public institutions. Please see the long VIVA travel memo if you need details on the state travel rules. Note that anyone needing to spend the night must get a Travel Authorization Form approved in advance by the VIVA Office.The general rule of thumb is that travel forms are approved for anyone needing to travel more than 2 1/2 hours each way or if there is a special circumstance such as health. Please fax the completed travel authorization form to the VIVA Office (FAX: 703.993.4662). Carpooling is encouraged.

RFP Committee Members are: Pat Van Zandt (Chair) (W&M), Dave Beagle (VT), Tara Cassidy (VCCS), Sharon Gasser (JMU), Mack Lundy (W&M), Jane Penner (UVA), and Luke Vilelle (Hollins), Ex Officio members are Iris Moubray (JMU) (VIVA's Procurement Officer) and Kathy Perry (VIVA Director).