How to bid on the Scopus subscription notice from the Department of the Navy

What the Navy is buying

The Naval Research Laboratory wants to renew its annual subscription to Elsevier’s Scopus online library platform. The Navy says Elsevier holds the copyright and intellectual property rights needed to provide it, and intends to award a sole-source contract.

This is a special notice, not a solicitation. The agency will consider responses, but whether it competes the procurement is at the Government’s discretion.

Deadline and what happens next

The notice was published October 27, 2026. The listed deadline is November 10, 2026, at 4:00 PM ET. The notice also says firms may notify the Contracting Officer within 15 days of publication.

Send any capability statement, proposal, quotation, or supporting evidence by the deadline. It must provide enough detail to demonstrate your ability to meet the requirement. The agency will consider responses, but has sole discretion over whether to compete the procurement.

Who this opportunity may suit

This notice is relevant to firms that can provide the Scopus platform subscription and can document their ability to meet the requirement. Because the Navy cites Elsevier’s rights to the information and plans a sole-source award, a vendor should be prepared to address how it can meet the requirement despite that stated rights issue.

How to access the notice

Click “View original source” above to open the opportunity on the portal. If the first click takes you to the portal homepage, click it again to go to the bid.

You may need a free account to view documents, though many bids do not require one. The notice refers to attached specifications for additional details.

Prepare a clear, supported response

Read the attached specifications and organize your response around the stated requirement. Explain specifically how your firm can meet it, and include supporting evidence rather than relying on general claims.

Make sure the response is complete and reaches the Contracting Officer by the stated deadline. Since this is a special notice and no solicitation will be posted, focus on demonstrating capability to meet the requirement.