Library of Congress - NLS Multi-State Centers (East and West)

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation under the authority of FAR Part 12 for commercial services utilizing some solicitation procedures of FAR Part 15.

The Library of Congress is seeking to award two stand-alone, definitive, firm fixed price contracts as a result of this competition. Specifically, the Library of Congress is seeking to award contracts for its multi-state centers.

The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) of the Library of Congress administers a free public library service to eligible residents of the United States and U.S. citizens living abroad who cannot hold, handle, or read standard print media because of visual or physical disability.

A cooperating network of approximately 55 regional libraries, 26 sub-regional libraries and 13 advisory and outreach centers circulate recorded and braille books to a readership of 274,000 (as of 2023) out of a potential three million eligible population. NLS produces annually approximately 7,000 audio books and 400 braille books, available both for download and in hard copy on demand. Users are informed about new books, magazines, and services through bimonthly publications, annual catalogs, and subject bibliographies produced by NLS and through various publications produced and circulated by the regional and sub-regional libraries, and advisory outreach centers.

Multistate centers (MSCs or Centers) function as materials-support supply units for NLS, serving network libraries in two specified geographical areas of the country:

Region 1 (MSC East): Services United States and territories east of the Mississippi

Region 2 (MSC West): Services United States and territories west of the Mississippi and overseas

The Centers provide upon request to network libraries and the other/opposite Center if stocks are low or depleted as necessary, the following: publications; equipment; supplies; and interlibrary loan services for all NLS mass-produced braille books, audio books and magazines that appear only on the NLS Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) system, and braille magazines. The Centers shall receive, store, shelve, duplicate, manage, and distribute all NLS-issued books, selected special collections including assigned back issues of braille magazines and volunteer-produced material (including cassette, digital, and braille books selected for limited distribution); store and manage duplicating masters such as open reel tape, and cassette, and have access to BARD to download books for which a patron or library needs a physical copy; store and ship sound reproducers and allied equipment; and store and ship publications and supplies. Books and magazines are narrated and duplicated at a high-quality professional standard. The quantity produced of any title is dependent on anticipated reader demand.

The Centers shall also serve as Duplication on Demand backup for Network Libraries; and receive, store and distribute support supplies to the network of libraries.

The administrative functions of the Centers include managing staff use of online, local and electronic information fulfillment systems, customer service, electronic inventory, information systems, purchasing, quality control, and safety. Centers support services require use and management of Web-based NLS applications. These specifications describe the minimum acceptable requirements for the performance of these functions.

Region 1 (MSC East) shall also be responsible for markup and upload of regional, sub-regional and affiliates and foreign titles to direct into BARD and shall provide assistance and training to regional network libraries.

Region 2 (MSC West) shall also maintain playback devices, parts and hard copy Braille titles. Center shall perform repairs on playback devices internally and/or via volunteers.

The Library seeks to use this solicitation to make two separate awards, one for each Region.

Please see the attached documents for the official solicitation and its attachments.