Questions and Answers - 030ADV22Q0080.pdf

Talking Book Topics Narration Questions and Answers to 030ADV22Q0080

Q1: Can you confirm the unit price submitted should be per issue, instead of per minute as in other NLS submissions.

A1: The unit price should be per minute. See Attachment J2 – Evaluation Pricing Schedule.

Q2: Can offerors submit an abbreviated bid?

A2: No. Please follow all instructions provided in Section L of the solicitation.

Q3: Can the Library provide a sample pricing format?

A3: Yes, please see Attachment J2 – Evaluation Pricing Schedule.

Q4: C.6 says the content could increase or decrease by 50% and the contractor agrees to accept at the same unit price. This infers that your looking to the contractor accept the risk and provide a single or lump price per bi monthly publication vs taking into consideration the actual per finished minute * a per minute price?

A4: Section C.6 has been revised via amendment 0001 of the solicitation. In addition, attachment J2 has been provided for offerors to provide their unit price per narrated min. We are looking for a per minute price not a bi monthly price per magazine.

Q5: Are individual book listings to be made navigable through hierarchical navigation (e.g.

primary navigation, with accompany class attribute(s) and audio clips/text elements)? Or are segments sufficient for marking the individual book listings throughout TBT?

A5: The contractor will have a script in Word, with a Table of Contents showing its hierarchical navigation. The Word script looks like the HTML page for issues found under https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/latest-books-in-braille-and-audio/talking-book-topics-bimonthly-magazine/ for many examples of TBT. BARD users who have download TBT can navigate between, as in skip forward or backwards, between book titles within a subject heading. Individual books listed in TBT are marked as primary navigation, including the class attribute and audio/text elements; the contractor will be required to produce TBT with each book as a navPoint.”

Q6: Does TBT use standard magazine formatting for the opening announcements/closing announcements?

A6: Yes https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/latest-books-in-braille-and-audio/talking-book-topics-bimonthly-magazine/ https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/latest-books-in-braille-and-audio/talking-book-topics-bimonthly-magazine/

Talking Book Topics Narration Questions and Answers to 030ADV22Q0080

Q7: Can NLS provide an example of acceptable class attributes and nesting/levels of attributes?

Or is there a way to access a DTB of a back-issue of TBT as an example of acceptable navigation?

A7: There is no way to access a TBT audio without being a NLS patron. The TBT’s on the website, however, has HTML headings that align with audio marker “nesting/levels”. Please see https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/latest-books-in-braille-and-audio/talking-book-topics-bimonthly-magazine/ for many examples of TBT length.

Q8: Is there a list of class attributes for magazines in the specs? Since TBT is neither a magazine nor a book, does it have its own attributes and announcements? Access to a back-issue would be a big help.

A8: There is no way to access a TBT audio without being a NLS patron. The TBT’s on the website, however, has HTML headings that align with audio marker “nesting/levels”. Please see https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/latest-books-in-braille-and-audio/talking-book-topics-bimonthly-magazine/ for many examples of TBT length.

Q9: On page 7 it talks about the "Quality Assurance Plan and states "Due within 30 days of the contract start date". Is this submitted with each bi-monthly issue or submitted once as a living document so if needed, we can address any short comings in the process?

A9: This is submitted once as a living document that can be revised as necessary https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/latest-books-in-braille-and-audio/talking-book-topics-bimonthly-magazine/ https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/latest-books-in-braille-and-audio/talking-book-topics-bimonthly-magazine/ https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/latest-books-in-braille-and-audio/talking-book-topics-bimonthly-magazine/ https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/latest-books-in-braille-and-audio/talking-book-topics-bimonthly-magazine/