Attachment J-5 - 030ADV25R0024 - Responses to Offeror Questions.pdf

030ADV25R0024 – Attachment J-5 Responses to Offeror Questions –

5/7/2025 – (7 Pages)

# Section & Page Reference

Question Answer

1 N/A – General Question

What is the expected length of the Intro Video?

2-3 minutes, see amended

SOW

2 N/A – General Question

Will the Intro Video require live action or on-site video production/content capture?

No, we will provide archival media from the AFC collection.

3 N/A – General Question

What is the topic of the Intro Video? An introduction to the American Folklife Center and to the concept of folklife more generally.

4 N/A – General Question

Will the Intro Video incorporate collections material?

We expect it to incorporate AFC collection materials.

5 N/A – General Question

What is the length of the videos on the interactive stations?

We anticipate each clip to be 2- 3 minutes.

6 N/A – General Question

Will the interactive stations require an attracts screen?

An attract screen is not required.

7 N/A – General Question

Can you provide more of a description of what will be in the exhibit? Is there an exhibit script or something that provides some insight into the range of material and subjects to be included in the exhibit?

This information will be provided after award.

8 N/A – General Question

Will the Introductory Video include original footage, interviews? Or will it be primarily narration with archival material and perhaps some animation?

At this time the intro video is not expected to require original footage.

9 N/A – General Question

Does AFC have any guidelines on content, main stories, or messaging for the Introductory film at this time?

This will be discussed after award.

10 C.3 – Pg. 5-7 Q 10. 1 - Will the four interactive stations focus on the different collections as a whole or present parts of the collections?

Q 10.2 - Will there be informational content that will be incorporated and is there already an outline for that content?

A 10.1 - Exhibition design specifics will be provided at project kickoff. The stations will feature portions of the American Folklife Center Collection.

A 10.2 - Exhibition design specifics will be provided at project kickoff.

11 C.3 – Pg. 5-6 Has the Library already chosen BrightSign player models or will it consider recommendations from the AV Contractor? If the models have been selected or already acquired, what is the size?

Yes, the Library has BrightSign players ,models HD224, HD223, and LS424 are available for the exhibit station.

12 C.1 – Pg. 5

C.4.5 – Pg. 9

Q 12.1 - Will additional hardware integration (e.g. key pads) be required in order to comply with the “applicable accessibility standards”?

Q 12.2 - For the “comprehensive audio description,” is this the same “comprehensive audio description” audio file that is to be delivered as part of the installation phase?

Q 12.3 - Does the audio description need to be integrated into the touch interactive presentations by the AV Contractor?

A 12.1 – At this time the Library does not anticipate additional hardware integration.

A 12.2 - Yes

A 12.3 - The audio description track shall be selectable in the interactive exhibit station presentations.

13 N/A – General Question

Is there an anticipated budget range that you would share?

The Library is not sharing information on the budget at this time.

14 N/A – General Question

Will there be a need for shooting content for the main video? If so, what is this content, how many shoot days, do we need to cast talent, location of shoot etc.?

The Library does not anticipate the need for shooting new video content.

15 N/A – General Question

Is there a main theme for the content, or a core message that needs to be conveyed?

The intro video will provide an introduction to the American Folklife center and to the concept of folklife more generally.

Further information on the exhibit will be provided after award.

16 C.3 – Pg. 5 Q 16.1 - What is the AV content for the 4 monitors?

Q 16.2 - Does this differ from the main video content?

Q 16.3 - Will this AV content be supplied content or content we will produce?

Q 16. 4 - If Contractor is to produce this AV content what are the details of this content (length of time, subject matter, etc)?

Q 16.5 - Will the AV content only be shown at this exhibit or will it also be shown elsewhere (need to know this for licensing)?

A 16.1 – As per the solicitation, the Library will provide archival video which the offeror will trim to provided edit points.

Offeror will design interactive menu to select from these clips. Further details are available in the solicitation.

A 16.2 – The work will consist of one Intro video and four exhibit video stations.

A 16.3 – Clips will be provided as stated in the solicitation.

Contractor will trim clips and create interactive menu per the solicitation.

A 16.4 – Clips will be provided as stated in the solicitation. The contractor will trim clips and create interactive menu per the solicitation. Each clip for the exhibit stations will be approximately 2-3 minutes.

A 16.5 - The content will only be shown in gallery.

17 C.4.4 - Pg. 8 For the Focus Groups, would those be conducted on site at the exhibit by pulling visitors and asking if they’d like to participate in some research?

The requirement for informal focus group testing has been removed. See Amendment Section C.3.2.3.a.

18 F.2 – Pg. 14 The Schedule of Deliverables mentions stills- is there a need for both video and still capture?

Stills and video will be provided from our collections. See Amendment section C.5.0.

19 N/A – General Question

Is there an incumbent vendor who has previously worked on similar exhibits or AV content for the exhibit? If so, are they also participating in this bidding process?

This is a solicitation for a new requirement.

20 C.3 – Pg. 5 Will the video clips for each exhibit station be stored and played locally from the Brightsign Player, rather than streaming from the library's content management system?

Yes, the video clips will be stored locally.

21 N/A – General Question

Regarding subtitles for the Exhibit Video Stations, will subtitles be required for the video content? If subtitles are needed, should they be in English only or bilingual (English and Spanish)? Are there any specific accessibility standards or guidelines we should follow for the subtitle implementation?

Open captioning in English is required by Section C.3.2.3.b.

22 N/A – General Question

Has the Library and/or the American Folklife Center (AFC) decided upon an intended narrative arc or message that the "Culture Homegrown" media should convey, i.e., how many diverse communities and cultural traditions are to be represented, and what specific time period is to be highlighted? Or will this be a collaborative process upon award with the selected contractor?

This will be a collaborative process after award.

23 N/A – General Question

Are there any internal guidelines contractors must follow for interpretive

Not at this time, creative direction will be determined

5/7/2025 – (7 Pages) storytelling related to the 50th Anniversary of the AFC?

during the course of contract’s period of performance.

24 N/A – General Question

Is the Library open to contractors featuring modern or interpretive visual material, such as reenactments, motion graphics, or contemporary footage?

We are not anticipating reenactments.

Motion graphics are expected.

We will provide archival images and videos.

25 N/A – General Question

Who on the Library team will provide narrative, curatorial, or historical approvals?

Exhibit team including Exhibits Office and American Folklife Center personnel

26 Will the Library team provide accessibility or inclusion advisors for reviewing rough cuts, such as captioning, representation, narrative framing, and audio description?

No. This will be reviewed by the Exhibits Office.

27 C.4.4 – Pg. 8 What sort of budget does the library anticipate having available for rights and permission clearances (either a per image/clip/graphic allocation or a total amount for this contract), if the rights holders require compensation (rather than gratis permissions)?

See answer to Question # 13.

28 L.3 – Pg. 51 Due to the pandemic there was a slow down in projects produced and delivered between 2020 and 2022. Given this, will the Library consider extending the timeline for previous projects to have been completed within the last eight (8) years?

The solicitation has been amended. See Section L.

29 N/A – General Question

How will the Library measure the success of your exhibit? Are there specific visitor metrics your team is seeking?

We are not seeking specific visitor metrics from offerors to this solicitation.

30 N/A – General Question

Style samples; has the Library of Congress identified media for an intended style, tone, and effectiveness of which the Library can share as reference samples?

Or, is there a past or current video-based exhibit LOC uses as a technical or creative benchmark that the Library can share?

This will be discussed after contract award.

31 N/A – General Question

What is the expected visitor dwell time in the space? How long would the Library expect visitors to engage with the each media station on average?

We do not have a good estimate at this time. We expect visitors to spend 2-3 minutes viewing intro video.

32 N/A – General Question

Please provide make/model and native resolution for: the 55″ intro monitor / each capacitive touch display / any

The intro monitor is a Sony Bravia Professional Display, Model FW-55BZ40L, 4K

5/7/2025 – (7 Pages) reference monitors supplied for off-site testing.

resolution. The touch display models will be confirmed after award.

33 N/A – General Question

Are the four (4) stations stand-alone BrightSign players or part of a networked cluster—can they sync or share content if desired?

They will be installed as standalone devices

34 N/A – General Question

If floor plans can be shared before bid submission, please supply them; if not, what is the approximate distance between the four (4) stations?

Casework and exhibit design/layout are currently in development and the Library does not have a floorplan or approximate location to share at this time. Information will be provided upon contract kickoff.

35 N/A – General Question

Can the Library confirm whether each station will include wired or wireless headsets? If yes, please specify connection type, impedance, and volume-control method.

Each station will include wired mono handsets. Molitor VIA or similar model, 25ohm impedance. Volume will not be adjustable by visitors.

36 N/A – General Question

Q 36.1 - Final delivery specifications: What resolution is required for mastering — should the selected contractor finish all material in 4K and down-scale station clips, or master the station clips in native 1080p?

Q 36.2 - What color-space and bit depth should be used for all files (e.g., Rec. 709, 10-bit)?

Q36.3 - What integrated loudness target should the audio meet (e.g., –24 LUFS, –27

LKFS)?

A 36.1 – The Intro video should be 4k resolution. The exhibit station content should be 1080p

A 36.2 – Information on supported video formats and codecs for BrightSign players is available at Supported Video Formats and Codecs - Docs - Support.

A 36.3 - This will be determined after award.

37 N/A – General Question

Will the Library provide an existing BrightSign menu template, or will the selected contractor develop UX and code from scratch?

The offeror “shall develop an interactive menu” as per Section C.3. This is not provided by the library.

38 N/A – General Question

What is the Library’s typical feedback turnaround time per deliverable (script, storyboard, rough-cut)?

5 business days, as per Section C.3.1.2

39 N/A – General Question

How many stakeholders are involved in the project engagement, review, and approval process of the tasks and deliverables under this contract?

See answer to #25.

40 N/A – General Question

What is the Library's expected remote/on-site support window during installation

The gallery will be closed to the public for the installation https://docs.brightsign.biz/space/DOC/2396356609/Supported+Video+Formats+and+Codecs https://docs.brightsign.biz/space/DOC/2396356609/Supported+Video+Formats+and+Codecs https://docs.brightsign.biz/space/DOC/2396356609/Supported+Video+Formats+and+Codecs

5/7/2025 – (7 Pages)

(hours per day, number of days)? And, will after-hours gallery access be available for AV testing and troubleshooting?

window. After-hours gallery access may be provided as needed to be determined after award.

41 N/A – General Question

Does the Library require multiple language versions to expand overall reach and audience engagement? Please confirm which specific languages are required.

We do not require multiple language version.

42 N/A – General Question

Who is the incumbent for the Library's previous media production exhibit services?

This is a new requirement. As the Library is not subject to FOIA, please send all requests for prior contracts via email to lcfoia@loc.gov or via mail to – Records Officer, Records Management (OCIO/QPM/RM), Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue, SE, Washington DC 20540.

43 L.3.E – Pg. 52 Please confirm that Past Performance J-2 Questionnaires are due at noon on the date Proposals are due.

Past Performance Questionnaires are due on the date and time proposals are due.

44 L.3(I)(A)(ii) – Pg.

Please confirm video clips are due noon April 30.

Video Clip Submissions are due on the date and time proposals are due.

45 L.3(I)(C)(ii) – Pg.

Please describe if project staffing resumes are wanted.

Key personnel resumes are required by the solicitation

46 N/A – General Question

Please confirm that no new original videotaping is wanted.

Confirmed.

47 C.3.1. – Pg. 6 Please confirm that vendor is to create 3 versions of iterative rough-cuts and designs for the introductory video and f3 versions of iterative rough-cuts and designs for the 4 video clip stations.

The requirements are as stated in the solicitation.

48 C.3.2.2 – Pg. 7 Please provide a brief preliminary description of the hi rez scans that are anticipated (size and existing format of images or 3d artifacts)

We do not have an object/clip list at this time. The Library will provide scans in consultation with the selected contractor as to needed resolution and file formats.

49 C.3.2.2 – Pg. 7 Please provide description of the type of commercial footage and Third-Party source materials that may be wanted. Are any clips from feature movies or TV shows or radio anticipated to be needed? Also, is it anticipated that rights and licensing of performances/performers/publication of

We anticipate providing all footage from the AFC collections.

mailto:lcfoia@loc.gov

5/7/2025 – (7 Pages) music, dance, poetry, etc. may be required? Some rights may not be available for on-line web clearance. Please provide estimate of number and range of each of such needs.

50 C.3.2.3.a. – Pg. 7 Please provide a preliminary description of type of animation that may be needed (2D, 3D, length).

This is to be determined after contract award. The focus of the media production is to display AFCs collections so extensive animation is not anticipated.

51 C.3.2.3.a. – Pg. 7 Please describe what is anticipated for “informal focus group testing”?

The requirement for informal focus group testing has been removed. See Amendment Section C.3.2.3.a.

52 C.3.2.3.b C.3.2.4 – Pg. 7

Please confirm if on-screen open captioning is the only accessibility guideline planned. Is Audio Description wanted? If so, how will Audio Description be provided and made available?

Audio description is required.

See Section C.4.4.

53 C.4.4 – Pg. 8 Please confirm that vendor is to research and negotiate third party rights, but that the Library will approve and sign all licenses, and will pre-approve and pay related use costs.

Confirmed.

54 N/A – General Question

Please confirm that Creative Treatments are not required or wanted at this initial RFP stage, and that the Creative Treatments will be a deliverable under Contract, after consultation and input from the Library’s exhibition team.

Confirmed.