J6 - Question and Answer_030ADV27R0001_20260916.docx

Contracts and Grants Directorate (CGD)

Request for Proposals (RFP) Solicitation Questions and Answers

RFP # 030ADV27R0001

DA2 Digital Talking Book Machines and Support

Question 1: Attachment J1 – DA2 Requirements Section 2. Hardware Requirements, Subsection 2.1 Physical Requirements, Specification 2.1.10 The device shall include a handle that will support loading as specified in ANSI/UL60065 12.1.6 Handle Strength Test.

The specification references "ANSI/UL 60065 Section 12.1.6 Handle Strength Test." However, we could not locate any test named "Handle Strength Test" in ANSI/UL 60065. Could you please clarify whether the test method described in ANSI/UL 62368-1, Clause 8.8.2 (Handle Strength Test) should be applied instead?

Answer 1: Yes, the UL 60065 section 12.1.6 has been superseded by UL 62368-1 clause 8.8.2 This is revised in Attachment J1.

Question 2: Attachment J1 – DA2 Requirements Section 2 Hardware Requirements, Subsection 2.1 Physical Requirements, Specification 2.1.5 The sum of device height, width and length shall not exceed 14 inches.

Please clarify requirements 2.1.4 and 2.1.5. Requirement 2.1.4 states that the sum of the device height, width, and length shall not exceed 18.5 inches, while requirement 2.1.5 states that the sum shall not exceed 14 inches. Could you please confirm whether requirement 2.1.5 is intended as a preferred target size, or whether the stated value should instead represent a minimum dimension rather than a maximum dimension?

Answer 2: 2.1.4 is a “Mandatory” requirement per the ranking and description key at the top of Attachment J1. 2.1.5 is a “Highly Desirable” requirement meaning that samples meeting this specification may be considered more favorably than the Mandatory or baseline requirement. A sample that does not meet 2.1.4 is considered deficient unless the sample meets 2.1.5 and is evaluated more favorably than the base mandatory requirement.

Question 3: Solicitation Section D.1 LC52.211-1 DELIVERIES

When importing the DTBM DA2 and related parts from overseas into the United States for delivery under this contract, can we apply HTS code 9817.00.94, which provides duty-free entry for articles specially designed or adapted for the use or benefit of the blind or other physically or mentally handicapped persons (specifically, "Braille tablets, cubarithms, and special apparatus, machines, presses, and types for their use or benefit exclusively")?

[Reference] https://hts.usitc.gov/search?query=9817.00.94 Articles specially designed or adapted for the use or benefit of the blind or other physically or mentally handicapped persons; parts and accessories (except parts and accessories of braces and artificial limb prosthetics) that are specially designed or adapted for use in the foregoing articles: Articles for the blind: 9817.00.94 Braille tablets, cubarithms, and special apparatus, machines, presses, and types for their use or benefit exclusively

Answer 3: Historically, Digital Talking Book Machine devices and some auxiliary components are exempt from tariffs based on 9817.00.96, and 9817.00.94. It is the responsibility of the offeror to review Chapter 98 and 99 for special classifications and temporary legislation that may impact the pricing of their deliverables and proposal. Offerors may seek an electronic ruling on the applicability of tariffs to their products via the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website: Requirements for Electronic Ruling Requests | U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Similar rulings exist on refreshable braille displays that may inform an offerors proposal: CROSS Search Results.

Question 4: Solicitation Section L.1.3 General Instructions to Offerors

Does the 20MB maximum attachment size apply to each individual email, since the solicitation allows offerors to submit multiple emails if necessary. Could you please confirm whether this interpretation is correct?

Answer 4: Yes, the 20MB maximum attachment size is per email and not per proposal. You may submit multiple emails, identified in accordance with the solicitation so that it is abundantly clear to the Library what company and what volume is submitting. Each email and its attachments have a 20MB limit. By example, two emails can be a total of 40MB (20MB per email).

Question 5: Solicitation Section L.1.4 Proposal Volumes, A. Volume 1: Sample Device (PA1)

Is submission of a sample unit by the October 5 postmark deadline mandatory for all offerors seeking award under Performance Area 1? Would this not effectively mean that only offerors that already have a DTBM available for submission would be able to compete for this solicitation?

Answer 5: Yes, this solicitation is for procurement of a commercial product that already exists on the market. There are no provisions for building a device that does not currently exist.

Question 6: Solicitation Section L.1.4 Proposal Volumes, A. Volume 1: Sample Device (PA1)

Must the sample unit submitted by the October 5 postmark deadline fully comply with every requirement in Attachment J1 at the time of submission, including requirements that may require testing, certification, or regulatory compliance verification (e.g., Section 1.2.2, FCC Part 15 Class B compliance), or may certain requirements be completed after contract award?

Answer 6: Samples must comply with all “Mandatory” requirements in Attachment J1. These are ranked with the number 1 in column C of Attachment J1. Samples may be considered acceptable with if they meet ranking 2 for “Mandatory or agreed to alternative.” Samples may be evaluated more favorably if they meet a ranking of 3 or 4 for “Highly Desirable” and “Desirable” requirements. The expectation is that samples submitted for this solicitation will be items that currently exist on the commercial market, therefore, testing, certification and regulatory compliance documents should also currently exist and should be submitted with the samples as proof of fulfillment of a requirement.

Question 7: Attachment J1 – DA2 Requirements

UL62368 supersedes ANSI/UL60065. Would compliance with UL62368 alone satisfy the requirement stated in Section 1.2.1?

Answer 7: Yes, compliance with UL62368 would satisfy specification 1.2.1. and this specification is revised in Attachment J1.

Question 8: Attachment J1 – DA2 Requirements

Does the Section 2.2.1 platform requirement for 32 GB of flash memory include the operating system or must it be reserved specifically for downloaded media?

Answer 8: This requirement is revised in Attachment J1 to specify that the device shall have at least 32 GB of internal flash storage with 28 GB of it available for downloaded content and the rest available for Operating System and other partitions.

Question 9: Section C.3.1. C. Performance Area 1: Non-Recurring Engineering and Attachment J2 – Pricing Schedule – All Supplies and Services

Would NLS consider alternative technical options with corresponding differences in NRE cost, unit pricing, and development schedule (for example, different storage capacities or platform configurations) as part of the proposal evaluation?

Answer 9: This section contained a typo that is now revised in Solicitation Amendment 0001. The Library does not intend to support NRE required to bring a device into compliance with the requirements. The Library may consider samples that propose “Agreed to Alternatives,” “Highly Desirable,” and “Desirable” specifications. The Library may consider samples and proposed pricing that meets these non-Mandatory requirements, and the offeror may propose such items in Attachment J2 with appropriate distinction and supporting information to indicate how the requirements of the device meet the various rankings of the Library’s criteria.

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