Questions and Answers.pdf

Library Services Platform and Discovery System Questions & Answers

Q1. Whether companies from Outside USA can apply for this? (like, from India or Canada)

A1. As stated in the Solicitation, section B.2 Commercial Acquisition, page 6, this requirement is being solicited as full and open and any offeror with an active SAM registration can submit a quote that conforms to the solicitation requirements.

Q2. Whether we need to come over there [to the United States] for meetings?

A2. Meetings can be performed virtually and are not required to be in person.

Q3. Can we perform the tasks (related to RFP) outside USA? (like, from India or Canada)

A3. Tasks can be performed virtually and are not required to be in person. However, the required product must be FedRAMP certified, which is a US Federal Government Authorization. Please see the Statement of Need, page 4, and the Solicitation, page 31, which lists this as a requirement.

Q4. Can we submit the proposals via email?

A4. Quotes must be submitted electronically, via email. The Solicitation has been updated accordingly, and is attached to this Amendment 0001.

Q5. Please provide/confirm the following information about the size and composition of your library collections:

a. Total number of bibliographic titles (including e-books)

b. Total number of unique e-journal titles

c. Total number of digital objects (if Alma digital capabilities or inclusion in discovery services is desired)

d. Size of your digital collection (in MBs) (if applicable)

A5a. At the time of this amendment posting, there are 157,973 titles (number pulled from current database); 3 e-book packages totaling 51,719 titles that are not cataloged, but needs indexing by the new discovery layer. This number is subject to change/fluctuation. The Statement of Need has been updated accordingly, and is attached to this Amendment 0001.

A5b. At the time of this amendment posting, 4,806 titles (number pulled from current database). Open Access titles are included. This number is subject to change/fluctuation. The Statement of Need has been updated accordingly, and is attached to this Amendment 0001.

A5c. N/A. The government is not currently interested in purchasing Alma digital.

A5d. N/A. The government is not currently interested in purchasing Alma digital.

Q6. What is the total number of individuals who will require login access to the system (including part-time staff)?

A6. At the time of this amendment posting, 30 individual staff. This number is subject to change/fluctuation. The Statement of Need has been updated accordingly, and is attached to this Amendment 0001.

Q7. What is the total number of end users and patrons (that is, FTEs) who need access to library online services?

A7. At the time of this amendment posting, 6,800 FTEs. This number is subject to change/fluctuation.

The Statement of Need has been updated accordingly, and is attached to this Amendment 0001.

Q8. The solicitation instructions (E.2.3.1 – (A) (2) on page 31 say, “Detailed specifications should be included to address all listed minimum system requirements, and preferred requirements (if any).”

Attachment 1 – Statement of Need contains 17 pages of specifications to address, and several of them ask the vendor to respond in detail (for example, the list of detailed questions concerning migration on page 5, several on page 13 such as: D.1 “describe which specific fields/sections are customizable directly by Library staff, and which fields/sections can be set with default options”).

Given the 20-page response limit for the Technical Approach, can you either increase the page limit for the response or clarify what level of detailed description you are requesting for the Statement of Need? We will not be able to respond directly to each point with such a page limit. Or, alternately, should we provide a summary of our ability to meet the requirements and only address specifically the items that say “describe…”?

A8. The page limit for Volume I: Technical Approach has been increased to a 50-page limit. The Solicitation has been updated accordingly, and is attached to this Amendment 0001.

Q9. […] In the Solicitation, page 31 notes that our Technical Approach is restricted to 20 pages (double-spaced with 12-point font). Factor 1, item (1) states we’re to “describe” our ability to provide our solution as described in the Statement of Need. Item (2) states “detailed specifications” should be included to address all items in the Statement of Need. The Statement of Need includes 15 pages of requirements, some of which specifically instruct us to describe/explain our support. […] Please clarify how you would like us to proceed. We want to make sure we can provide sufficient information for the Technical Approach and still meet your page requirements. […] Would you consider removing or greatly increasing the page limit so that we can include your requirements before our response and provide you with sufficient detail to allow you to assess our solution?

A9. The page limit for Volume I: Technical Approach has been increased to a 50-page limit. The Solicitation has been updated accordingly, and is attached to this Amendment 0001.

Q10. Can you please provide a list of the 22 libraries that will be participating in this RFP?

A10. The participating libraries are not relevant to this solicitation, as this software will be used Bureau-wide and is not location specific.