Combined SSN NOI_ - Final.docx

NIST-AMD-LIBRARY-SSN25003

Primary POC: Marisha Curtis (marisha.curtis@nist.gov) Secondary POC: Monica Brown(monica.brown@nist.gov)

Title: Publishing Software – Combined Sources Sought/Notice of Intent to Sole Source

BACKGROUND

***THIS IS A COMBINED SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE***

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking information from sources that may be capable of providing a sufficient publishing software. If no alternate sources are identified, the Government intends to issue a Sole Source Award to TYPEFI SYSTEMS, INC. (980 Wild Dogwood LN, Winston Salem, NC 27106-8716) under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 513210.

NIST has a need for a publishing software that meets or exceeds the following draft minimum requirements:

Line Item 0001:

Description: Publishing Software Quantity: 1 Function Publishing software that converts NIST reports in Microsoft Word and XML to multiple formats that will be available for public access on https://nvlpubs.nist.gov.

Input Files

· Publishing software that can convert two types of files

· Filetype 1: Microsoft Word (MS Word) DOCX file

· Description: International standard for representing word-processing documents, default filetype for MS Word

· NIST-specific: Ability to input NIST report written in a structured MS Word template—where all text and graphics are tagged with MS Word formatting styles using MS Word 2016 (or later) (https://support.office.com/en-us/article/customize-or-create-new-styles-in-word-d38d6e47-f6fc-48eb-a607-1eb120dec563)

· Filetype 2: National Information Standards Organization Standards Tag Suite (NISO-STS) Extensible Markup Language (XML) file

· Description: American National Standard format for publishing standards and standards-related documents in XML

· NIST-specific: Ability to input NIST report written in XML where all text is tagged with NISO-STS elements and attributes found in the NISO STS tag library 1.0 (or later) (https://www.niso-sts.org/TagLibrary/niso-sts-TL-1-0-html/index.html)

Output Files

· Publishing software that converts inputs listed above to multiple types of files

· Filetype: Adobe InDesign CC 2023 (or later) compatible file

· Description: InDesign document file that can be opened and edited using Adobe InDesign CC 2023 (or later)

· NIST-specific: Ability to do final layout for each NIST report

· Filetype: Section 508-compliant PDF (PDF/UA) file

· Description: International standard format for universally accessible PDF files; ensures accessibility for people who use assistive technology to read electronic information

· NIST-specific: Ability to produce accessible PDF file for each NIST report

· Filetype: Print-quality PDF (PDF/X) file

· Description: International standard format for facilitating graphics exchange in print-ready PDFs

· NIST-specific: Ability to produce print-quality PDF file for each NIST report

· Filetype: HTML and accompanying CSS file

· Description: HTML is an International W3C standard markup language for creating web pages, CSS is the style sheet language used for presenting HTML on the World Wide Web

· NIST-specific: Ability to produce HTML file for each NIST report

· Filetype: DAISY Digital Talking Book (DTBook) Extensible Markup Language (XML) file

· Description: American National Standard format for publishing documents in a XML that can be read and understood by those with visual and reading impairments using accessibility software; DAISY (Digital Accessible Information SYstem)

· NIST-specific: Ability to produce DAISY file for each NIST report

· Filetype: e-book (EPUB) file

· Description: International standard format for electronic book/report publication that is optimized for viewing on many devices as it automatically resizes to fit screens

· NIST-specific: Ability to produce EPUB file for each NIST report Required Workflow

· Publishing software that integrates with current workflow (authoring/formatting in MS Word, final layout and output in Adobe)

· Writing/Formatting of MS Word Input

· Integrates with MS Word to facilitate adding formatting styles to all text

· Final Layout of Outputs

· Integrates with Adobe InDesign to import MS Word report and structured XML report and convert to InDesign file

· Facilitate final layout of the document in Adobe InDesign using customized templates that closely match the NIST Publication format (example: https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-53r5)

· Export Outputs

· Exports the document from Adobe InDesign to multiple outputs listed above; outputs must closely match the NIST Publication format (example: https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-53r5)

· Edit Inputs

· Ability to edit original input and re-do outputs if needed

Professional Services and Setup

· Publishing software that provides the following professional services and implementation:

· Remote installation, updates, and training

· Remote configuration of software integration with MS Word 2016 (or later) and Adobe InDesign CC 2023 (or later)

· Online or phone helpdesk support

· Remote troubleshooting of software defects

· Testing and troubleshooting of templates and conversions needed to produce outputs that closely match the NIST Publication format (example: https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-53r5) License and Technology

· Chrome 64+ browser-based software to perform on the following desktop operating systems:

· Microsoft Windows 10 (or later)

· macOS Big Sur (or later)

· Browser-based software that supports integrations with the following applications:

· InDesign 2023 (or later)

· Microsoft Word 2016 (or later)

NIST conducted market research by searching the following sites: Google and www.gsaadvantage.gov. The search terms were cloud-based publishing automation; Multiple outputs publishing, (Microsoft Word OR XML) AND (HTML, DAISY, EPUB, PDF) to determine what sources could meet NIST’s minimum requirements. Through the Google search it was revealed that Typefi and XEditPro may fit NISTs need. The GSAAdvantage search revealed no potential sources. Market Research indicates only one vendor, Typefi Systems (UEI: R8NPPMGJ1KD8), meets the requirements. This is because the Library requires software that can convert these documents to multiple formats, no matter what authoring platform is used. Software like XEditPro requires organizations to use their cloud-based authoring tool to produce those formats. Typefi does not require NIST to use an authoring tool and has developed a customized workflow to ingest our NIST Technical Series documents and produce EPUB, HTML, PDF, and DAISY XML. NIST has various software applications approved agency-wide for authoring scientific and technical documents.

HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE

In responding to this notice, please DO NOT PROVIDE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. Please include only the following information, readable in either Microsoft Word 365, Microsoft Excel 365, or .pdf format, in the response. Submit the response by email to the Primary Point of Contact and, if specified, to the Secondary Point of Contact listed at the bottom of this notice as soon as possible, and preferably before the closing date and time of this notice.

· Provide the complete name of your company, address, name of contact for follow-up questions, their email, their phone number and, if your company has an active registration in https://sam.gov, your company’s Unique Entity ID (UEI).

· Details about what your company is capable of providing that meets or exceeds NIST’s minimum requirements.

· Whether your company is an authorized reseller of the product or service being cited and evidence of such authorization.

· Identify any aspects of the description of the requirements in the BACKGROUND section above that could be viewed as unduly restrictive or create unnecessary barriers that adversely affect your firm’s ability to fully participate in a procurement for such services and explain why. Please offer suggestions for how the requirements could be organized or structured to encourage the participation of small businesses.

· For the NAICS code

· Indicate whether your company is (a) a small business or (b) other than small business. See the Table of Small Business Size Standards and the associated .pdf download file for small business size standards and additional information.

· If you believe the NAICS code listed in this notice is not the best NAICS code for the type of product addressed in this notice, identify an alternative NAICS code that you believe would be more appropriate for the planned procurement.

· If your firm has existing Federal Supply Schedule contract(s) or other contracts for products or services against which the Department may be able to place orders, identify the contract number(s) and other relevant information.

· Describe your firm’s experience (as a prime, subcontractor, or consultant) providing the products or services described in Background section.

· Provide any other information that you believe would be valuable for the Government to know as part of its market research for this requirement.

· Please let us know if you would like to engage to get a better understanding of the requirement or need additional information about the Government’s requirement for the products or services described in the Background section.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS NOTICE

Questions regarding this notice may be submitted via email to the Primary Point of Contact and the Secondary Point of Contact listed in this notice. Questions should be submitted so that they are received by 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on May 27, 2025. Questions will be anonymized and answered via sources sought notice amendment following the question submission deadline.

IMPORTANT NOTES

The information received in response to this notice will be reviewed and considered so that the NIST may appropriately solicit for its requirements in the near future.

This notice should not be construed as a commitment by the NIST to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract.

This notice is not a request for a quotation. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotations.

No award will be made as a result of this notice.

NIST is not responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice.

NIST reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and appropriate.

Thank you for taking the time to submit a response to this request!