Braille Music Transcription and Proofreading
Closed Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- 2026-NLS-0038
- Agency
-
Library of Congress
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 561410 Document Preparation Services
- Place of performance
- Washington, District of Columbia 20540, United States
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Library of Congress seeks contractors to transcribe sheet music and associated texts into braille and to proofread existing digital braille music files for the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS). This is a multiple-award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract solicitation to add vendors to existing contracts under the FAR 13.5 combined synopsis/solicitation process. Contractors must be Library of Congress certified in braille transcription with specific expertise in braille music transcription, literary braille, and musical language proficiency. The government will evaluate proposals using a Best Value Tradeoff (BVTO) methodology, with non-price factors weighted significantly more heavily than price considerations. Contractors must submit electronic proposals by January 7, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time, with questions due by December 23, 2025, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
This solicitation is unrestricted with no set-aside designations, and the contract represents an addition of vendors to the existing multiple-award IDIQ contracts established under the original April 2023 solicitation. Each award carries a maximum ceiling value of $250,000 with a minimum guarantee of $1,000 per contract. The contract period extends from the date of execution through August 31, 2028, encompassing a base year and two option years, with pricing structured on a tiered unit-price basis for both transcription and proofreading services. Work will be performed at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC 20540, and contractors will deliver materials in .brf digital format formatted to NLS 800 Specifications with 99% accuracy standards. Offerors may propose pricing for transcription, proofreading, or both services and will only be considered for award in the task areas for which they submit pricing proposals.
Notice text
Notice: This competition is a combined synopsis/solicitation which falls within the scope of FAR 13.5. The Government expects to award a single Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for the procurement of Proofreading and/or Transcribing Digital Scores. This is a Best Value Tradeoff (BVTO) competition.
This competition is for the addition of vendors to existing multiple-award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts for the remaining period of performance established under the original solicitation and award. Please review the attached RFP Recompete for Additional Vendors document, along with all other attachments, for further details.
Offers Due: 01/07/2026 by 5:00PM (Eastern Time)
Questions Due: 12/23/2025 by 5:00PM (Eastern Time)
The Library of Congress (Library) requires contract support to transcribe documents into braille. Assignments are typically delivered in digital formats. Each year, the music section of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) must acquire new titles for its collection in accessible formats, including braille, large print, and audio. This work may be carried out through contracts with individual transcribers, authors, commercial entities, or other qualified producers -though only a limited number exist in the United States. Materials produced in braille include instructional materials, music appreciation texts, and sheet music specifically designed for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The NLS acquires these materials for its music collection to ensures they are available to its patrons.
This contract requires the contractor to transcribe sheet music and directly associated texts into braille, and to produce both hardcopy and electronic versions. Further, this contract requires the contractor to proofread existing digital braille music files generated from digital scans against the original hardcopy braille scores, and to make corrections where discrepancies exist.
This IDIQ contract includes Performance Area 1 – Braille Transcription Services and Performance Area 2 – Braille Proofreading and Editing. The Library may order the full range of braille transcription, proofreading and editing services described in the following performance areas, as required under specific task orders. Offerors shall provide transcription and/or proofreading, or both. At a minimum, this submission shall include a detailed explanation of the proposed transcription and/or proofreading processes, communication methods, underlying assumptions, and quality control procedures.
This public notice for the combined synopsis/solicitation accomplishes the following:
- Notice of the Library’s intent for combined synopsis/solicitation;
- Synopsizing the requirements in accordance with the FAR; and
- Publicly posting the solicitation to the public in advance of the contract award rather than after award. As a result of this, a second posting is not required after award is made. This shall be the only notice issued. All public information is being accomplished via this public notice.
The following attachments are included in this notice:
- J1 - Attachment - Sight_Singing_2 (3 Pages)
- J2 - Attachment - PianoAdv_2_technique (4 Pages)
- J3 - Attachment - GuitarMeth_2 (4 Pages)
- J4 - Attachment - GuitarMeth_3 (3 Pages)
- J5 - Attachment - Pricing Schedule (1 Pages)
- J6 - Attachment - First Order (1 Page)
- LCNLS23D00-7-11-12-13_Redacted
- RFP C-L-M (030ADV25R0053)
No further notices shall be pursued at this time in regard to this contracting action.
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