Digital Talking Book (DTB) Production for the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled
Closed Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- 030ADV25R0019
- Agency
-
Library of Congress
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 512240 Sound Recording Studios
- 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, through its National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), is seeking a contractor to produce Digital Talking Books (DTBs) in English, Spanish, French, and other foreign languages. The solicitation requires the successful vendor to provide comprehensive narration, mastering, and construction of digital audio books from standard and complex source materials, ensuring compliance with specific technical specifications including ANSI/NISO Standard Z39.86-2002 and multiple NLS technical guidelines. The contract will be awarded using a best value trade-off methodology, evaluating technical approach, management and staffing, production capacity, past performance, and pricing. Proposals are due by May 22, 2025, and this solicitation (030ADV25R0019) represents a combined synopsis and Request for Proposal (RFP) for commercial items. The evaluation will consider the contractor's ability to create high-quality, accessible digital talking books with precise navigation markers, metadata files, and potential image descriptions.
The solicitation does not have a specific small business or minority-owned set-aside designation. Current incumbent contractors include American Printing House for the Blind, Astoria Media Inc, Books to Life, Potomac Talking Book, and Talking Book Publishers. The contract is structured as an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) with a five-year base period from August 11, 2025, through August 10, 2030, with a contract minimum of $1,000 and a maximum ceiling of $67,000,000. The Library of Congress will place bi-weekly orders, with an expected distribution of approximately 80% epub and 20% hard copy deliveries. The place of performance is Washington, DC 20540, and the contract allows for potential preference to nonprofit institutions serving blind and print-disabled persons, with pricing permitted up to 10% higher than commercial sources. The NLS anticipates growing its English and foreign language collections through this procurement.
Notice text
3 versions
Update #3 · Latest ·
The purpose of this amendment 02 is to post the government's responses to questions that were submitted by interested offerors. Please review the attached MS excel spreadsheet entitled, "030ADV25R0019 - Questions and Answers_Release.2" for a list of additional Q&As.
All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.
(End of Amendment 02)
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
The purpose of this amendment 01 is to post the government's responses to questions that were submitted by interested offerors. Please review the attached MS excel spreadsheet entitled, "030ADV25R0019 - Questions and Answers_Release.1" for a complete list of all Q&As.
All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.
(End of Amendment 01)
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. 030ADV25R0019 is issued as a Request For Proposal (RFP).
The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2025-03. Refer to the attached solicitation documents for a full description of required items.
National Library Service (NLS) provides reading materials in audio and braille formats to U.S. residents and U.S. citizens living abroad who are unable to use conventional print materials because of visual and physical limitations. NLS anticipates growing its English and foreign language collections. The contractor shall provide narration, mastering, and constructing of Digital Talking Books in English, Spanish, French and other foreign languages as assigned, from standard or complex source material.
The contractor shall provide a DTB consisting of a set of audio and metadata files in compliance with ANSI/NISO Standard Z39.86 – 2002 and NLS Specifications #1201, #1202, #1203, #1205, and #1206. Additionally, the contractor shall follow QA201801- Instructions for Applying Navigation Markers, and QA202501- Guidelines for Image Descriptions where applicable. A list of specifications and supplemental guidelines are provided in Section J. All NLS Specifications and guideline documents can also be found at ht- tps://www.loc.gov/nls/about/organization/standards-guidelines/contract-specifications/. (See Attachment J-7 for a list of DTB Definitions).
Update #2 ·
The purpose of this amendment 01 is to post the government's responses to questions that were submitted by interested offerors. Please review the attached MS excel spreadsheet entitled, "030ADV25R0019 - Questions and Answers_Release.1" for a complete list of all Q&As.
All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.
(End of Amendment 01)
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. 030ADV25R0019 is issued as a Request For Proposal (RFP).
The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2025-03. Refer to the attached solicitation documents for a full description of required items.
National Library Service (NLS) provides reading materials in audio and braille formats to U.S. residents and U.S. citizens living abroad who are unable to use conventional print materials because of visual and physical limitations. NLS anticipates growing its English and foreign language collections. The contractor shall provide narration, mastering, and constructing of Digital Talking Books in English, Spanish, French and other foreign languages as assigned, from standard or complex source material.
The contractor shall provide a DTB consisting of a set of audio and metadata files in compliance with ANSI/NISO Standard Z39.86 – 2002 and NLS Specifications #1201, #1202, #1203, #1205, and #1206. Additionally, the contractor shall follow QA201801- Instructions for Applying Navigation Markers, and QA202501- Guidelines for Image Descriptions where applicable. A list of specifications and supplemental guidelines are provided in Section J. All NLS Specifications and guideline documents can also be found at ht- tps://www.loc.gov/nls/about/organization/standards-guidelines/contract-specifications/. (See Attachment J-7 for a list of DTB Definitions).
Update #1 ·
This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. 030ADV25R0019 is issued as a Request For Proposal (RFP).
The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2025-03. Refer to the attached solicitation documents for a full description of required items.
National Library Service (NLS) provides reading materials in audio and braille formats to U.S. residents and U.S. citizens living abroad who are unable to use conventional print materials because of visual and physical limitations. NLS anticipates growing its English and foreign language collections. The contractor shall provide narration, mastering, and constructing of Digital Talking Books in English, Spanish, French and other foreign languages as assigned, from standard or complex source material.
The contractor shall provide a DTB consisting of a set of audio and metadata files in compliance with ANSI/NISO Standard Z39.86 – 2002 and NLS Specifications #1201, #1202, #1203, #1205, and #1206. Additionally, the contractor shall follow QA201801- Instructions for Applying Navigation Markers, and QA202501- Guidelines for Image Descriptions where applicable. A list of specifications and supplemental guidelines are provided in Section J. All NLS Specifications and guideline documents can also be found at ht- tps://www.loc.gov/nls/about/organization/standards-guidelines/contract-specifications/. (See Attachment J-7 for a list of DTB Definitions).
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