Notice of Intent for Sole Source ORWO - SPFL Film Stock

The Library of Congress has published a Notice of Intent for Sole Source procurement of ORWO filmstock, issued on April 16, 2026, in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 5.2. The Library intends to award a sole-source contract to Original Wolfen for the acquisition of specialized motion picture laboratory film stock used in preserving films within its collection. This special notice is not a request for quotes or proposals but rather notification of the Library's intent to pursue a non-competitive acquisition. The contract will have a twelve-month period of performance with an option for an additional twelve months. Interested parties that believe they possess the capability to meet the requirements are invited to submit written responses demonstrating their qualifications. Questions or comments regarding this notice should be directed to Eric Pacheco at erpacheco@loc.gov with the subject line "Notice of Intent - ORWO Film Stock."

The Library requires black and white motion picture laboratory film safety stock in three specific ORWO-manufactured products: 35mm PF2 v.3 fine grain print stock, 35mm DN21 fine grain duplicating negative film stock, and 35mm DP31 fine grain master positive film stock, all in 2000-foot rolls. The sole-source justification is based on the fact that only two manufacturers worldwide produce motion picture film—Eastman-Kodak and ORWO—and the specific ORWO stocks possess unique characteristics and proprietary qualities that cannot be replicated by competitors. The Library has established a response deadline of April 22, 2026, for interested parties to demonstrate evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government, would not be cost or time prohibitive, and would not hinder the Library's mission. The estimated contract value falls below the simplified acquisition threshold of $250,000. Responses will be evaluated solely to determine whether competitive procurement procedures could be feasible for this acquisition. The Library has committed to continually monitoring the market for potential new manufacturers to enable future competitive opportunities.