Patient Library Services

The National Institutes of Health Clinical Center is seeking a contractor to provide comprehensive library services to patients, visitors, and family members at its facility in Bethesda, Maryland. The procurement encompasses full operational management of the Patient Library, including personnel and space management, collection development and maintenance of over 6,000 materials (books, magazines, DVDs, and music CDs), guest wireless account management, and delivery of diversional, health-related, general interest, and current interest materials. The contractor must demonstrate the capability to deliver outstanding customer service with warm and courteous interactions while assessing patron needs relative to reading comprehension levels, and must employ a Master's degree library science professional as an on-site supervisor along with additional qualified staff, including at least one Spanish-proficient full-time team member. Performance standards require greeting no less than 90% of visitors immediately in a friendly manner, maintaining book loss rates not exceeding 2.5% annually, and responding to special requests with 80% responsiveness within 7-10 days. The Sources Sought announcement was posted on March 23, 2026, with responses due by noon on March 27, 2026, to ryssa.nix@nih.gov.

This procurement carries no set-aside designation and does not identify any current contractor or award value in the available documentation. The contract base period extends from July 13, 2026, through July 12, 2027, with four option years that could extend contract performance through July 12, 2031, representing a potential five-year service engagement. The Patient Library operates extended service hours throughout the week, ranging from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on select days, and is designated as a Tier 1 Emergency essential activity requiring continued operations during government closures and inclement weather. The procurement is classified under NAICS code 561990 (All Other Support Services) with PSC code R605 (Support-Administrative: Library). Interested parties should note that this Sources Sought announcement does not obligate the government to issue a formal solicitation or award a contract.