Readers Advisory Subscription

1. The mission of Department of Defense (DoD) Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) Libraries is outlined in DoDI 1015.10 stating DoD Libraries (DoDL) shall provide information resources and services required to accomplish the mission. The libraries support military personnel assigned to contingency operations, remote sites, and military missions IAW DoDI 1015.10, Military Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Programs. The program provides professional military and voluntary education materials and services. Libraries also provide facilities, resources, and services to enhance the quality of life, regeneration, and resiliency for authorized customers. The DoD Library Consortium exists to create partnerships among the libraries within the various services of the DoD. They cooperatively acquire materials that are made available to military and civilian employees across the DoD. These resources relate to various overarching goals of the DoD such as recreation, physical wellness, emotional resiliency, and educational pursuits. To meet these needs, the 773d Enterprise Sourcing Squadron is seeking a Readers Advisory subscription. The requirement is for a subscription for Readers Advisory and Novelist+ platform database that provides simultaneous downloadable content, the database with the DoDL Integrated Library System (digital card catalog) to meet mission needs. This system must be able to interface with the DoDL database websites. Security between the Website and server must be Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.3. Must be able to supply or allow retrieval of database usage statistics by Branch of Service (Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Military OneSource/Other, and Navy). Must have HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) with long duration deployed on the servers to mitigate/prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. Website certificates should be RSA 2048-bits (SHA256withRSA). Must be able to provide a login system for customers that meets the needs of active-duty users and their dependents as well as retirees. DoD Libraries (DoDL) needs a commercial off the shelf (already established in the marketplace) e-learning platform that offers access to a subscription that provides a Reader Advisory with reading recommendations for all age groups and encourages reader success in young readers. This database should cover fiction and non-fiction titles and use “appeal” factors to match books to readers. Reader Advisory should be able to integrate with the DoD Integrated Library System (DoDILS).

Product characteristics an equal item must meet to be considered

1.              Must be able to provide a Reader advisory with online research tools from professionally curated sources that offer trusted information for a balanced, global perspective and insights.

2.              Must be able to provide a Reader advisory with reading recommendations for all age groups and encourages reader success in young readers.

3.              Must be able provide a Reader advisory with cover fiction and non-fiction titles and use “appeal” factors to match books to readers.  The database for grades K-8 should match books to specific Common Core standards.

4.              Must be able provide a Reader advisory to assist users to identify non-fiction texts that are just right for their reading level.

5.              Must be able to provide a Reader advisory with audiobook recommendations, complete series information, appeal language to describe books, read-alike information, professional book reviews, reader ratings and reviews, recommended “Reads” lists, award winner lists, book discussion guides, genre overviews, readers' advisory guides, teaching guides, Common Core support.

6.              Must be able to provide a Reader advisory with Lexile numbers. Lexile numbers provide an estimate of the result’s reading difficulty and the approximate grade-level reading ability required for comprehension.”

7.              Must be able to provide a Reader advisory with the benefits of “On The Shelf” feature shows titles available at the customer’s library, popular, professional and reader reviews all in one place, browsing by topic, age, reading (Lexile) level, reading lists, such as “Top 10” and “Best of’, “How Do I?” tab links to common FAQs, downloadable quick lists of recommended books by topic, Common Core Standard documents, and curricular guides by grade or unit.

8.              Must provide Keyword search, product search, A-Z product list, and the ability to limit by major category. Search functionality should be by keyword, Boolean/phrase, options to limit by keyword or phrase, capability to cite, export, and Permalink functionality sustainable URL to return to original article.

9.              Must be provide customer convenience services should include online help, option to save, print, email, save search histories and results, recommendations drafted by librarians and teachers, common FAQs, and ability to browse by topic, grade, Lexile level. 

10.           Access to information must be seamless, minimal response time between query initiation and query results, and search results within 5-10 seconds.

11.           Must be able to interface with all 4-service branch library and Military OneSource websites and Library Integrated Library System (digital catalog) using industry standard authentication methods to ensure only eligible patrons can access resources from any internet connected computer browsers and mobile devices.

12.           Must work with contract POC to establish authentication methods to provide optimal accessibility for all eligible patrons.

13.           Security between the Website and server must be Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.3

14.           Must be able to supply or allow retrieval of database usage statistics by Branch of Service (Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Military OneSource/Other, and Navy)

15.           Must have HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) with long duration deployed on the servers to mitigate/prevent man-in-the-middle attacks

16.           Website certificates should be RSA 2048-bits (SHA256withRSA)

17.           VCL must be able to test the platform to evaluate if it meets requirements. Must provide username and password to view content on platform