REQUEST FOR INFORMATION -LOC Novel High-Density Optical Data Storage
Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted
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- Solicitation number
- 030ADV26Q0172
- Agency
-
Library of Congress
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 518210 Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related 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 is requesting information on novel high-density optical data storage solutions for long-term digital preservation, with responses due July 30, 2026.
The LOC seeks vendor input on a one-year pilot project (January 4, 2027 to January 3, 2028) to encode, store, validate, and retrieve 1 terabyte of the Library's digital preservation data across multiple formats—video, audio, images, and text—onto novel optical media designed for archival longevity. The Library currently manages over 1 billion unique digital objects (~33 petabytes) and aims to demonstrate feasibility of ultra-high-density optical storage as a high-density, scalable, durable alternative to traditional migration-dependent methods. The solution must exhibit high areal density, extended lifespan, reduced maintenance and migration cycles, immutability, and durability.
The pilot requires contractors to develop a comprehensive project management plan, encode data with redundancy protocols ensuring 100 percent recovery, store media under controlled conditions at or below 35 degrees Celsius, implement searchability and random access capabilities, retrieve and decode all data with high-fidelity reconstruction, and provide scalability analysis to petabyte scale. Deliverables include bi-weekly progress reports, phase completion reports documenting processes and lessons learned, error rate documentation, validation testing results, retrieval capability assessments, digital data files in BagIt format, an educational or artistic display component, and a scalability report with cost projections and full-scale implementation planning.
The anticipated contract structure is firm-fixed-price with three Contract Line Items covering project management, encoding and validation services, and an artistic or educational display component. Responses should not exceed 10 pages and should address typical subcontracting practices, required certifications, statement-of-work clarifications, Contract Line Item structure and payment schedule feedback, and timeline reasonableness per industry best practices.
Notice text
This is a Request for Information (RFI). The Library of Congress (LOC) reserves the right to cancel this RFI and any corresponding solicitation issued in the future. This RFI shall not be construed in any way to be a solicitation and is for informational purposes only.
The following is a general description of the requirements the LOC is seeking responses from the industry on:
The Library of Congress, hereinafter referred to as the “Library” or “LOC”,” is exploring innovative preservation methods for its digital collections. The LOC is seeking to determine the feasibility of utilizing ultra-high density optical data storage designed for the long-term preservation of a subset of the Library’s digital collections. Currently, the Library manages over 1 billion unique objects of digital preservation data (~33 petabytes) via traditional storage methods. For longevity and reduced migration intervals, it may be reasonable for this portion of data to be permanently stored on a novel medium. The focus would be on a solution that exhibits high areal density, a long lifespan, reduced maintenance/migration cycles, is immutable, and displays a high level of durability. The Library aims to demonstrate the feasibility of an innovative optical data storage solution as a high-density, scalable, and durable medium for storing its preservation collection.
The Library wishes to examine the feasibility of this method on a small subset of its digital collections. To be successful, a variety of data formats—including video, audio, text, and images— must be encoded onto the media, errors must be detected/recorded, preservation techniques must be validated and select data must be recalled/read with high fidelity. This work will contribute to the boundary pushing field of high-density optical data storage while pushing the boundaries of access and preservation.
Please see the full document 'LOC Novel High Density Optical Data Storage RFI 030ADV26Q0172' for details on the requirements and questions to be answered by RFI respondents along with response submission instructions.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| LOC Novel High Density Optical Data Storage RFI 030ADV26Q0172.pdf |
Notice history
| Notice | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| LOC Novel High-Density Optical Data Storage | Solicitation | |
| This notice | Pre-Solicitation |
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