Leased Books Program

Seminole County Public Library System is seeking a qualified vendor to provide a comprehensive Leased Books Program for its five full-service community branches serving approximately 450,000 residents. The solicitation requires a vendor to supply multiple copies of new and popular bestseller titles with the flexibility to return excess copies as demand declines while retaining a select number for permanent collection. Key deliverables include providing new, defect-free books with processing such as Mylar covers and address labels, delivering materials within ten business days of publication, maintaining an online ordering platform, and supplying monthly lists of at least 100 annotated adult titles. The evaluation process will assess proposals across five criteria: High Demand Releases (25 points), Price & Annual Retention (20 points), Permanent Collection (20 points), Service & Logistics (20 points), and Cost (15 points). The procurement is structured as a Request for Proposal (RFP-5139-25/LTT) with a proposal submission deadline of February 11, 2026, at 2:00 pm through the County's e-Procurement Portal, with a public opening to be conducted via Microsoft Teams.

The contract will be established for an initial three-year term, with the County holding the option to exercise up to two additional one-year renewal periods, potentially extending the total contract duration to five years. While no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are mentioned, vendors must meet comprehensive requirements including maintaining various insurance coverages, registering with the E-Verify system, and complying with Florida statutes and regulations. The vendor must provide Commercial General Liability Insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and allow the Library to retain 20 percent of all new volumes annually at no cost, with a 10 percent annual adjustment allowance for lost materials. Although a specific budget range is not explicitly stated, the contract will be awarded on a best overall value basis, with compensation structured on a fixed fee basis at rates established through the solicitation process. The anticipated contract commencement is March 2026, with the County reserving the right to contract with multiple parties and terminate the agreement at its convenience.