Inactive
Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)
Notice ID:75N97024Q00037
This Small Business Sources Sought Notice (SBSS) is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the National Library of M...
This Small Business Sources Sought Notice (SBSS) is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the National Library of Medicine (NLM). The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to identify qualified Small Business concerns including 8(a), HUBZone or Service-Disabled Veteran-owned businesses that are interested in and capable of performing the work described herein. The NLM does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses received nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. This requirement is assigned North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541990 with a size standard of $19.5 Million. As a result of this Sources Sought Notice, the NLM may issue a Request for Quotation (RFQ). THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against NLM shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought Notice or the NLM’s use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement. 1. BACKGROUND The National Library of Medicine (NLM), one of the five national libraries in the United States, is the world’s largest research library in a single scientific and professional field. NLM’s primary mission, as mandated by the Congress, is to serve the health professions. To support this mission NLM comprehensively collects materials in biomedical subjects and provides researchers with sources both rare in availability and exhaustive in scope. The NLM’s Collection Management Program preserves, protects, manages, and maintains a pre-eminent collection of the world’s medical literature including print monograph and serial volumes, manuscripts, pamphlets, theses, audiovisuals, and visual materials including fine prints, photographs, posters, and ephemera. NLM requires a technical expert with hands-on experience doing the physical work of conserving the items. 2. OBJECTIVE The objective of this procurement is to obtain the services of a full-time onsite conservation technician for the National Library of Medicine. 3. SCOPE NLM requires the services of an experienced conservation technician specializing in book and manuscript repair. The conservation technician shall: Repair a variety of valuable and unique bound and manuscript materials which include, but are not limited to books, pamphlets, and broadsides. Design and construct protective enclosures. Perform collection maintenance including property stamping, book plating and shelf cleaning. Provide photography services for internal projects and specific digital initiatives. Use NLM’s conservation database to track treatments. Use NLM’s work order system (Exlibris’ Alma software) to track items in specific workflows. DELIVERABLE DELIVERABLE DESCRIPTION / FORMAT REQUIREMENTS DUE DATE 1 Monthly statistical summary of work accomplished in Word format Monthly, with invoice All information and data related to this project that the contractor gathers or obtains shall be both protected from unauthorized release and considered the property of the government. The contracting officer shall be the sole authorized official to release verbally or in writing, any data, the draft deliverables, the final deliverables, or any other written or printed materials pertaining to this contract. Press releases, marketing material, or any other printed or electronic documentation related to this project, must not be publicized without the written approval of the contracting officer. 4. CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS Independently, and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall provide one onsite conservation technician with a full-time equivalent (40 hours per week) schedule. The conservation technician repairs a variety of valuable and unique bound and selected paper materials. Treatments include, but are not limited to cleaning, removal of adhesives and stains, mending tears and voids, tipping in loose pages, and repairing damaged book covers, spines and text blocks. Specialized knowledge in the safe use and storage of hazardous chemicals is required. The conservation technician also does the following: Inputs treatment reports into the NLM conservation database. Recommends specific conservation supplies. Participates in book and paper-training sessions with other staff. Assists in salvage and recovery of affected collections after a water or fire emergency affecting collections. Photographs collection items to support internal projects and digitization workflows. 4.1 MATERIALS HANDLING While working onsite at NLM the Contractor shall follow these rules: Prohibit eating or drinking (except bottled water) in areas where NLM materials are kept or work is performed. Handle NLM materials with clean hands. Clean hands are hands washed with soap and water; no lotions, creams, or hand sanitizer shall be used prior to handling NLM materials. Use pencils (no pens) when working with NLM materials. Handle books gently, using supports and weights as necessary. Turn pages carefully to prevent the paper from breaking along the edges or inner margin. Keep fragile items in envelopes or boxes when they are not in use. 4.2 QUALITY ASSURANCE The Conservation technician shall establish production control procedures to monitor the progress of the work and maintain the required quality of workmanship and services. The COR/NLM staff will review a sampling of conserved materials. Mistakes in conservation treatments shall not exceed 5% of completed work. The Contractor shall bring any problems that arise to the attention of the COR. 5. PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS 5.1 LABOR CATEGORY Conservation Technician performs a variety of repairs on a wide range of bound and paper collection items; photographs objects for documentation; cleans items using cleansers, solvents, soap solutions, and polishes; prepares items for storage; creates storage enclosures; creates condition and treatment reports; enters condition, treatment, and photo documentation into NLM online conservation database; participates in collection salvage and recovery as needed; recommends specific conservation supplies and equipment. 5.2 PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS The onsite conservation technician must have the following qualifications: At least 5 years of book and manuscript repair experience. Demonstrate specific knowledge in the subject of book and paper manuscript repair including but not limited to leather, cloth, and paper bound collections and repair of historic and modern paper collections including but not limited to manuscripts, pamphlets, and broadsides. Demonstrate experience using a variety of complex conservation treatments including but not limited to cleaning with solvents, removal of adhesives and stains, loss compensation, mending tears and voids, and flattening for paper collections. The technician must also have experience doing rebacks, board and case repairs to leather, cloth and paper bound items and creating storage enclosures. Effective verbal and written communication between the COR, program manager, and NLM\NIH staff. The onsite conservation technician shall submit a detailed resume describing their training, academic background, bench experience, availability and professional references including one reference from a conservator. 5.3 KEY PERSONNEL The onsite conservation technician shall be considered key personnel for this contract. Contractor staff must pass an NIH background check and take required NIH trainings to be approved to receive an NIH ID badge. The NIH badge must be issued before the Contractor staff may access government-furnished equipment and software, in other words, before work on this contract may commence. When working onsite at NLM, the vendor shall always wear an NIH identification badge. 6. MEETINGS AND COMMUNICATIONS After an initial kick-off meeting with Contractor management and staff: The COR shall regularly communicate with the Contractor staff via in- person conversation, email, telephone, or MS Teams chat/meetings, as necessary, to resolve problems expeditiously. Backup coverage shall be provided in the event work duties or personal leave prevent the COR from being available for more than one business day. Check-in meetings shall occur at least once every two weeks. 7. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY/EQUIPMENT/INFORMATION The Government is responsible for shall furnish necessary computer equipment and network access for regular communications and documentation. The conservation technician shall work in a fully equipped conservation laboratory in Building 38 The National Library of Medicine. 7.1 GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY The Government is responsible for: Provide training to all Contractor staff at the NLM in the proper handling of NLM materials. Ensuring that the Contractor has access to the physical items to be conserved. Reviewing a sampling of conserved materials. 8. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The period of performance is as follows: Base Period: July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. Option Period 1: July1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. 9. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE Onsite services shall be performed at the following location: National Library of Medicine (NLM) 8600 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20892 How to Submit a Response: 1. Page Limitations: Interested qualified small business organizations should submit a tailored capability statement for this requirement not to exceed 3 to 4 pages. that clearly details the ability to perform the requirements of the notice described above. All proprietary information should be marked as such. Statements should also include an indication of current small business status; this indication should be clearly marked on the first page of your capability statement (preferable placed under the eligible small business concern’s name and address). Vendor should also provide any contract number (GSA, NASA, NITAAC etc.) Responses will be reviewed only by NIH personnel and will be held in a confidential manner. 2. Due Date: Capability statements are due no later than June 10, 2024 by 1:00PM EST 3. Delivery Point: All information furnished must be in writing and must contain sufficient detail to allow the NLM to determine if it can meet the unique specifications described herein. All questions must be in writing and emailed to elena.leon2@nih.gov and ladonna.stewart@nih.gov. The determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. In order to receive an award, contractors must have valid registration and certification at www.sam.gov .No collect calls will be accepted. Please reference number SBSS-75N97024Q00037 on all correspondence. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a RFQ may be published in www.sam.gov However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation(s). Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation.
