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The Library of Congress requests information from leading photochemical motion picture restoration specialists to aid in the preparation of a List of Services for an upcoming contract competition for ... The Library of Congress requests information from leading photochemical motion picture restoration specialists to aid in the preparation of a List of Services for an upcoming contract competition for the photochemical restoration of historic motion pictures. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION NATIONAL AUDIO VISUAL CONSERVATION CENTER 1.0 Introduction The Library of Congress (Library) is requesting information from industry laboratories who specialize in the photochemical restoration of motion picture films. The library has items within its historic collections that require photochemical laboratory services to preserve and restore these items back to their original condition. At this time we are only asking for information to aid in the development of a future request for proposal. No information your business submits in reply to this RFI shall result in the award of a contract. This RFI is for market research purposes only and the Library shall take the provided feedback into strong consideration before it issues a formal solicitation for official proposals. This RFI is for market research purposes only, and as a result, no payment will be provided as compensation for your business providing a response to this RFI. 2.0 Background Ensuring preservation of and access to collection materials is part of the mission of the Library of Congress. The Moving Image Section of the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center fulfills this through photochemical and digital preservation of motion picture film, videotape, and digital collection items. Black and white photochemical preservation of motion picture film, as well as many magnetic media and digital preservation services, are accomplished in-house by the Motion Picture and Video preservation laboratories at the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, Packard Campus in Culpeper, VA. Color photochemical preservation, and some specialized digital preservation and access services, cannot be done in house and must be acquired from outside laboratories/vendors. 3.0 Upcoming Contract Competition As part of the Library’s ongoing programs in preserving and restoring items within the collections, the Library expects to offer a contract competition later this year for multiple Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts with 3 year ordering terms. These IDIQ contracts will allow the Library to place orders for photochemical film restoration services over a period of three years with the companies which are successful in the competition. Successful candidates for the upcoming IDIQ contracts will possess real and substantial industry experience in the photochemical restoration of historic motion picture films, and they must be able to demonstrate work that meets the highest standards of technical and aesthetic achievement. Detailed selection criteria for award will be announced later this year in the Solicitation phase of the competition. An IDIQ contract is a structured contract with $0 obligated against it, but which establishes a fixed price for each service offered, for each year of the contract. The services and prices remain fixed for the life of the contract according to the agreed-upon Services List at the time of contract award. When the Library requires these services, (eg, for a film restoration project) funded orders shall be issued under those IDIQ contracts for specific pre-priced services established in the IDIQ. As a result, it is important for the Library to have a firm understanding of the services provided on the marketplace before the IDIQ award is made. The types of films for this photochemical restoration work will range from silent era, highly shrunken nitrate with major damage to sound era films both color and black and white that show varying levels of severe to minimal damage. Films to be photochemically preserved will be primarily 35mm with various aspect ratios. On occasion, there will be the need to incorporate multiple formats and film sources to complete a full restoration of a specific project. Using multiple sources to complete a film restoration will require the knowledge, skills and abilities to match these sources as close as possible following the highest industry standards. Additional examples of photochemical restoration services may include: ? -The restoration of color sequences that include tinting and toning of films from the silent era. ? -The recreation of title sequences (main, end, intertitles) that no longer exist. ?- Minimizing the effects of scratches on source materials through wetgate printing. ? -The physical splicing of film to conform into proper continuity. ?- A/B printing to avoid the need of cutting into preservation elements. ?- Using timing techniques to match film from multiple sources. ?- The syncing of restored optical sound tracks to picture. 4.0 Requested Information 4.1 Services List In preparing a new IDIQ contract to fulfill the needs of the Library’s preservation efforts with regards to the motion picture film collections, the Library requests information from laboratories/vendors to aid in the formulation of the new contracts. Respondents should refer to the attached (Draft) Services List. The Library does not anticipate expanding the Services List after IDIQ contract award. In order to be sure the Services List is comprehensive, the Library is seeking the assistance of industry leaders to review and comment on the (Draft) Services List before we proceed to the solicitation phase. This RFI may be the sole opportunity to add services to the list for a period of three years. We understand that some photochemical restoration projects may have small portions or sections that require or would lend themselves better to digital fixes. We also understand there are photochemical laboratories that offer some digital services. With this understanding we have included a list of basic digital services in the (Draft) services list for photochemical restoration. A photochemical laboratory who is providing feedback on the RFI is not required to respond to the digital services in the event the laboratory does not offer those services. As you refer to each line item on the (Draft) Services List, Respondents are kindly requested to indicate the following: 4.1.1 Is this is a service you provide? 4.1.2 How the service is priced based on footage, frame, time, reel and/or Gigabyte Please do not include Pricing in your responses to this RFI. 4.1.3 If the language for the service is not accurate, please describe how you would change the language using the notes column. 4.1.4 Please add any services that are not currently on the Library’s list that you feel may be required in the restoration/preservation of any given project. The Library’s goal with this RFI is to create a complete and thorough list of services required to meet its restoration and preservation needs prior to the new IDIQ contract being issued. This is not a proposal for future contract work. This is only a request for information which will aid in the development of a future request for proposal. Participation in this RFI is strictly voluntary, will not be compensated, and is not a prerequisite for successful participation in the upcoming contract competition. The Library reserves the right to amend the Services List or any aspect of the anticipated IDIQ contract opportunity, including to suspend the program entirely. 4.2 Capabilities Statement In addition to reviewing and commenting on the Library’s (Draft) Service List, please provide a capability statement for your company, which addresses the following points. 4.2.1 Describe your ability to store nitrate film 4.2.2 Describe any services that you routinely subcontract out to fulfill your restoration efforts. 4.2.3 Provide a list of major clients, preferably those with significant moving image and recorded sound collections. 5.0 Other Information 1. Name (a specific contact person and company name) 2. Address 3. Phone (main and cell) 4. Email (preferably for the person named above in item 5.1) 6.0 Responses RFI responses are due by Monday, May 31, 2021. Responses shall be submitted via e-mail only to Contract Specialist Gail MacFarquhar (email: gmac@loc.gov) with a cc to Contracting Officer James Robinson (email: jarobinson@loc.gov). Proprietary information, if any, should be minimal and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. To aid the Government, please segregate any proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. 7.0 Questions Questions regarding this announcement should be submitted in writing by e-mail to the Contract Specialist, Gail MacFarquhar (email: gmac@loc.gov). Questions received after Monday May 10, 2021 may not be answered.