Inactive

The Library of Congress requests information from leading digital motion picture sound track restoration specialists to aid in the preparation of a List of Services for an upcoming contract competitio... The Library of Congress requests information from leading digital motion picture sound track restoration specialists to aid in the preparation of a List of Services for an upcoming contract competition for the digital restoration of motion picture sound tracks. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION NATIONAL AUDIO VISUAL CONSERVATION CENTER 1.0 Introduction The Library of Congress (Library) is requesting information from industry experts who specialize in the restoration of sound for motion picture films. The library has items within its historic collections that require digital restoration services to preserve and restore these motion picture sound tracks 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, sound recordings 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. Although the library has the ability to do some sound restoration work through our audio laboratory, the library lacks the resources to do full sound restorations of a feature length films. As a result, services must be acquired from outside 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 open a new contract competition later this year for multiple Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts with a 12-month base period. The Library also intends to structure an additional four 12-month option periods to extend the contract. These IDIQ contracts will allow the Library to place orders for digital sound restoration services over a period of up to five 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 digital restoration of historic motion picture sound tracks, and they must be able to demonstrate work that meets the highest standards of technical and aesthetic achievement. 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 digital sound restoration work will range from highly shrunken nitrate with major damage to films on safety film stock that show varying levels of severe to minimal damage. Format types will be primarily 35mm variable density and variable area optical tracks with the occasional mag track mixed in. It will not be uncommon for the need to combine multiple sources to complete a sound restoration of a film. This will require the software, skills and abilities to match these sources as close as possible following the highest industry standards. Additional examples of digital sound restoration services may include: ? -The ability to analyze and repair source materials both nitrate and safety prior to transfer. ?- The ability to digitally capture 16 and 35mm, optical and magnetic track sources. ?- Remove all unwanted anomalies and distortions including hums, clicks, pops, crackles, dropouts. ?- The ability to re-record restored track files out to a new 35mm optical track negative. 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 five years. 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 sound 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 the list of the Library’s service requirements, please include answers to the following questions in your response. 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