UPDATE 7-01-25

ALL PHASE 1 RESULTS HAVE BEEN SENT TO ALL OFFERORS THAT SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL ON 7/1/2025.

Solicitation 030ADV25R0036 amendment 0002 has been added to the attachements section of this notice. 

Please see Attachment J4-030ADV25R0036 Questions Answers 7-1-25 FINAL for answers to additionally posed questions as well for this solicitation amendment 0002.

NOTE:  Phase 2 proposal due date has been extended to Tuesday July 22,2025 4pm Eastern Standard Time.  Only offerors that submitted a Phase 1 proposal can submit a Phase 2 proposal.

(End of 7-01-25 Update) 

UPATE 6-17-25

Solicitation 030ADV25R0036 amendment 0001 has been added to the attachements section of this notice. 

• Please see Attachment J4-030ADV25R0036 Questions Answers 6-17-25 for answers to all posed questions during the questions period.

No other sections from the solicitation are updated. Phase 1 Volume I- Corporate Experience/ Understanding of Requirements proposal due date remains Friday June 20, 2025 (6/20/2025) 2pm Eastern. Phase 2 proposal due date remains Friday July 18,2025 (7/18/2025) 4pm Eastern.

(End of 6-17-25 Update) 

Summary of Solicitation's Scope

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 synthetic DNA data storage 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 (~31 petabytes) via traditional storage methods. For redundancy, it may be reasonable for this portion of data to be permanently stored on a less accessible medium, like synthetic DNA. The Library aims to demonstrate the feasibility of DNA as a high-density, scalable, and durable medium for digital data storage.

At this time, 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 synthetic DNA, 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 growing field of DNA-based data storage while pushing the boundaries of access and preservation.

The Library’s contracted services will support desired outcomes, including:

• The successful writing of 1.5GB of the Library’s digital data in various formats (video, audio, images, text) onto synthetic DNA.
• To determine the accuracy of the synthetic DNA writing process (error detection) without having to read each batch in full.
• The documentation of successful processes, shortcomings, error rates, timelines, potential solutions, risks, trends, and technological improvements throughout the period of performance as they pertain to synthetic DNA data storage.
• Proof of concept for the potential indefinite storage approach of the Library’s data on synthetic DNA.
• The successful recall and reading of selected collection items that have been encoded onto synthetic DNA.
• The isolation of a subset of the data will be carefully curated and stored in ceremonially appropriate vessels, providing both a functional and artistic display of the stored information. This will be done in support of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Questions Instructions:

Questions related to this solicitation must be submitted using Attachment J2- 030ADV25R0036 Questions Template to the Contracting Officer, Betsy Lewis-Matsuoka via email at [email protected] and the Contract Specialist, Riley Leonhardt, via email at [email protected] no later than June 12, 2025 (06/12/25) at 2:00 P.M. Eastern Time. The Library will provide answers to questions of a substantive nature to all offerors via a solicitation amendment following the submission deadline listed above. The Library reserves the right to not answer certain questions if they are not of substance or appear to be from a source that is not participating in the competition. The Library will not guarantee answers to questions received after the required question submittal date/time.

Proposal Submission Instructions SUMMARY

The government is employing as two-step consideration process for this solicitation. Step-1 or Phase 1 in which offerors will submit their response to Factor 1-Corporate Experience/ Understanding the Requirements will occur first. After the Government completes evaluation of Phase 1, offerors will receive an advisory notification via email from the Library. This notification will advise the offeror of the Government’s advisory recommendation to proceed or not to proceed with Step-2 or Phase 2 in which offerors submit Factors 2-4 in accordance with instructions listed in Section L.2 of this solicitation.

Offers must only provide their Volume I- Corporate Experience/ Understanding of Requirements as listed in Section L of the Solicitation by June 20, 2025 (06/20/25) 2pm Eastern Time via email to the Contract Specialist (CS), Riley Leonhardt at [email protected] and to the Contracting Officer (CO), Betsy Lewis-Matsuoka at  [email protected] with the email title "[INSERT YOUR OFFEROR NAME] Phase I Proposal for 030ADV25R0036- LOC Synthetic DNA" and should not submit a Volume II-Phase 2 Technical or Volume III- Phase 2 Price or Volume IV-Solicitation Acknowledgement as part of their initial submission on 6/20/25.

Failure to participate in Phase I of the procurement precludes consideration of an offeror for award. Offeror submissions will not be accepted from offerors who have not submitted Phase I Proposals by June 20, 2025 (06/20/25) 2pm Eastern Time as stated in Section L.2.2. in this solicitation.

See the solicitation and it's attachments for full details regarding this requirement.