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RFI for Library Program Consulting and Modeling Services
Acquisitions Services Division (A309)
U.S. Government Printing Office
732 North Capitol Street, NW
Washington, DC, 20401
Description:
This Request for Information (RFI) is issued for market research and budgetary and planning purposes only.
The United States Government Printing Office (GPO) requests information to develop practical and sustainable models for meeting the primary objectives of the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) in an information environment dominated by digital technologies. This work should explore what is possible within the current legislative framework for the FDLP as well as suggest specific changes to the law where the existing language is found to be inhibiting the practical exercise of the FDLP's purpose and goals.
The desire for an informed and impartial consultant to perform this study has broad support across the depository library community and reflects the goals of a recommendation made by the Depository Library Council after its Spring 2009 meeting. The development of practical and sustainable models for the FDLP in the digital era is a necessary next step in building further consensus among all stakeholders and ensuring the public has systematic and secure access to Federal Government information in the 21st century and beyond.
Information received by GPO on this effort will be used to help determine the future state of the FDLP and may be used to plan for and/or seek legislative or administrative changes to the Program.
Background:
Library Services and Content Management (LSCM) is continuing the strategic planning process for the future of the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). Identified goals are to determine a sustainable model or models for delivering FDLP collections and services to the American public in the online Federal Government information environment.
The use of digital information technologies by FDLP libraries; the general public; and Federal agencies, to publish and provide citizen-centric, dynamic, and participatory e-government services, presents opportunities for unprecedented access to Government information. Fundamental aspects of ensuring that the American public has current and future access to Federal information, however, are hindered by the existing structure of the FDLP, based primarily on a 19th century model of print production and distribution. To be relevant in the electronic era, the FDLP must develop other working models to fulfill its programmatic mission and outline the roles that each of the depository partners play in making Government information widely and publicly accessible.
GPO and various library communities have devoted considerable attention to the study and discussion of these important issues since the early 1990s. From GPO's 1996 Report to Congress to the recently published Ithaka Report, Documents for a Digital Democracy: A Model for the Federal Depository Library Program in the 21st Century, substantial work has been done by a variety of stakeholders to address many key issues surrounding public access to Government information in the digital age. There is broad consensus in the depository library community on the values and principles of the FDLP.
About the Federal Depository Library Program:
For more than 140 years, the GPO has kept America informed by producing and distributing Federal government information products. GPO combines conventional technology with state-of-the-art methods whether providing public access to Government information online, or producing or procuring printed publications that serve the information needs of the U.S. Congress, Federal agencies and the American public. Established by Congress to ensure that the American public has access to its Government's information, this Program involves the acquisition, format conversion, and distribution of depository materials and the coordination of Federal depository libraries in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. Libraries designated as Federal depositories maintain these information products as part of their existing collections and are responsible for assuring that the public has free access to the material provided through the FDLP.
The vision of the Federal Depository Library Program is to provide Government information when and where it is needed in order to create an informed citizenry and an improved quality of life.
The mission of the Federal Depository Library Program is to provide for no-fee ready and permanent public access to Federal Government information, now and for future generations.
The mission is achieved through:
•• Organizing processes that enable desired information to be identified and located;
•• Expert assistance rendered by trained professionals in a network of libraries;
•• Collections of publications at a network of libraries; and
•• Archived online information dissemination products from GPO Access, Federal agency Web sites, and partner Web sites.
The legislative authority for the FDLP is codified in 44 United States Code 1901-1916.
Background Material
Additional information about the GPO, the FDLP, and the Depository Library Council may be found on the Web at http://www.gpo.gov and http://www.fdlp.gov.
Selected Bibliography:
Depository Library Council. Alternatives For Restructuring the Depository Library Program: A
Report to the Superintendent of Documents and the Public Printer from the Depository Library
Council. September 1993. [http://www.fdlp.gov/home/repository/doc_download/1092-alternatives-for-restructuring-the-depository-library-program].
_______________. Knowledge Will Forever Govern: A Vision Statement for Federal Depository
Libraries in the 21st Century. Final Version. September 29, 2006
[http://www.fdlp.gov/component/docman/doc_download/35-knowledge-will-forever-govern?ItemId=45].
Schonfeld, Roger C. and Ross Housewright. Documents for a Digital Democracy: A Model for the Federal Depository Library Program in the 21st Century. New York: Ithaka S+R. December 17, 2009. [http://www.ithaka.org/ithaka-s-r/research/documents-for-a-digital-democracy].
U.S. Congress. House. Committee on House Administration. Report to Accompany H.R. 8141.
H.R. Rep. 724, 87th Cong., 1st Sess. 1961.
U.S. Congress. House. Office of the Law Revision Council. "Depository Library Program" in 44 United States Code 1901-1916.
[http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/usc.cgi?ACTION=BROWSE&TITLE=44USCC19&PDFS=YES].
U.S. Congress. Senate. Committee on Rules and Administration. Revising the Laws Relating to
Depository Libraries. S. Rep. 1587, 87th Cong., 2d Sess. 1962.
U.S. Congress. Senate. Subcommittee on the Library of the Senate Committee on Rules and
Administration. Depository Libraries: Hearings on S. 2029 and H.R. 8141. 87th Cong., 2d Sess.
March 15, 1962.
U.S. Government Printing Office. A Strategic Vision for the 21st Century. December 1, 2004.
[http://www.gpo.gov/congressional/pdfs/04strategicplan.pdf ].
___________________________. Study to Identify Measures Necessary for a Successful
Transition to a More Electronic Federal Depository Library Program As Required by
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1996 Public Law 104-53. Report to Congress. June 1996. [http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/pubs/study/studyhtm.html].
___________________________. Web Page: GPO Study of Regional Depositories.
[http://www.fdlp.gov/home/about/209-studyofregionals].
___________________________. Web Page: Strategic Plan for the Future of the FDLP
[http://www.fdlp.gov/home/about/237-strategicplan].
Keeping GPO's goals in mind please outline how your company will be able to meet the consultant needs of GPO. Potential participants who are interested in this project must submit a packet of material which includes:
•1. A single page that expresses interest in and qualifications for undertaking this project, listing company points of contact (name, title, email and phone), and GSA Schedule information (if applicable).
•2. A separate White Paper and capability statement (no more than 25 pages total) that describes:
•a. Trends in library services delivery and collections management;
•b. Vision of the future of libraries and the role of librarians;
•c. Value of Government information, libraries, and librarians in the 21st century;
•d. Information sources and the methodology to be used to determine appropriate Program models;
•e. Value proposition for the Federal Depository Library Program;
•f. Key deliverables for GPO; and
•g. The timeline for completion of the project.
The capability statement must be submitted as a MS Word file by noon EST on 03/5/2010, to Arza E. Gardner at [email protected] with the subject line "FDLP Consultant". Faxed copies are not acceptable.
Questions regarding capability statements, white papers and other documentation must also be submitted in writing to the Contracting Officer, Arza E. Gardner at [email protected]
Questions must be submitted by noon EST 3/1/2010.
NOTICE: This announcement is a request for information only and does not obligate the GPO in any way. This is not a request for proposal and the GPO will not pay for any information submitted or for any expenses associated with providing information. Any information submitted by respondents to this RFI is strictly voluntary. Material submitted will be deemed proprietary to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations if so marked by the respondent.
Original Point of Contact:
Arza E. Gardner
Director, Complex Acquisitions and
Special Projects
Acquisitions Services Division (Room A309)
U.S. Government Printing Office
732 North Capitol Street, NW
Washington, DC, 20401
(202) 512-1488