Stereo Headphones for DTB Machines
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS · CONTRACTS SERVICES
Capture briefs (a one-page, shareable copy of this page) are part of Pro. The CSV here holds the notice, its timeline and past awards.
Where this opportunity stands
Every notice posted under solicitation 2026-NLS-0048 in this department, oldest first.
Next steps for this stage
Standard steps for the notice type; not advice about this buyer.
- Decide bid or no bid before the response deadline.
- Look at the past winners for likely competitors and teaming partners.
- Follow the opportunity to hear about amendments and the award.
What the notice says
Notice: This is a competitive solicitation for commercial products and commercial services adhering to the requirements of FAR subpart 13.5, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, and FAR Subpart 6.1, Full and Open Competition with additional information included in this synopsis. This solicitation is issued as a Request for Proposals (RFP). This is for the procurement of stereo headphones for the Library�s audio playback machines. The Library of Congress, the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) provide a free audiobook and braille library service for people with tempor… (show all)
ary or permanent low vision, blindness, or a physical, perceptual or reading disability that makes it difficult to read print. The NLS provides audio playback machines and accessories to Library patrons who are unable to read standard printed material due to physical visual limitations. Stereo headphones are an essential accessory for Library patrons who wish to listen to audiobooks privately or without disturbing others in their immediate surroundings, reduced background noise and distractions and enhanced listening comfort in multiple environments. The contractor shall develop and produce stereo headphones in accordance with the specification requirements contained in Section C and J1-Attachment -Stereo Headphones Specifications. The contractor shall provide two (2) proposal samples of the proposed stereo headphones for evaluation with its proposal submission. The contractor shall provide twenty (20) production control samples for evaluation and approval. Full production units shall not be manufactured or delivered until written approval of the production control samples has been received from the Library. The contractor shall also provide Quality Control Plan (QCP) and inspection procedures in accordance with the specification requirements. In addition, the contractor shall furnish individual cartons and overpack cartons for the packaging and shipment of the stereo headphones. A one-year warranty covering all stereo headphones furnished under the contract shall also be provided. This solicitation is being conducted as a full and open competition utilizing a Best Value Trade off source selection process in accordance with FAR 13.5, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The Library intends to award a single Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for the development and production of stereo headphones to support the Library�s audiobook program by providing patrons with the essential accessories needed to access and enjoy audiobook materials. Under the tradeoff process, the Library will evaluate both price and non-price factors that affect contract award. This process permits tradeoffs amongst price and non-price factors in determining the proposal that represents the best overall value to the Library. Evaluation Factors For this competition the following evaluation factors will be used to determine the Best Value Tradeoff (BVTO) for the government: Volume I � Samples for Pre-Award Testing Volume II - Technical Approach Volume III - Past Performance Volume IIII - Price In accordance with FAR 13.106-1(a)(2)(iii), the Library is not required to state the relative importance assigned to each evaluation factor and subfactor. Important: Offerors shall submit two (2) proposal samples of each proposed stereo headphone model with their proposal. Pre-award testing samples shall comply with all electrical and technical requirements specified in Section C. However, pre-award testing samples are not required to comply with all physical, mechanical, marking, labeling, or packaging requirements applicable to the production control samples or the final production quantities delivered under the contract. See Section L & M for further details. The offeror shall include a complete Compliance and Conformance Table with its proposal package. See Section L & M for further details. The following attachments are included in this notice: J1 - Attachment - Stereo Headphones Specifications (11 Pages) J2 - Attachment - Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) (3 Pages) J3 - Attachment - Pricing Schedule (1 Tab) All proposals shall be submitted electronically via email to the Contracting Officer, Brian Curl, at BCurl@loc.gov and the Contracting Specialist, Brenda Kinlay, at bkinlay@loc.gov, no later than the response date specified in this solicitation.
Who won similar work
5 award notices on SAM.gov in the last 24 months. Matched by: Same office (CONTRACTS SERVICES), same NAICS 334310.
Single-winner award sizes (5): middle half $279K to $895K, median $434K; range $82K to $7.5M.
| Winner | Awards | Value | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| FORD AUDIO-VIDEO SYSTEMS LLC | 2 | $713K | Sep 19, 2025 |
| RETZLAFF INC | 1 | $7.5M | Jul 28, 2025 |
| BACKPORCH BROADCAST CONSULTANTS INC | 1 | $895K | Sep 17, 2026 |
| UPSWELL LLC | 1 | $82K | May 20, 2025 |
Value counts single-winner awards. "Shared" awards are multiple-award contracts that list every winner with the same total ceiling; that ceiling is not one company's win, so it is not added in. Revenue next to a ticker is the company's last annual revenue from its 10-K.
- Sep 17, 2026BACKPORCH BROADCAST CONSULTANTS INC$895KNew Robot (Brand-Indelt)
- Sep 19, 2025FORD AUDIO-VIDEO SYSTEMS LLC$434KLibrary of Congress - Pickford Theater Audio and Visual Upgrades
- Sep 16, 2025FORD AUDIO-VIDEO SYSTEMS LLC$279KLibrary of Congress - Madison Rooms Audio and Visual Equipment
- Jul 28, 2025RETZLAFF INC$7.5MNonrecurring Engineering, Development, Prototyping and Production of Handheld Bluetooth Wireless Remote-Controls for DA-2 Units
- May 20, 2025UPSWELL LLC$82KAward Notice: Founding Phrases Exhibit - Audio Visual (AV) & Interactive Experience Services
Competitive landscape
For the 4 most frequent past winners above. Lobbying is matched by the company's exact name or exact ticker; agencies are as named on the filings.
- 0 of these past winners lobbied LIBRARY OF CONGRESS since 2024 (0 filings)
- 0 of their lobbyists list a past LIBRARY OF CONGRESS job
- No corporate PAC money from them to the overseeing committees since 2024
- 0 foreign-agent (FARA) registrations
Policy around it
Bills the past winners named while lobbying this agency's issues, rules from the department, and executive orders that name the agency, last 12 months.
- 0 bills named on the past winners' lobbying filings
- 0 rules from the department in the last 12 months
- 0 executive orders naming the agency in the last 12 months
Market
For past winners matched exactly to a listed company. Insider trades are open-market buys and sells (Form 4) in the last 90 days, shown as facts; our own study found insiders do not reliably buy ahead of awards. A sale marked 10b5-1 was made under a trading plan set up in advance.
- 0 of the past winners are listed companies
- 0 insider buys and 0 insider sells at them in the last 90 days
Sources: SAM.gov notices and award notices; Senate LDA lobbying filings; FEC filings; FARA; Federal Register; congress.gov; SEC Form 4. Every row above links to its record.
Companies are matched to tickers by exact name only. A company we could not match shows no market rows; that is a miss, not a finding.