FEDLINK Books and Library Publications Acquisition Services

Vendors will provide books and library publications (non serial publications) in paper and other formats and associated acquisition support services to federal libraries, information centers, and other federal offices worldwide. The RFP offered four Lots which define four different but related aspects of books and library publications acquisitions: Lot 1 Firm Order Services; Lot 2 Approval Plan Services; Lot 3 Leasing Plan Service; and Lot 4 Technical and/or Order Processing Services. Lot 1 is essential - Vendors had to qualify under Lot 1 in order to provide services under the other Lots. Lot 1 Firm Order Services covers firm orders, a one time order for a specific title (or specific titles) and number of copies, in contrast to a subscription or standing order. For Lot 2, Approval Plans, a vendor automatically supplies materials potentially required by a library as they are published, based on a detailed profile of the library's collection needs. The library may return any publications deemed unsuitable for addition to the collection and is only billed for items retained. For Lot 3, Leasing Plan Services, the customer leases publications from the supplier instead of buying them and retains an option to purchase leased items at a reduced price when the term of the lease is over. For Lot 4, Technical and/or Order Processing Services, the vendor may provide technical processing for materials supplied under the BOA, performing physical processing or cataloging in order to supply materials to the customer in shelf ready condition. The vendor may provide a computer based order processing system for the customer to make the acquisitions control process more efficient.