REQUEST FOR INFORMATION -LOC Novel High-Density Optical Data Storage

THE US LIBRARY OF CONGRESS OFFICE OF THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER (OCIO) Request for Information (RFI) 030ADV26Q0172 Novel High-Density Optical Data Storage Pilot July 20, 2026 -- 1 of 13 -- Library of Congress Request for Information 030ADV26Q0172 Novel High-Density Optical Data Storage Pilot 7/20/2026 2 of 13 Contents 1. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION INSTRUCTIONS ....................................................................................................... 3 2. QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED BY RFI RESPONDANTS............................................................................................ 3 3. DRAFT STATEMENT OF WORK ................................................................................................................................ 4 3.1 Project Title ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 3.2 Background ....................................................................................................................................................... 4 3.3 Scope ................................................................................................................................................................ 5 3.4 Task Objectives ................................................................................................................................................. 5 3.5 Deliverables .................................................................................................................................................... 10 3.6 Key Personnel ................................................................................................................................................. 11 3.7 Additional Personnel Qualifications ................................................................................................................ 12 3.8 Additional Information ................................................................................................................................... 12 3.8.1 Government Furnished Property and Information ............................................................................... 12 3.8.2 Period and Place of Performance.......................................................................................................... 12 3.8.3 Proposed Contract Line Item (CLIN) structure ...................................................................................... 12 -- 2 of 13 -- Library of Congress Request for Information 030ADV26Q0172 Novel High-Density Optical Data Storage Pilot 7/20/2026 3 of 13 1. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION INSTRUCTIONS This is a Request for Information (RFI). The Library of Congress (LOC) reserves the right to cancel this RFI and any corresponding solicitation issued in the future. This RFI shall not be construed in any way to be a solicitation and is for informational purposes only. Please provide all responses electronically via email to the Contract Specialist- Riley Leonhardt (rleonhardt@loc.gov) and the Contracting Officer- Veronica Price (vprice@loc.gov) by 2:00pm Eastern Time Thursday July 30, 2026. Please try to keep responses to no more than 10 pages, including cover pages, attachments, appendices, tables, etc. Note that responses do not require 10 pages. The Library desires and greatly values concise, informative responses and feedback. 2. QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED BY RFI RESPONDANTS 1. Are there certain aspects of the work outlined in the Statement of Work (SOW) that are normally completed by sub-contractors? i.e. Do companies usually outsource any processes in the SOW? 2. Are there industry standard qualifications/certifications the Library should be requiring of the potential personnel and/or companies that wish to participate in the solicitation? 3. Do any of the objectives within the SOW require amplification/clarification to ensure greater understanding by the vendor community? If so, indicate in your response where additional clarification is necessary. 4. Respondents are encouraged to provide input on the suggested Contract Line-Item Number (CLIN) structure and fixed price payment schedule listed in section 3.8.3. 5. Does the suggested timeline of deliverables provided in Section 3.5 of the SOW make logical sense based on the current industry best practices? -- 3 of 13 -- Library of Congress Request for Information 030ADV26Q0172 Novel High-Density Optical Data Storage Pilot 7/20/2026 4 of 13 3. DRAFT STATEMENT OF WORK 3.1 Project Title Novel High-Density Optical Data Storage Pilot 3.2 Background 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 ultra-high density optical data storage designed 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 (~33 petabytes) via traditional storage methods. For longevity and reduced migration intervals, it may be reasonable for this portion of data to be permanently stored on a novel medium. The focus would be on a solution that exhibits high areal density, a long lifespan, reduced maintenance/migration cycles, is immutable, and displays a high level of durability. The Library aims to demonstrate the feasibility of an innovative optical data storage solution as a high-density, scalable, and durable medium for storing its preservation collection. 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 the media, errors must be detected/recorded, preservation techniques must be validated and select data must be recalled/read with high fidelity. This…