Table of Contents for: Entire RFP

M.1 EVALUATION CRITERIA

M.1.1 Contractor selection will be based on evaluation of proposals in accordance with the responses received to the criteria outlined in Section L, Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors and the Schedule of Prices. Award will be made to that offeror whose combination of technical and price proposals represents the best value to the Government and is most advantageous, price and other factors considered, and which is within the available Library of Congress resources.

M.1.2 The Library of Congress also reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received and/or request clarification or modification of proposals. The Library reserves the right to determine a competitive range for negotiation based upon the technical and cost acceptability of proposals. In addition, the Library reserves the right to award a contract without discussions.

M.1.3 Cost evaluation will include an analysis of the total cost and cost elements (if applicable) to perform the required work. The total costs supplied by the offeror shall be submitted on a copy of Section B in the spaces provided and shall constitute the total firm-fixed unit price for that service or deliverable.

M.1.4 Proposals that are unrealistic in terms of technical commitment or unreasonably low or high in cost or price will be deemed reflective of an inherent lack of technical competence or indicative of failure to comprehend the complexity and risk involved in the contract requirements and may be grounds for rejection of the proposal.

M.2 EVALUATION FACTORS

Technical proposals will be initially evaluated with respect to four (4) major factors for determination of the competitive range. Technical factors are listed in descending order of importance. The technical proposal is worth more than the cost proposal; when technical proposals are relatively equal in technical merit, cost may increase in importance.

M.2.1 Technical Factors

Factor 1	Overall technical approach; proposed methodology; demonstrated understanding of the scope of work and the requirements (L.3.1)
Factor 2	Previous demonstrated production experience and past performance; qualifications of key personnel and project management capability (L.3.2 and L.3.3)
Factor 3	Quality Control (L.3.4)
Factor 4	Facilities and corporate support capability (L.3.5)

M.2.2 Sample Digital Images and Benchmark Tests

Those offerors determined to be in the competitive range (technical, price, and other factors considered) shall be required to provide images of special technical targets and of pictorial items as indicated below. The sample images for both Lot 1 and Lot 2 will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis in terms of the considerations outlined in Sections M.2.2.1 (targets) and M.2.2.2 (pictorial images).

M.2.2.1 Images of Target Sets

For LOT 1, offerors in the competitive range shall produce images for two (2) technical target sets (one transmitted-light target set and one reflected-light target set). The target sets and complete instructions regarding procedure will be provided to the offerors for the benchmark test. The target sets are described in Section C.4.6.4; each set includes: (a) a spatial resolution target, (b) a grayscale target, and (c) an additional target to characterize the scanning system. For LOT 2, images of only the transmitted-light target set will be required. The images will be evaluated by an independent testing laboratory.

M.2.2.1.1 Pass-fail values for spatial resolution

The readings from the Sine Patterns sinusoidal target shall be the same for reflected and transmitted light. The measured MTF shall have values which fall within the ranges given in the following table, at the given spatial frequencies:

Frequency	MTF
1	0.90 to 1.0
2	0.80 to 1.0
3	0.70 to 1.0
4	0.60 to 1.0
5	0.50 to 1.0
6	0.40 to 1.0
8	0.30 to 1.0
10	0.20 to 1.0

M.2.2.1.2 Pass-fail values for tonal distribution

The measurements from the grayscale targets shall be the same for reflected and transmitted light.

For mandatory images (8-bit grayscale), the digital values should be linear to the density of the original. The digital values for each area on the grayscale target shall not deviate by more than 10 from a linear least squares regression line fitted between the densities of the original target and the digital output values. A white area shall have values of r=243-250, g=243-250, and b=243-250, and a black area shall have values of r=5-12, g=5-12, and b=5-12. Care should be taken that no clipping (= loss of details) in either the highlights or the shadows occurs.

REQUIREMENT FOR IMAGE SAMPLE FOR THE DESIRABLE DIGITAL IMAGES OMITTED FROM BENCHMARK TESTING

M.2.2.1.3 Crosscheck evaluation of additional targets and sample pictorial images

In order to confirm the findings in the preceding tests and in order to offer diagnostic description of the offeror's capture system, the testing laboratory will make some additional measurements. Some additional measurements will be made from targets scanned for spatial resolution or tonal distribution; some will be made from additional targets; and some will be made by examining the pictorial samples provided to the Library evaluation committee (Section 2.2.2). The crosscheck measurements will include the following:

• White, middle gray, and black area (same for reflected and transmitted light). Measurements of these zones on the Gray Scale will indicate system noise (signal-to-noise measurement).

• Flare from the flare measurement target.

• Confirmation of spatial resolution measurement (from the Sine Patterns target) by measuring the results from a knife-edge target.

• Measurement of scanner noise from 1) a measurement without a sample in the light path and 2) measuring the dark current (i.e., making a scan with the lens covered in the case of a camera; or scanning a black target if the light source cannot be turned off).

• Measuring of scanner geometry related source noise amplification.

M.2.2.2 Images of Pictorial Items

LOT 1

Sets of digital images for four (4) pictorial items as follows shall be produced--

1. Black-and-white 8x10-inch negative. Produce 5UA, CRI, THM mandatory image set and 5UA, 5DI, CRI, THM desirable set, if offered.

2. DELETED

3. Color 4x5-inch transparency. Produce 4UA, CRI, THM mandatory image set and 4UA, 4DI, CRI, THM desirable set, if offered.

4. Black-and-white positive print, approximately 8x10 inches. Produce 5UA, CRI, THM mandatory image set and 5UA, 5DI, CRI, THM desirable set, if offered.

5. Color lithographed print or card, approximately 3x5 inches or less. Produce 3UA, CRI, THM mandatory image set and 3UA, 3DI, CRI, THM desirable set, if offered.

LOT 2

Sets of digital images for four (4) pictorial items:

1. Representing the type of film in the Mead/Bateson project: Two (2) film frames, each of which is on a multi-frame strip of 35mm film. Each film image shall be reproduced as a 5UA, CRI, THM mandatory image set and a 5UA, 5DI, CRI, THM desirable set, if offered

2. Representing the type of fiche in the Civil War map project: Two (2) 105m fiche, each reproducing one map. Each map shall be reproduced as a CUA mandatory image.

M.2.2.2.1 Evaluation of sample pictorial images

The sample images for both LOT 1 and LOT 2 will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis in terms of the following considerations or features:

• Accuracy of filenames; specifications will be sent with the sample films.

• Files must open and/or decompress in two different IBM-compatible computers, using the following software: PhotoShop and ThumbsPlus.

• TIFF header and tag elements must meet specifications.

• JPEG files will be checked using in JPEGINFO software; header must include JFIF file format indicator.

• JPEG files must be compressed to yield an approximate average reduction of 10:1 for black-and-white images and 15:1 for color images.

• Spatial resolution must be in the range specified in Section C.4.1

• Tonal resolution and tonal quality for images (including check of histogram) must meet requirements in Section C.4.4.1

• Corner to corner sharpness -- judged to the degree possible given image content and quality of original film image

• Cropping -- in terms of the guidelines outlined in Section C.4.8 and in Section J attachments.

• Concatenation -- for the image of the map from fiche only (Lot 2) in terms of the guidelines outlined in Section J, Attachment 6.

M.2.3 Cost

Reasonableness of cost.

M.2.4 Desirable Image Types

After technical evaluation and benchmark testing, those offerors technically acceptable and who have demonstrated the additional capability of producing the desirable image types as specified in C.4.2 may be awarded plus (additional) points. The cost for the desirable images will also be considered.

M.3 52.215-34 EVALUATION OF OFFERS FOR MULTIPLE AWARDS

In addition to other factors, offers will be evaluated on the basis of advantages and disadvantages to the Government that might result from marking more than one award (multiple awards). It is assumed, for the purposes of evaluating proposals, that $500 would be the administrative cost to the Government for issuing and administering each contract awarded under this solicitation and individual awards shall be for the items or combinations of items that result in the lowest aggregate cost to the Government, including the assumed administrative costs.

M.3 52.217-5 EVALUATION OF OPTIONS (JUL 1990)

Except when it is determined in accordance with FAR 17.206(b) not to be in the Government's best interests, the Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. Evaluation of options will not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).