SECTION M

EVALUATION FACTOR FOR AWARD

M.1

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 six (6) 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 will increase in importance.

M.2.1

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 (L.3.2)
Factor 3 Quality Control (L.3.3)
Factor 4 Capability and Experience of Key Personnel (L.3.4)
Factor 5 Project Management and Corporate Support Capability (L.3.5)
Factor 6 Facilities and Equipment (L.3.6)

M.2.2

Those offerors determined to be in the competitive range (technical, price, and other factors considered) shall be required to provide sample digital images 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 following considerations or features:

  • File type/format and header. Specifications will be sent with the source documents. TIFF header and tag elements must meet specifications; to be checked using TIFFINFO or similar shareware header-reading software. JPEG files will be checked using in JPEGINFO software; header must include JFIF file format indicator. Pixel depth will be checked against file format specifications in Section C.
  • Compression. Depending upon the file type and compression type, the image files must open and/or decompress in two different IBM-compatible computers, using any of the following software: PhotoShop (JPEG only), LView Pro (JPEG only), PhotoStyler (JPEG), View Director (TIFF only), HiJaak Pro (all files) and DocuView (all files). Compression will be evaluated based on specifications in Section C.
  • Image quality. Images will be evaluated according to acceptance criteria included in Section C and Section E, including:
  • capture of page content
  • page orientation
  • legibility
  • clarity
  • legibility of hardcopy printouts
  • Treatment of printed halftones. Images will be evaluated according to specifications in Section C.
  • Application of gamma correction/contrast stretching. Images will be evaluated according to specifications in Section C.
  • Cropping. Images will be evaluated according to guidelines outlined in Section C.

    • M.2.3

    Reasonableness of cost.

    M.3

    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 options(s).

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