TTS MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION PILOT (INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE)

Notice: This is a sole source for commercial products and/or commercial services in accordance with FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures and FAR subpart 6.3, Other than Full and Open Competition. This Special Notice is issued as a sole source Justification & Approval (J&A) to Zinio, LLC to provide the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) with access to its catalog of text-to-speech (TTS) magazine subscription, without restriction, and shall convert such materials into accessibly format for inclusion in the NLS’s collection, compatible with the NLS’s BARD systems.

The National Library Services for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS/BPD) currently produce content in accessible formats for subscribed NLS patrons, with magazines provided in both audio and braille formats. This effort supports a sole-source acquisition of text-to-speech (TTS) magazine technology provided from Zinio. Zinio is one of the largest suppliers of TTS magazines in the market and utilizes high-quality synthetic voice technology.

The Library intends to fulfill this requirement by issuing a sole source contract to Zinio, LLC., Inc. However, any firm that wishes to be considered for this requirement and believes it can meet all the criteria outlined in the Statement of Work (SOW) shall submit a capability statement demonstrating its ability to satisfy all requirements. Such statements shall be received no later than 5:00PM Eastern Time on 03/13/2026 and shall be submitted electronically via email to both the Contracting Officer and Contracting Specialist.

This public notice accomplishes the following:

1. Notice of the Library’s intent to sole source this requirement to the business listed herein;
2. Synopsizing the requirements in accordance with the FAR; and
3. Publicly posting the approved Justification and Approval (J&A) to the public in advance of the contract award rather than after the award. As a result of this, a second posting of the J&A is not required after the award is made. This shall be the only notice issued. All public information is being accomplished via this public notice.