99 -- See description

The Government plans to make a sole source open market award to Battelle Memorial Institute of Columbus, Ohio, following their recent competitive delivery order under the GSA MOBIS Federal Supply Schedule contract. This contract supports the Library of Congress, specifically the National Library of Science for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, in designing a portable digital player intended for distributing and presenting digital talking books to blind and physically handicapped individuals. Battelle's original proposal includes procurement of various open market items that lack specific design requirements, such as tooling for elastomeric keypads, prototype tooling, cast urethane parts, short run injection molding tools, injection molded parts, modeling materials, and SLA parts for design and masters. The solicitation, posted on April 19, 2005, falls under NAICS code 326150 and is managed by the General Services Administration’s Interagency Contracts office in Washington, DC. Suppliers or manufacturers interested in providing the required items are encouraged to contact Battelle’s Contracting Officer, Ms. Hannah Nunn, for further information. The contract emphasizes the need for specialized parts and materials critical to developing functional and production prototypes for this assistive digital player.