Audio System Modernization

The Library of Congress is seeking a contractor to design and implement a comprehensive digital audio system modernization for the historic Coolidge Auditorium, a 485-seat venue originally built in 1925 for chamber music performances. The existing analog infrastructure, upgraded in the 1990s but now largely nonfunctional, will be entirely replaced with a modern, permanently installed digital system to eliminate the need for temporary, portable equipment brought in for each event. The project involves removing obsolete wiring and equipment, installing new audio hardware and technical furniture, programming the system using Q-SYS technology, and delivering detailed wiring diagrams in standardized formats. All work must adhere to strict security protocols, including compliance with NIST SP 800-53 for Controlled Unclassified Information, encryption using FIPS 140-3 validated standards, and mandatory annual IT security training for all personnel. The contractor must ensure seamless integration with the auditorium’s original acoustics and complete all deliverables within the base performance period of September 29, 2026, to September 28, 2027, followed by a mandatory one-year warranty period. The contract is structured as a firm-fixed-price arrangement with no set-aside or socioeconomic preferences mandated, though offerors must submit detailed technical and price proposals in separate volumes via email under strict formatting requirements—8.5x11 inch pages, Times New Roman 12-point font, no hyperlinks, and no zipped or password-protected files, with submissions capped at 20MB per email. Evaluation will prioritize technical approach, including feasibility of the proposed design and qualifications of key personnel who must hold CTS certification and have demonstrated experience managing similar audiovisual integrations, followed by corporate experience and past performance, with price considered but deemed significantly less important than non-price factors. The contractor must comply with extensive security mandates including employee fitness requirements, mandatory nonsigning of NDAs, reporting of subcontractors in advance and annually, and immediate notification of any security incidents. Deliveries to the Capitol Hill Campus require advance notification to the Off-Site Delivery Center, adherence to vehicle clearance limits, and prior authorization from the U.S. Capitol Police. Invoicing is exclusively electronic through the Invoice Processing Portal, and all deliverables must be clearly marked with the contract number, contractor information, and recipient details as dictated by Library-specific clauses. All proposals must be submitted by August 25, 2026, following a site visit and revised question