Jaime Rivera

Jaime Somers serves as a Contract Specialist within the Contracts Services office of the Library of Congress, where she manages the acquisition of information technology and media services critical to the preservation and digital access of the nation’s cultural heritage. Her portfolio centers on procurement activities that enable large-scale digitization, metadata management, and digital preservation initiatives, ensuring that archival materials remain accessible and technologically sustainable. She specializes in complex service-based acquisitions, particularly those requiring technical expertise in multimedia systems, accessibility platforms, and custom software integration, aligning closely with the Library’s mission to modernize its digital stewardship infrastructure. Somers maintains established working relationships with a select group of mission-aligned contractors, including the Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired, Accessibility Services Inc., and the University of Washington, reflecting a preference for organizations with proven experience in accessible media technologies and archival digitization. Her procurement approach emphasizes long-term partnerships with entities possessing specialized domain knowledge in assistive technologies and cultural heritage preservation, fostering collaboration over transactional engagements. These relationships are built on technical rigor, compliance with accessibility standards such as WCAG 2.1, and a shared commitment to equitable public access. Somers’ contracting patterns show a strong preference for full and open competition, with 100% of her awards issued under no set-aside classifications. While she does not prioritize socioeconomic set-asides such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB, her procurement strategy consistently prioritizes technical capability and mission fit over socioeconomic criteria, ensuring that acquisitions meet the Library’s high standards for digital integrity and accessibility. Her primary NAICS focus areas include 512199 (Other Motion Picture and Video Industries) and 541511 (Custom Computer Programming Services), reflecting her specialization in multimedia digitization, audiovisual processing, and bespoke software solutions for metadata systems. She regularly procures services related to analog-to-digital conversion, accessibility compliance tooling, and analytical systems for digital asset management, demonstrating deep expertise in the technical domains underpinning modern library preservation workflows.