Digital Archivist Support
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a Pre-solicitation for Digital Archivist Support at the National Agricultural Library (NAL) in Beltsville, MD. This notice indicates an upcoming BPA Call to existing Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) holders for services to establish and maintain a digital preservation program. Responses to this pre-solicitation are due April 7, 2026.
Purpose & Scope
The USDA requires a Digital Archivist to provide expert advice and operational support in scholarly publishing, research integrity, copyright/licensing, and open/public access to USDA-funded research. This effort will advance USDA’s scientific integrity and gold-standard science requirements. The primary objective is to establish and maintain a library digital preservation program, including foundational policies and workflows, to ensure the long-term accessibility, integrity, and quality of both digitized and born-digital collections. This encompasses managing new digital acquisitions, enhancing metadata, and reporting on preservation efforts.
Detailed Scope of Work (from SOW)
- Digital Preservation Program: Establish policies and workflows for file packaging, ingest, access derivative creation, fixity checks, file monitoring, migration, and emulation.
- Digital Donations: Manage communication with donors, assess content, prepare paperwork, and handle transfer/storage.
- Quality Control: Conduct weekly quality control on 100-300 digitized images for resolution, color, clarity, completeness, and metadata.
- Reporting: Prepare monthly progress reports on digital preservation, donations, and quality control.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Pre-solicitation for a BPA Call (Commercial Services, FAR Part 12).
- Intended Sources: Existing BPA holders under 1232SA23A0006, 1232SA23A0007, and 1232SA23A0008.
- Set-Aside: None specified.
- Award Basis: Best value to the Government.
- Period of Performance: One base year with two one-year options.
- Place of Performance: National Agricultural Library, 10301 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705.
- Pre-solicitation Published: March 23, 2026.
- Pre-solicitation Response Due: April 7, 2026, 4:00 PM ET. (No quotes accepted at this time for the actual services).
Personnel Requirements & Deliverables
- Personnel: Master's degree in library science, previous experience in special collections or archives. Familiarity with archival administration, MARC records, research library collections, programming languages (e.g., Python), and digital preservation platforms (e.g., ArchivesSpace, Archivematica). Must obtain a LincPass ID.
- Key Deliverables: Preservation Policy and Workflow (within 3 months), File Packaging and Ingest (daily/weekly), Digital donation inquiries (as needed), Script Development (as needed), Quality Control (weekly), Progress Report (monthly).
Contact Information
- Primary Contact: Elizabeth Calhoun (elizabeth.calhoun@usda.gov).