Squirro Search Engine Subscription
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 Library of Congress has posted a Justification and Approval (J&A) for a proposed sole-source contract award to Squirro Americas Inc. for a Squirro Search Engine Subscription. This action is being taken to ensure continuity of mission-critical search services for the CRS.gov website, which provides essential access to legislative and policy information. The J&A is posted in accordance with LCFARS LC06.305(a), FAR 5.203(a), and FAR 12.204(b) for a reasonable time before negotiations commence.
Scope of Work
The contractor, Squirro Americas Inc., shall deliver:
- Squirro Cognitive Search: Including the Insight Engine and AI Studio (or latest compatible upgrade), supporting a maximum of 10,000 users or up to 50,000 searches per month.
- Amazon Web Service (AWS) Hosting: Continuation of existing services for Development, Test, Staging, and Production environments.
- Operational Support: Assistance with issues, bugs, software patches/updates, and regression testing for the Squirro environment.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition (sole-source intent)
- Base Period: September 28, 2026 – March 27, 2027 (6 months)
- Option Period: March 28, 2027 – September 27, 2027 (6 months)
- Estimated Value: The justification covers actions exceeding $900,000.
- Published Date: May 13, 2026
Eligibility / Set-Aside
This action is justified for Other Than Full and Open Competition, specifically citing FAR 6.302-1 (Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements). The Library asserts that Squirro is the only source capable of meeting immediate requirements within the necessary timeframe to prevent a critical service gap. The Squirro platform is considered a brand-name product essential to the requirement.
Additional Notes
This document is a justification for a sole-source award and not a solicitation for proposals. The Library previously competed this service but faced a drastic price escalation for renewal. Transitioning to an alternative solution is not feasible before the current contract expires on September 27, 2026, due to the extensive time required for design, implementation, integration, data migration, testing, and validation. The 6-month base period and potential 6-month option are intended to ensure continuity of services while a new, competitive solution is procured. A competitive solicitation for a new search engine solution will be posted on SAM.gov in the future.