The Arkansas State Library’s Traveler Advisory Committee is officially commencing the Request for Proposal (RFP) process to obtain pricing and a contract(s) for a collection of online databases to form its Traveler Statewide Digital Resources program.
Subscription database coverage from awarded contracts runs August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2027, with options to renew until 2030.
The objectives of the Traveler Program, preferred specifications, expected product features, and other criteria evaluated by the Traveler Advisory Committee can be found in the solicitation document.
General Information about the Solicitation
The Arkansas State Library will award bids for the following categories:
- a comprehensive core collection comprised of multiple non-fiction resources that support general education and research needs.
- an online encyclopedia platform,
- an online foreign language learning platform, and
- additional standalone products or a group of subject-dedicated databases that do not otherwise fall into the former three categories.
Prospective Contractors may submit bids on one or more categories.
Links to product webinars or view-on-demand demonstrations must be included with proposals to be considered.
Proposal Submission Deadline
Bids must be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m., December 1, 2023 via e-mail to Katie Walton, Manager of Acquisitions, at katie.walton@ade.arkansas.gov.
Submitting Questions about the Solicitation Document
The deadline to submit questions about the specifications or any part of the solicitation document was 4:00 p.m., October 20, 2023.
Answers to questions received within the deadline are posted on the Arkansas State Library’s website.
Time Line & Important Dates
| Activity | Date |
| RFP released to prospective contractors | October 2, 2023 |
| Deadline for prospective contractors to submit questions online form | October 20, 2023; 4pm CST |
| Answers to questions posted to Arkansas State Library website | November 3, 2023; 4pm CST |
| Proposals from prospective contractors due | December 1, 2023; 4pm CST |
| Traveler Advisory Committee members evaluate resources and proposals independently | December 2023 |
| Traveler Advisory Committee meets to evaluate and discuss proposals | January 2023, date TBD |
| Advisory Committee presents proposed selections to Arkansas State Library Board for approval | February 9, 2024 |
| Arkansas State Library awards contracts | Mid to late February 2024 |
| Contract subscription period begins | August 1, 2024 |
| Arkansas State Library processes invoices for payment | October 1, 2024 |
For more information, contact:
- Katie Walton
- Manager of Acquisitions
- katie.walton@ade.arkansas.gov or (501) 682-2266
The Traveler project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.
