REQUESTING INFORMATION REGARDING THE CAPABILITY & ACCESSABILITY OFCLIMATE SENSITIVE COLLECTIONS TRANSPORT VEHICLES; The Library of Congress'opening of the NAVCC will require reliable daily transportation of its M/B/RS divisions audio-visual collection items between Culpeper, VA and the Library reading room and other public facilities on Capitol Hill. The vehicle used for this purpose must have certain minimum capabilities to insure that these collections are transported under conditions that guarantee environmental stability and high physical security at all times. The following equipment specifications have been written keeping in mind both the "normal" atmospheric and traffic conditions that the vehicle and collections are likely to encounter during a routine delivery cycle, and a set of "abnormal" traffic conditions which occur frequently enough on Washington, D.C. area roadways to require that they be taken into account in developing minimally necessary specifications for any vehicle secured for this purpose. (1) Load capacity: (??) to be determined but most likely with a load capacity in the 4000 to 6000 lb. range. A custom configured vehicle designed to transport collections packed inside rolling carts designed especially for multiple audio-visual formats. The vehicle load space will be designed so that separately loaded collection carts can be locked down or be securely anchored within to protect the individual carts from excessive vibration and provide maximum protection in case of a traffic accident. (2) Loading dock compatibility - height, width and truck bed height must be compatible with loading docks at NAVCC and James Madison building. (3) Environmental control - load hauling/storage area of vehicle must have environmental humidity & temperature controls capable of sustaining 55 degree temperature (+ or - 5 degrees) & 35% RH (+ or - 5%) for a period of 8 hours. (Note: environmental control equipment should be designed in such a way as to avoid contamination of interior load space in case of coolant leakage or other catastrophic malfunction.) (4) High efficiency insulation - collection storage area on vehicle must be fully protected with high efficiency insulation (top, bottom, sides & access door) to make the most efficient use of vehicle fuel, and to maximize stabilization of temp & humidity within during transport. (5) Shock absorption - vehicle suspension must provide maximum protection to the transported collections from vibration, bumps and other harmful forces. (Note: the audio-visual collection transport carts that will fit inside this vehicle will also be designed with foam and other materials to protect sensitive collection items.) (6) Environmental control monitoring - vehicle must be equipped with digital readout devices/recording devices that will allow the driver to monitor the environmental conditions in the collection hauling space. These digital devices must be configured in a way that will allow the easy transferral of the recorded information to a computer or other such device each day in the NAVCC. (7) Two way emergency communication - vehicle must have mobile phone or other two communications equipment that will allow the driver to notify appropriate LC officials in the event of an on-the-road emergency and call for assistance. (8) Integrally designed, environmentally contained collection transport carts - insulated carts, to greatest practical extent possible, capable of protecting contents from vibration, shocks and from forces generated during an impact collision accident. Also, these carts should be capable of passively maintaining appropriate temperature & humidity levels for an extended period in case transport vehicle is incapacitated while on the road or delayed for a long period of time in a traffic jam. Anyone with extensive knowledge of these types of vehicles, please contact Carleton Myers at the Library of Congress via email:
[email protected] or by phone 202-707-8604 between 2:00pm - 4:30pm; EST. *This is not a solication nor request for proposal.