The Pella Public Library is seeking proposals for a modern, secure Integrated Library System (ILS). The system must support public discovery, circulation, cataloging, acquisitions, serials management, reporting, and system administration. Integration with a library mobile app is also required. Proposals will be evaluated based on functional fit, workflow support, user experience, implementation, data migration, training, vendor support, product direction, total cost of ownership, and future scalability. Proposals must be submitted by June 5, 2026, at 12:00 PM. The selected vendor must be able to provide a full launch of the ILS by January 15, 2027. The system will be a fully hosted Software as a Service (SaaS) solution. Vendors are requested to provide a copy of their standard contracts with their proposal submission.
The bid notice states that sealed proposals must be received by noon on June 5, 2026. Vendors must be able to provide a full launch of the ILS with complete functionality no later than January 15, 2027.
The bid notice requires vendors to describe their warranty and maintenance policy for hardware and software, including maintenance, customer support policies, help lines, hours of operation, emergency service, and policy for software updates.
The bid notice states that proposals will be evaluated based on how effectively the system supports an intuitive, accessible, and end-to-end service experience for both patrons and staff. The evaluation criteria include functional fit (35%), workflow support (35%), user experience (staff/patron) (15%), implementation, data migration, and training (15%), vendor support, stability, and product direction (15%), and cost (total cost of ownership) (15%). Future scalability and consortium readiness are weighted at 5%.
The bid notice requires a vendor profile including background, product line, financial information, and staff information. Vendors must also provide three references from libraries of similar size to the Pella Public Library and respond to each item in the functional specifications. Additionally, vendors must provide a copy of their standard contracts and certify that they are not subject to bankruptcy, foreclosure, or major corporate restructuring.
The bid notice mentions vendor demonstrations as optional, which may be conducted virtually or in person, but does not explicitly mention a mandatory site visit for inspection.