Top of page

How to Market to Us

Point of Entry

The primary point of entry into the Library of Congress purchasing system is the Contracts and Grants Directorate, located in the John Adams Bldg, Room 325, 2nd St, S.E. (between Independence Ave. & East Capitol Street) Washington, D.C. 20540-9410.

You may market your products/services to this office by submitting a business prospectus to locacquisitions@loc.gov. The Library may consider your information for market research purposes in support of future solicitations (Note: See Submitting Proposals).

Submitting Proposals

Proposals may be submitted to the Library of Congress in response to and in conformance with solicitation requirements which appear on the SAM.gov or other official government point of entry site.

The Library has a credit card program for purchases that are less than the micro-purchase threshold. Purchase orders are generally awarded on a competitive basis for requirements that aggregate in dollar values in excess of the micro-purchase threshold up to the Simplified Acquisition Threshold as defined in the Federal Acquisition Regulation.  Proposals that are submitted in response to a Library solicitation must be submitted in accordance with the instructions contained within the solicitation.

Sales of Library of Congress Items

In addition to being interested in contracting with the Library, some suppliers may wish to purchase items from the Library of Congress. The Library maintains two gift shops, one in the foyer of the James Madison Memorial Building and one on the ground floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building.

Business Ethics

We are committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct in all of our business dealings. Under government-wide regulations issued by the Office of Government Ethics, our employees are prohibited from accepting gifts or gratuities from our suppliers or from persons seeking contracts or other types of business. While these rules do allow for limited exceptions for items of nominal value, the offer or acceptance of gifts is inappropriate and discouraged, even if such practices are customary in the commercial world.

Code of Ethics

It is the Library's policy to conduct itself ethically and fairly in relation to its vendors and all others with whom it does business. We fully endorse the "Standards of Purchasing Practice" of the National Association of Purchasing Management.

Our objectives include:

  • The purchase of material and services that will bring the maximum value for dollars spent.
  • The maintenance of fair and ethical relationships with all responsible vendors and potential vendors.
  • The encouragement of existing and potential vendors to present ideas and suggestions that can be mutually profitable.
  • The promotion of competition while maintaining the confidential nature of vendors' ideas.