Transcripts for Congressional Hearings Solicitation dated August 17, 2005Amendment No. 3 dated September 1, 2005 Introduction: The U.S. Department of State released its solicitation for subscription access to Transcripts of Congressional Hearings on August 17, 2005 and allowed all potential offerors until August 26, 2005 to submit questions about this project. The purpose of this amendment is to present to potential offerors all questions received by our deadline along with our respective responses. This amendment No. 3 hereby is made part of our solicitation. 1. How does the government propose that the contractor receive the audio feed of the press conference's and congressional hearings? 2. Will contractor personnel be expected to attend all events from which transcripts are desired or are we to be provided audiotapes of the hearings? 3. If audiotapes of the hearings will be provided, how will we receive them (overnight express, or should we pick it up)? 4. How do we get the transcripts- cassettes, phone in or by FTP from DVR (Digital Voice Recorders). Q1-4 Response: Our office and several hundred world-wide Information Resource Centers require web-based (online), in as close to real time as possible, access to the Contractor's database of transcripts of Congressional hearings and other events as required in the solicitation. The method the Contractor uses to acquire the transcripts is transparent to the Government. The Government will not provide audio, tapes, audio feed, etc. The likely/anticipated effectiveness of the method proposed will be a part of the evaluation of the Offeror's approach in rating technical proposals. 5.How many lines or minutes of dictation are you anticipating for year Q5 Response: unknown 6. Can it be done offshore? Q6 Response: No 7. We have good technical background to do it across the globe and make it web based. Does not having done similar work effect our proposal, if our technical and cost are competitive. Q7 Response: An offeror's lack of past performance would not necessarily be held against the offeror. Such offeror would be rated neutral for that category. Of course, offerors with positive past performance may receive a superior rating for that category and, ultimately, it could affect award. 8. Who has done the work in past? Q8 Response: Most recently, Federal News Service 9. What was the price paid in the past. Q9 Response: The Department of State awarded a five-year contract to Federal News Service for a total contract amount of $234,671.95. 10. What has been the number of transcripts, domestic documents, and articles of interest to DOS over the last 3 years? What is the total number of pages? Q10 Response: IIP does not keep track of what the individual Information Resource Centers request. There are nearly 180 IRCs around the world so we have no way of knowing how many of the various kinds of items have been requested. The requirement is that the vendor should be able to provide whichever of the specified types of items are needed. 11. During the last 3 years, what has been the number of international documents and articles of interest required by DOS? What is the total number of pages? Q11 Response: see Q10 response. 12. Is the DOS scope of work identified in the current solicitation being performed by an incumbent contractor or other service provide? If so, would DOS please identify the contractor or service provider? Q12 Response: Yes, the incumbent contractor is Federal News Service. 13. Would DOS clarify its expectation for the commencement of contractor performance responsibility? For this scope of work, does DOS anticipate the contractor to capture and secure transcripts and documents through its labor resources? Q13 Response: The Contractor will be responsible for determining and accomplishing its own method of obtaining original information from events. The Government will not be providing audiotapes, audio feed, etc. The Government needs the resultant transcripts as a web-based database to be available on-line worldwide (our performance requirement). The method of obtaining the required data, whether by attendance, audio feed, tape, etc. is the responsibility of the contractor. The likely/anticipated effectiveness of the method chosen/proposed will be a part of the evaluation of the Offeror's approach in rating technical proposals. 14. Are transcripts provided by other sources to a centralized DOS repository? What is the typical format - email, hard copy, HTML, plain text, pdf, etc? What is the normal formatting requirement of the end-use subscriber? Q14 Response: There is no centralized repository. IRCs require access to the requested items online. 15. What is the period for information retention or archival anticipated (1 year, 3 years, 5 years, indefinite)? Q15 Response: The information retention or archiving period is indefinite. 16. For the Cost/Price Proposal Volume, please advise as to the anticipated cost/price structure, i.e. Firm Fixed Price, Cost Plus Fee, Time and Materials, etc. Q16 Response: The Department of State contemplates awarding a firm-fixed price for one base year plus options for up to four one-year periods. 17. When does DOS anticipate contract award? Q17 Response: The Department of State anticipates contract award will be made in approximately five to six weeks.
