AUDIENCE REACTIONS TO ALHURRA CURRENT AFFAIRS PROGRAMS AMONG MOROCCANS AND ALGERIANS

Amend 02: (1/12/2015): This solicitation is hereby amended to post the following Question & Answer for all Interested Parties. Reminder: The solicitation has been extended for the Deadline of submitting proposals to Jan 20, 2015 @2pm EST. * Question#1:* The Moroccan - Algerian borders have been closed for more than a decade and are not open to people to travel freely between the two countries. For people to move, they have to use airlines and airports. Moving Algerians to Morocco to meet this solicitation requirements will be a challenge. There is a community of Algerian people working on the Moroccan side of the boarder (Oujda / Saidia area), but - They are not officially working in Morocco, - They cross illegally the boarder, - They are mainly lower class people, - They are mainly adult men, - They could be reluctant to participate to a meeting like a focus group. Would the government be open to have in depth interviews with the Algerian community in Oujda (Saidia area) or conduct phone interviews for Algerians from Morocco? *Answer#1:* BBG does not expect the contractor to move Algerians to Morocco to meet this solicitation requirement. We recognize, however, that it may be difficult to recruit sufficient numbers of Algerians living in Oujda, Morocco to participate in focus groups. Because of this, BBG will accept proposals that fulfill one of the following requirements: 1. Proposals that recruit Algerians in Oujda based on the criteria currently laid out in the Statement of Work 2. Proposals that recruit Algerians in Oujda based on the following criteria: Respondents in Oujda do not have to be Algerians or individuals who spend at least half of the year in Algeria. Instead, respondents in Oujda can be individuals who 1) watch Algerian TV for news at least several times a week, either with a TV set or online via computer or cell phone. All other criteria for choosing respondents including interest in politics, age, gender, past week viewership of current affairs TV program, use of the internet for information on current affairs, remain. Offerors are reminded as indicated in the Statement of Work, social class is not a criterion for selecting participants. ************************* End Amend 02 ************************ Amend 01 (1/9/2015): This solicitation is hereby amended to extend the Deadline for submitting proposals to Jan 20, 2015. Questions and Answers will be posted via another Amendment to this solicitation on the FBO website. ************************* End Amend 01 ************************ (i) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. (ii) The solicitation number: BBG50-S-15-00026_OSD121814 (iii) This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through FAC 2005-79 effective December 15, 2014 (iv) The Contracting Officer (CO) has found and determined that the nature of the services to be provided is appropriate for a full & open procurement. (v) The Contractor shall provide the services and deliverables including focus groups in Morocco described in detail in attached Statement of Work. (vi) Clin 1: See attached Statement of Work titled, "AUDIENCE REACTIONS TO ALHURRA CURRENT AFFAIRS PROGRAMS AMONG MOROCCANS AND ALGERIANS" (one pdf document). (vii) Work can begin upon the issue of a contract, currently estimated Period of Performance of 6 months, starting within 1 week of date of award. (viii) The provision at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial, applies to this acquisition. There are no addenda to the provision. (ix) The provision at FAR Subpart 52.212-2 [Evaluation of Commercial Items] is hereby incorporated by reference into this combined synopsis/solicitation. The below-stated technical evaluation subfactors, when combined, are significantly more important than price in the BBG's overall evaluation of an Offeror's proposal. Past performance will also be considered [see FAR Subpart 15.304 (Evaluation Factors and Significant Subfactors)]. In order to help the Government in its evaluation of past performance, Offerors shall provide at least three (3) current references for similar contracts. The technical evaluation subfactors in descending order of importance are: (1) Demonstrated experience recruiting for and conducting focus groups in Morocco; (2) Demonstrated capacity to deliver high-quality deliverables on time; and (3) Demonstrated understanding of the role of international media and/or current affairs programming in Morocco. (x) Offerors are to include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, with its offer. (xi) The clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. There are no addenda to the clause. (xii) FAR Clause 52.212-5 [Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes Or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items] applies to this acquisition and incorporates the following clauses: FAR Clause 52.203-6 [Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government, with Alternate I (41 U.S.C. 253g and 10 U.S.C. 2402)]; FAR Clause 52.222-21 [Prohibition of Segregated Facilities]; FAR Clause 52.222-26 [Equal Opportunity (E.O. 11246)]; FAR Clause 52.222-35 [Equal Opportunity for Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era, and Other Eligible Veterans (38 U.S.C. 4212)]; FAR Clause 52.222-36 [Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities (29 U.S.C. 793)]; FAR Clause 52.225-1 [Buy American Act - Supplies (41 U.S.C. 10a-10d)]; FAR Clause 52.232-18 [Availability of Funds]; FAR Clause 52.232-33 [Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer -- Central Contractor Registration (31 U.S.C. 3332)]; FAR Clause 52.239-1 [Privacy or Security Safeguards (5 U.S.C. 552a)]; FAR Clause 52.217-8 Extend Term of Contract. (xiii) The Offeror shall note that proposals shall be priced on a firm-fixed price for this project as detailed in attached SOW. The Contractor's proposed prices shall include wages, overhead, general and administrative expenses, and profit. (xiv) The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) and assigned ratings are not applicable to this acquisition. (xv) The deadline for Questions is NOON (12pm) on Monday, Dec 22. Questions are to be sent to Contract Specialist, Ms. Seneca Belinfontie via e-mail only at sbelinfo@voanews.com. It is planned for the Amendment with Questions & Answers to be posted by COB on Tuesday Dec 23. Offerors shall submit a Price Proposal that states the Offeror's proposed firm-fixed-price for work detailed in Statement of Works attached. Proposals are due by 2:00 PM EST on January 12, 2015 at the following address: Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), Office of Contracts, suite 4300, Switzer Building, 330 "C" Street (SW), Washington, DC 20237, Attention: Ms. Rachel E. Johnson. IMPORTANT NOTE: Emailed Proposals will NOT be accepted. (xvi) Information regarding this combined synopsis/solicitation can be obtained by contacting the Contract Specialist, Ms. Seneca Belinfontie via e-mail only at sbelinfo@voanews.com. Any Offeror may submit an offer, which shall be considered by the BBG.