Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling

This is a combined sysnopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6 AS A 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. SOLICITATION NUMBER BBG50-R-09-001 IS ISSUED AS A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL(RFP) AND A CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED USING THE CONTRACTING BY NEGOTIATION PROCEDURES. . (iii) This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-26, dated June 12, 2008. (iv) This is a full and open procurement for Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling under NAICS 541910. (v) Offerors shall submit a firm-fixed price for this requirement. The requirement is for a contractor to design, develop, and execute research studies to ascertain the TV and Radio Program preferences of the Cuban Population. This requirement is for a base one-year period and four (4) option year period. The base period of performance is December 1, 2008 through September 2009, and from October 1 through September 30 of each of the option periods as described below: Contractor shall organize and convene ten (10) study panels (1 per month for 10 months) with recent Cuban arrivals in a controlled and conducive environment to evaluate TV Marti Programming. Each panel shall be comprised of eight to ten recent Cuban arrivals. The distribution of the panel participants shall be representative in age and sex of the Cuban population over 18. After viewing the programs, the panels shall complete a questionnaire. The Contractor shall prepare and submit for OCB approval the questionnaires to be used for each panel at least two (2) weeks prior to convening each panel. (Task #1) Questionnaire results shall be analyzed and compiled into a summary report format and be submitted within 30 days after the close of each panel review, with the final report due to the Government by October 30,2009 (Tasks #2 & 3 ) . The Contractor shall design a detailed survey questionnaire to be used for researching TV and radio preferences of the Cuban population. The survey shall also include questions on Radio and TV Marti and provide insight on audience levels and feedback on existing programming. Survey questionnaire (Task#4) shall be submitted for approval to Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB) Management no later December 12, 2008. Using the approved questionnaire, the Contractor shall conduct two (2) surveys between December 2008 and April 2009. Each survey should include a minimum of 300 recent Cuban arrivals (600 total for both surveys) to the U. S. The sample survey shall be weighted to reflect the current demographic composition of the population of Cuba (Task#5). The Contractor shall analyze/compile survey data and develop recommendations based upon the survey results (Task #6); and prepare/submit to OCB management an overall report detailing the survey results and provide specific recommendations for program improvements and new original programming for both Radio and TV Marti programs within three (3) weeks of completing field work. A final written report including analysis of the results from the second survey of 300 people and specific programming recommendations shall be submitted no later than May 22, 2009.The final report shall also define the target audiences(s) for Radio and TV Marti and the programming needs of Cubans on the Island. (Task #7). DESCRIPTION OF REQUIRED FIELDWORK: The primary object of this research is to support the right of the people of Cuba to seek, receive, and impart information/ideas through any media, regardless of frontiers; provide news, commentary and other information about events in Cuba and elsewhere. CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITIES: The Contractor shall be responsible for the project design, drafting, translation, formatting, adaptation and printing of the survey instruments; developing the sample plan and screening procedures; training interviewers, encoding survey responses; entering and processing the data; preparing tabulations in data books; submitting data in electronic form, and communicating all necessary information and results to OCB In the allocated time manner. DELIVERABLES: The Contractor shall organize and convene 1 per month (December 2008 - September 2009) using questionnaires that will be submitted for OCB approval two weeks prior to convening each panel (Task#1). The Contractor shall prepare and submit a summary report of the panels within 30 calendar days after the close of each panel . (Tasks#2 & 3). The Contractor shall design and submit for approval to OCB management a detailed survey questionnaire (Task#4). The Contractor shall submit a final written report to OCB management including specific programming recommendations in accordance with (Tasks#6 & 7), no later than May 22, 2009 by 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. (vii) The provision at FAR 52.212-1, "Instruction to Offerors--Commercial Items" applies to this solicitation. Offerors responding to this solicitation shall submit the following items to the contracting officer: [1] Technical proposal with a narrative of the Offeror's understanding of requirement as noted above and a description of their capability to perform the tasks as stated above. [2] Narrative and detailed information on past experiences in conducting market research and public opinion polling. [3] Detailed information on past performance, including recent (within last 3 years from date of this notice) and relevant contracts for similar services and other references including contract numbers, points of contact with telephone numbers, email addresses and other relevant information; [4] Price for each of the above listed tasks; [5] a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3, "Offeror Representations and Certifications--Commercial Items and [6] Offeror's DUNS Number, prompt payment terms and correct remittance address, if different from mailing address. Offers shall be submitted on a SF-1449 signed by an official authorized to bind your organization. (ix) Prerequisite Selection Criteria - The Contractor shall have extensive and verifiable knowledge of the current political and economic situation in Cuba, and recently (within the last three years) demonstrated and verifiable experience working with Spanish language radio and television broadcasting to Cuba on a project of the magnitude and scope of this requirement. The Government will award a firm-fixed price (FFP) contract resulting from this RFP to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the RFP will be most advantageous to the Government, based on technical capabilities, experience, verifiable past performance and price. An award may be made without discussions. When combined, technical evaluation factors are significantly more important than cost or price. The following technical factors are of equal importance and shall be used to evaluate proposals: 1. Offeror's knowledge of the demographic composition/cultural attributes of the population of Cuba; 2. Offeror's experience in conducting and or supervising similar research studies; 3. Offeror's past performance; 4. Offeror's experience in analyzing the results of various types of audience research studies conducted among Cubans recently immigrated to the U.S. and 5. Offeror's experience in the development/production of Radio/TV programming targeted towards Cuban residents on the Island of Cuba. (x) Offerors shall include a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3, "Offeror Representations and Certifications--Commercial Items" with its offer. The successful Offeror will be required to complete and submit an ACH form, for Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), to the Contracting Officer before submitting their first invoice. Contractor shall submit invoices for payment on a monthly basis, however; the government will retain 10% of contract price contingent upon delivery of final report. (xi) The clause at 52.212-4, "Contract Terms and Conditions--Commercial Items" applies to this acquisition with 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 solicitation as well as the following clauses contained within FAR Clause 52.212-5: 52.222-21, "Prohibition of Segregated Facilities"; 52.222-26, "Equal Opportunity (E.O. 11246)"; 52.222-35, "Equal Opportunity for Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era, and Other Eligible Veterans (38 U.S.C. 4212)"; 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities (29 U.S.C. 793); 52.222-37, "Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era and Other Eligible Veterans (38 U.S.C. 4212); 52.225-13, Restriction on Certain Foreign Purchases (E.O. 12722, 12724, 13059, 13067, 13121, 13129)"; 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration (31 U.S.C. 3332)"; (xiii) The following FAR clauses are also applicable to this acquisition: FAR Clause 52.232-18, "Availability of Funds" and 52.237-3, Continuity of Services. There are no additional contract requirement(s) necessary for this acquisition other than those consistent with customary commercial practices; (xiv) The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) and assigned rating is not applicable to this acquisition; (xv) There are no CBD numbered notes which apply to this procurement. (xvi) Failure to provide any of the above required items may result in the rejection of your proposal. Full text of all FAR clauses and provisions are available electronically at the following Internet address: http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vffara.htm. Proposals shall be in writing and must be signed by an official authorized to bind the organization. Oral proposals will not be accepted. Questions must be submitted in writing to the Contracting Officer at the email address or facsimile number provided at the end of this notice. Please note that the deadline for submission of questions is 2:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Savings Time, on November 19, 2008. Proposals are due at the Broadcasting Board of Governors, International Broadcasting Bureau, Office of Contracts, 330 C Street, SW, Room 4007, Washington, DC 20237, or may be faxed to (202) 260-0855 or emailed to bdorfman@bbg.gov. (xvii) Contact: Berel Dorfman, Telephone: (202) 205-7775, Facsimile: (202) 260-0855, E-Mail: bdorfman@bbg.gov.