NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

The Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), intends to issue an award for Science Communication Training to the University of Florida, Franks Academy located at 207 Grinter Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, for three (3) daylong training sessions that will run from 8:30am until 5:00pm, to develop the core communications skills they need to build and manage relationships with the organizations and individuals crucial to helping them achieve their goals and to better assist them in communicating the significance of their work to funders, policymakers, journalists, and potential collaborators. Participants will acquire the following skills: work effectively with media representatives and policymakers, hone storytelling skills to inspire support for their mission and vision, deliver memorable and compelling presentation, engage in visual thinking, create on-point messages, use theatrical improve skills to think quickly in challenging scenarios, leveraging social media to develop a meaningful digital network. Relevant Experience The contractor must have experience in training academic professionals the science and application of effective communication for use in various types of forums, and through the use of improvisational and engaging participatory storytelling. Requirements The contractor shall be responsible for: Conducting a pre-survey with the participants to help identify and define the training needs of the participants and use the survey insights to refine the training, Providing strategic communications training for application in various types of forums (speeches, high-level briefings, media interviews), Providing interactive and improvisational science communications training that allows participants to actively engage, Conducting two distinct synchronous webinars to help participants prepare for the face-to-face workshop. Each will be offered on two different dates (TBD), Providing attendees with background understanding and materials, allowing for deeper learning in the face-to-face workshop. The webinars will be archived for future use by NIFA and its participants, Providing three, daylong trainings on site at a location provided by NIFA, to accommodate the anticipated 95 NIFA participants and Conducting a post-survey with participants to evaluate the effectiveness of the workshop. Results will be shared with NIFA workshop organizers. THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. This is not a request for quotations or an announcement of a forthcoming solicitation. Request for copies of this solicitation will not be honored or acknowledged. The Government does not intend to pay for information received. All interested parties must respond within ten (10) calendar days from the date of this notice. Written responses must provide clear and concise documentation indicating your firm's capability to provide the services described above. Verbal responses are not acceptable and will not be considered. Government anticipates award by April 3, 2017.