Staffing and Management of Talent Vendors

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is hereby modified to extend the due date to July 13, 2012 and to provide Q&A as follows: (Q1) What countries in Latin America will the stringers cover/be geographically based in? Will stringers cover all of Latin America, or will they primarily focus on Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia? (A1) Cuba, Haiti and Venezuela are the three places we will focus on. But most of the coverage will come from Cuba. (Q2) What is the preferred ratio of editors/reporters? (How many stingers will each editor oversee?) (A2) There is no stated preference. (Q3) When is the anticipated start date of the stringers? (A3) September 1, 2012. (Q4) Does the BBG prefer to pay stringers on a production basis (by story), or on a bi-weekly stipend? (A4) We will pay on a production basis, by story. (Q5) What is the workflow of news after the stringer editors have reviewed the article? Does the story move from the editor to BBG directly? Does the BBG have a system in place (portal) for stories to be uploaded? Or should the RFI incorporate a technical solution to achieve that? (A5) We are not looking for just articles, but rather articles, radio and video reports. However, if the interested party can only provide written reports for use in the internet and for our journalists to base their stories on those reports we would still like to see their proposal. (Q6) BBG requests 24/7 capability. Does that mean they want an editor to be on-call 24/7? Will stories that are created/reported during off-business hours be posted by BBG in real-time? (A6) We are looking to have the ability of offering breaking news coverage at any time, but only as events warrant. (Q7) Does the BBG require that stories are translated from Spanish to English, after or simultaneously to publication? (A7) We are willing to waive this requirement. Interested sources may send their submittals by regular U.S. mail, e-mail, or courier. Telephone or facsimile responses ARE NOT acceptable and WILL NOT be considered. All written or courier delivered responses, consisting of original and two (2) copies to this RFI notice, must be received by 2:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), on July 13, 2012 at the Broadcasting Board of Governors, Office of Contracts, Attention: Wayne Greene, (wgreene@bbg.gov), Office of Contracts (CON), Mary E. Switzer Building, 330 "C" St., SW., Room 4007, Washington, DC 20237. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. NO telephone or oral responses will be accepted. Those who respond to this Notice will be notified whether their written "Capabilities Statement," as verified by VOA, is responsive to this Notice. If it is determined to be in the best interest of the Government, interested and qualified sources responding to this Notice may be requested to provide follow-up information. A determination to compete, or not to compete, in a future procurement will be based on the responses to this RFI notice, and is solely within the discretion of the Government. This Notice is not a RFP, IFB, or RFQ.