Study of Television News Branding (Arab World)

(i) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with 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) Solicitation No. BBG50-R-12-0022 is issued as a Request For Proposal (RFP) and a contract will be awarded using the contracting by negotiation procedures in FAR Part 15. (iii) This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect from the Federal Acquisition Regulations 2005-060, dated July 26, 2012. (iv) The North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541720. (v). The contractor shall provide the Contract Line Items (CLIN) as shown in the uploaded Standard Form (SF) 1449. (vi.) The Broadcasting Board of Governors, International Broadcasting Bureau (BBG/IBB), Office of Contracts (CON) located in Washington, D.C. has a requirement for contractor to conduct a study of television news branding throughout the Arab world in the wake of the Arab Spring. This study will have two parts: First, an assessment of the role of brand identity and content in the choice of Arabic language TV news channels and secondly, an assessment of a recently created 30-second advertisement for the BBG's Arabic language television service, Alhurra. For part one of this study, some of the key substantive issues to be explored shall be: To what extent is brand identity a driver of the choice of TV stations for news? What are some of the brand identities for TV news audiences view positively? Negatively? How do audiences learn about these brands? What are some of the differences in preferences by country or demographic groups? What is the role of content in shaping perceptions of the TV news brands? What is the news and information content audiences are looking for in the wake of the Arab spring? Which TV channels do they believe are providing this content? Why? To what extent are audiences getting this news from non-TV sources such as the internet, radio, newspapers, etc? What attracts them to these sources? Part two of the study will involve the assessment of a new 30 second TV advertisement: "I am Alhurra". The aim of this aspect of the study will be to examine the identity the advertisement conveys and the extent to which the advertisement promotes an image consistent with audience preferences, along with the implications for future marketing and advertising efforts. The BBG encourages offerors to suggest a research structure that effectively addresses the questions above in the most cost-efficient way. Offerors are encouraged to suggest methods that include analysis of currently available research (both previous work conducted by BBG - which will be made available for the contractor - and other publicly accessible research), as well as regional expertise and/or use of new market research such as focus groups, expert interviews, etc. This requirement is for a regional assessment. However, offerors may submit technical and price proposals to limit the research to Egypt, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia, as long as the offeror submits a regional assessment as well. Offerors are encouraged to submit proposals including various levels of comprehensiveness and cost. (vii)The project deliverables shall include: (1) a final paper with two parts a) Assessment of content/brand preferences for TV news among target audiences and a) results of the analysis of Alhurra's 30-second advertisement ; (2) presentation of results of entire study to BBG senior staff members either in person or via video conference; (3) technical report detailing project methodology and any problems encountered in research. It is anticipated that an award and base period may begin on or about September 20, 2012. All deliverables are due shall be received not less than 120 days after contract award. (viii) The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provision FAR 52.212-1 Instruction to Offerors-Commercial Items, applies to this solicitation. FAR provisions and clauses may be obtained from the Internet Web address at: http://acquisition.gov/far/index.html. Interested offerors who are capable of providing these services should submit a proposal identifying capabilities as noted below. The Offerors shall demonstrate the ability and experience in providing the required services. Interested offerors shall submit with their proposal a narrative about how they will provide the services, in addition to listing similar projects with the same or like requirement, with budgetary estimates, and the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses of references that have direct knowledge of the offeror's skills and experience. Offerors responding to this solicitation shall submit the following items to the contracting officer: [1] Narrative and detailed information on the requirement. [2] 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; and [3] Prices for all of the listed CLIN shall be noted in English and United States dollars. (ix) The Government will award a Commercial Item, Firm-Fixed-Price, contract resulting from this RFP to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the RFP provides the best value to the Government. The following factors listed shall be addressed in the technical proposals and shall be used to evaluate proposals: 1) Demonstrated experience in conducting qualitative media research in the Arab world; 2) Demonstrated experience in conducting branding studies in the Arab world; 3) Overall suitability of the research design in addressing the specific issues laid out in this solicitation; 4) Professional qualifications of proposed project managers and 5) Ability to complete the project in a timely manner; 6) Past Performance - The Offeror is required to provide no more than three (3) references from previous customers for same or similar services to the requirement within the last five (5) years of the date of this Solicitation. Offerors shall provide the names of three (3) clients and the following information: (i) client's name, address, and name, email and telephone number of contact person; (ii) dollar amount of the contract; (iii) current term of the contract; and (iv) brief description of the work performed. Pursuant to FAR 15.305(a) (2) (iv), in the case of an Offeror without a record of relevant past performance or for whom information on past performance is not available, the Offeror will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on past performance.; and 7) a separate Price Proposal showing a breakdown of the price for the above Contract Line Item Number (CLIN). Evaluation Factors 1, 2 and 3 are of equal importance and are more important that Factors 4 and 5. All evaluation factors other than cost or price, when combined are significantly more important cost or price. The Offeror's Technical Proposal should address the following: 1) a detailed description of the proposed research methodology, including specific listing of organizations the Offeror shall use for performing fieldwork (if subcontractor are to be used by the contractor); 2) current information on the qualifications of Offeror's office and field staff who will participate in performing the work specified in this Solicitation; 3) specific information on Offeror's past experience in conducting qualitative media research and branding studies in the Arab world; 4) a detailed description of the proposed fieldwork plan, and 5) a schedule showing the time required for each phase of the project. In addition to the Offeror's proposed Total Contract Price, the Offeror's Price proposal shall be further broken down into the follow component prices: a) preparation work; b) fieldwork c) data processing; d) report preparation; and e) miscellaneous. Prices for all of the listed CLIN shall be noted in English and United States dollars. Offerors are cautioned that failure to address each of the above factors may deem their proposal unacceptable. All evaluation factors other than cost or price, when combined are more important than cost or price. (x) Offerors shall include a completed copy of the provision FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items with its offer. Proposals must also include contractor's DUNS Number, prompt payment terms, and correct remittance address, if different from mailing address. The successful offeror must be registered on-line with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) Web site at: http://www.ccr.gov/Start.aspx. 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. (xi) The FAR clause 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition with addendum to the clause. The addendum is as follows: CONTRACTING OFFICER REPRESENTATIVE The Contracting Officer will appoint by letter a Contracting Officer Representative (COR), who will have the responsibility of ensuring that the work conforms to the requirements of the contract and such other responsibilities and authorities as may be specified in the letter of authorization or this contract. It is understood and agreed, in particular, that the COR shall not have authority to make changes in the scope or terms and conditions of the contract unless and only to the extent that such authority is specified in the letter of authorization or the contract. THE CONTRACTOR IS HEREBY FOREWARNED THAT, ABSENT THE REQUISITE AUTHORITY OF THE COR TO MAKE ANY SUCH CHANGES, IT MAY BE HELD FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CHANGES NOT AUTHORIZED IN ADVANCE, IN WRITING, BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER, MAY BE DENIED COMPENSATION OR OTHER RELIEF FOR ANY ADDITIONAL WORK PERFORMED THAT IS NOT SO AUTHORIZED, AND MAY ALSO BE REQUIRED, AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO THE GOVERNMENT, TO TAKE ALL CORRECTIVE ACTION NECESSITATED BY REASON OF THE UNAUTHORIZED ACTIONS. (xii)FAR clause 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items, applies to this solicitation by reference and proposed subsequent contract as well as the following clauses contained within FAR clause 52.212-5: 52.204-10 Reporting Executive compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards; 52.209-6 Protecting the Government' Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment (31 U.S.C. 6101 note); 52.209-10, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations (section 740 of Division C of Public Law 111-117, section 743 of Division D of Public Law 111-8, and section 745 of Division D of Public Law 110-161); 52.219-8 Utilization of Small Business Concerns; 52.219-28 Post Award Small Business Program Representation; 52.222-3 Convict Labor; 52.222-19 Child Labor-Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies; 52.222-21 Prohibition of Segregated Facilities; 52.222-26 Equal Opportunity (E.O. 11246); 52.222-35 Equal Opportunity for 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 Veterans (38 U.S.C. 4212); 52.222-50 Combating Trafficking in Persons (22 U.S.C. 7104(g)); 52.223-18 Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging with Driving; 52.225-13 Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases and 52.232-33 Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration (31 U.S.C. 3332); 52.223-3 Protest After Award (31 U.S.C. 3553); 52.233-4 Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim (Pub. L 108-77, 108-78). (xiii) There are no additional contract requirement(s). (xiv) A Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) assigned rating is not applicable to this acquisition. Full text of all FAR clauses and provisions are available electronically at the following Internet address: (http://www.arnet.gov/far). (xv) Proposals shall be in writing and must be signed by an official who is authorized to bind the organization. Faxed or oral proposals will not be accepted. Questions must be submitted in writing to Myria Carpenter at contact@example.gov. Written questions must be submitted by 12:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time on August 17, 2012. Technical proposals shall be submitted with an original and one (1) copy. Price proposals shall be submitted with an original and one (1) copy. Proposals may be hand delivered or sent via courier or overnight delivery before the closing deadline below. Proposals are due to Myria Carpenter, Contract Specialist, Broadcasting Board of Governors, International Broadcasting Bureau, Office of Contracts, 330 C Street, SW, Room 4007B, Washington, DC 20237 before 12:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time on August 27, 2012. (xvi) Contact: Myria Carpenter, Contract Specialist, email: contact@example.gov or Facsimile +1 (555) 000-0000. All responsible sources may submit an offer that will be considered by the Agency.