MODIFICATION
R -- Transcription Services
- Notice Date
- 12/22/2004
- Notice Type
- Modification
- NAICS
- 561410
— Document Preparation Services
- Contracting Office
- National Science Foundation, Division of Contracts & Complex Agreements, DCCA, 4201 Wilson Boulevard Room 475, Arlington, VA, 22230
- ZIP Code
- 22230
- Solicitation Number
- DCCA-050015
- Response Due
- 12/28/2004
- Archive Date
- 1/12/2005
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- Q & A FOR RFQ DCCA-050015 THIS IS AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION NUMBER RFQ-DCCA-050015 ?Transcription Services? 1. Do you have an estimate as to how many transcript pages per year will be generated from this contract? Possibly 20. Hard to say right now. 2. Can you provide the name of the current contractor? Word Wizard. 3. Can you provide the prices that are currently in place? $3.50/page. 4. Can you provide the volume of the different types of work? From one interview on tape to 1 hour scientific lecture. 5. Can you provide the turnaround time frames you are looking for in the quote? 1-4 days. 6. What percentage of the pages need to be time coded? The time code jobs are usually for individual interviews and we would need time code to correspond with each answer on tape. So in that case, the entire job would need to be time coded and that can run anywhere from 35-50 pages. 7. Will the tapes or CD?s be delivered or mailed to the vendor or does the vendor have to pick up the tapes at the NSF? All materials will be couriered from NSF to vendor. 8. Does the vendor have to return the tapes? It is preferable to have items returned, but not essential. 9. What is the required turnaround time from the moment the vendor will be in possession of the tapes? If it varies by project what is the turnaround requirement in the majority of the cases? 2-4 days. 10. Is there a formatting template the vendor should go by? 150 words/page, 24 pt., Courier New is fine. 11. Would all transcriptions be in English? Are there any foreign languages involved? English only. 12. What are the anticipated yearly hours of recordings or number of pages to be transcribed? We would probably need at least one a month and they can vary from 35 pages to 200. 13. Would all transcription topics be scientific in nature? Yes, most likely all scientific in nature. 14. The solicitation references a cost per page. Would you entertain an alternative pricing approach such as a cost per hour for transcription? Sure. 15. The amount of transcription needed on a weekly/monthly/annual basis? Specifically, the number of lines or pages that are transcribed now and if this current solicitation meets or exceeds that amount? Maybe 1 or 2 a month. Jobs can range from 1-hour lecture to 20 minute interview. 16. There are 3 types of transcription stated in the solicitation. Do we have to bid on all 3 facets or can we bid on one? What type of transcription is required from a CD/DVD? Videotape? All three need to be met. Word doc transcription either with or without time code, depending on job. CD/DVD videotape would be everything you hear. 17. Specify turnaround associated with next day services ? can you please be more specific? Is the NSF looking for next day service (i.e., pick up from your facility by certain time and return by certain time on the next day?) How quickly the vendor can transcribe and email the job to me on quick notice. What charges are involved with next day turnaround? 18. Audio cassette transcription ? are these standard cassettes? Micro cassettes? Mini cassettes? How many per week are issued? Mostly standard audio cassettes. You would get them on an as needed basis. We don?t have anything we need done weekly. 19. Are there any special needs with regard to formatting the end product? Are they simply transcribed in a Times New Roman, 12 pt. Font, or is there a specific format to be followed? No particular format to follow. 20. What is the subject content of the transcription? Lectures? Research? Is it verbatim typing? Scientific lectures, interviews with researchers about their work, etc. 21. Are there any dictators who possess dialects which may impede the speed of transcription? Not to my knowledge. 22. Can the work be performed off-site or must it be done at the NSF facility in Arlington? Off-site preferred. 23. The solicitation states that that all transcripts should be sent via email to NSF. Is a hard copy required to be sent to NSF in addition to the email? Are any other deliverables required; i.e. diskettes, manuscript, etc? Email is preferred method. Hard copy and other formats upon request 24. The statement on page 3 or 4 which states, ?Please specify costs associated with next day services, tape transfer and time code.? I know what next day service is, please define further tape transfer and time code? Transferring from VHS to format used to transcribe (audio cassette). Sometimes tapes have time code burned in and will need transcript to have time code included for reference and need to know if there is additional cost for such service. 25 There are several programs which create CD?s, which system does NSF use? (for example Olympus, Court Smart, FTR Gold, etc.) Never received CD?s. Do not know. 26. Based on current workload, what is the projected average (per week or per month) of audio cassette tapes, of CD?s, of video tapes and of DVD?s? Either by estimated time of each or estimated transcript pages of each? Possibly 2 per month. 27. What is the normal delivery turnaround time for completion of the transcripts? (i.e., 10 workdays) rush: 1 day; normal 2-4 days. 28. How many requests for expedited deliveries are anticipated? (i.e., next-day delivery or any other expedited deliveries sooner than 10-day). Will need all within 2-4 days max. 29. What printed page format is required? (i.e., number of text lines per page, margins at top and bottom and left and right-hand margins); and what size print font is required? (i.e., courier 12, etc) Courier 12 is fine. 150 lines per page approx. 30. How are tapes, CD?s, etc. received by vendor doing transcription? NSF couriers job to vendor for transcription. 31. What is payment procedure? (i.e., direct deposit or check) and how long is payment from time of submission of complete transcription job and invoice? As a small business, are we permitted to invoice bi-weekly as with other federal contracts? Payment is electronic bank payment and government agencies have 1-3 months to pay. 32. I am a new bidder/contractor. I need a better understanding of how the bidding process works. I understand that apparently this solicitation was previously bided on and a contract awarded. I need to know the specifics and a ballpark figure of the award amount so this will give me a better understanding where my prices fall at. Need to know quantity, Unit (Year), Unit price etc. From my understanding to release information pertaining to award contract bids would fall under the Freedom of Information Act. We had a blanket purchase agreement last year of $2,000. Last year the contractor provided 13 transcripts. I can see that growing to possibly 20 this year. 33. I live in New Jersey. Is it mandatory that you live within the radius of 30 minutes of the area? What is the reasoning behind this? Can I still bid on this solicitation/Contract even though I do not live in the area? In the area is ideal because our office does not have to pay courier charges, but we are charged for Fed. Ex. 34. How will the process work in transferring Audio cassettes, videotapes, and CD/DVD? Will documents be transcribed on computer and then email to you or will documents be printed out and in final form then via email or overnight UPS to you? I believe that all transcripts were done via computer. All documents were emailed to NSF. Nothing was ever sent UPS. 35. Once the contract has been awarded, will specifics be given when documents are submitted, time frame, deadlines I must meet etc ? This service is on an ?as needed? basis. When jobs arise, we will call to inform the contractor of job and all specifics including deadlines. 36. Need to know the quantity/amount of work involved in this project? Can one person handle this amount of workload? The projects are mostly scientific interviews and lectures. I just don?t know if one person could handle it all. NOTE: THIS NOTICE WAS NOT POSTED TO WWW.FEDBIZOPPS.GOV ON THE DATE INDICATED IN THE NOTICE ITSELF (22-DEC-2004). IT ACTUALLY APPEARED OR REAPPEARED ON THE FEDBIZOPPS SYSTEM ON 23-DEC-2004. PLEASE CONTACT fbo.support@gsa.gov REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
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