MODIFICATION
R -- NEWS CLIPPING/SUMMARY SERVICES
- Notice Date
- 7/25/2005
- Notice Type
- Modification
- NAICS
- 561410
— Document Preparation Services
- Contracting Office
- DHS - Direct Reports, Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, Office of Procurement Operations, Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, Washington, DC, 20528
- ZIP Code
- 20528
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-DHS-ROPA-0507
- Response Due
- 7/28/2005
- Archive Date
- 8/12/2005
- Point of Contact
- Patricia Wolfe, Contracting Officer, Phone 202-205-9226, Fax 202-772-9730, - Kristian Jovanovic, Contract Specialist, Phone 202-7778457, Fax 202-772-9729,
- E-Mail Address
-
patricia.wolfe@dhs.gov, kristian.jovanovic@dhs.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- The deadline for submission of quotations is extended to 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 28, 2005. Responses to vendor questions are as follows: 1. Is HUBZone designation a consideration or an advantage in this solicitation? This requirement was publicized as a total set-aside for small business. HubZone designation was not specified. 2. Is woman-owned business designation a consideration or an advantage in this solicitation? This requirement was publicized as a total set-aside for small business. Woman-Owned designation was not specified. 3. Has this service been provided by another company in the past, or is it a new service being provided to the DHS? If it was provided in the past, what company provided the service? This service is currently being provided by Bulletin News. 4. What level of detail will you require in the faxed proposal? Will you require an executive summary or a line item discussion of the total and monthly operating budget, projected balance sheets, and methods of compensation? DHS requires sufficient detail to demonstrate your capability and your technical and/or management approach for completing the requirements. Cost accounting standards do not apply to firm fixed price contracts under commercial practices (FAR 12.214). 5. Will you require discussion of who will maintain accounting records and how they will be kept? No, cost accounting standards do not apply to firm fixed price contracts under commercial practices (FAR 12.214). 6. With regard to foreign language news sources, will you require translated summaries of relevant news stories being reported by major foreign language news sources in foreign countries? At this time, DHS Office of Public Affairs is not requesting the translated summaries of reports by major foreign language news sources. 7. Will you require a detailed discussion of how the business will be managed on a day-?to-?day basis? DHS requires that vendors provide sufficient detail to demonstrate how your company will meet the requirement, i.e., staffing, resources, plan of operation. 8. Will you require a detailed discussion of hiring and personnel procedures? No, a detailed discussion of your company?s hiring and personnel procedures is not required. However, your quotation should designate a project officer and provide sufficient details, i.e., resume, of the project officer?s related experience and ability to meet DHS?s requirements. 9. Will you require a detailed discussion of insurance, lease and rental agreements? No, the work is to be done at the contractor?s primary place of business. The vendor should provide only sufficient detail of its business operations to demonstrate its capability to perform DHS?s requirement. 10. Will you require a detailed discussion and accounting for the equipment necessary to produce the services? No, DHS has a requirement for the news clipping services. The vendor should provide only sufficient detail on equipment or other resources to demonstrate its capability for providing those services. Under commercial practices (FAR Part 12) accounting information is not required on a firm fixed price contract. 11. Will you require a detailed discussion and accounting of the method of production and delivery of services? The vendor should discuss the method of production and delivery of services in sufficient detail to demonstrate its capability for and approach to fulfilling DHS?s requirement. Under commercial practices (FAR Part 12) accounting information is not required on a firm fixed price contract. 12. Will you accept self-certification of small business size? As stated in the RFQ, FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications, applies to this solicitation and should be submitted as part of the quotation package. See www.arnet.gov/far. Additionally, vendors are required to be registered in the Central Contractor Registration System and business size documented. 13. How soon would you expect to award the contract and when would work begin Award will be made as soon as the technical evaluation has been completed. Work is expected to begin August 9, 2005. 14. Would you consider a small business whose principal had the expertise and hired additional staffers to support the needs of the contract Yes 15. Are points given to candidates for consideration and what are the criteria for evaluation? As stated in the RFQ, award will be made using the best value analysis. Specific evaluation criteria are outlined in the original FEDBIZOPPS announcement. Quotations should provide sufficient information to evaluate (1) capability/ability/approach for fulfilling DHS requirement (2) experience/past performance (include references for relevant past experience and (3) Price. 16. Do you have an existing clipping service contract with a larger firm currently? Yes 18. Is this an RFQ against an existing contract (i.e., GSA Schedule)? No 19. How much has been budgeted for this effort? The budget estimate is for internal use and based upon some initial market research. 20. Can you provide a list of critical sources? Multiple media sources will be required. The Department of Homeland Security is covered by thousands of regional, national and international radio, television, newspapers, magazines, trade publications and internet sources. Because DHS has a diverse portfolio of responsibilities, all of these sources are critical for different reasons. The Department of Homeland Security is requesting a news service that can compile news coverage from these thousands of sources and edit them into a non-redundant product daily. 21. Are continuously updated sources like new wires important? Continuous updates are not critical, but they are helpful. The RFQ requests two comprehensive products, one at 5:00 am and one at 7:00 am. However, the Department of Homeland Security would consider quotations from vendors that offer continuous updates as an added value. 22. Is there a requirement for global content? Yes. International partnerships are an important part of the homeland security mission. Department of Homeland Security officials frequently travel abroad to discuss issues of mutual concern. We require international news both in preparation for travel and to gauge public response to meetings after they occur. 23. How will you handle copyright compliance issues for redistribution of content to the 200,000 expected users? We expect the vendor to provide a copyright compliance solution. All Department of Homeland Security employees should have access to news about their work, so it is important that the news product be available to all of them. 24. Would DHS consider opening up the procurement to companies other than small businesses? No. 25. Due to the nature of the work, most media-monitoring companies don?t price by the hour. This was a firm-fixed price contract when last awarded. Will DHS consider continuing the firm-fixed pricing model to receive bids from companies that use it? This will be a firm-fixed price contract for base year plus two option years. 26. Do you want both video and transcripts of the television news? Transcripts are not required, but quotations offering transcripts will be considered as an added value. 27. Do you want both audio and transcripts of the radio news? Transcripts are not required, but proposals offering transcripts will be considered as an added value. 28. How long will you want video and audio materials to remain in retrievable form Must we store audio and video clips indefinitely? DHS wants each day?s news clips archived for 30 days. 29. Each day, the summaries, clips, and other information will be made available to DHS electronically, and each day the website will change entirely as new content is added. Do you want all materials continuously available on the website for the duration of the contract? We would like each day?s news clips archived for the next 30 days. Or would you like content burned to CD and delivered to you in hard form? No CD required 30. Most of the language in the solicitation deals with ?national? news. Regarding ?international? news, it appears that you are asking for access to sources of international news and not clippings and summaries of international news. All news broadcast in the U.S. will be filtered, sorted, and summarized, including international news; do you also want international news sources like the BBC to be filtered, sorted, and summarized according to the criteria of the solicitation? Yes, international news sources are an important part of the requirement. 31. Do you have a list of trade journals that you want covered? National Journal, Congress Daily, Congressional Quarterly, CQ Homeland Security Edition, Federal Times, Roll Call, Aviation Week, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Legal Times. Others are welcome. 32. Can non-small business bid on this opportunity As stated in the combined synopsis/solicitation, this acquisition is 100% set aside for small business. 33. Does FEMA require full reprints of media hits or summaries with direct links (which may be changed by the news agencies)? This is not a FEMA procurement ? this requirement is for Department of Homeland Security Headquarters. 34. If FEMA desires full story reprint rights, for what percentage of all articles does FEMA anticipate needing full reprint rights? See #33. NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Reference #DHS-ROPA-0507 is being advertised as a Request for Quotes. This solicitation and consequent contract award incorporates provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular FAC 2005-04. This acquisition is 100% set-aside for small business. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 561410 and the Small Business Size for this NAICS code is $6M. QUOTES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN 12:00 P.M. (EST) TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2005 and should be sent electronically to patricia.wolfe@dhs.gov with copy to kristian.jovanovic@dhs.gov. Fax submissions are acceptable and may be sent to (202) 772-9729. Questions should be sent via e-mail to: patricia.wolfe@dhs.gov with copy to kristian.jovanovic@dhs.gov. The deadline for questions is Thursday, July 21, 2005. STATEMENT OF WORK 1. Introduction. The contractor shall provide a complete and comprehensive review and summary of news stories affecting the U. S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on a daily basis from national and local television, newspapers, news wires, internet, publications, magazines, legal and trade journals, radio and specialty press, in electronic form, in accordance with the requirements and deliverables listed herein. 2. Period of Project One year from date of award, plus two one-year option periods. The exercise of option periods will be at the discretion of the government. 3. Background The Department of Homeland Security Office of Public Affairs requires a summary of major news coverage to be compiled and distributed to senior staff by 5:00 a.m. every weekday, and a complete collection of daily news coverage to be available to all DHS employees by 7:00 a.m. every weekday. Briefings are not required on weekends or Federal holidays. DHS requires daily news clipping articles, summarized, compiled and distributed to senior staff and other interested parties. Accordingly, DHS has a requirement for a company capable of reviewing a wide range of news outlets, apply understanding of the complex national security environment, edit out duplicate or non-critical information, and respond to evolving news and issues relating to DHS and its agencies. Extracting of critical information and an indication of where stores run are critical. News briefings shall be timely, relevant, and focused on the latest developments of DHS, including coverage of all of the agencies within DHS. The contractor must provide a service with access to regional, national and international news from the complete spectrum of media sources. 4. Services Required 4.1 The contractor shall provide complete and comprehensive access to media sources including but not limited to national and local television, radio, Internet, magazines and periodicals, newspapers, news wires, trade journals, specialty publications, and Spanish-language media in electronic form. 4.2 The media sources must reflect news topics related to homeland and national security including but not limited to aviation security, border security, cargo security, citizenship issues, counterfeit goods, Congressional activity, customs investigations, cyber security, emerging technologies, federal law enforcement, immigration enforcement, immigration services, intelligence, international trade, maritime security, national security, natural disasters, port security, preparedness, response and recovery, and terrorism. 4.3 The service shall be organized by story and subject, including a customized index divided by subject matter and shall be in printable format for distribution. 4.4 Summary service shall cover weekends and holidays, with weekend/holiday news presented on the first workday following the weekend/holiday (usually Monday). 4.5 The contractor may be required to provide access to the service for approximately 200,000 government employees in domestic and international locations. 4.6 Service shall include an IP-protected web site that will allow DHS employees to obtain access without requiring usernames or passwords. The web site shall maintain a 30+ day archive, and DHS will be authorized to archive its MS Word or Adobe Acrobat files for any length of time as deemed appropriate by DHS management. 4.7 The service must be reliable, operational 24 hours a day, and immediately available from multiple locations simultaneously. 4.8 Services shall be in compliance with Section 508 Accessibility Standards (www.section508.gov). 5. Contractor Personnel No on-site personnel will be required. 6. Work Location Not applicable. 7. Monthly Reports and Invoices The Contractor shall submit an invoice by the 15th working day following the end of each month. The Contractor shall also submit two (2) copies of a monthly report to the COTP by the 15th working day following the end of each month for review, processing, and acceptance. The monthly report shall contain, but not limited to, the following: 7.1 Management Summary: Documenting any major problems/issues, current expenditures by work hours, and any significant process or event. List of all Government furnished equipment (GFE), or contractor furnished equipment (CFE) and facility, to include software, documentation, date and name of Government representative who provided GFE and the name of the contractor representative who received the GFE. GFE or CFE information will also be documented when GFE is returned to the Government, or Contractor. 7.2 Resource Expenditures: Funds expended during the reported period, cumulative total, and funds remaining on contract. Other information required including name, labor category, and hours expended, cumulative hours expended and hours remaining on contract, and projected total hours for each individual working on this task. 7.3 Narrative: Description of work performed on tasks during the reported period and expected to be performed during the next month, including discussions of any problems/issues and recommendations for correction by the 10th working day following the end of each month 7.4 Report Headings: The heading on all reports shall contain the following information: -Contact Number -Name of Contractor -Phone Number of Contractor -Period of Performance -Contract Program Manager -Total Dollar Value -Title of Project -Contracting Officer?s Technical Representative -Problems and Issues Within the scope of the contract, needs may arise for other deliverables. If other deliverables are deemed appropriate, a modification to the delivery order will be executed. 8. Deliverables 8.1 Immediate off-site technical support upon request by the government. 8.2 Occasional training sessions in the use of the service to be conducted at various locations in the National Capital Region. 8.3 The contractor shall provide deliverables as directed by the Contracting Officer?s Technical Representative for review and acceptance. The contractor shall provide the deliverables in electronic format to the extent and possible. All documentation developed by the contractor shall become the property of the Government and shall not contain proprietary markings. 9. Kick-Off Meeting The Contractor shall meet with the Government Contracting Officer, COTR, and Program Manager before performance commences on this contract. Meeting will be to identify primary points of contact, discuss scope, tasks and understanding of technical approach and other statement of work items. The government anticipates awarding one contract resulting from this combined synopsis/solicitation to the responsible offeror(s) who will offer the best value to the Government, price and other factors considered. The provision at Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial, and any addenda to the provision, applies to this acquisition. The provision at 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items applies to this solicitation. The solicitation will be evaluated using the following criteria, in descending order of importance: (1) Ability to meet required technical specifications and to comply with the requirements outlined in this solicitation; (2) Experience/Past Performance; and (3) Price. The provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications, applies to this solicitation. If the offeror has completed the annual representations and certifications electronically at the http://orca/bpn.gov website, the offeror shall complete (and submit) only paragraph (j) of 52.212-3. The contractor must have a current profile in the Online Representations and Certifications (http://orca/bpn.gov) prior to award. Per FAR 52.204-7, Central Contractor Registration, the contractor must be registered in Central Contractor Registration (www.ccr.gov) prior to award. The following additional FAR clauses apply to this acquisition: FAR 52.215-5, Facsimile Proposals (Oct 1997), (a) Definition. "Facsimile proposal," as used in this provision, means a proposal, revision or modification of a proposal, or withdrawal of a proposal that is transmitted to and received by the Government via facsimile machine. (b) Offerors may submit facsimile quotes/responses (in addition to e-mail) to this solicitation, at 202-772-9729. (d) If any portion of a facsimile proposal received is unreadable to the degree that conformance to the essential requirements of the solicitation cannot be ascertained from the document- (1) The Contract Specialist immediately shall notify the Offeror and permit the Offeror to resubmit the proposal; (2) The method and time for resubmission shall be prescribed by the Contract Specialist after consultation with the Offeror; and (3) The resubmission shall be considered as if it were received at the date and time of the original unreadable submission for the purpose of determining timeliness, provided the Offeror complies with the time and format requirements for resubmission prescribed by the Contract Specialist. (e) The Government reserves the right to make award solely on the facsimile proposal. FAR 52.222-3 Convict Labor (June 2003); FAR 52.223-6, Drug-Free Workplace (May 2001); FAR 52.247-34, F.o.b. Destination (Nov 1991); FAR 52.252-2, Clauses Incorporated By Reference (Feb 1998); F.O.B. Destination; FAR 52.252-1. Solicitation Provisions incorporated by Reference may be accessed in full text at http://www.arnet.gov/far In addition, the following Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation (HSAR) clauses and provisions are incorporated into this solicitation: HSAR 3052.209-70, Prohibition on contracts with corporate expatriates, as prescribed at (HSAR) 48 CFR 3009.104-75 HSAR 3052.209-70, Insurance, as prescribed at (HSAR), as prescribed in (HSAR) 48 CFR 3028.310-70 and 3028.311-1; and 3052.247-72, F.o.b. destination only, as prescribed in (HSAR) 48 CFR 3047.305-70(c).
- Place of Performance
- Address: Contractor's Place of Business
- Record
- SN00853603-W 20050727/050725211534 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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