SOLICITATION NOTICE
G -- RADIO OUTREACH TO HISPANIC AGRICULTURAL WORKERS
- Notice Date
- 5/17/2006
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Environmental Protection Agency, Reg. 4, Office Of Acquisition Management, 61 Forsyth Street, Atlanta, GA 30303
- ZIP Code
- 30303
- Solicitation Number
- RFQ-GA-06-00032
- Response Due
- 6/1/2006
- Archive Date
- 7/1/2006
- Description
- NAICS Code: 541810 This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial services prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation to be issued for proposals and a written solicitation will not be issued. PAPER COPIES OF THIS SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE. Solicitation GA-06-00032 is issued as a Commercial Solicitation using Simplified Acquisition Procedures found in FAR Part 13. This acquisition will be 100% small business set-aside. The NAICS code is 541810. The Government intends to award a purchase order resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer best conforms to the Statement of Work (SOW), meets the Governments delivery schedule and is the most cost effective in accordance with the Evaluation Criteria below. This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those that are in effect through the latest Federal Acquisition Circular. The contractor shall be required to provide non-personal services to include all labor, design, tools, equipment, material, and other items and services necessary to develop and implement the following SOW. STATEMENT OF WORK - 1.BACKGROUND: The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) has been in effect since 1992. The EPA Regions and States have made great strides in implementing the WPS provisions; however, despite these efforts there is still a need to enhance our outreach and communication efforts. Specifically, EPA needs to find more effective ways to educate workers regarding their rights under the WPS. In addition, EPA seeks to undertake activities to address the current violation reporting system, providing greater assurance of the anonymity of the workers that report violations. To accomplish this we will use innovative methods for reaching and educating farm workers on their rights under WPS. The purpose of the Radio Outreach to Hispanic Agricultural Workers Project is to develop and disseminate educational information on pesticide farm safety and WPS to Spanish speaking farm workers via radio Public Service Announcements (PSAs) on Spanish language radio stations. Many Spanish speaking farm workers remain unaware of the WPS or the fact that they can report violations of the WPS. Furthermore, those that do wish to report violations are afraid to do so for fear of retaliation, even though the WPS has provisions against such retaliation. Thus, through radio PSAs which shall supply a toll-free number, individuals can call and be referred to the appropriate agency for filing an anonymous complaint, or be referred to a place where they can get more information on pesticide safety. The contractor shall develop a program to develop and disseminate PSAs, working closely with EPA Region 4 staff who will assist in providing content. 2. GOALS: To educate Spanish speaking farm workers about the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) and basic pesticide safety on the farm and at home. A) To increase Spanish speaking farm workers' reporting of violations of the WPS. B) To increase Spanish speaking farm workers' calls to a toll free number to answer pesticides related questions. 3. OBJECTIVES: A) Development of a series of PSAs in Spanish, which shall be transferable to radio stations throughout Region 4. B) Collect data on numbers of call-in responses to a toll free number in response to the PSA. 4. PERFORMANCE REQUIRED: ITEM 1. The contractor shall develop a series of 10 to 12 Public Service Announcements (PSAs), in accordance with generally-accepted radio broadcast practices, and approved for content and acceptable presentation by the EPA Pesticide Office at Region 4. The series shall cover all basic areas of the Worker Protection Standards (WPS), as well as general pesticide safety and violation reporting. Each PSA shall be one to two minutes in length, and shall inform listeners of the toll-free number that they may call anonymously for further information about pesticides or how to report violations. The contractor shall provide EPA with both print and recorded copies of all PSAs in a format or media that would be most readily transferable to additional radio stations for broadcast. The contractor shall also grant EPA all data rights for additional use of the material. Within 30 days of award of the purchase order, EPA shall provide the contractor with copies of 24 previously developed PSAs which covered only the basic areas of the WPS and pesticide safety--which will provide approved content and information which may be incorporated into the new PSAs, if desired. EPA will approve or disapprove the series of PSAs within 30 days of submittal of a final copy. If an option is exercised for pre-paid violation reporting postcards at the time of the initial award of the purchase order, the PSA series shall also contain information about them. ITEM 2. The contractor shall provide a telephone number which may be dialed toll-free from anywhere in Georgia from a latitude south of and including Macon. Such telephone line shall be manned by a Spanish speaking operator(s) at least eight hours a day on normal Federal business days between 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Such line shall be maintained for a period of at least ten calendar months--beginning with the airing of the first PSAs--with people trained to obtain correct violation information and provide callers with basic pesticide information or to direct them to further information. Within 60 days after the end of the ten month period, the contractor shall provide EPA with a final report of all activities included in this purchase order, and specifically listing the number and types of calls received (whether reporting violations or requesting information) and general summary information about call activity and other work performed for this purchase order. ITEM 3. The contractor shall be responsible for distributing copies of the PSA series to Spanish language radio stations whose broadcast signals are normally capable of being heard in southern Georgia (from a latitude including Macon south). The contractor is responsible for obtaining agreement from each station to begin airing of the series of approved PSAs no later than the first of the month beginning seven months after award of the purchase order. The contractor shall be paid for each Spanish language station (up to a maximum of 15) that it gets to air the series of PSAs between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. The radio station must agree to air the full series of PSAs at least once per month during the ten calendar month period in which the toll free number is operational. The contractor shall submit to EPA documentation from each station stating that they aired the PSAs as specified. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Twenty (20) months from date of contract award. OPTIONAL REQUIREMENTS: The following may be ordered by EPA based on available funding. Should any of the items listed below be required, EPA would include this in the initial purchase order or may exercise the option to add this item on or before October 31, 2007. BACKGROUND: some farm workers come from extremely rural areas of Mexico or Central America and may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable with telephone operation, and even those who do feel comfortable with operating a telephone may still only have access to one at their place of employment. Because we are asking workers to report violations of their employers, many may feel uncomfortable using the telephone at work for this purpose. In order to circumvent the telephone and to have an additional option to the toll free number, Region 4 proposes the use of ready made, self-addressed and stamped postcards that would be addressed to the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA). These postcards, written in Spanish, could list workers' name, but the entry would be optional. These cards could be dropped in any mail-box, at any time, for an anonymous violation report. The Georgia Department of Agriculture has already agreed to work with Region 4 or a contractor to pilot this activity to potentially increase the numbers of tips and complaints that they receive. OPTION ITEM 1: The contractor shall design and print pre-paid postcards requesting all of the information required to make an anonymous report of a violation , and meeting postal standards. The violation postcards may be ordered in lots of 50 postcards each, up to a maximum of 32 lots (1,600 pre-paid cards). OPTION ITEM 2: The contractor shall distribute the anonymous violation reporting cards at locations where workers would frequent outside of work (e.g. Western Union, health clinics, migrant community centers, etc.) In order to assure wide dissemination, the cards shall be distributed no more than 50 cards per location, at no more than four locations per county within target counties. The contractor, in consultation with EPA specialists and Southern Georgia migrant organizations, will determine the target counties based on migrant population. The number of target counties will be determined by the number of lots ordered for distribution in item one (e.g. - ordering the maximum of 32 lots would equal a minimum of 8 target counties for distribution, at four locations per county.) The contractor shall be paid per lot of 50 pre-paid cards distributed for display, up to a maximum of 32 distribution lots. The contractor shall certify the business name, address, county, and number of cards distributed for each distribution lot. EVALUATION CRITERIA: Award will be based on Best Value where price is more important than experience and past performance information. Each offeror shall provide past performance information that illustrates any work they have performed in the areas stated below. The offeror shall provide references, including contract/order no., agencies/firms with whom you contracted, performance period, technical point of contact and phone number, and other relevant evidence. A. Working with Hispanic audiences on health and safety related issues or other issues of concern to the community; B. Developing professional quality PSAs in Spanish; C. Distributing PSAs to Hispanic radio stations, especially radio stations which broadcast in the Southern Georgia area; D. Provision and maintenance of a toll free number for responses to the PSAs; E. Ability to track call-in data to the toll free number for determining the effectiveness of the media message; F. Evidence of community impact resulting from previous PSAs or other types of media outreach your firm has developed, such as increase in phone calls to a hotline, survey results, related workshops your firm has conducted, increased hits on websites, community attendance at relevant meetings, or other similar evidence of community impact. G. Knowledge of pesticide safety and EPA's Worker Protection Standard (Desired but not required.) Unless otherwise specified in the contract/purchase order, the supplier is responsible for the performance of all inspection requirements and quality control. It is also the contractor's responsibility to be familiar with applicable clauses and provisions. The provision at FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. Award shall be based on the Lowest Price with Best Value to the Government. Offerors are reminded to include a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications, Commercial Items with the offer, which can be accessed at http://www.arnet.far.gov. The successful offeror must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database to be considered for award. The CCR database may be accessed at www.ccr.gov. Clause 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions--Commercial Items and Clause 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial Items are hereby incorporated by reference. The Contractor shall comply with the following FAR clauses that the Contracting Officer has indicated as being applicable to acquisitions of commercial items or components: 1) 52.219-6 Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside: 2) 52.219-8 Utilization of Small Business Concerns, 3) 52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontracting; 4) 52.219-25 Small Disadvantaged Business Participation Program; 5) 52.222-3 Convict Labor; 6) 52.222021 Prohibition of Segregated Facilities; 7) 52.222-22 Previous Contracts and Compliance Reports; 8) 52.222-25 Affirmative Action Compliance; 9) 52.222-26 Equal Opportunity; 10) 52.222-35 Equal Opportunity for Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era and Other Eligible Veterans; 11) 52.222-36 Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities; 12) 52.222-37 Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era, and Other Eligible Veterans; 13) 52.222-41 Service Contract Act of 1965, as Amended; 14) 52.222-42 Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires; 15) 52.222-44 Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Act-Price Adjustment; 16) 52.225-15 Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases; 17) 52.232-33 Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer - Central Contractor Registration; 18) 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference; and, 19) 52.252-6 Authorized Deviation in Clauses. All offers are due by June 17, 2006. Offers may be mailed to Sharyn Erickson, Contract Specialist, EPA Region 4, Office of Acquisition Management, 61 Forsyth St., SW, Atlanta, GA 30303; e-mailed to erickson.sharyn@epa.gov or faxed to 404/562-8370. It is the offeror's responsibility to ensure receipt of faxes or e-mail quotes. Quotes shall include 1) a letter signed by an individual authorized to bind the company, with a schedule (list) of offered items to include unit and total price, and 2) completed Representations and Certifications. NOTE: Offerors not submitting sufficient information may be eliminated from competition. Questions concerning this acquisition shall be submitted in writing and e-mailed to Erickson.sharyn@epa.gov. All answers will be provided via an amendment to the solicitation. No paper copies of the Request for Quotes will be provided. Telephonic questions will not be answered and collect calls will not be accepted.
- Record
- SN01050245-W 20060519/060517222103 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |