SOURCES SOUGHT
76 -- Embassy Youth Book Program
- Notice Date
- 2/10/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 511130
— Book Publishers
- Contracting Office
- U.S. Department of State, Office of Logistics Management, Acquisition Management, P.O. Box 9115, Rosslyn Station, Arlington, Virginia, 22219
- ZIP Code
- 22219
- Solicitation Number
- SAQMMA11R0129
- Archive Date
- 3/11/2011
- Point of Contact
- Andrea Smail,
- E-Mail Address
-
SmailAM@state.gov
(SmailAM@state.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Sources Sought Announcement for U.S. Embassy Youth Book Program. This is a sources sought synopsis to conduct market research for developing a procurement strategy for an upcoming BPA. The U.S. Department of State (DOS) seeks to gather information from industry, which will be used for planning purposes for the procurement of services in the area book anthologies for U.S. Embassies around the world. The value of the effort is anticipated to be $5 million over 5 years. This notice is for market research purposes only and does not constitute a Request for Quote or Request for Proposal; and, it is not considered to be a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. No basis for claim against the Government shall arise as a result from a response to this Sources Sought notice or Government use of any information provided. The purpose of this notice is to gain knowledge of potentially qualified small business, women-owned small business, 8(a), Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), or HUB Zone prime contractor business sources to complete the effort. At this time, no solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. The Government reserves the right to consider any arrangement as deemed appropriate for this procurement, including the ultimate acquisition approach. Responses to the Sources Sought Synopsis should be received as soon as possible but no later than 10:00 am (local Washington, D.C. time) on 24 February 2011. All responses should be sent via email to Andrea Smail at SmailAM@state.gov. Absolutely not phone calls will be accepted. Background: The Information Resources Office of the Department of State's Office of International Information Programs (IIP/IR) is charged with coordinating the American Corners (AC) program worldwide. This is a network of about 400 partnerships between the Public-Affairs Sections of U.S. embassies/consulates, and host-country libraries and organizations. According to an agreement established in a Memorandum of Understanding, each embassy/consulate partner provides the American Corner with books, journals, and electronic resources, Because youth are a primary AC target audience, ACs need extensive youth-oriented collections. Because many of the embassies' American Centers and Information Resource Centers also target youth, they also procure items from the Embassy Youth Book Program. Many U.S. embassies wishing to make book donations to host-country institutions obtain the books from the Embassy Youth Book Program. The Materials Development and Review Branch (ECA/A/L/M) coordinates English language teaching programs and provides appropriate materials for those programs. Need: To satisfy the collection requirements of the American Corners and Centers, requirements which include the teaching of English, the Information Resource Centers, and the Binational Centers, and the Embassies' Public Diplomacy Officers demand for high-quality youth material focusing on U.S. history, culture, and values, the Embassy Youth Book Program was established in 2003. ECA/A/L/M formerly had a separate BPA which expired at the end of February, 2010. ECA/A/L/M now wishes to partner with IIP/IR in establishing a new, joint BPA. The needs of the two offices are similar as they serve complementary audiences and are involved in the promotion of English-language learning. Responsibilities: The following are the duties that the Embassy Youth Book Program Contractor must perform. Identify and supply a variety of new and current monographs, pertaining to the specific non-fiction topics that Embassy Public Affairs Sections emphasize in their public diplomacy outreach. [Topic examples include: African-American, Native-American, and women's history; the environment; U.S. elections and civics; and music.] Create coherent, topical book sets from those selected titles that can be utilized by youth of varying reading abilities. Identify and supply a variety of new and classic titles by esteemed U.S. authors of children's and young- adult fiction. Create coherent, diverse book sets from selected titles that can be utilized by youth of varying reading abilities. Identify and supply a variety of new and current, authoritative reference books that provide extensive facts and illustrations about the United States. Create coherent, reference book sets that serve as core collections, and can be utilized by youth of varying reading abilities Create and distribute Book Sets in the following foreign languages - Arabic, Spanish, and French - three languages that are central to conducting widespread, youth-focused public diplomacy. The books comprising these Sets must advance DOS public-diplomacy objectives; provide authoritative and acclaimed content; and be translations of the highest quality. These Sets must also meet the approval of officials in countries which mandate allowable book content. The books should be suitable for youth of varying reading abilities. Research the feasibility of developing new Book Sets covering additional public-diplomacy topics, or Book Sets in additional foreign-languages, as requested by the IIP/IR Manager of the Embassy Youth Book Program. Consult with the IIP/IR Program Manager and obtain the Manager's approval on new book sets that are created; the specific titles that will comprise the new book sets; the addition of new or substitute titles to existing book sets; and the total price charged for each of these sets. Pre-pack and store the IIP/IR-approved Book Sets in appropriate shipping boxes to facilitate the rapid shipment of orders to the Diplomatic Pouch or APO/FPO facilities, and onward to Posts worldwide. Answer e-mail or phone queries from overseas DOS officers and staff about any aspects of their prospective book orders or in-process book orders, including title availability, total-cost estimates, the payment process, and delivery timeframes. Likewise, respond to all queries on these topics from the IIP/IR Program Manager. Supply the IIP/IR Book Program Manager with new and updated spreadsheets listing each Book Set's titles and basic bibliographic information, which the Manager can post on the IIP/IR Book Program portalpage for customers' information. Provide new or updated electronic flyers about the Program or individual Sets, which the Manager can use to promote the Program to DOS Officers and Staff. Meet periodically with the Manager via phone or in person to discuss on-going and new business. If conducting business in Washington, DC when an IIP Info-Fair is scheduled, arrange with the Manager to appear at the Embassy Youth Book Program's exhibit to assist with promoting the Program, and answering the questions of Fair attendees. Supply the Manager with representative Book-Set samples that can be displayed at Info-Fairs, or at briefings or at workshop presentations about the Book Program. Experience: -Knowledge of how the public affairs sections and procurement sections of U.S. embassies and consulates operate; -Ability to professionally communicate and conduct business with officers and staff in these State Department sections; -Ability to work, collaboratively, as a partner with the IIP/IR manager of the Embassy Youth Book Program; -Ability to offer excellent customer service from answering preliminary inquiries, to processing orders and payments, to arranging the successful shipment of orders; -Expert knowledge of the children's and young adult books the contractor produces and distributes; -Ability to select acclaimed books on specific U.S.-focused subjects and literature, and create affordable booksets that will enhance the collections of American Corners, Information Resource Centers, Binational Centers, and embassy book donation programs; Ability to select foreign-language books and create sets that satisfy the demand for U..S.-focused, non-English books; Ability to manage numerous details related to the creation, updating, and promotion of Book Sets. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: Your response to this Sources Sought announcement shall be no more than 6 pages and shall be submitted via email. Your response shall include company name, address, DUNS number, CAGE number, point of contact and contact information. The response shall also identify if the company is a large business, small business, women-owned small business, 8(a), Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), or HUB Zone. If you can provide all of the above required services via schedule, please identify the type of schedule (i.e., GSA) and your schedule number. The Government does not intend to pay for any information provided under this Sources Sought announcement. Your response shall address the following questions/points in the order listed below: 1) What is your capability of creating/developing and providing youth book anthologies. Contractor shall have demonstrated history and references, specific to the kinds of services being sought and describe up to two project examples. 2) Do you have adequate personnel, facilities, equipment, and other resources available, as required, for performing the services specified 3) Have you attained any accreditations under industry programs or attained high quality standards (i.e., ISO 9001) 4) Does your recordkeeping system(s) have an adequate level of security, durable storage, back up communication plan, and an approved certification and accreditation so as to protect the privacy and integrity of participant data 5) Describe any insurance, bonding, or other security your company holds in the event of default or service failure. Contracting Office Address: U.S. Department of State Office of Acquisition Management (A/LM/AQM) 1701 No. Ft. Myer Drive Arlington, VA 22209 Place of Performance: Contractor's Office (TBD) Point of Contact: Andrea Smail; SmailAM@state.gov
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/State/A-LM-AQM/A-LM-AQM/SAQMMA11R0129/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Contractor's place of work., United States
- Record
- SN02377423-W 20110212/110210234508-5249c1bcfe518224834474b27439526d (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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