SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- Urgent and Emerging Issues
- Notice Date
- 4/13/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541810
— Advertising Agencies
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Procurement and Grants Office (Atlanta), 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, Georgia, 30341-4146
- ZIP Code
- 30341-4146
- Solicitation Number
- HHS-NCEH-ATSDR-SS-11-R01
- Archive Date
- 5/14/2011
- Point of Contact
- Robert L, D. Reynolds, Phone: 7704882725
- E-Mail Address
-
vio9@cdc.gov
(vio9@cdc.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Communications Services and Support for Environmental Health Urgent and Emerging Issues 1. Introduction. This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement under NAICS 541810 "Advertising Agencies". Please provide responses no later than 11:59 pm EST, April 29, 2011 2. Background. The Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Office of Communication (CDC NCEH/ATSDR OC) conducts communication activities in communities throughout the nation. The NCEH/ATSDR OC assists the Center's scientists, investigators, and other division staff in communicating specific health and other site-related information to communities affected by hazardous substances. The OC uses a wide range of strategies and communication tools to reach community members, leaders, policy makers, and the news media with important messages. ATSDR/NCEH specifically conducts health studies, assessments and investigations at hazardous waste sites in communities. These sites include Superfund and federal facility sites and other hazardous or potentially hazardous locations. Issues at such sites often arise suddenly in response to emerging science, news events or new information presented. As a result, ATSDR/NCEH has an urgent need to have in place response mechanisms to address public concerns arising from the events at ATSDR and events associated with NCEH issues. The NCEH/ATSDR OC seeks a contractor to rapidly develop and execute integrated marketing services to meet its environmental health communication goals. Specialized communication expertise and experience in environmental health communication and risk communication are required. The contractor shall have the capacity to apply innovative and proven outreach techniques to reach diverse populations with environmental health information 3. Purpose and Objectives. The purpose of this contract is to procure additional health communications capacity to respond to both ongoing and sudden or emerging issues in environmental health. The contractor will develop strategy and products to reach targeted and diverse populations in short time frames. The Contractor shall provide all necessary personnel, labor, facilities, equipment, materials, supplies, supervision, and other incidentals to provide the required expertise to enhance the capacity of the NCEH/ATSDR OC to provide integrated marketing services, communication support, and produce and distribute communication materials on selected NCEH/ATSDR topics and issues. 4. Project requirements. The contractor shall have the demonstrated expertise to deliver the following products and support services. They include, but are not limited to: Communications Planning • Materials Review. The Contractor shall review existing materials and information on ATSDR/NCEH issues. • Communications Plans. The Contractor shall develop plans (as required) detailing the strategy and tactics recommended for outreach to targeted populations. The plan shall cover strategic marketing, distribution of information, and evaluation based on an assessment of audience information-seeking behavior. All products and methods of distribution should maximize cost free solutions. The plan shall be presented in written form. The NCEH/ATSDR OC will review and approve all plans, protocols, and products before production. Advertising and Public Relations: • Key Messages and Questions & Answers (Q&A). For example, contractor shall develop key messages for asbestos-related communication, reworking/tailoring core messages developed by NCEH/ATSDR health scientists. • Letters e-mails to target populations. • Fact Sheets or Backgrounders based on content to be provided by NCEH/ATSDR OC. • Cognitive testing of messages and products. • News Releases or other Media Materials - Contractor shall assist with developing materials such as drafting press releases and media alerts, Q and A's, and fact sheets for review and approval by OC and CIO staff. The contractor shall submit additional press materials as needed for clearance by times needed according to protocol. • Media Distribution Planning and Media List. Consistent with communications priorities, the Contractor shall provide either simple media lists or detailed media distribution plans that include the rationale for targeted outreach. The contractor must have the ability to reach specific, diverse audiences with news information either "in-house" or through subcontractors. • Matte News Release and Distribution. • Audio News Releases. • Specialized Outreach Products. As the contractor develops the communication plan, innovative outreach products or strategies should be considered and developed to reach diverse populations. When the contractor identifies mechanisms to be used to select segments of the population for the outreach program, the process must be reviewed to identify if the Privacy Act applies. Adequate administrative, operational, and technical security controls must be implemented to prevent unauthorized access to or disclosure of any personally identifiable information (PII) that will be accessed by the contractor. Electronic transfers of PII via Internet or portable media must utilize FIPS 140-2 compliant encryption. • Press Events Logistics. Contractor shall provide logistical and technical support for press events, briefings (including teleconferences links for the media). • Graphics, layout and design. The contractor shall provide support for advertising materials specified by the project officer (as required). • Spokesperson Training. Contractor shall conduct a media training session to train approximately 5 spokespersons on key messages developed and techniques for delivering those messages. • Social Media Services. To include, but not limited to the development, promotion, and maintenance of branded social media profiles, groups, and/or pages; monitoring of social media usage to surmise information being shared among users of various platforms; and determining the most viable platforms for use. These tasks will be done in accordance with CDC/ ATSDR-established guidelines and best practices for social media use. • Web Design and Development. Contractor shall follow a standard development process to include: creating an outline (e.g. wireframe) for an informational, interactive Web site; content for the Web site as specified; potentially including such tools as a patient self-assessment instrument for the Web site; an e-card or similar outreach tool that can be accessed and easily used from the Web site. The Contractor shall produce broadcast-quality and Internet-compatible products from various sites in collaboration with CDC. Should a task include the development of an IT system, such as a web application that will be hosted in the CDC domain, then security language must be embedded in the task description. Standard language from the HHS Acquisition Regulations (HHSAR) shall be inserted into the task definition. • Specialized Marketing Services. The contractor will provide marketing and communications training and team coaching to NCEH/ATSDR team members. The contractor will provide logistical support for up to two off-site meetings each year. Evaluation Research and Monitoring The contractor shall collect and analyze a range of evaluation data across channels as needed (mass media, Web, organizational channels, etc.) For example, to measure reach and frequency of placement of public health news, the Contractor shall undertake environmental scanning, conduct media analysis, provide monitoring or hire a specialized monitoring service to track placements and coverage. Contractor shall provide final report that shall include a summary of media monitoring activities, recommendations with comments/creative ideas for further outreach, and marketing/outreach data. Other tasks could include distributing news products to selected local media contacts for review and feedback, with feedback provided to CDC through a written summary of each media contact. Another example of evaluation would be to analyze Web traffic or referrals from different Web sites to NCEH/ATSDR on-line information. Responding to Urgent and Emergent Issues The contractor shall be capable of responding to urgent and emergent issues that may require a "surge" in effort/resources. For the purpose of this IDIQ Contract, "surge" is defined as an unusual or atypical event requiring immediate contractor response and may require additional personnel and resources until the urgent or emergent issue is successfully resolved. Historically, urgent / emergent issues requiring a surge effort occur approximately two (2) times per year, but may be more or less than the historical number for any given year. Only activities within the scope of this statement of work are authorized. Accordingly, the contractor shall resolve any questions pertaining to "scope" with the contracting officer for a determination. Should a surge effort be required, the project officer shall determine if there is adequate funding remaining in the year to meet surge requirements. If additional resources are necessary, the government will amend the contract to provide additional funding by creating a task order. Surge support would include, but is not limited to: • Developing communications and outreach plans; • Conducting cognitive testing • Selecting media and channels for communication; • Message and material development; • Spokesperson training; • Coordinating with local communities and providing assistance; • Identifying and recruiting partners; • Facilitating health care networks and coalitions that address federal priorities; • Providing a summary report; and • Other tasks as appropriate. 5. Anticipated period of performance. Anticipate an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with a base period of 12 months, with four (4) option periods consisting of 12 months each. However, this is just an assumption at this time and may change. Various periods of performance are possible, but the total contract length will not to exceed 60 months from contract award. 6. Other important considerations. • Provide fully trained and experienced personnel, to include permanent staff, subcontractors, and consultants, to perform the tasks as paragraph 4 above. • The Contractor may be required to travel to accomplish project/site activities. All work projects, tasks and requests and associated costs that involve travel by Contractor personnel, including subcontractors and consultants, must be approved by the NCEH/ATSDR Project Officer before travel begins. Travel costs shall not exceed the maximum per diem rates as listed in the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) unless approval is obtained from the Contracting Officer before incurring travel costs. 7. Capability statement /information sought. Please provide your professional answers or insights to the following: i. What opinion(s) do you have about the difficulty and/or feasibility of contracting for the requirements stated in paragraph 4 "Project Requirements" above? Also please consider what impact the other factors stated in paragraphs 5 and 6 may have on the feasibility or difficulty of contracting for this requirement. Please identify any possible solutions and approaches that may currently exist in the marketplace. Also, please provide any other information regarding innovative ideas or concepts you have to meet these requirements. Also include your opinions about the selection of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code of 541810 "Advertising Agencies". ii. Please provide your capability to meet this requirement based on the information provided in paragraphs 4 through 6 above (but not on what you stated in paragraph ‘a' above). Please explicitly state how you could meet this requirement in terms of the following: I. Staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and formal and other training; II. Current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; III. Prior completed projects of similar nature; IV. Corporate experience and management capability; and V. Examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information; 8. Administrative information. i. Please provide the following information in your response to this sources sought: DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, etc) pursuant to NAICS code 541810 "Advertising Agencies", with a business size standard of $7 Million. ii. Information can be sent via email. 1. By email please put "HHS-NCEH-ATSDR-SS-11-R01" in the subject line and address it to vio9@cdc.gov **** Please provide responses no later than 11:59 pm EST, April 29, 2011****** iii. Information sent electronically can be provided in Microsoft Word 2007 or in Adobe PDF file formats. iv. Please limit responses to no more than 6 pages. v. Provide the technical and administrative points of contact, including their names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses of persons within your company. vi. Any questions regarding this sources sought must be sent via email and should be addressed to vio9@cdc.gov 9. Disclaimer and Important Notes. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s)."
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/CDCP/PGOA/HHS-NCEH-ATSDR-SS-11-R01/listing.html)
- Record
- SN02423802-W 20110415/110413234510-6c43299d600b4d94ebf93c8cde965a45 (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 |