U.S. Information Agency Office of Contracts, M/KC 330 C Street, SW, Room 1611 Washington, DC 20547

70 -- GENERAL PURPOSE AUTOMATED DATA PROCESSING EQUIPTMENT (INCLUDING FIRMWARE), SOFTWARE, SUPPLIES, AND SUPPORT EQUIPTMENT SOL IA-2102-S7234709-Z DUE 102996 POC James W. Durham, Elliott Gilmore/Karen S. Rose (202) 205-5414 SOURCES SOUGHT - The United States Information Agency, International Broadcasting Bureau, Voice of America (VOA), has a requirement to modernize and replace the VOA's Audio Production System and is seeking Contractors that can provide the following: A new audio Production System that will consist of an integrated suite of software and hardware components for the digital production of radio programs. The functionality required by the system will include audio editing, distribution, acquisition, recording, playback, scheduling, database, radio program management, archiving, and related administrative tasks. The application software shall incorporate object technology, and shall operate on the Solaris operating system (version 2.5 or higher), running on Intel X86, Power PC, and SPARC platforms. The scope of the proposed contract encompasses the design, acquisition, installation, integration of the contractor-furnished system, integration of GFE components, and warranty/support of the Audio Production System and each of the subsystems contained within. The Contractor selected under this procurement shall also provide hardware such as specialized (digital) audio cards, AES/EBU-to-ATM input devices and client software, CD-ROM jukeboxes, and data archiving subsystems. USIA intends to issue a DRAFT Request for Proposal (RFP) for this proposed negotiated firm-fixed-price procurement by October 1996 for the purpose of soliciting comments from industry sources. Qualified suppliers of broadcast-quality digital audio systems may request a copy of the Draft RFP by submitting a written request, (or faxed request -- FAX NO. 202-205-5466), to the USIA Contracting Officer at the above-listed address. With the Draft RFP, an invitation for existing suppliers of digital audio software to demonstrate their products at VOA Headquarters in Washington D.C. will be issued. All questions/comments regarding this proposed solicitation must be submitted by fax or in writing to the USIA Contracting Officer within 30 days after the issue date of the subject Draft RFP. A subsequent CBD announcement will be issued prior to release of the final RFP, all responsible sources may submit a proposal in response to the forthcoming solicitation document, and all proposals will be considered by the Agency. This notice is not an RFP. (0292)

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