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U -- PRODUCE VIDEO IN SUPORT OF GLOBE PROTOCOLS, SCIENTIFIC TOPICS SOL 52-DKNA-7-90069 DUE 080197 POC Joel Perlroth 301-713-0829 x121 WEB: Link to questions and answers., http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/~amd/7-90069.html. E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contracting Specialist, joel.l.perlroth@noaa.gov. ADDENDUM to Solicitation No.: 52-DKNA-7-90069 released on July 2, 1997 under Submission No.: 091574 The Globe web site will host all questions and answers regarding this solicitation and to obtain additional information about the GLOBE Program, please visit their web site at http://www.globe.gov/7-90069.html Questions and answers to previously asked questions are also available at http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/~amd/7-90069.html Additionally all future questions and answers regarding this solicitation will only be posted on the above web sites. Administrative information: Other General Government information: Official DOD Per Diem Rates -- http://www.dtic.mil/perdiem/pdrform.html CBDs -- http://cbdnet.gpo.gov/ FAR Table of Contents -- http://www.gsa.gov/far/current/html/toc.html Federal Acquisition Regulations Forms -- http://www.gsa.gov/forms/farnumer.htm The proposal should be prepared in the format and in a manner that sequentially addresses all of the specifications.The Government's primary concern for this procurement is satisfying the requirements in a cost effective manner consistent with the latest technology available. In order for a proposal to be deemed acceptable and eligible for evaluation it must be prepared in accordance with and comply with the instructions given in the solicitation document and must meet the specifications set forth in the Statement of Work. Proposals meeting the requirements and complying with the provisions will be evaluated in accordance with the procedures described. Responses to the solicitation will be evaluated on a "best value" basis giving due consideration to price, technical approach, and past performance. Technical approach is more important than past performance which is more important than cost. However, the closer proposals are in terms of technical approach and past performance, the more important cost will become. The government reserves the right to award without negotiations. After receipt of proposals and during the evaluation process, it may be necessary to obtain written or oral clarifications from an offeror in order to complete the evaluations. However, an award may be made without further written or oral discussion. For this reason, the offeror is advised to submit initial proposals which are technically complete and accurate and competitively priced. Offerors may submit written questions requesting information or clarification of the RFP requirements through July 22, 1997 to allow the program office adequate time to prepare and issue responses to all Offerors prior to the closing date and time set for receipt of proposals. Only written questions will receive a response. Questions may be faxed to 301-713-0809. Clarification on the closing date. The closing date for solicitation No. 52-DKNA-7-90069 is August 1, 1997 at 3:30 p.m. eastern time. FAR Provision 52.212-3, entitled "Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items" shall be completed after review of proposals and determination of companies in the competitive range. The time frame length of the video (protocols only) shall be based on an average of 10 to 15 minutes. Clarification on the number of copies for the technical, cost and sample video. The offeror shall submit 3 copies of the technical and 3 copies of the cost proposal. Additionally the offeror shall submit 1 copy of the sample video. Final deliverable for each video shall include 1 beta split track master and six VHS copies. The narrative for the technical proposal shall not exceed 20 pages and font no smaller than 12 pt. Questions and Answers as of July 17, 1997 Q. On our page 3 of your synopsis/solicitation, item g. under 1. Technical proposal "Provide a detailed time line and task description for production of the required videos, and a description of the approach to be used in preparing each type of video, also with an explanation of how each type of product will meet the needs of the GLOBE program and the intended audiences of the video." Do you want atime line, task description, approach description and explanation submitted with the initial proposal or do you want the designated contractor to supply that information later, along with the submission of scripts/treatment referenced in item f., after the award is made? A. ( on page 3....) We have a broad time plan, the contractor needs to design a time line and plan to fit those broad parameters. Q. We are unclear as to who is to supply the detail research and background information for the videos. Who is to supply the expert scientific authority for the Content -- Globe, the successful contractor, or another entity? We did not see that addressed in the description. A. Globe has the scientific material for its protocols. FYI, The GLOBE web site ( www.globe.gov) is available for public perusal. Q. The SOW for the protocols videos indicated both teachers and students are target audiences. Which group is the primary audience for the protocol videos? A: The primary audience for the protocol videos is globe teachers. Teachers may choose to use these videos with students, but the needs of the primary audience should not be sacrificed, in the design of the videos, for the secondary audience. Q. Under the Deliverables and Approval section of the solicitation there is a reference to a "digital on-line" edit session. We offer two completely different methods of digital editing: The Avid, which is used primarily for off-line editing. However, many programs are being on-lined on Avids, even though the video is compressed and has detectable artifacts. Our digital component room, mastering to Digital Beta. This system creates the highest quality video possible, and is correspondingly more expensive. Since the solicitation requires "highest quality," this offeror understands that Avid output will be unacceptable. Is this assumption correct? A. AVID will not necessarily be considered unacceptable if the offeror can support the methodology for choosing this type of editing and demonstrate that itmeets or exceeds the Governments requirement. Additionally, various production systems can be proposed and will be considered. Q. Will the Government provide to the contractor weather footage, electronic graphics, and technical information as part of the video development process? A. GLOBE itself does not have weather footage. Weather footage created by the Government is available in the public domain, however the costs incurred during research and copying of materials are at the expense of the contractor. GLOBE will provide technical information regarding the science content of the program. Q. We understand that all deliverables are required eight months following the award of the contract. Are the U.N. language versions deliverable after this eight month deadline? Most important, is there an estimated date after the August 1 deadline for an award decision? A. The deliverables shall be in accordance with each scheduled video produced and will be on a staggered delivery schedule. The award is to be made by no later than September 30, 1997. Q. Please provide Offerors with an "order of magnitude" range for the appropriation value of this contract. A. The order of magnitude is estimated to be between $450,000 and $650,000. Q. We feel that these questions are significant enough to request consideration of an extension of the August 1 deadline for proposal submission until September 1, 1997. This request for extension assumes a timely response to these significant questions and clarifications. A. The deadline for submission of proposals shall remain unchanged. Q. What does the term "Level of production refer to?" A. That refers to what techniques and systems might be used to produce the final videos, such as graphics, animation, creative camera work etc. Q. Where will presentations be held? A. At the GLOBE office or another mutually agreed-upon location in Washington, DC. Q. Should a contractor rep plan to attend location, rough cut and final screening; A. YES Q. Whatare the U.N. languages? A. English, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Spanish, French Q. Can a copy of the existing overview video be made available? A. A copy of the video can be obtained by calling the GLOBE help desk 1-800-858-9947 Q. How does that video compared to expectations for this project in terms of overall quality and level of graphics? A. There is no linkage. Q. How many copies of the written proposal and the sample video do you need for your evaluation? A. The offeror shall submit 3 copies of the technical and 3 copies of the cost proposal. Additionally the offeror shall submit 1 copy of the sample video. Q. There is a word missing from the Commerce Business Daily notice. Under the description of the 3 videos to be produced on selected scientific topics, the CBD notice says "first video completed as soon as possible after award, with others completed one per _?_, with the last one completed no later than eight months from award of contract." I'm not sure if there should be a specific time for the second to be completed. Should I just assume the 1st is due ASAP, the third within 8 months of the award, and the second somewhere in between say, 4 months? A. Completion for 3 videos on scientific topics, the "first to be completed as soon as possible after award, the others no later than 8 months from award". Q. Can we use on-camera English speaking talent? Translations would be dubbed in later. Or do programs need to be designed as voice overs only to avoid the "dubbed language look"? How many bi-lingual talent to be used? A. One can use on-camera English speaking talent with translations dubbed in later. The extent of on-camera speakers vs voice overs is not fixed and can be part of a contractor's proposal. Q. Is close captioning in English only? A. Close captioning is for all 6 U.N. languages Q. Can we submit day rates and hourly rates in our production estimate -- or is it strictly a bid? A. The contractor's cost proposal should be reflective of the effort. Be sure to alleviate the uncertainty and provide detailed cost breakdown information. Q. Is it sufficient to submit travel day rates since number of travel days are yet to be determined? A. All travel costs will be reimbursed in accordance with the U. S. Government Travel Regulations per diem each for locality. Contractor's should be able to take that into account in providing cost information for the U.N. locations. Refer to web site http://www.dtic.mil/perdiem/pdrform.html for destinations and corresponding per diem. Q. How extensive are the graphics in the 28 protocol programs? The offeror can create still graphics or include DVE moves, but we would subcontract graphics if 3D and animation are required. A. The amount of graphics can be part of a contractor's proposal and the use of subcontractors is acceptable. Q. Are some tests performed by the younger grades, and others by older students so the complexity of the scripts will vary? Would a kindergarten student needto understand each test, or should it be designed primarily for the teachers and older students? A. Complexity of the protocols vary, thus the complexity of the scripts will vary. The primary audience for the protocol videos is globe teachers. Teachers may choose to use these videos with students, but the needs of the primary audience should not be sacrificed, in the design of the videos, for the secondary audience. Q. Is it more cost effective to subcontract filming in foreign countries, or do you prefer to have the same crew travel for filming? A. No preference, as long as the contractor maintains the limits under Small Business set-asides in performing 51% of the work. Q. Can we submit excerpts from several training programs for our demo, or one completed program, or both? A. Yes, you can submit excerpts from your training videos or both. Q. Does script information already exist in print? Or will research be necessary prior to scripting? A. The offeror's can call 1-800-858-9947 formaterials and protocols as printed in the program teacher's guide. Any additional research necessary to create scripts shall be performance done by the contractor. Q. Do you use specific CLIN guidelines to line item production costs for this proposal? A. CLIN guidelines would be acceptable in the offeror's submission of their cost proposal, however it is not a mandatory requirement. Q. Given the 20 day schedule (#1 deliverables and approval) for all shooting script/treatments are there locations already selected? A. Delivery schedule for videos, and scripts, are staggered over the 8 months. Q. Do you want visible time code on the VHS dubs of location photography. A. Yes, Time code on dub is required. (0199)

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