U.S. Information Agency, Office of Contracts, 301 4TH STREET SW, Room M27, Washington, DC 20547

T -- FOREIGN LANGUAGE-TRANSLATOR/WRITER (MANDARIN) POC Claudette Swann, B/VOA/F, Tele.: (202) 619-1405; Fax.: (202) 619-1840 Kelu Chao, Tele.: (202) 260-0609 This public notice is also a written Request for Quotation (RFQ) pursuant to procurement of the required services described below using the "Simplified Acquisition Procedures" specified in Part 13 of the Federal Acquisition (FAR). Price quotations submitted in response to this RFQ that exceed the Simplified Acquisition Threshold as specified in FAR Subpart 2.101, Definitions) will not be considered as responsive to this RFQ. The USIA International Broadcasting Bureau's Voice of America (VOA), the Government's international radio and television broadcast organization, broadcasts to an international audience in English and 50 other languages. B/VOA has a requirement, subject to the availability of funds, for an individual or company to provide the following services: The production of high quality translations from English to Chinese on a regular basis over a one-year period. Material to be translated shall consist of English language interviews, panel discussions or radio scripts which shall be translated into Mandarin for approximately a sixty-minute radio broadcast. VOA Mandarin Service presently delivers English language audio tapes to an outside contractor for transcription but is interested in having the transcription and translation done by one contractor. VOA Mandarin Service will provide the contractor with approximately 12,000 English words (40 pages) on a weekly basis, or a total of 2,100 pages of English text, double-spaced and single-sided, over one year. We require a turn-around time of one week or five business days for routine translations and a turn-around time of two business days for expedited translations. VOA will provide the English language material in the form of a written transcript, or in the form of a cassette tape if the contractor can prepare an English transcript from the audio tape. A consistent level of quality shall be exhibited and maintained by the translator in terms of accuracy and promptness. The contractor shall provide the Chinese translation to VOA electronically and shall specify the type of computer system and Chinese software they use to determine compatibility with that used by VOA. English transcripts of audio tapes shall be delivered to VOA in hard copy. Submission of documentation of the above stated services shall include a Statement of Work (SOW) with a statement of professional qualifications and price quotes. Quotes shall be based on a unit of 1000 English words (four pages at 250 words per page) as well as a total figure assuming a yearly allocation of 2,100 pages of English text. Quoters responding to the RFQ shall provide costs for routine translations as well as for expedited translations. Contractors shall offer a quote solely for translation of the English language transcript into Chinese or, if applicable, a second quote for transcription of the audio tape as well as the translation from English into Chinese. In the latter case, quoter shall include the price for both the transcription and translation. As part of the review process, VOA will require prospective contractors to translate a sample text to be provided by VOA. The following technical criteria, depending on the type of contract services, will be used to evaluate prospective contractors: A) Excellent qualifications as a professional in the translation field and an ability to adapt English language textual materials into broadcast-quality Mandarin Chinese; B) An ability to translate difficult English-language text into Chinese on a timely basis, as specified above, and with extreme accuracy; C) An ability to provide translation incorporating terminology currently used in VOA Mandarin's target broadcast area, i.e., the People's Republic of China, including names of American and Chinese personalities, place names, and terms frequently used in current news reportage and in issues specific to U.S.-China relations; D) An excellent understanding of American life, society and culture and familiarity with issues and events in U.S.-China relations so as to provide appropriate translations of slang, idiomaticexpressions and other subtleties; and E) Availability of compatible computer system and Chinese-language software so as to be able to send the translated Chinese text electronically to the VOA Mandarin Service. Individuals or firms interested in furnishing the above-stated services shall submit, via either facsimile or mail, their responses to this RFQ (i.e., Technical Capabilities/Experience and Price quotation in U.S. dollars) to the USIA International Broadcasting Bureau, Voice of America, East Asia & Pacific Division, B/VOA/F, Room 2708, 330 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547, Attn: Ms. Claudette Swann, Fax: (202) 619-1840 by the close of business (5 p.m. EST), Friday, September 25, 1998. Any questions (technical or otherwise) and the quoter's complete written response to this RFQ shall be sent directly and only to the Contracting Officer for this procurement. Quoters will be evaluated by the Government using the above-stated technical and price criteria. Fee/rate requirements for scripts shall also be submitted with the Price quotation, but they are negotiable based upon the individual's or the organization's experience, background, and other qualifications as specified above. Per FAR Subpart 19.502 (Setting Aside Acquisitions), the Contracting Officer has determined that this proposed work is appropriate for an "unrestricted" procurement. All responsible sources may submit a quotation which will be considered. Posted 09/09/98 (W-SN247281). (0252)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0119 19980911\T-0006.SOL)