U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Contracts Management Division (MD-33), Attention: OARSC, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

B -- AIR QUALITY INDEX AWARENESS CAMPAIGN SOL AC0083 DUE 042400 POC James F. Kempf, Contract Specialist, (919) 541-4278/Kathy Moore, Contracting Officer, (919) 541-3504 WEB: Click here to visit the site that has information about, http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. E-MAIL: Click here to contact the contract specialist via, kempf.james@epa.gov. THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL SERVICES PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN SUBPART 12.6, AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION; QUOTES ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED. The solicitation number is AC0083 and the solicitation is being issued as Request for Proposal solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-15. The Environmental Protection Agency anticipates that the contract will be awarded as a result of full and open competition. A firm-fixed-price purchase order is anticipated to result from the award of this solicitation. This procurement is a total small business set aside and the SIC No. is 8999 with a size standard of $5M in average annual receipts over the preceding three fiscal years. This procurement is not a follow-on to a prior contract. This acquisition is for the development of communications materials that can be used to raise public awareness of the Air Quality Index (AQI). The materials purpose is to help insure that on particularly bad ozone days, people should consider modifying their outdoors plans to praskevent exposures to high pollution levels. The target audience will be the general public, particularly people with asthma and other respiratory diseases, mothers of children with asthma, and healthy children and adults who are active outdoors in the summer. The resultant purchase order will consist of the following separately priced line items: Item 0001 -- Develop Framework (Task 1), Item 0002 -- Media Kit (Task 2), Item 0003 -- Print Ads (Task 3), Item 0004 -- 15 second live read PSAs (Task 4), Item 0005 -- 30 second live read PSAs (Task 4), Item 0006 -- 60 second live read PSAs (Task 4), Item 0007 -- Effectiveness tracking (Task 5), Item 0008 -- 15 second video PSAs (Task 6), Item 0009 -- 30 second video PSAs (Task 6) and Item 0010—60 second video PSAs (Task 6). The Statement of Work is as follows: Task 1:The contractor shall work with the EPA and 2 to 4 state and local governments (a representative cross-section of the U.S.) to develop a framework to carry out a public education campaign on air pollution and the AQI. This task will yield a number of possible strategies and activities (short and long range) necessary to implement the public education campaign. The strategies will include an explanation of the various approaches, the type and level of resources estimated for each approach, typical time frames, and how the campaign would be evaluated. Execution of these strategies is not a part of this order. Prior to developing any recommended strategies, the contractor shall conduct four phone interviews with the EPA originator and other EPA officials about the message, the target audience and means for disseminating the message. The framework will include, at a minimum, information about these topics: -- how to maximize participation through public outreach; -- how to measure and evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign; -- how to use the media and maximize media resources through mechanisms such as the National Advertising Council. To successfully develop the framework, the contractor shall -- review the work that has been done to date by state and local air agencies (to be provided by EPA). -- attend and participate in an EPA-facilitated discussion with EPA Regional Offices to assess the needs of the state and local agencies. Deliverables: A written report which lays out the framework for implementing a public outreach campaign. The report will include creative ideas and recommendations for various strategies, and short and long term actions that may be effective in implementing the campaign. This report will be delivered by June 12, 2000. Task 2: The contractor shall design and develop a media kit using draft materials to be supplied by EPA within 1 week of award of this contract. The contractor shall enhance these materials for use in a media kit that will include a variety of creative materials for use by print, television, radio and other press. The materials will illustrate information about use of the AQI. At a minimum, the media kit will include the following: -- Background on ozone and other pollutants (EPA to supply; contractor to enhance and build into media kit) -- Story idea tip sheet (EPA to supply 2 ideas; contractor shall supply 3 additional ideas) -- Media contact list (EPA to supply) -- Downloadable graphics for print media (contractor shall supply) -- Downloadable high resolution photographs for print media (contractor shall supply) -- Ozone and other pollutant facts (EPA to supply; contractor to enhance and build into media kit) -- Health protection tips (EPA to supply; contractor to enhance and build into media kit) -- Downloadable sound bites (EPA to supply; contractor to enhance and build into media kit) -- Links to relevant web sites (contractor shall supply). Deliverables: The contractor shall provide media kit materials in electronic format for EPA to disseminate via the Internet (for reporter access). The contractor shall ensure newly developed materials are compatible with EPA hardware and software capabilities. The contractor shall also provide hard copy press kits (20) and a master original preferably on disk format) with printer specifications such that EPA can duplicate it as necessary. The press kit will be delivered no later than May 30, 2000. Task 3: The contractor shall design, develop and produce sample advertisements for newspaper/journal print (10 ads with common themes). Deliverables: The contractor shall provide print ads in electronic format for EPA to disseminate via the Internet. The contractor shall ensure newly developed materials are compatible with EPA hardware and software capabilities. The contractor shall also provide camera-ready print ads (100 copies) and a master original (preferably on disk format) with printer specifications such that EPA canduplicate it as necessary. The print ads will be delivered no later than June 15, 2000. Task 4: The contractor shall design, develop and produce (2 each) 15, 30 and 60 second live read PSAs for use on radio. Deliverables: The contractor shall provide live read PSAs in electronic format for EPA to disseminate via the Internet. The contractor shall ensure newly developed materials are compatible with EPA hardware and software capabilities. The contractor shall also provide hard copy live read PSAs (20 copies) and a master original (preferably on disk format) with printer specifications such that EPA can duplicate it as necessary. The live read PSAs will be delivered no later than June15, 2000. Task 5: The contractor shall monitor/track use and effectiveness of radio PSAs and print advertisements during the 2000 ozone season through follow-up discussions with 10 state and local air/media staff (representative cross-section of the U.S.). The contractor shall use this feedback in preparing the video PSAs identified in Task 6. Deliverables: The contractor shall provide a summary report of findings and make recommendations on ways to enhance the video PSAs and improve distribution and use. The final report will be delivered no later than December 15, 2000. Optional Task 6: (To be separately priced) The contractor will design, develop and produce (2 each) 15, 30 and 60 second video PSAs. Deliverables: The contractor shall provide video PSAs for EPA to disseminate via the Internet and for TV. The contractor shall ensure newly developed materials are compatible with EPA hardware and software capabilities for use on the Internet. The contractor shall also provide television text scripts and video PSAs (20 copies) and a master original such that EPA can duplicate it as necessary. The video PSAs will be delivered no later than March 1, 2001. Under all tasks, EPA anticipates two draft reviews for each work product. EPA will provide comments within 2 weeks of receipt of a draft deliverable. The contractor shall establish a delivery schedule for draft and final products that complies with the final delivery times specified below. All web-ready output products must be prepared for materials developed under this contract (finished, ready to install, quality, fully-linked HTML). The Contractor shall ascertain that Agency web publishing standards and guidelines are being met assure proper and efficient incorporation of these standards. These web-publishing standards are available online, respectively, at: USEPA: http://www.epa.gov/webguide/ USEPA/OCEMR: http://intranet.epa.gov/ocemr-review/webchklst.html USEPA/OAR/OAQPS: http://www.epa.gov/oar/webcheck.html Web-ready materials shall be provided by the Contractor to EPA in complete directory format, by mutually agreeable transfer method (FTP, CD, etc.) and loadable onto EPA Test/Development servers for EPA review. Web-outputs with major or fatal errors will be returned to the Contractor for correction. TIME LINE: By 6/12/00 Develop framework for public education campaign (task 1). By 5/31/00 Design and develop final press kit via Internet (for reporter use only) and hard copy (task 2). By 6/15/00 a) Develop final scripts for TV, radio and ad PSA's (task 3); b) Produce final radio and ad PSA's (task 4). 8/00 -- 12/15/00 Monitor/track effectiveness of PSA's. By 3/1/01 Design, develop and produce final TV PSA's for national, state and local distribution. A best value award will be made considering price and the evaluation criteria outlined below. Evaluation criteria to be included in paragraph (a) of provision 52.212-2 are as follows: 1 -- Demonstrated experience with AQI communications. 2 -- Demonstrated technical understanding of Air Quality Index. 3 -- Creativity/innovative ideas of technical approach. 4 -- Past performance and previous experience with efforts similar to the proposed actions. The following FAR provisions (which can be downloaded at the following site: http://www.epa.gov/oamrtpnc/spclaus/index.htm) apply to this solicitation: 52.212-1, Evaluation-Instructions to Offerors-Commercial; 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Item. All Offerors shall include with their offers a completed copy of provision 52.212-3, Offror Representations and Certification-Commercial Items. The following FAR clause applies to this acquisition: 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items. The following additional FAR clauses which are cited in clauses 52.212-5 are applicable to the acquisition: 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government, with Alternate I: 52.203-10, Price or Fee Adjustment for Illegal or Improper Activity; 52.219-14, Limitation on Subcontracting; 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity; 52.222-35, Affirmative Action for Special Disabled and Vietnam Era Veterans; 52.222.36, Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers; 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Viet Nam Era. Price and technical information should be submitted to James F. Kempf, Contract Specialist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, MD-33, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. Courier Delivery Address is: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Receptionist-Administration Bldg. Lobby, Attn: James F. Kempf, 79 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. All offers are due by April 24, 2000, 4:00PM EDT. No telephonic requests will be honored. Posted 04/12/00 (W-SN444030). (0103)

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