Broadcasting Board of Governors, International Broadcasting Bureau, Office of Contracts (CON), 330 C Street, SW, Room 2500, Washington, DC 20237

B -- FOCUS GROUPS IN ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN, AND GEORGIA SOL CON-00-0050 DUE 053000 POC Contact Point/Contracting Officer: Wayne Greene, Contracting Officer, Telephone: (202) 619-2339; Facsimile: (202) 205-0683 E-MAIL: Click here to contact the contracting officer via, wgreene@IBB.GOV. This announcement is also a written Request for Quotation (RFQ) No. CON-00-0050 pursuant to procurement of the required services as described below using the "Simplified Acquisition Procedures" specified in Part 13 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (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 Broadcasting Board of Governors/International Broadcasting Bureau (BBG/IBB) has a requirement, subject to the availability of funds, to commision a contractor to obtain qualitative evaluations of Voice of America (VOA) programs by radio listeners in the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Quoters are herein requested to submit written price quotations and technical capabilities/experience information for conducting focus groups as outlined below. (1) Purpose of Study. Qualitative evaluations of VOA's programs shall be obtained through the use of focus groups. The study shall provide VOA management with (a) audience reaction to and suggestions for improving VOA programs targeted toward the countries cited above and (b) analysis of audience attitudes toward VOA programs in particular and international radio programs in general. The study shall also focus on attitudes toward and use of different media, both foreign and domestic. It is anticipated that each discussion shall last approximately 2 hours. (2) General Specifications. Each focus group session shall be comprised of 6-8 people and approximately equal numbers of men and women, where possible. Discussants shall be aged 18 to 60, have at least a complete secondary education, be citizens of the country in which the focus groups are conducted, and be regular radio listeners. (3) Number, Location, and Recruitment of Groups. A total of four focus groups shall be conducted in the capital cities of each of the countries cited above. Subsequent to contract award, in addition to the criteria listed above, IBB shall establish additional recruitment criteria in order to ensure discussants match the target audience for VOA programs each market. Such criteria may include higher socio-economic status, higher educational attainment, and stated interest in specific news and program topics, in particular in world events and culture. (4) IBB Responsibilities. IBB will provide sample audio cassette tapes of stimulus material to be played for participants during the focus groups, a draft outline (in English) of issues of interest, and material describing VOA's programming for the countries concerned. (5) Contractor Responsibilities. The contractor shall perform the following tasks: (a) Develop a detailed focus group discussion guide based on consultation with IBB Office of Research and VOA program managers. (b) Translate and reproduce focus group discussion guides; (c) Secure appropriate facilities in which to conduct the sessions; (d) Identify and recruit appropriate participants, according to the criteria outlined in this RFQ and in subsequent discussions; (e) Provide an experienced, professional focus group moderator; (f) Ensure that moderator is thoroughly familiar with the discussion guide and the material to be reviewed; (g) Conduct focus groups. The sessions shall be conducted in the dominant language of the countries cited in the introduction to this RFQ (Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian), and shall be video-taped; (h) Provide a brief report on the media environment, with particular emphasis on factors that may bear on listening to foreign-produced radio programs like VOA's; and (i) Prepare an analytical report, in English, on the groups' views on issues of interest to VOA. Such issues shall include but not be limited to: (1) Evaluations of the production style, presentation quality, and content of specific VOA programs for the countries concerned. (2) Comparison of the reactions and views of demographic groups among participants. (3) General evaluation of relevance, timeliness, and usefulness of VOA programs. (4) Qualitative comparison of VOA programs and those of other international broadcasters. (5) Qualitative comparison of VOA programs and those of the domestic media. (6) Views as to the relevance (or lack thereof) of VOA and other international broadcasters in the present media environment. (7) Analysis of topics of interest to listeners. (8) Reasons for listening (and not listening) to VOA in particular and international radio programs in general. (9) Suggestions, based on group discussions, of possible strategies for strengthening the competitive position of VOA in each market. (6) Summary of Deliverables. The contractor shall provide IBB with the following deliverables: (a) A final report, in English. The report shall be delivered in hard copy and in Microsoft Word format on 3.5 inch computer diskette or via e-mail. The report shall contain appropriate direct quotations from focus groups to illustrate points made in the report. The final report shall contain the points described above. (b) A complete set of video cassettes of each focus group session; (7) Proposed Time Schedule. The contractor shall perform work under this contract in accordance with the following proposed Time Schedule: Focus groups shall be conducted within 6 weeks of final award. Final reports shall be due no later than 8 weeks after conclusion of the final focus group. SECTION B: SELECTION CRITERIA. A contract (i.e., Purchase Order) award will be made by the contracting officer based on: A) the quoter's Technical Capabilities/Experience (for which there are six (6) equally weighted subcriteria); and B) the quoter's Price Quotation. Of the two Selection Criteria, Technical Capabilities/Experience is the significantly dominant criterion over the Price criterion. The Technical Capabilities/Experience subcriteria are as follows: (a) Demonstrated experience in conducting qualitative research on broadcast media; (b) Demonstrated experience in conducting qualitative research in the countries referenced in this RFQ; (c) Quality of the proposed recruitment techniques; (d) Overall quality control measures proposed especially for project oversight; (e) Professional qualifications of proposed project managers; (f) Ability to complete the project in a timely manner. SECTION C: SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES TO THE RFQ (i.e., PRICE QUOTATIONS AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION. Each quoter's response to this RFQ shall include; (1) A detailed description of the research methodology, including specific listing of organizations the quoter shall use for fieldwork; (2) Current information on the qualifications of quoter's office and field staff; (3) Specific information on quoter's past experience in conducting media research and qualitative research in the Caucasus and (4) A schedule showing the time required for each phase of the project. In addition to addressing the points noted above, submissions should also provide details on any subcontractors who would be engaged to work on these projects. Omission of any of the above-requested information pertaining to the quoter and/or any subcontractors proposed by the quoter in performing this contract, will weigh against the quoter during the Contracting Officer's evaluation of the quoter's response to this RFQ. Firms interested in the above described work are requested to submit their responses to this RFQ (i.e., Technical Capabilities/Experience and Schedule information, and Price quotation) by 5 PM EST, Tuesday, May 30, 2000, and they shall reference this RFQ No. CON-00-0050 in their transmittal letter to the Contracting Officer. In the event that price quotations for the work outlined in this RFQ significantly exceed IBB's budgetary limitations, IBB reserves the right to reduce the scope of the work specified herein. All questions (technical or otherwise) by a prospective quoter regarding this RFQ shall be in writing. Any questions and the quoter's complete written response to this RFQ shall be sent directly and only to the Contracting Officer for this procurement, Mr. Wayne Greene, via facsimile at (202) 205-0683. The Price quotations submitted as part of a quoter's response to this RFQ shall be on a separate page from the above-requested Technical Capabilities/Experience and Schedule information. The Contracting Officer has found and determined that this proposed work is appropriate for an "unrestricted" procurement pursuant to FAR Subpart 19.502 (Setting Aside Acquisitions). All responsible sources may submit a quotation which will be considered. Posted 05/09/00 (W-SN453127). (0130)

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