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

B -- AUDIENCE SURVEY AND FOCUS GROUPS IN BRAZIL SOL CON-00-0022 DUE 072800 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 public notice is also a written Request for Quotation (RFQ) No. CON-00-0022 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, for a contractor to obtain qualitative evaluations of VOA programs by radio listeners in S o Paulo, and Belo Horizonte, Brazil . Quoters are herein requested to submit written price quotations and technical capabilities/experience information for conducting focus groups as outlined below. SECTION A: DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH (1) Nature 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 Portuguese programs for Brazil and (b) in-depth 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, all have at least a complete secondary education and at least two or more have some higher education, be fluent in Portuguese, citizens of Brazil, and regular radio listeners. (3) Number, Location, and Recruitment of Groups. A total of four focus groups shall be conducted in S o Paulo, and four groups in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Quoters are requested to submit separate price quotations for four groups in S o Paulo only and for a total of eight groups in the two cities. 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 for the Brazilian market. Such criteria may include higher socioeconomic status, higher educational attainment, regular listening to selected major radio stations in the respective markets, 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 Brazil. (5) General Responsibilities of Contractor. The contractor shall perform the following tasks: (a) Develop 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 professional 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 Portuguese, 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 Brazil. (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. -- Views as to the relevance (or lack thereof) of VOA and other international broadcasters in the present media environment. (5) Analysis of topics of interest to listeners. (6) Reasons for listening (and not listening) to VOA in particular and international radio programs in general. (7) Suggestions, based on group discussions, of possible strategies for strengthening the competitive position of VOA in each market. (6) Summary of Deliverables. See preceding paragraphs for detailed description of requirements for each Deliverables. The three Deliverables to be provided to IBB by the contractor under this contract are as follows: (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 reportshall contain appropriate direct quotations from focus groups to illustrate points made in the report. The final report shall contain the points described above. (b) Provide complete videocassettes of each focus group session; (c) Provide complete transcripts of each focus group session in English. (7) Delivery Schedule. The contractor shall perform the work under this contract in accordance with the following Delivery Schedule. Focus groups shall be conducted within 4 weeks of final award. Final reports shall be due no later than 4 weeks after conclusion of the final focus group. SECTION B: SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES TO THE RFQ (i.e., Technical Information) Each quoter=s response to this RFQ shall include sufficient quantitative/qualitative information on the following technical items to enable the IBB to objectively evaluate the quoter=s capabilities/experience to successfully perform the work specified in the above Section A of this RFQ: 1) Detailed description of the proposed research methodology, includingspecific listing of organizations the quoter=s shall use for fieldwork; 2) Current information on the qualifications of quoter=s office and field staff who shall participate in performing the work specified in the above Section A of this RFQ; 3) Specific information on quoter=s past experience in conducting media research and qualitative research in Brazil and; (4) A schedule showing the time required for each phase of the project. SECTION C: 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: (1) Demonstrated experience in conducting quantitative research on broadcast media; (2) Demonstrated experience in conducting survey research and/or focus groups in Brazil; (3) Quality of the proposed recruiting techniques; (4) Overall quality control measures proposed, especially for survey fieldwork; (5) Professional qualifications of proposed project managers; and (6) Ability to complete the project in a timely manner. In the event that price quotations for the work outlined in this RFP significantly exceed IBB=s budgetary limitations, IBB reserves the right to reduce the scope of the work specified herein. In addition to specifically addressing the above-stated technical items, a quoter=s responses to this RFQ shall also provide technical details on any proposed subcontractors who would be engaged to work on this project. 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 the close of business (5. P.M. EST), Friday, July 28, 2000, and they shall reference this RFQ. No. CON-00-0022 in their transmittal letter to the Contracting Officer. 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 a "unrestricted" procurement pursuant to FAR Subpart 19.502 (Setting Aside Acquisitions). All responsible sources may submit a quotation which will be considered. Posted 07/11/00 (W-SN473234). (0193)

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