General Information Document Type: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Solicitation Number: BBG50-R-15-0022 Posted Date: February 23, 2015 Original Response Date: March 12, 2015 Contracting Officer Address: Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) Attn: Diane Sturgis Contracting Officer 330 Independence Avenue, SW Suite 1655J Washington, DC 20237 United States of America THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION for commercial items 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; proposals are being requested and a separate WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED. The solicitation number BBG50-R-15-0022 is issued as a request for proposal (RFP) for the acquisition of Broadcasting Services, in support of the Broadcasting Board of Governors 330 Independence Avenue, Washington, D.C., 20237. (i) The contractor shall provide a Firm Fixed Price proposal for a base period of twelve (12) months and one (1) option period of twelve (12) months. (ii) The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), Office of Contracts (CON) located in Washington, D.C. is seeking a radio station with a footprint in Ukraine to broadcast Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty programming as described further in the section titled "Statement of Work (SOW)". (iii) The Government anticipates making an award under this Solicitation on/or about on March 23, 2015 and no later than April 17, 2015 for a broadcasting start date of May 2, 2015. The Base Period of award shall be twelve (12) months and the subsequent Option Period, if exercised, will follow sequentially for total contract duration not to exceed twenty-four (24) months. The Contractor shall submit a monthly invoice electronically for services provided the preceding month in accordance with the Prompt Payment Act. (iv) The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provision FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items, applies to this solicitation. FAR provisions and clauses may be obtained from the Internet Web address at: http://acquisition.gov/far/index.html. Interested contractors who are capable of providing these services should submit a proposal identifying capabilities as noted below. The contractor shall demonstrate their ability and experience in providing the required services. SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK: The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB), Office of Strategy and Development (OSD) in Prague, Czech Republic, is seeking a Radio station that has the ability to reach mass audiences with coverage throughout Berdyansk, Cherkassy, Chernivtsi, Chernygiv, Chornomorskoe, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Drogobych, Ivano-Frankievsk, Kamyanets-Podilsky, Kerch, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmelnytsky, Kirovograd, Konotop, Kramatorsk, Kremenchug, Kryvy Rig, Kyiv, Lubny, Lugansk, Lutsk, Lviv, Lysychanks, Mariupol, Melitopol, Mykolaiv, Nikopol, Odessa, Pology, Poltava, Rivne, Romny, Sevastopol, Shostka, Sumy, Ternopol, Uzhorod, Vinnytsya, Volodarka, Zaporizye and Zhytomyr in Ukraine and surrounding regions. The Network shall broadcast Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty programming in the Ukrainian language: "RFE/RL Ukrainian Morning Liberty" from Monday - Friday at 07:08-07:57 local time, "RFE/RL Ukrainian Liberty Today " from Monday - Friday at 20:00-20:30 local time, "RFE/RL Europe Connect" on Monday and Wednesday 20:30-2057 local time, "RFE/RL We together" on Tuesday and Thursday at 20:30-2057 local time and "Youth Plus" on Friday at 20:30-20:57 local time with the airing not varying more than two minutes from the time agreed upon. Samples can be found here: http://www.rferl.org/howtolisten/UK/ondemand.html BBG is authorized to produce this program in any way it sees fit, so long as it does not violate the laws of Ukraine. Network shall broadcast the program in its entirety, without alteration, abridgement or excerption. However, Network shall have the right to determine whether the program is in accordance with the laws of Ukraine. Program shall be transmitted by BBG via satellite or Internet/FTP - with technical details of the transmission to the Network(s) and feed transmission times to be mutually agreed upon. Each party shall identify points of contact to discuss any alteration of the program's scheduled playback, or other technical or administrative details in advance. PAYMENT AND BILLING Payment from BBG shall be in arrears in United States Dollars (USD), net 30 days upon receipt of proper invoice. BROADCAST EFFECTIVE DATES Effective date for this procurement shall be May 2, 2015. Duration of this procurement shall be twelve (12) months ending May 1, 2016, with one (1), one-year option year period available to be exercised partially or in full subject to the availability of funding. EVALUATION CRITERIA: INTERESTED OFFERORS RESPONDING TO THIS SOLICITATION SHALL SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING ITEMS TO THE CONTRACTING OFFICER: (1) a Technical Proposal which addresses the technical factors described below in (i) and (2) a Price Proposal in accordance with (ii). The Price Proposal must contain a copy of (Attachment A) entitled "Price Schedule" which must be filled out by the interested contractor as well as either a copy of FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items or a statement that FAR 52.212-3 has been completed in the System for Award Management website. The technical and price proposals must be submitted separately. No price information should be contained within the technical proposal. The Offeror shall submit a proposal that delineates its technical ability and relevant expertise to perform the work described in the Statement of Work (SOW), including reaching audience throughout the city of Kyiv and outlying areas in Ukraine. The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will represent the Best Value to the Government . The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: (i) Technical Approach a. Experience - 3 years minimum in radio broadcast programming b. Capability - to reach mass audiences located in cities Berdyansk, Cherkassy, Chernivtsi, Chernygiv, Chornomorskoe, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Drogobych, Ivano-Frankievsk, Kamyanets-Podilsky, Kerch, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmelnytsky, Kirovograd, Konotop, Kramatorsk, Kremenchug, Kryvy Rig, Kyiv, Lubny, Lugansk, Lutsk, Lviv, Lysychanks, Mariupol, Melitopol, Mykolaiv, Nikopol, Odessa, Pology, Poltava, Rivne, Romny, Sevastopol, Shostka, Sumy, Ternopol, Uzhorod, Vinnytsya, Volodarka, Zaporizye and Zhytomyr. (ii) Price (for the base period and one option year period) a. May 2, 2015 - May 1, 2016 b. May 2, 2016 - May 1, 2017 (iii) Past Performance -the offeror's past performance in working with BBG's broadcasters and in contract compliance regarding pre-emptions shall be considered. Offers will not be accepted from agents; from principals only. RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: The Offeror shall list its experience with supporting documentation. PAST PERFORMANCE: (ATTACHMENT B) The offeror shall submit three (3) past performance examples of current or previous contracts within the past three (3) years immediately preceding the issuance of this solicitation to be considered recent. Past performance information must include name of agency serviced or being serviced, name, telephone number and email address of agency point of contact; contract number, value of contract, nature of work performed, and the period of performance. Offerors are advised that the Government may use past performance information obtained from centralized past performance databases and sources other than those identified by the offerors and the information obtained may be used for both the responsibility determination and the best value decision. The absence of past performance data will be rated neither favorably nor unfavorably. Contracts listed may include those entered into with Government agencies or the private sector. For contractors with no relevant corporate past performance, the Government may take into account information regarding the past performance of predecessor companies, key personnel with relevant past performance. Technical Qualifications and Past Performance, when combined, are approximately equal to price. BASIS FOR AWARD The procurement is being conducted under the authority of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) part 12 Commercial Items. Best value is defined as the expected outcome of an acquisition that, in the Government's estimation, provides the greatest overall benefit in response to the requirement in accordance with FAR 2.101 The Government reserves the right to make a selection based upon the initial proposals submissions so the offeror should submit its best terms in the initial proposal. The Government also reserves the right to make multiple awards for this requirement. BASE PERIOD: Effective date for this procurement shall be May 2, 2015. Duration of this procurement shall be twelve (12) months, ending May 1, 2016 with one (1) additional, one year- periods subject to the availability of funding. OPTION PERIOD(S): Prior to the end of the Base Period, this agreement may be extended, confirmed in writing, for one (1) additional, one-year periods under the same terms and conditions as the Base Period. The total duration of the Agreement including extensions shall not exceed two (2) years or through May 1, 2017. Option Year 1: May 2, 2016 - May 1, 2017 BBG may extend the term of this Agreement by written notice to Broadcasting Entity within seven (7) calendar days of the Agreement's expiration; provided that BBG gives Broadcasting Entity a preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least thirty (30) days before the Agreement expired. The preliminary notice does not commit the BBG to an extension. The Parties agree that BBG may partially exercise any option and may do so multiple times up to the point that the option has been fully exercised. Broadcasting Entity, however, will not be entitled to any compensation beyond the total amount of the option exercised. If BBG partially executes an option, Broadcasting Entity's sole obligation is to provide the ordered portion and BBG's sole obligation is pay for the ordered portion. If BBG partially executes an option, BBG's partial execution will not imply BBG will execute the remainder of the option. If BBG partially executes the option and does not execute the remainder of the option, BBG will have no further obligation under the contract to Broadcasting Entity, that is, BBG's entire obligation to Broadcasting Entity will be to pay for the ordered portion (and any previously ordered portions). The option year period is subject to the availability of funds per FAR 52.232-19. 52.232-19 Availability of Funds for the Next Fiscal Year. As prescribed in 32.706-1(b), insert the following clause: AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR (APR 1984) Funds are not presently available for performance under this contract beyond May 1, 2016. The Government's obligation for performance of this contract beyond that date is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds from which payment for contract purposes can be made. No legal liability on the part of the Government for any payment may arise for performance under this contract beyond May 1, 2016, until funds are made available to the Contracting Officer for performance and until the Contractor receives notice of availability, to be confirmed in writing by the Contracting Officer. (End of clause) Offers are due no later than 12:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, March 12, 2015 via mail carriers of delivery to the address shown above or by e-mail to
[email protected] ; and
[email protected]. NO FAX PROPOSALS WILL BE ACCEPTED. All offers must be signed. Offerors shall include a completed copy of the provision FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items which is completed by registering in the System for Award Management (SAM) Website at: https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/. Proposals must also include contractor's DUNS Number, prompt payment terms, and correct remittance address, if different from mailing address. OFFERORS MUST BE REGISTERED WITH SAM PRIOR TO AWARD. https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/ The FAR clause 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition with addendum to the clause. The addendum is as follows: I. CONTRACTING OFFICER REPRESENTATIVE: The Contracting Officer will appoint by letter a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) who will have the responsibility of ensuring that the work conforms to the requirements of the contract and such other responsibilities and authorities as may be specified in the letter of authorization or this contract. It is understood and agreed, in particular, that the COR shall not have authority to make changes in the scope or terms and conditions of the contract unless and only to the extent that such authority is specified in the letter of authorization or the contract. THE RESULTANT CONTRACTOR IS HEREBY FOREWARNED THAT, ABSENT THE REQUISITE AUTHORITY OF THE COR TO MAKE ANY SUCH CHANGES, IT MAY BE HELD FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CHANGES NOT AUTHORIZED IN ADVANCE, IN WRITING, BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER, MAY BE DENIED COMPENSATION OR OTHER RELIEF FOR ANY ADDITIONAL WORK PERFORMED THAT IS NOT SO AUTHORIZED, AND MAY ALSO BE REQUIRED, AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO THE GOVERNMENT, TO TAKE ALL CORRECTIVE ACTION NECESSITATED BY REASON OF THE UNAUTHORIZED CHANGES. (End of Clause) Proposals that do not include pricing for the option period shall be deemed incomplete and will not be eligible for review. QUESTIONS: If the offeror is uncertain as to any requirements of the specification(s), such questions should be directed to the Contracting Officer. Questions should be submitted via email to
[email protected] ; and
[email protected] . Questions must be received no later than 1:00 p.m. (EST) on Tuesday March 3, 2015. Questions which are not submitted in writing or are submitted after 1:00 p.m. (EST) on Tuesday March 3, 2015, will not be addressed. Responses to the questions submitted, if/as appropriate, will be responded to via an amendment to the solicitation only, which will be posted to FEDBIZOPPS. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: TELEPHONE INQUIRES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. This acquisition is being solicited as Full and Open Competition. The associated NAICS code for this procurement is 515111/515120. The Government intends to award a Single Firm-Fixed Price contract but reserves the right to make multiple awards as a result of this solicitation. APPLICABILITY OF FAR PROVISIONS: