Operation & Maintenance, Technical Support of Broadcast Systems in Middle East and Africa

The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) is seeking information regarding Industry's capability to provide installation, hosting, operation, maintenance, and technical support of BBG's Frequency Modulation (FM), Television (TV) and satellite uplink/downlink stations in the Middle East and Africa. The anticipated requirement will require the Contractor to provide hosting services, operational and maintenance (O&M) services and technical oversight for approximately fifty (50) FM transmitter systems and approximately five (5) television transmitter systems located throughout the Middle East and North Africa; and; Provide site survey, installation, O&M and other technical services throughout the Middle East, Arabic speaking North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa as required by the BBG; Provide timely technical support directly or on-contract to maintain high transmission availability at all responsible transmission locations; and shall have the ability to communicate in Arabic and other local languages by telephone, Short Message Services (SMS) and/or email with all transmission locations and travel freely throughout the Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This RFI does not commit the U.S. Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. BBG is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. All who respond are advised that the U.S. government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the Interested Party's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is released. In the event a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website. It is the responsibility of potential offerors to monitor the FedBizOpps website for additional information pertaining to this RFI. BACKGROUND. BBG anticipates a future procurement with the award of a firm fixed-price (FFP) indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract with a Base Year and four yearly options subject to the availability of funding. In addition, BBG may make multiple contract awards. BBG currently has anticipated operational requirements as follows: (1) Provide hosting services, operational and maintenance (O&M) services and technical oversight for approximately twenty-six (26) FM transmitter systems and approximately five (5) television transmitter systems located at approximately fifteen (15) widely separated sites in Iraq; (2) Provide technical oversight for approximately two (2) FM transmitter systems in Jordan; (3) Provide technical oversight for approximately six (6) FM transmitter systems in Lebanon; (4) Provide hosting services, O&M services and technical oversight for approximately three (3) FM transmitter systems in Libya; (5) Provide hosting services, O&M services and technical oversight for approximately six (6) FM transmitter systems in Morocco; (6) Provide hosting services, O&M services and technical oversight for approximately four (4) FM transmitter systems in Palestine; and (7) Provide hosting services, O&M services and technical oversight for one (1) possible FM transmitter system in Chad REQUESTED INFORMATION. Interested Parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a comprehensive written "Capabilities Statement," consisting of an original and two (2) copies, describing their approach to this Notice. The "Capabilities Statement" must include, at a minimum, the following: (1) BUSINESS size (i.e., small, large, etc.) and ownership; (2) EXAMPLES OF CAPABILITIES: Evidence of specific examples of the respondent's successful past performance with a minimum of five (5) years experience in the hosting, operation, maintenance and technical support of hosting, operational, maintenance and technical support of FM, TV and satellite program feed systems; (3) TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE: Evidence of the respondent's current on-going operations in the Middle East and Africa (specifically Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Chad, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa) and an unclassified description of such current ongoing operations in these locations; Specific examples of the respondent's self-sustaining capabilities in the Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa; and ability to travel throughout these locations; (4) REFERENCES: Verifiable evidence of the respondent's capability to communicate (written, email, telephone, person-to-person) in both Arabic, English and other local languages (optional); List references, name and contact information; and (5) BUDGET ESTIMATE: A sample project plan, including but not limited to a project schedule, bill of materials, description of activities, and budgetary estimates to deliver to BBG a complete, operational FM and TV network as described above; description and amount of management fees. Interested Parties MAY state and provide evidence of their capabilities to provide services to ONLY SOME OR ALL of the above specific locations. Please be advised that BBG and the U.S. Government will NOT provide personnel or facility security in any of the locations. There presently is an incumbent Contractor(s) with broadcast equipment in place at most of the named locations and operating at the incumbent's owned/leased facilities. The incumbent's facilities may NOT be transferable to another Contractor for a future procurement. Also, in some locations, BBG has separate O&M contracts in place whereby the incumbent Contractor provides technical support to BBG. Interested Parties are cautioned that it is mandatory that BBG broadcasts NOT be interrupted during any future procurement or transition process which MAY mean the future contractor provides and installs its own equipment/facilities during the transition period. Those interested parties who respond to the above who clearly demonstrate that they meet the above stated capabilities may be requested to provide added detailed information. All written or courier delivered responses, consisting of original and two (2) copies to this RFI notice, must be received by 2:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time (DST), on June 19, 2013 at the Broadcasting Board of Governors, Attention: Wayne Greene, Office of Contracts (CON), Mary E. Switzer Building, 330 "C" St., SW., Room 4007, Washington, DC 20237. Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. To aid the BBG, please segregate proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. NO telephone or oral responses will be accepted. Those who respond to this Notice will be notified whether their written "Capabilities Statement," as verified by BBG, is responsive to this Notice. If it is determined to be in the best interest of the Government, interested and qualified sources responding to this Notice may be requested to provide follow-up information. A determination to compete, or not to compete, a future procurement will be based on the responses to this RFI notice, and is solely within the discretion of the Government. This Notice is not a RFP, IFB, or RFQ. he Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) is seeking information regarding Industry's capability to provide installation, hosting, operation, maintenance, and technical support of BBG's Frequency Modulation (FM), Television (TV) and satellite uplink/downlink stations in the Middle East and Africa. The anticipated requirement will require the Contractor to provide hosting services, operational and maintenance (O&M) services and technical oversight for approximately fifty (50) FM transmitter systems and approximately five (5) television transmitter systems located throughout the Middle East and North Africa; and; Provide site survey, installation, O&M and other technical services throughout the Middle East, Arabic speaking North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa as required by the BBG; Provide timely technical support directly or on-contract to maintain high transmission availability at all responsible transmission locations; and shall have the ability to communicate in Arabic and other local languages by telephone, Short Message Services (SMS) and/or email with all transmission locations and travel freely throughout the Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This RFI does not commit the U.S. Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. BBG is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. All who respond are advised that the U.S. government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the Interested Party's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is released. In the event a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website. It is the responsibility of potential offerors to monitor the FedBizOpps website for additional information pertaining to this RFI. BACKGROUND. BBG anticipates a future procurement with the award of a firm fixed-price (FFP) indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract with a Base Year and four yearly options subject to the availability of funding. In addition, BBG may make multiple contract awards. BBG currently has anticipated operational requirements as follows: (1) Provide hosting services, operational and maintenance (O&M) services and technical oversight for approximately twenty-six (26) FM transmitter systems and approximately five (5) television transmitter systems located at approximately fifteen (15) widely separated sites in Iraq; (2) Provide technical oversight for approximately two (2) FM transmitter systems in Jordan; (3) Provide technical oversight for approximately six (6) FM transmitter systems in Lebanon; (4) Provide hosting services, O&M services and technical oversight for approximately three (3) FM transmitter systems in Libya; (5) Provide hosting services, O&M services and technical oversight for approximately six (6) FM transmitter systems in Morocco; (6) Provide hosting services, O&M services and technical oversight for approximately four (4) FM transmitter systems in Palestine; and (7) Provide hosting services, O&M services and technical oversight for approximately one (1) possible FM transmitter system in Chad REQUESTED INFORMATION. Interested Parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a comprehensive written "Capabilities Statement," consisting of an original and two (2) copies, describing their approach to this Notice. The "Capabilities Statement" must include, at a minimum, the following: (1) BUSINESS size (i.e., small, large, etc.) and ownership; (2) EXAMPLES OF CAPABILITIES: Evidence of specific examples of the respondent's successful past performance with a minimum of five (5) years experience in the hosting, operation, maintenance and technical support of hosting, operational, maintenance and technical support of FM, TV and satellite program feed systems; (3) TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE: Evidence of the respondent's current on-going operations in the Middle East and Africa (specifically Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Chad, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa) and an unclassified description of such current ongoing operations in these locations; Specific examples of the respondent's self-sustaining capabilities in the Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa; and ability to travel throughout these locations; (4) REFERENCES: Verifiable evidence of the respondent's capability to communicate (written, email, telephone, person-to-person) in both Arabic, English and other local languages (optional); List references, name and contact information; and (5) BUDGET ESTIMATE: A sample project plan, including but not limited to a project schedule, bill of materials, description of activities, and budgetary estimates to deliver to BBG a complete, operational FM and TV network as described above; description and amount of management fees. Interested Parties MAY state and provide evidence of their capabilities to provide services to ONLY SOME OR ALL of the above specific locations. Please be advised that BBG and the U.S. Government will NOT provide personnel or facility security in any of the locations. There presently is an incumbent Contractor(s) with broadcast equipment in place at most of the named locations and operating at the incumbent's owned/leased facilities. The incumbent's facilities may NOT be transferable to another Contractor for a future procurement. Also, in some locations, BBG has separate O&M contracts in place whereby the incumbent Contractor provides technical support to BBG. Interested Parties are cautioned that it is mandatory that BBG broadcasts NOT be interrupted during any future procurement or transition process which MAY mean the future contractor provides and installs its own equipment/facilities during the transition period. Those interested parties who respond to the above who clearly demonstrate that they meet the above stated capabilities may be requested to provide added detailed information. All written or courier delivered responses, consisting of original and two (2) copies to this RFI notice, must be received by 2:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time (DST), on June 19, 2013 at the Broadcasting Board of Governors, Attention: Wayne Greene, Office of Contracts (CON), Mary E. Switzer Building, 330 "C" St., SW., Room 4007, Washington, DC 20237. Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. To aid the BBG, please segregate proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. NO telephone or oral responses will be accepted. Those who respond to this Notice will be notified whether their written "Capabilities Statement," as verified by BBG, is responsive to this Notice. If it is determined to be in the best interest of the Government, interested and qualified sources responding to this Notice may be requested to provide follow-up information. A determination to compete, or not to compete, a future procurement will be based on the responses to this RFI notice, and is solely within the discretion of the Government. This Notice is not a RFP, IFB, or RFQ.