NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE SOLE SOURCE AWARD Solicitation No. USAGM-APR2019-JG The United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), Office of Management Services/Contracts (CON) located at 330 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington DC 20237, intends to negotiate and award a sole source firm fixed-price contract to SKYY Radio Incorporated (Contractor), located in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The Contractor is currently providing the services that this action covers. The Contractor is responsible for providing broadcasting services consisting of operations and maintenance support of the USAGM's FM Radio Station in Freetown, Sierra Leone on an uninterrupted basis 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, each day of the year during the term of the contract. Additionally, the Contractor is responsible for the following requirements: Broadcast Operations and Maintenance Support 1. Provide the necessary facilities located at the Contractor's transmission site in Freetown, Sierra Leone consisting of major requirements such as space for the USAGM broadcasting antennas on an existing tower, and acclimatized space in an existing building for a FM transmitter and associated equipment, that are necessary for broadcasting USAGM programming. Contractor will provide suitable backup power generation and fuel in the event commercial power is unavailable. 2. Permit USAGM to receive USAGM programs via satellite and broadcast 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, from the Site identified above. The USAGM provided programming shall be broadcast on the assigned MHz frequency. The USAGM provided programming shall be broadcast in its original form, language and content without any alterations. 3. Ensure USAGM broadcast services are operated in accordance with International Telecommunications Union technical standards and operated at their maximum licensed power, on the specified frequency(ies) and channel(s) within the maximum modulation levels in accordance with International Telecommunications Standards (ITU) technical standards. 4. Operate and maintain the Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) in accordance with USAGM terms and conditions. 5. The Contractor will provide all labor, associated services, operation and maintenance of equipment necessary for receiving and broadcasting the USAGM provided programs. The Contractor shall refer to the manufacturer's equipment manual for both periodic and corrective maintenance. 6. Ensure that all services provided by the Contractor at the transmitting facility meet the USAGM's 24 hours per day, 7 days a week broadcast schedule, except for agreed upon maintenance schedules. To accomplish the above requirements, the USAGM will provide the Contractor with a 24 hours, 7 days a week, program feed via satellite circuit, or by other mutually agreed upon means. Broadcast Licensing Support 1. In addition to the services to be provided by the Contractor as described above, the Contractor shall assist the USAGM with broadcast licensing support through appropriate liaison with the Independent Media Commission (IMC) and National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM) of Sierra Leone, concerning the licensing and exclusive use of the specified MHz frequency, in the frequency modulation (FM) broadcast band for USAGM (VOA). The Contractor shall provide assistance to USAGM for maintaining the appropriate licensing and regulatory permissions and/or approvals, necessary for the USAGM to continue using the required frequency during the entire term of the Agreement and any extensions thereof. a. The license assigned under this Agreement for the specified MHz frequency shall be reserved for the exclusive use of the USAGM, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, each day of the year. b. The Contractor shall keep informed of IMC and NATCOM requirements and respective filing dates for any and all actions that may affect or impact the authorization for USAGM (VOA) to broadcast in Sierra Leone. The Contractor shall notify USAGM in a timely manner, of any filing requirements, license fee/renewals and broadcasting fees. Payment of such fees due and owing are the responsibility of USAGM. The Contractor will provide assistance to USAGM to ensure all IMC and NATCOM requirements are met and act as USAGM's point of contact with IMC and NATCOM. c. The Contractor shall take all appropriate actions by making USAGM aware that subsequently assigned frequencies will not interfere with or cause interference with the above-stated frequency issued to the USAGM under this Agreement. The Contractor will also notify USAGM of any harmful interference with the specified MHz frequency. The Contractor will provide assistance to USAGM upon request. 2. Contract award will include a one-year base period with four one-year option periods, which are subject to U.S. Government funding. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open completion that is applicable to this procurement is 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1) which is implemented at FAR 6.302-1 as follows: "When the supplies or services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source, and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, full and open competition need not be provided for." The nature of the proposed sole source award requires these unique services and supplies to be provided by the Contractor in order for the USAGM to continue the 24-hour uninterrupted USAGM broadcast programming in Sierra Leone. The USAGM could not identify any additional potential sources beyond the Contractor who can meet USAGM's requirement. It has been determined that the Contractor is the only known Contractor to USAGM who is capable of and authorized to continue the uninterrupted 24 hour FM Broadcast services in Freetown, Sierra Leone (see attached agency justification). This Notice of intent is not a Request for Proposal (RFP), Invitation for Bid (IFB), or Request for Quote (RFQ). Interested firms must submit a written response that clearly demonstrates their capability to provide the above requirements. Also, interested firms must state how they would fulfil the requirement above and include appropriate documentation describing the number of years they have been providing such services. The written response received from interested firms shall provide sufficient detail to allow for an evaluation by the Government without the need for the submission of additional information. Written responses must be submitted to Jacqueline Gray, Contract Specialist by Wednesday, April 24, 2019 not later than 4:30 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) via e-mail to
[email protected]. ALL ATTACHMENTS MUST BE SENT IN "PDF FORMAT" AND INCLUDE THE SOLICITATION NUMBER IN THE SUBJECT LINE. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TOTAL SIZE OF ALL ATTACHMENTS MUST NOT EXCEED 23MB. Telephone or faxed responses will not be accepted and will not receive a response. Any questions regarding this Notice of Intent shall be in writing and submitted to Jacqueline Gray, Contract Specialist, via e-mail to
[email protected] and must include the solicitation number in the subject line. Any determination to compete or not to compete this proposed contract is solely within the discretion of the U.S. Government. This Public Notice is not a RFP, IFB, or RFQ.