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RFI for ECA Media Communication Requirement


Virginia, United States
Government : Federal
RFI
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U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs


Request for Information - Market Research Survey
Communications and Messaging Across All Platforms - Options



A.    Introduction


The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), EX Procurement Branch, is conducting market research for requirements formulation of an upcoming Bureau-wide communications operations need, with the desire to better understand industry best practices and to gain input on recommended competitive environments. The goal of this communications requirement is to leverage the full range of market best practices in the realm of communications for ECA, thereby enhancing public awareness of the organization's programs and operations.


Additional objectives include:


•    Obtain high quality professional digital and print media services through the procurement of a team of experts.


•    Develop flexible contractual surge capacity to accommodate for a fluctuating media environment through quick orders under purchase card allowances as well as larger dollar call orders (i.e. the ability to order both the graphic designer for a 3 week project, and the full time, in-house graphic designer).


•    Develop and maintain performance based metrics and services for the work being procured, regardless of size and scope.


•    Contribute to the ECA mission through communication of its works and initiatives to the foreign and domestic public on all possible platforms.


To accomplish this need, ECA is contemplating a single award BPA with the expectation of robust teaming partners to both leverage niche expertise in individual areas of communications, while also capturing the full range of communications needs. ECA has identified nine (9) functions areas of communication that call orders would be structured and solicited under:


1.    Videography and Photography
2.    Graphic Design
3.    Social Media
4.    Content Creation
5.    Print Media Support
6.    Marketing Analytics
7.    Print and Media Digital Training
8.    Branding Design Support
9.    Website Design and Maintenance


-    This RFI will be posted to Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) and GSA E-Buy


B.     Background


ECA is comprised of five neighborhoods and offices, which work together in support of the goals and mission of the Assistant Secretary of State (A/S) for ECA. The following is a further breakdown of office and neighborhoods that require communications services above those required directly by the A/S:


•    Office of Public Affairs and Strategic Communications (PASC): PASC coordinates with bureaus throughout the Department, the White House, other U.S. Government agencies, and grantee and implementing partner organizations to coordinate strategic communication and continuity of message to domestic and international audiences. It has oversight of outreach efforts that include speaking engagements, media, social media, video, and website, and coordinates with all ECA offices to liaise with stakeholder audiences and manage public outreach.


•    Policy: The Policy Unit serves as ECA's own empowered think tank, aligning ECA programs to foreign policy and providing information and analysis on exchange programs in each geographic region. The Unit advises on the foreign policy direction of bureau programming from a whole-of-bureau perspective, provides coordination across ECA and the rest of the Department, develops options that guide ECA's response to big-picture questions, and creates products and tools that help ECA more effectively operate. The Unit also develops the Functional Bureau Strategy and oversees its implementation. In addition, it assembles ECA Country Profiles with information about ECA programming in each country.


•    Academic Programs: The Academic Programs Directorate is the primary State Department sponsors of academic exchanges and oversees all academic programs supported by ECA. It is comprised of three offices: Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Office of Global Educational Programs (inclusive of an Education USA Branch, Study Abroad Branch, and Teacher Exchange Branch), and the Office of English Language Programs.


•    Professional and Cultural Exchanges: Professional and Cultural Exchanges is comprised of two offices - the Office of International Visitors and the Office of Citizen Exchanges. These offices conduct a broad range of people-to-people exchanges in support of U.S. foreign policy priorities and reach out to professionals in the government, non-profit, and private sectors; high school students; representatives from the cultural and sports communities; women and religious leaders; and disenfranchised and underserved audiences.


•    Private Sector Exchange: The Office of Private Sector Exchange designates, monitors and partners with U.S. organizations to administer the Exchange Visitor Program, including government agencies, academic institutions, educational and cultural organizations, and corporations. The EVP brings over 300,000 foreign citizens to the United States from over 200 countries and territories annually. The Exchange Visitor Program consists of 15 categories of programs, which includes over 1,400 sponsors


C.     Business Information


Please provide the following business information for your company/institution and for any existing teaming or joint venture partners:


1.    Company/Institution Name:


2.    Address:


3.    CAGE Code:


4.    Point of Contact:


5.    Phone Number/Email Address:


6.    Web Page URL:


7.    Understanding that this requirement will likely need to be solicited under multiple North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Codes, which do you believe would be most appropriate?


8.    Based on the NAICS codes provided to item 7, please state whether your company is:


a.    Small Business                    (Yes/No)
b.    Woman Owned Small Business            (Yes/No)
c.    Small Disadvantaged Business            (Yes/No)
d.    8(a) Certified                        (Yes/No)
e.    HUBZone Certified                    (Yes/No)
f.    Veteran Owned Small Business            (Yes/No)
g.    Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business    (Yes/No)
h.    SAM Registered                    (Yes/No)


 



D.    Market Research Questions


Please review the information on the requirement outlined in "Section B. Background," and provide responses to the following questions (Limit of 1 page per question):


1.    Is there a functional area of communications that is missing or areas listed that should be combined?


2.    Are there any recommended communications best practices that the Government should incorporate into its operations?


3.    Is the contemplated contract structure and approach reasonable? Are there suggestions for a different acquisition strategy?


4.    Are there any specific issues with the requirement, as stated, that would preclude your company from participating in a possible future competition?


5.    What recommendations do you have for venues of solicitation and vehicles/schedules to solicit on? What recommendations are there to maximize small business participation?


E.    Responses Requested


Your response must be provided by 3:45 pm EDT on Friday, August 2nd, 2019. Please send your response to Courtney Holbrook, ECA EX Procurement Branch Chief, at holbrookc@state.gov.


F.     Use of Results and Confidentiality


This announcement is not a Request for Proposal or a Request for Quote.


The results of this RFI will be used to inform ECA decisions on requirements definition and avenues for competition. This RFI is for information purposes only, and does not constitute a solicitation for bids, proposals, or quotes, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the government to issue a request for bid/proposal/quote or award a contract as a result of this request.


Please be advised that your participation in this RFI is not required to ensure participation in future solicitations and contract awards. Participation in this survey is voluntary and the Government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this survey. There is no commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation as a result of this RFI. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Respondents will not be notified of the result of the review.


Any document submitted in response to this RFI that contains confidential information must be marked on the outside as containing confidential information. Each page upon which confidential information appears must be marked as containing confidential information. The confidential information must be clearly identifiable to the reader wherever it appears. All other information will not be treated as confidential. All information marked confidential in RFI responses is only for the government's planning use. Confidential information may be reviewed by contractors providing advisory services within scope of contract, subject to a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) including but not limited to commercial or financial data obtained from or contained in contractor/vendor submitted documents and proposals. Otherwise, no information marked confidential included in this document or in discussions connected to it may be disclosed to any other party outside of the government.


Courtney Holbrook, Procurement Branch Chief, Phone 2026323263, Email holbrookc@state.gov

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