T -- NEWS CLIPPING SERVICE

Notice Date

November 20, 2001

Contracting Office

Federal Emergency Management Agency, Office of Financial Management, Flood, Fire and Mitigation Division, 500 C Street, S.W., Room 350, Washington, DC, 20472

ZIP Code

20472

Solicitation Number

EMW-2002-RQ-0005

Response Due

December 5, 2001

Point of Contact

Matrice Dickens-Gaddy, Contract Specialist, Phone 202-646-4274, Fax 202-646-2970, Email matrice.dickens-gaddy@fema.gov -- William Roberson, Contract Specialist, Phone (202) 646-3622, Fax (202) 646-3846, Email bill.roberson@fema.gov

Description

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for a commercial item. This procurement is prepared in accordance with FAR Subpart 12.6, Subpart 13.106, and Subpart 13.5 and is supplemented with additional information. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-27. North American Industrial Classification system (NAICS) code for this procurement is 514199 with a small business size standard of $5 million. Solicitation provision at FAR 52.212.1, Instructions to Quoter-Commercial Items, is hereby incorporated by reference. The Government will award a firm fixed price contract using commercial/simplified acquisition procedures, pursuant to FAR Parts 12 and 13. The award resulting from this solicitation will be made to the responsible quoter whose quote conforms to this solicitation and represents the best value to the Government, price and other factors considered. Past performance, technical ability, quality of vendor?s sample and price will be evaluated. Technical considerations are significantly more important than price. Estimated period of performance is 6 months from the date of award with an option to extend for an additional 6 months. FAR 52.212-3 Quoter Representations and Certifications Commercial Items, must be completed and included with any and all quotes submitted in response to this solicitation. FAR Clauses 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, 52.217-5 Evaluation of Options, 52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract, are hereby incorporated by reference. The clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- - Commercial Items is hereby incorporated by reference. The following FAR clauses apply to this solicitation and any resultant contract: 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business concerns; 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting; 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities; 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity; 52.222-35 Affirmative Action for Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era; 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for workers with Disabilities; 52.222-37, Employment Reports for Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era; and 52.232-35, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Other than Central Contractor Registration. All referenced FAR clauses are available at www.arnet.gov/far. Companies wishing to respond to this solicitation must provide this office with the following: a price quote to include a separate unit price and extended price for the base period (6 months) and 3 optional 12 month periods; a detailed technical approach submitted on company letterhead or standard company quotation forms; past performance data to include a minimum of five contacts and telephone numbers for same or similar type services previously performed; a floppy disk or CD Rom containing a sample for evaluation purposes that demonstrates technical ability and minimum quality standards specified in the Statement of Work (below); and a completed FAR 52.212-3. Services under this RFQ must comply with the following Section 508 Accessibility Standards: 1194.21 Software Applications and Operating Systems; 1194.24 Video or Multimedia Products; 1194.31 Functional performance criteria; and 1194.41 Information, documentation, and support (see www.section508.gov). Quote must state specifically which standards or parts thereof, are met directly in their quote. Quote must be signed by a responsible company representative and include the company?s Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS) Number. All questions concerning this RFQ must be submitted in writing and faxed to 202.646.2970 or emailed to Matrice.Dickens-Gaddy@fema.gov. No telephonic response to this solicitation will be accepted. Quotations are due on December 5, 2001 by 3:00pm to FEMA, Financial & Acquisitions Management Division, Flood, Fire & Mitigation Branch, Attn: Matrice Dickens-Gaddy, 500 C Street, SW, Rm 350, Washington, DC 20472. The quoter is responsible for confirming that the Government received submissions. =20 FEMA posts all required notices of its contracting opportunities on the FBO site. Potential quoters who download copies of solicitations may register at FBO to automatically receive e-mailed notification concerning issued amendments to the applicable solicitation. Registration is optional. Plans/specifications and amendments may be viewed without registering. If you register for the solicitation, you will receive a courtesy email from FBO notifying you of all amendments for the solicitation that will be posted to the website. Registration for the solicitation, however, does not release quoter from the responsibility of checking the solicitation daily for amendments. Potential quoter that do not have the capability to download from FBO, may request, in writing, diskettes containing electronic copies of the solicitation, including attachments, and any amendments. However, potential quoter making this request must include in their written requests an adequate justification for not obtaining the solicitation via the Internet. Telephone requests for diskettes will not be honored. Requests must be e-mailed to Matrice.Dickens-Gaddy@fema.gov; or faxed on 202.646.2970. STATEMENT OF WORK News Summary Clip Support General Objectives Provide an immediate overview and a synopsis of the unique factual components of major news stories covered by different media outlets that directly or indirectly affect FEMA, or that the political Director of FEMA would need to know. As a member of the Presidents Cabinet, it is critical that the FEMA Director remain as informed as the top administration officials of current events. Background It is important that the FEMA Director and other Senior FEMA officials, as well as program managers, are current of news relating directly or indirectly to the mission and operations of FEMA as they relate to major disaster declarations, legislative activity and the operations of/about the agency. They must remain current of issues that could impact FEMA in the future as well as those issues currently being reported. Because of the high profile nature of FEMA?s mission, emergency management related stories remain prominently featured by media outlets. FEMA staff does not have the time or resources to do a thorough search and edit of the hundreds of articles and television transcripts that are produced by the scores of media covering major disasters. The additional full time permanent federal employees and related employee resources needed to complete this requirement are not in the best interest of the agency or the taxpayers.=20 The Public Affairs Division is responsible for ensuring FEMA management has access to timely relevant information presented in an orderly format required for expeditious review analysis and response by Senior FEMA officials. We cannot currently meet this need. The Public Affairs Division requires a professional company able to ?edit-the-edit? of all major stories reported by different media outlets, including those currently obtained from our regional offices, disaster sites, clipping services, and from our current monitoring of major newspapers and broadcast media in an effort to ensure the Director, other Senior officials, and program managers remain current of all relevant news. During regular business operations, Monday through Friday, the consolidated clips would need to be sent to the Public Affairs Division for distribution to the director and senior staff no later than 7:00 a.m. each morning, Monday through Friday. On weekends, clips will need to be distributed to the appointed public affairs staff person no later than 8:00 a.m. While the Director is on travel, it may be necessary to provide clips at an earlier hour (times may vary with regard to where and when the director travels, but may be as early as 4:30 a.m.). During major disaster declarations, it may be required to provide additional versions throughout the day to monitor the fast paced changes occurring during the disaster. =20 Specific Requirements Acquire, Edit and Organize Relevant News in a User Friendly Format The Contractor shall produce a news summary seven days a week backed up by supporting news clips, of news relating directly or indirectly to the mission and operation of FEMA and any current disasters as well as the impacts these have on State and communities. During times of greater need, it may be required to have the contractor supply an additional afternoon version of the summary and clips to be distributed by early to mid-afternoon (by 3:00 or 4:00 p.m.). Known risks to scan include, but are not limited to, the following: hurricanes; floods; earthquakes; mudslides; severe winter weather; tornadoes and similar severe weather events; chemical, biological, or radiological acts of terrorism; chemical, biological, or radiological catastrophes; foot-and-mouth disease; wildfires; and severe droughts, and those disaster related economic or social impacts. The contractor will also monitor political affairs for possible impact on FEMA or FEMA leaders. The Contractor shall work within, and if required, refine the existing process of collecting relevant news from the ten regional offices and from applicable Disaster Field Offices. Daily summaries must address print, radio, and broadcast media outlets at the national and regional levels, as well as the local levels where applicable. The clips package must contain a summary of the daily news. And must also be organized by subject and immediate importance, as defined by the level of importance and impact to FEMA and the status of the news as reported by major media throughout the country. Distribute News Generally, the contractor shall distribute the final product between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, and by 8:00 a.m. on weekends (or as defined by the designated FEMA official). The product should be delivered daily via e-mail to be distributed to FEMA personnel. A final version should be in a format that includes a summary; table of contents; and all related articles as a final printable document for unlimited distribution to FEMA personnel that can be sent via e-mail. Internal distribution will include posting to a private secure location on FEMA?s Internet and Intranet sites. The agency must maintain the right to further make unlimited copies and unlimited distribution of the final product electronically or in hardcopy for internal agency use, and to those officials working closely on FEMA?s disaster related issues.=20 Archiving News The Contractor shall organize and implement a digital archive catalog, system for the easy retrieval by internal sources of the archived material in a timely manner. =20 Sample Prior to the approval of the contract award, the contractor must submit an example on compact disc (CD) of the product they intend to deliver which provide for such things as a cover page with a table of contents that organizes the news clippings by topic and matter of importance. This product should be consistent with current products being utilized by the Administration.=20 Format/Style Requirements The news summary and clips need to include sections on national news, local news, stories not directly related to FEMA but have some bearing, weather/hazard related topics, a daybook schedule of Washington events and a section outlining the front pages of regional papers across the country.

Web Link

Visit this URL for the latest information about this (http://www.eps.gov/spg/FEMA/OFM/FFMD/EMW-2002-RQ-0005/listing.html)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20011123/TSOL004.HTM (D-324 SN5134P2)