Added: Apr 23, 2008 9:11 am Modified: May 12, 2008 3:00 pmTrack Changes
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; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Resultant award is subject to the availability of funds.
The solicitation Number is RFP 521-08-005 and is issued as a Request for Proposal (RFP). The Solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 01-013. The USAID Haiti Mission requires the services of a highly qualified firm – completely familiar with the country, people and media outlets of Haiti – to conduct a national public relations and media program to assist USAID in highlighting achievements made by the United States Government (USG), through USAID, in technical areas, provincial regions and for the Haitian people on a national scope. The period of this contract will be two (2) years. The purpose of the public relations and media program is to achieve four objectives:
• Make the Haitian people more aware of USAID/Haiti activities and results, particularly those that affect Haitians on a daily basis.
• Promote USAID/Haiti activities and results to concerned audiences, particularly those in the United States and Haiti, but also including the Haitian Diaspora and other donors in Haiti.
• Increase local understanding of what USAID/Haiti is and how it works.
• Strengthen USAID/Haiti’s image with the Haitian government and its citizens.
Description of Services:
To achieve these objectives, it is envisioned that the following outputs would be required:
o The contractor shall generate and deliver a national public relations and media program to support USAID/Haiti efforts to increase its visibility to the Haitian people by promoting USAID/Haiti activities and results through appropriate media channels, using innovative and interesting publicity mediums that are directed at specific, target audiences.
o The contractor shall generate and deliver USAID/Haiti briefing materials, success stories, press information and creative publicity products.
o The contractor shall prepare monthly update material for posting to the USAID/Haiti external website and deliver it directly to USAID/Haiti.
Offerors are free to propose alternate outputs, consistent with the strategy proposed.
Background:
Haiti and the United States enjoy a positive and productive relationship, bolstered by strong historical, cultural, and economic ties. However, despite the generally positive view some Haitians have of the United States, experience has shown that few people, including beneficiaries of USAID programs, really know and/or understand the nature, scope, and extent of U.S. assistance abroad.
In Haiti, many educated civil and political leaders in general are acquainted with USAID/Haiti's work, but the average Haitian does not know that many of the development programs that have improved their lives on a daily basis are in fact USG programs, managed by USAID. Consequently, many Haitians do not know how much USAID/Haiti has contributed and is contributing to develop his/her quality of life. A better understanding of the positive efforts of the American people and government in Haiti will foster improved U.S.-Haitian relations and will support an already positive image of the United States among the Haitian population.
In the U.S., public diplomacy has become a leading foreign policy tool to achieve the goal of improving the image of the United States abroad and showcasing the impact of USG assistance. USAID/Haiti has consistently taken steps to ensure that Haitians are aware of its development programs and achievements in Haiti. The Ambassador, Mission Director, Deputy Mission Director, and Senior USAID officials are very involved in USAID/Haiti outreach and communication activities and, to a large extent, leading USAID’s efforts to ensure that the USG’s work in Haiti is constantly communicated to all Haitians. The Mission undertakes many public relation events already, some of which include launching new projects, celebrating milestone completions with ceremonies and press releases, creating press opportunities nationwide by traveling to the provinces for program implementation and press events, and speaking regularly with concerned partners and parties to communicate joint USG and Government of Haiti (GOH) goals of contributing to Haiti’s social and economic development through USAID/Haiti foreign assistance programs.
As part of its effort to evaluate successful outreach and communication activities, USAID/Haiti has contracted a U.S.-based polling firm to conduct semi-annual public opinion polls in Haiti from 2007-2010. As part of these polls, respondents are asked about their opinions on USAID message effectiveness, respondents’ general awareness of USAID as an entity operating in Haiti, and respondent’s general association of USAID activities to improvements in their daily life, among others. Relevant poll results will be shared with the successful offeror.
Applicable Documents:
The following background information can be used for proposal development and obtained by sending an email request to oaahaiti@usaid.gov:
o USAID/Haiti Country Strategy – Final Public Version;
o Haiti Country Profile 2007-2008
o USAID/Haiti Communications Strategy;
o FY2007 Summary Overview of Performance Results
Responsibilities of the Contractor:
At a minimum, the contractor shall meet the following USAID requirements:
1. Conduct a public relations and media program, subject to USAID/Haiti’s approval, that achieves the following message: “The United States, through USAID, is collaborating with the people of Haiti to help build a secure and stable country with a responsible, representative, and prosperous democracy that provides a better quality of life for all Haitian citizens.”
2. Prepare an implementation schedule by CLIN number for the two year period that proposes different and creative media and public relations products that are intended for specific target audiences.
3. Work directly and collaboratively with the USAID/Haiti Program Office, and in particular with the Development Outreach and Communications Officer, to achieve all results.
4. The Chief of Party shall reside in Haiti and speak fluent French, Creole and English.
5. Understand and meet all USAID Automated Directive Systems (ADS) requirements and policies related to branding and marking. http://inside.usaid.gov/ADS/300/320.doc
Proposal Preparation Instructions:
a. Proposals must demonstrate how the firm will meet the four objectives, as follows:
o Make the Haitian people more aware of USAID/Haiti activities and results, particularly those that affect Haitians on a daily basis.
o Promote USAID/Haiti activities and results to concerned audiences, particularly those in the United States and Haiti, but also including the Haitian Diaspora and other donors in Haiti.
o Increase local understanding of what USAID/Haiti is and how it works.
o Strengthen USAID/Haiti’s image with the Haitian government and its citizens.
b. Proposals must be explicit in explaining how the contractor will meet all of the minimum contractor responsibilities.
c. Proposals must show an understanding of how activities and different public relation tools/techniques proposed by the contractor are viable for the Haitian population, or for audiences concerned with USAID’s foreign assistance programs in Haiti.
d. While not required, proposals should explain any familiarity offeror has with USAID as the principal USG foreign affairs agency.
e. Proposals should describe, in one page or less, offeror’s proven capability and past experience with similar work.
f. Each CLIN must be priced separately.
g. Proposals must not exceed 20 pages, excluding of all annexes, addendums and examples.
Performance Period:
Two (2) years, effective contract award date.
Deliverables/Payment Schedule:
Outputs Date Amount
Offeror to propose all deliverables, dates and amounts, based on outputs.
The following additional information applies:
FAR 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference (Feb. 1998)
This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if it were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at these addresses:
http://www.acqnet.gov/far/index.html
http://www.usaid.gov/business/regulations/
FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors Commercial Items
FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive
Orders – Commercial Items (APR 2003).
AIDAR 752.7009 Marking (Jan 1993)
Marking Requirements for Commodities are applicable to this solicitation. See the following site: www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/320.doc
AIDAR 752.225-70 Source, Origin and Nationality Requirements (FEB 1997)
AIDAR 752.202-1 DEFINITIONS – ALTERNATE 70 and ALTERNATE 72
AIDAR 752-211-70 LANGUATE AND MEASUREMENT (JUNE 1992)
AIDAR 752-225-71 LOCAL PROCUREMENT (FEB 1997)
AIDAR 752-228-3 WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE (DEFENSE BASE ACT)
AIDAR 752-228-70 MEDICAL EVACUATION (MEDEVAC) SERVICES (MAR 1993)
AIDAR 752-7004 EMERGENCY LOCATOR INFORMATION (JULY 1997)
AIDAR 752.7032 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL APPROVAL AND NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS (JAN 1990)
FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items (JAN 1999)
(a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: Technically Acceptable, Past Performance, and Price.
Technical and past performance, when combined, are approximately equal to price.
(b) Options. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).
(c) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.
(End of Provision)
The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror(s) whose conforming offer to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors will be used to evaluate offers: Offers will be evaluated on the basis of Quality, Past Performance, and Price.
Past Performance: Possible offerors shall provide 3 company names, contact persons and telephone numbers as references of similar contracts within the last three years.
Offerors need to include a complete copy of the following FAR provision:
FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items,(NOV 2006)
The following FAR provisions apply to this solicitation:
FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items (FEB 2007)
FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items (NOV 2006).
The authorized geographic code for procurement of goods and services under this RFP is 000 the United States and 521 Haiti.
This RFP does not commit the US Government to pay any costs incurred in the submission of
any quotation or in making necessary studies or designs for the preparation thereof or to acquire
or contract for any services.
In addition, please provide the following information:
If you are a large or small business
A women owned business
A Profit or non-profit
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
DUNS Number
For information regarding this RFP, please contact Eleanor Xavier at exavier@usaid.gov. Proposals will be due on May 16, 2008 at 9:00 a.m Haiti local time. E-mail or written requests will be accepted.
Any modification or revision to this RFP will be made only on the Internet at http://www.fbo.gov/.
Proposals may be emailed to the following email address: oaahaiti@usaid.gov. The subject line for all communication must read: RFP 521-08-005
Proposals may be sent by express courier to:
American Embassy
USAID/Office of Acquisition and Assistance
Boulevard 15 Octobre
Tabarre 41
Tabarre, Haiti
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Questions and Answers
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Other (Draft RFPs/RFIs, Responses to Questions, etc..)
