SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Consultant Speechwriter - Clauses
- Notice Date
- 8/14/2013
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 541820
— Public Relations Agencies
- Contracting Office
- Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration (MARAD), MAR-380, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, W28-201, Washington, District of Columbia, 20590
- ZIP Code
- 20590
- Solicitation Number
- DTMA-91-Q-2013-0015
- Point of Contact
- Janice E. Marshall, Phone: 2023661744, Erica L Williams, Phone: (202)366-2803
- E-Mail Address
-
janice.marshall@dot.gov, erica.williams@dot.gov
(janice.marshall@dot.gov, erica.williams@dot.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- Consultant Speechwriter Solicitation Clauses ***This procurement is Subject to the Availability of FY 2014 funds*** Quotes are due electronically to janice.marshall@dot.gov by 3:00 pm local time on August 29, 2013. Vendors are cautioned that they must have a current/valid System for Award Management (SAM) profile in order to be considered for award. The anticipated performance start date is October 1, 2013. 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; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation number is DTMA-91-Q-2013-0015 and is issued as a Request for Quotations. This RFQ is 100% set-aside for Small Businesses. The NAICS code is 541820 with a small business size standard of $14M. This RFQ is for the procurement of one Consultant Speechwriter for a fixed price performance period of one base year with four (4) one year options. The primary place of performance is U.S. Department Transportation Maritime Administration Headquarters at 1200 New Jersey Ave, S.E., Washington, D.C. with the exception of necessary local travel and occasional telework as approved by the Director of Congressional and Public Affairs. On-site workspace, equipment, and office supplies will be provided by MARAD. The provisions at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial, 52.212-2, Evaluation -- Commercial Items, 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications--Commercial Items, 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions--Commercial Items and 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders--Commercial Items apply to this acquisition and are attached. Background The U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration works in many areas involving ships and shipping, shipbuilding, port operations, vessel operations, national security, environment, and safety. The agency is also charged with maintaining the health of the merchant marine, since commercial mariners, vessels, and intermodal facilities are vital for supporting national security, and so the agency provides support and information for current mariners, extensive support for educating future mariners, and programs to educate America's young people about the vital role the maritime industry plays in the lives of all Americans. The Maritime Administration also maintains a fleet of cargo ships in reserve to provide surge sealift during war and national emergencies, and is responsible for disposing of ships in that fleet, as well as other non-combatant Government ships, as they become obsolete. The Maritime Administration's Office of Congressional and Public Affairs must expend significant efforts to promote the use of waterborne transportation and its seamless integration with other segments of the transportation system, and the viability of the U.S. merchant marine. This office uses a variety of methods to inform the public about the Department's initiatives including, but not limited to speeches by agency officials, topic-specific articles, informational brochures, news releases, stakeholder briefings, online content and other one-way and interactive communications tools. The Maritime Administration's Office of Congressional and Public Affairs requires the services of a speechwriter primarily to prepare speeches and talking points for the Administrator and Deputy Administrator, who make a high number of presentations and speeches for the administration, but also to assist in the development of material in these other areas to ensure a uniform agency message. The Administrator and Deputy Administrator speak on a range of topics related to the maritime industry including, but not limited to: U.S. Flag matters, Merchant Marines, piracy, the Recovery Act, ship recycling and environmental stewardship, the Ready Reserve Force, the U. S. Maritime Academy, cargo preference, Maritime Security Program, Title XI, and other administration priorities. Scope Activities undertaken may include writing and editing speeches, articles, informational brochures, news releases, web content, and other written materials. The consultant speechwriter will report to the Public Affairs Officer. He/she will work directly with senior department officials to write, edit, and circulate speeches for approval. Objective The purpose of this solicitation is to obtain speechwriter services that will include writing and editing speeches, articles, informational brochures, news releases, Congressional and Public Affairs and will collaborate directly with senior agency officials to write, edit and circulate speeches for approval. MARAD intends to award a firm fixed price contract with one base year and four one year options (subject to the availability of funds). Functions Become familiar with MARAD's mission, programs and activities. The contractor will use this knowledge to create written materials to communicate these programs and initiatives effectively to public audiences. Write and edit speeches, news releases, topic-specific articles, publications, web content, and other materials as assigned, drawing upon at least three (3) years of experience writing professionally about topics for consumption by the media, stakeholders and the public, preferably in a transportation or maritime-related field. The contractor should have a portfolio of articles, speeches and/or other writing samples that demonstrate his or her prior professional writing experience. Interview and work closely with MARAD senior leadership and program experts in order to write effective speeches, talking points, articles, and other documents that accurately reflect and effectively communicate the programs and objectives of the organization and its leadership. Review publications and materials written by other authors and make recommendations for improvement, or assume ownership of draft documents and make improvements based on the organization's goals, stakeholder needs, and the highest standards for accuracy and excellence. The contractor will be skilled in working with program staff to understand and communicate their programs effectively to the media and the public. Deliverables and Schedule The consultant speechwriter will produce approximately five speeches per week (as needed) for the Administrator and Deputy Administrator, usually, but not always, shorter than 1,500 words. He/she must be sufficiently flexible to participate in meetings and conversations on short notice. He/she will be expected to submit fully completed products for printing on tight deadlines with reasonable, but often limited lead time. Reporting Requirements The contractor will provide written and oral reports during meetings and upon request. The contractor will also provide written documents fulfilling the above tasks as assigned. Period of Performance The period of performance shall be from date of award through one year, with four one year option periods (subject to the availability of funds) Location of Services and Training Work for this contract shall be performed at DOT Headquarters, Maritime Administration 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20590 with the exception of necessary local travel and occasional telework as approved by the Director of Congressional and Public Affairs normally between the hours from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Hours may vary and weekend and/or evening may be required. Hours per week will not exceed 40 hrs. Government Furnished Property Onsite workspace, equipment and office supplies will be provided by MARAD. Training on software and processes unique to this position will be the responsibility of the agency; training for general skills (i.e. Microsoft Office suite programs, etc.) will be the responsibility of the contractor. Expenses incurred by the contractor, attributable to this delivery order, shall be reimbursed in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the overall contract GSA contract. Contracting Officer Representative Kim Strong - (202) 366-5067 Kim.A.Strong@dot.gov Quote Submission Interested parties shall submit a quote for the period of one base year from time of award plus four (4) option years (subject to availability of funds) by 3:00 p.m. local time on August 29, 2013. Email questions in reference to this solicitation to Janice Marshall at janice.marshall@dot.gov. Offerors shall submit resumes for proposed personnel with their offer in addition offerors may submit up to 3 performance references with valid contact information (phone and e-mail) and information pertaining to the contract performed. Offerors shall demonstrate ability to research and develop remarks for senior officials. For the purposes of this statement of work, senior officials are defined as Fortune 500 Corporation Presidents, Vice Presidents, CEOs, and CIOs; members of the President's cabinet; and heads of Federal agencies. This also includes leaders of other organizations that have testified before Congress. Evaluation Factors (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: Technical/resumes Past Performance/references Price Technical and past performance, when combined, is slightly more important than price. The Government reserves the right to establish a competitive range or technically qualified offerors. Offerors in the competitive range will be required to complete a timed speechwriting exercise to demonstrate the ability to write quickly, while addressing major policy issues and conducting independent research. (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.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOT/MARAD/HQOA/DTMA-91-Q-2013-0015/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: U. S. Department of Transportation Headquarters/Maritime Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE, Washington, District of Columbia, 20590, United States
- Zip Code: 20590
- Zip Code: 20590
- Record
- SN03149107-W 20130816/130814235727-81e98d8881a1ab98ea68b4a1bfbe8f5f (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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