SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- RFI Freelance Writing Services
- Notice Date
- 10/8/2014
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541820
— Public Relations Agencies
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Public Debt (BPD), Bureau of the Fiscal Service, Avery 5F, 200 Third Street, Parkersburg, West Virginia, 26106-5312, United States
- ZIP Code
- 26106-5312
- Solicitation Number
- CFPBFREELANCEWRITING
- Archive Date
- 10/30/2014
- Point of Contact
- EDG/CG,
- E-Mail Address
-
PSB3@bpd.treas.gov
(PSB3@bpd.treas.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The Bureau of the Fiscal Service on behalf of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is conducting Market Research in regards to Financial Education Writers and Editors. This is a Request for Information (RFI) only and does not constitute a request for a proposal nor commit the Government to make purchase of any supplies or services now or in the future. The information sought and provided will be used for planning purposes only (FAR 52.215-3). In addition, all documentation or information marked proprietary will be handled in accordance with applicable Government regulations. Please be advised that all submissions become property of the Government and will not be returned. Support shall encompass the following: 2.0 OBJECTIVES One of the CFPB's primary objectives is to provide clear, engaging and accurate information to consumers about financial products and services. The information must inform consumers of their options and help them identify the appropriate course of action for their financial needs. Information will also be provided across the media spectrum - from print (brochures, fliers and articles), to broadcast (speeches, video and audio scripts), to online (blogs, Web tools, multimedia presentations). And it must maintain a consistent message, tone, quality and general appearance. All CFPB materials must be drafted in easy-to-understand language in accordance with the Plain Writing Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-274). Internally, the CFPB has developed content goals and processes for developing project concepts and content ideas, aligning those ideas with public policy objectives and research, and editing and approving content for publication. The CFPB will provide: • Detailed assignments and outlines covering key points. • CFPB subject matter experts as sources and collaborators. • Guidance on project length, purpose, audience, and use. • Clear deadlines for submissions and revisions. 3.0 CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS CFPB seeks writers and editors with at least five years of experience covering personal finance or consumer finance issues. They must have at least five years of professional writing and/or editing experience. They must have working knowledge and experience with The Associated Press (AP) style and be able to write for various media formats. The contractors must be competent, of high-caliber, and objective. Some assignments may require writing about technical consumer finance information for audiences other than consumers, such as industry compliance professionals, the legal community, and external stakeholders in Congress, the media, and other state, local, and federal agencies. Other assignments may require taking highly technical consumer finance issues under laws and regulations under the CFPB's jurisdiction and explaining how consumers are impacted by them and what changes in their approach to managing finances they might take as a result. Finally, some assignments may require writing about how to successfully use CFPB's products and services, in particular online tools, data sets, and resources developed for consumers, industry, and other specialized audiences. 4.0 SCOPE Writers will be asked to develop a variety of materials including, but not limited to, online articles, blogs (and various social media), brochures, fliers, video scripts, and speeches on topics related to consumer finance and financial education. CFPB expects to assign writing projects on various issues including savings, borrowing, financial decision making, and preparation for educational expenses and/or major purchases. Other assignments may include writing about compliance with laws and regulations under the CFPB's jurisdiction, information about the CFPB's operations, policies, and procedures, and CFPB's research and data on financial markets. The contractor will prepare written materials using plain language for a mass audience or specialized audiences as dictated in performance work statements of work included with calls under this BPA. The length of the projects will vary and be defined in individual performance work statements. Writing assignments may include, but are not limited to: • Drafting the original work • Copy editing/proofreading • Editing/reviewing (reconciling various stakeholder comments and making recommendations to the CFPB) • Translating regulatory and legal language into plain text. • Supplying source materials as needed • Providing revisions and consolidating comments after review by CFPB • Speech writing and report writing • Meeting with CFPB experts in person, primarily in our Washington, DC headquarters, or by teleconference to better understand the subject matter assigned and plan writing assignments All works must be original and adhere to the Plain Language Act. The CFPB will retain full ownership and copyright of the materials. Editing assignments will include review of draft materials for clarity, accuracy, grammar, compliance with plain language standards and AP style. Most writing assignments will be paid on a fixed-price per-word basis, and most editing assignments will be paid on a fixed-price hourly basis. In both cases, maximum lengths and allowable time will be determined by assignment. Task Area 1 - Develop Consumer Facing Educational Content This Task Area is to write consumer facing educational content as assigned and under the direction of the CFPB Division of Consumer Education and Engagement (CEE). Content items may be used online or in print and vary in length depending on topic complexity. Objectives The objectives of this Task Area are as follows: • To develop financial education information and guidance for consumers in multiple media formats. • To make complex financial issues and topics easy to understand, using common language and CFPB's voice and style. • To aim for a maximum eighth grade reading level for all consumer-facing materials (more technical assignments may necessitate higher reading levels). • To guide consumers to other CFPB resources or resources from other government agencies as needed. Tasks and Deliverables The specific tasks and deliverables for this task area are to: Draft consumer education material as assigned by CEE. These assignments will include, but are not limited to, consumer education materials to address rule changes and legislative changes implemented by the Bureau; "Ask CFPB" questions and answers; brochures and other educational materials; blog posts, social media content or other online content as requested. Content items will vary in length based on their complexity and identified learning objectives. Assignments will come from CEE and include due dates and content objectives, and may include subject matter expert contact information, or other information resources to aid in the research and drafting of the assignment. Task Area 2 - Copy Editing and Proofreading Services This task area is to provide professional copy editing and proofreading. The Editor will look for and correct spelling, grammatical and punctuation errors. The Editor should also suggest changes to statements that are unclear, overly technical and/or flag material that may require additional explanation. Editing should focus on polishing and proofreading rather than making substantive changes or significant rewriting. Finally, the Editor should ensure the content complies with AP and CFPB format and style guidelines. Objectives The objectives of this Task Area are as follows: • Proofread for typos, spelling errors, punctuation errors, grammar errors, and clarity. • Ensure that all cross-references are accurate. • Make suggestions for wording changes, etc., that would improve clarity and readability. • Copy edit for consistent language and tone. Tasks and Deliverables The specific tasks and deliverables for this task area are: • Provide copy editing services as described above. • Edited document should be delivered in Microsoft Word version 97-2003 or newer in track-changes format. Task Area 3 - Editing to Update or Repurpose Content This task area is to update materials the CFPB is legally required to keep current and to repurpose existing materials for other uses or media. The CFPB is mandated by legislation to produce and regularly update certain publications. The Bureau also will repurpose content from one media to another. Both of these types of editing require more significant changes than simply spotting and correcting errors. This task area will require the Editor to assess needed changes and provide substantive rewrites to address factual changes in the law or in the financial marketplace. These rewrites must also be consistent with the CFPB voice and style and consistent with the rest of the documents being edited. This task area would include, but is not limited to, developing "Ask CFPB" answers from consumer summaries or CFPB rules, converting existing blogs or other online materials into brochures, updating consumer handbooks and other published materials as needed. Objectives The objectives of this task area are to keep consumer facing documents current and accurate, and to repurpose existing CFPB material for consumer information materials. Tasks and Deliverables The specific tasks and deliverables for this task area are text to be used in consumer handbooks, information brochures, online content, or other consumer information materials. Task Area 4 - Attending Content Preparation Meetings This task area is for vendor personnel to participate in content preparation meetings, as needed. Participation in these meetings is to assist in the writing of specific projects. Task Area 5 - Develop other written content This Task Area is to write content for the public not necessarily intended for a consumer audience, such as information about laws and regulations under the CFPB's jurisdiction, the CFPB's operations, policies, and procedures, and data and research about financial markets. The primary channel in which this work will be used is the CFPB's website, www.consumerfinance.gov, however assignments issued under this task area may be for other channels as well. Objectives The objectives of this Task Area are: • Understand the intended audience of the information, the communications objectives, and the manner in which the information will be disseminated and consumed • Supplement and expand upon the capabilities of CFPB subject matter experts, content strategists, writers, and editors by providing insights into generating content that meets the needs of the intended audience • Provide micro, caption, narrative and other forms of copy for use in CFPB's communication to the public that is consistent with CFPB style, is technically accurate, and is approved by the CFPB's clearance process Tasks and Deliverables Possible tasks and deliverables under this task area are: • Create and seek approval for project plans that clearly define timelines, responsibilities, and scope in order to meet writing assignments provided by the CFPB • Meet with CFPB subject matter experts, executives, project leaders, content strategists, designers, writers, and editors to prepare for and consult on assignments, either in person or by telephone conference • Draft copy in various forms that meets the needs specified in the assignment • Collaborate with CFPB personnel to solicit and collect feedback on writing assignments and revise the copy as necessary to make it consistent with CFPB style, technically accurate, and ready for approval by the CFPB's clearance process If you are interested, please reply via email. You reply shall include documentation to support your capability in providing the above services and a short description, to include the agency, of three (3) previous or current projects in which you have or are providing these or similar services. This documentation is limited to five (5) pages. Additional pages included may not be reviewed. In addition, responses shall include the following (this information will not be counted within the five (5) page limitation): 1. Company Name & Address 2. Point of Contact Name/Telephone/Email 3. Size/Status: (Check all that apply) ____Small Business ____Veteran-Owned Small Business ____Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business ____Small Disadvantaged Business ____Woman-Owned Small Business ____Large Business ____8(a) Certified ____HUBZone Small Business 4. Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number and Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code. 5. NAICS Code(s) and PSC Code(s). 6. Do you have a GSA or other contract vehicle that covers these services? If yes, please provide the contract number. The Bureau of the Fiscal Service is required to conduct Market Research as part of acquisition planning. The information obtained from market research will help the Bureau of the Fiscal Service arrive at the most suitable approach to acquire these services. This is not an invitation for bid, request for quote/proposal or other solicitation and in no way obligates The Bureau of the Fiscal Service to award a contract. The sole intent is to obtain capabilities for procurement planning purposes. Responses shall be provided via email to psb3@bpd.treas.gov to the attention of: EDG/CG by 1400 (2:00pm ET) 15 October 2014. Thank you in advance for your input.
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