Export-Import Bank of The United States, 811 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1023, Washington, DC 20571

R -- PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANT TO ADVISE/REPRESENT THE BANK IN AREAS RELEVANT TO IT'S STRATEGIC MARKETING/COMMUNICATIONS EFFORTS AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE SOL EXIM-00-R-0002 DUE 111899 POC Faith McNamee (202)565-3326 E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contracting Officer via, faith.mcnamee@exim.gov. This is Amendment 0001 to Request for Proposal number EXIM-00-R-0002. Request for proposal EXIM-00-R-0002 was issued via CBD on November 4, 1999 as a combined synopsis/solicitation for the services of a consultant to adivse/represent the Ex-Im Bank in areas relevant to it's strategic marketing/communications efforts and organizational structure. The following questions and answers are hereby made a part of this Request for Proposal and any resultant contract: Some questions have been paraphrased to reflect multiple versions of similar questions from various sources. Q: When will a decision/award for this solicitation be announced? A: Anticipate award in early December 1999. Q: For budgetary purposes, what is the expected period of performance? A: Recommendations due in 120 days; implementation an additional 60 days (180 days total). Q: C.1 Will the Contractor be responsible for communicating the existence and benefits of technology initiatives to the Bank's customers and business partners or only to assist in the development and implementation of technology initiatives, (e.g., to advise on customer support systems, etc.)? A: The requirement is to do both. Q: C.2.1.4 Will the Contractor be allowed to offer a future opportunities? A: Yes, provided they can satisfy any Organizational Conflict of Interest/Competition issues. Q: C.2.1.5 What is the goal of "discrete, short-term marketing initiatives?" Why discrete? Why short-term? A: The Bank is looking for a quick, quantifiable increase program activity. We want to concentrate on the programs that are best suited to that. Q: C.2.1.6 What level of activity is envisioned for the "seamless support to enhance public relations and marketing activities"? Heavy day-to-day implementation support or minimal strategic communications counsel?" A: Heavy day-to-day support is anticipated. Q: C.3.1 What level of administrative and clerical support is required of the Contractor? A: Contractor will be responsible for providing all of their own administrative and clerical support. No general administrative support for the Bank is required by this contract. Q: C.3.3 Will monthly status reports include a written document as well as a meeting/presentation? How many status meetings should the Contractor anticipate having with Ex-Im? A: Monthly written reports are required. Q: C.4 Please clarify and give examples of what is meant by integration services and product development. A: Integration services and product development may be marketing materials, logo redesign, brouchures, message development, etc. Q: C.4.1 To what extent does Ex-Im expect the Contractor to be involved with the its web site? A: The Contractor is to advise and make recommendations regarding the website. The Bank has an in-house Web Team. The Contractor is to be actively involved in proposing and recommending enhancements. Q: C.4.2.2 How many internal interviews with management staff and customers are envisioned? How much time is allowed for this process? A: The amount of interviews with Bank personnel and customers would be left to the Contractor's discretion. A thirty day time period is allowed for this process. Q: C.4.2.3 If advertising recommendations are implemented, would ad buys be made through the Contractor? A: No. Q: C.4.2.4 Can the Contractor interview external audiences as part of this process to help; a) clarify misperceptions and information gaps; and b) identify useful tools and tactics for reaching out to these audiences? If so, could the deliverable timeline be modified to allow more time to complete these external interviews? A: Yes, the Contractor may conduct interviews as necessary. No additional time is allotted for this activity. Q: C.4.2.5 How will the need to develop new "informational aids" be prioritized if materials for each program area are deemed necessary? A: Prioritization will be established cooperatively between the Contractor and the Bank, but the Bank reserves final decision authority. Small business is primary and general is secondary. Q: C.6.3. What is the anticipated levelof this assistance (e.g., heavy day-to-day or minimal as necessary)? Please indicate of the percentage of time anticipated that should be allocated to providing technical assistance in the form of counsel, tactical communications advice, initial marketing planning or problem solving for marketing and communication challenges and to the completion of the potential research for the development of the Year 2000 marketing plan and yet-to-be-identified support tasks. Can this portion of the work be priced on a menu basis with a cap? Will the provision of support for conference participation, presentations/speeches be a part of this contract? Is there a Year 1999 Marketing Plan that the Contractor can review to help determine resources necessary for implementation support for the Year 2000 plan? A: The Contractor shall propose a level of assistance consistent with their technical approach. The work can be priced on menu basis with a cap. There is no existing comprehensive marketing plan. Q: C.7 Is there a potential for change in the timing of the deliverables? The following deliverables are omitted from the calendar. Please provide the expected delivery date for these; C.4.1, C.4.2.2, C.4.2.5 and C.5. Please clarify the sequencing of the tasks and related deliverables. A: The Contractor shall propose how it will meet the Government's required delivery dates, however, in addition the Contractor may propose an alternate schedule. THE DUE DATE FOR THE FINAL DELIVERABLE IN C.4 (INTEGRATION) IS CHANGED TO READ 180 DAYS AFTER AWARD TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE. The required delivery dates for the items in C.4.1, C.4.2.2, C.4.2.5 are all 90 days after award. The required delivery date for the training sessions in C.5 is also 90 days after award but will be scheduled for mutually agreeable dates to be determined after contract award. As a clarification of the scheduling of delivery of the item in C.6.2, the Bank expects some testing of the effectiveness of recommendations before they are presented as formal recommendations to the Bank, thus the "testing" is due before the recommendations. GENERAL QUESTIONS Q: What is the proposed contract type (firm fixed price, level of effort, time and materials, etc.)? A: The government intends to issue a firm fixed price contract. It does not intend for there to be level of effort or time and materials elements. Q: Are resumes'/biographies required? A: Yes. The resume's will not count toward the 15 page proposal limit. Q: What is the anticipated start date of this program? If the award is made before year-end, will allowances in the deliverable schedule e made to accommodate the upcoming holidays? A: Anticipated start is early December with no additional allowances to accommodate holidays. Q: Please provide a model agreement, which you plan to issue for this program along with any additional terms and conditions. A: There is no model agreement. The hour and date for submission of proposals has been extended to 4:00 PM (EST) November 18, 1999. Posted 11/12/99 (W-SN400366). (0316)

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