ATTACHMENT_1_-_Statement_of_Work.docx

12467018R0053 ATTACHMENT 1 – Statement of Work

SCOPE OF TASK ORDER

Layout of Technical Publications Contractor will provide services as a Layout Specialist and effectively perform various design and layout duties for the USDA Forest Service, Technical Publications Team at the Southern Research Station Headquarters located in Asheville, NC. The Technical Publications Team (TPT) works with our Station’s scientists and partners to advance the ideal on which our Station stands—to promote the sustainability of southern forest ecosystems and the benefits they provide. We support this ideal by developing timely, creditable, and pertinent science products to reach a range of audiences, national and international, from researchers in forest and environmental science to natural resource land managers, landowners, and the general public.

We produce reports, factsheets, maps, and guides to communicate scientific information that our research staff gathers, compiles, and analyzes.

The duties include but are not limited to design and layout of scientific/technical publications, including formatting of tables, figures, and equations. The work is not creative graphic design but rather laying out technical writing and graphic elements per the prescribed Government report formats. On occasion, the work requires the graphic designer to conceptualize, develop, and design creative, unique, and content-appropriate visual solutions for scientific publications.

The majority of publications include standard text with 2-3 levels of headings; tables (provided in MS Word or Excel that need to be brought into InDesign and formatted); figures (e.g., charts, maps, and/or other graphics that need minor edits to be made and must be formatted for size and placement). Examples of our publications include:

For all projects, the required information and source materials will be supplied by the Government. The Contractor will (1) prepare tables for placement; (2) revise submitted figures/graphics per edits made by the Government; (3) place text, tables, and figures into a layout; create covers (if necessary) and other pertinent front- and backmatter; (4) proof the layout to ensure no errors were introduced (see Review of Work below for proofing checklist); and submit draft to COR/Government for review. Photos and/or artwork may be included in the publication; specifications for photos/artwork will be addressed in the individual Task Order for each project in which the Contractor will submit a quote.

The Contractor needs to be an expert in applying USDA Visual Standards for technical reports (and the graphics within the report) and know how to apply the standards appropriately in industry-standard design software (e.g., InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop). The Contractor also needs to be an expert at preparing Section 508-compliant PDFs. The Contractor must be detail-oriented and verify all elements on the TPT layout checklist. The Contractor must comply with directions from the Government and not engage in unapproved artistic license with submitted materials unless directed by the Government. Final deliverables will include final print package (from InDesign, including links and fonts), hi- and lo-res PDFs (Section 508-compliant), copyright releases (if needed), and a completed GPO form 952; these items will be provided electronically.

Review of Work:

In general, the Contractor is responsible for ensuring that the layout is complete and executed without introducing errors. In other words, the Contractor is responsible for checking his/her own work. To facilitate the proofing process, the Contractor should check the layout as prescribed below:

Check tables against FINAL STYLED copies (which are provided by the COR) All rows, columns present All notes/footnotes below table are present Formatting is done properly

Check figures against FINAL STYLED copies (which are provided by the COR) All edits made properly Figure is not cut off or improperly sized Figure and figure caption are matched correctly Figure caption is not cut off

Check to ensure all “elements” are present (e.g., TOC, Preface, Glossary, Acknowledgments, Key Findings, disclaimers, title page, etc.). Check against FINAL STYLED copy for these elements.

Check text against FINAL STYLED text (which is provided by the COR) All paragraphs are present and complete Headings are present and formatted properly Tables, figures come after first text reference to them

Check for other layout elements Headers, footers, page numbers are present and correct IFC (inside front cover): author info, disclaimers, date, address, QR code IBC (inside back cover): library card, QR code

Check Literature Citations Count to ensure all are present and none have been combined Ensure all have hanging indent

Check fonts (size, style) for correctness (including text, headings, figure captions, tables, etc.)

Check page numbers Check against TOC (if there is one) Check total number of pages against what is stated in library card Check for Roman numerals in front matter

Give it a once over. Flip through the pages to see if anything else jumps out.

Once the Contractor has checked his/her work, the layout may be submitted to the COR for review (DRAFT #1). The COR will return a set of corrections (if any) and request a PDF proof be prepared for author review (DRAFT #2). Once the author approves the PDF proof, the Contractor may finalize the files and prepare a print package, including fonts, links, and hi- and lo-res PDFs, and a completed GPO form 952 (FINAL). NOTE: when the COR provides corrections to be made by the Contractor, the Contractor is responsible for ensuring these are all done accurately and none were missed; if COR finds any were done incorrectly or missed, the Contractor cannot charge the Government for time he/she may take to correct the work.

Projected work requests for a 12-month period for the Technical Publications Team.

The following number of orders, pages, pieces, or other items cited herein are ESTIMATES ONLY; such estimates are based upon the previous experience and averages during the period FY15–FY17. NO GUARANTEE IS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED THAT THE NUMBERS CITED HEREIN ARE EITHER THE MAXIMUM OR THE MINIMUM QUANTITIES THAT MAY BE ORDERED DURING THE TERM OF THIS CONTRACT.

(for 12 months) Estimated pages/pieces per order

Applicable Guidance The designated Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) at the SRS Headquarters Technical Publications Team will have overall oversight of the contract, including but not limited to inspection of work and approval/acceptance of work prior to payment of invoice. The designated COR will develop the Statement of Work for each Task Order, as well as inspect the work accomplished under the contract to ensure quality and timeliness of work performed.

In general, work on the publications and other design pieces covered by this contract will be prepared with the reader in mind and include layout of technical and scientific publications, factsheets, and similar printed and electronic materials related to forest and natural resource science and emerging technology transfer opportunities. The Contractor must translate scientific information into a graphically pleasing presentation that can be understood by the general public and resource managers, and must ensure that the presentation meets all applicable Government guidelines. Specific guidelines for formats and styles shall be provided by the Government. Actual printing will be accomplished by the Government in conjunction with the Government Publishing Office. Published pieces will also be placed on the Web.

Price Quote/Schedule of Items:

The price proposed by the Contractor for completion of the project shall include up to two revisions by the Contractor. Any additional revisions by the Contractor will be invoiced using the line item for additional revisions. Revisions required due to Contractor error will not be chargeable.

All materials and data produced by the Contractor in performance under this contract, or in work in support thereof, are and shall be the sole property of the U.S. Government. Unlimited rights in ownership, usage, and equity for such materials and data are and shall be transferred without reservation to the U.S. Government.

For all items deliverable to the U.S. Government under this contract, the Contractor shall identify the source of all material used in production or preparation of those items for which the source is not the original output and work of the Contractor, Contractor’s employees, and subcontractors. Such material includes, but is not limited to, writing, artwork, photography, tables, graphs, logos, and symbols.

The Contractor shall exclude from the deliverable items all material for which the Contractor does not have full, exclusive, and unlimited rights in usage, and in the transfer of such rights of ownership and usage to the U.S. Government, except as provided:

1. Releases. For all material that previously was published, used, or developed by sources other than the Contractor and the Contractor’s employees, the Contractor shall obtain, prior to inclusion of that material in the deliverable items, all necessary releases, permission, and rights for unrestricted usage by the U.S. Government of such material, whether or not the material was copyrighted.

2. Documents. The documents containing releases, permission, and rights for usage shall be delivered to the U.S. Government with the materials.