B09_Amendment_0001_Questions_and_Answers_(8_10_23)_0001.docx

Amendment 0001, Questions and Answers Solicitation 140P5123Q0067

1. Who currently creates and manages the social content for the parks listed in this RFQ? –

Answer: Currently social media is managed internally by park staff as a part-time duty. Park staff do not have the time or training to do this effectively or strategically.

2. Is there an incumbent vendor that supports your social media efforts?

Answer: No. See above.

3. Why are you looking to change vendors/social media account managers?

Answer: We are looking for improved social media capability, both in terms of quantity of people reached, and quality of engagement, which should drive increased visitation to the parks and higher satisfaction among both on-site and virtual visitors. (see above)

4. How often are team members out and about within the community representing each of the national civil rights sites/parks?

Answer: This varies by park, in some parks this is daily, in others it's every few months.

5. Are you looking for the new vendor to provide onsite workers to capture images/videos?

Answer: Yes. Park staff can help supplement raw material in the form of historical quotes and photos and some limited on-site photo capture. but we expect that the vendor will likely need to travel to the sites a few times to capture and maintain an adequate library of photo and video. artistic representations, graphic design, and/or the use of studio production are also suitable ways for the vendor to create content.

6. Are your plans to remain on the X social media platform?

Answer: Each park uses a combination of Facebook, Instagram, and/or YouTube. We want the company awarded this contract to make recommendations about adding or removing platforms.

7. How frequently is new content available to be shared?

Answer: This varies by park. The vendor should plan to establish and maintain a library of suitable content using multiple methods.

8. How do you decide which social platforms to leverage?

Answer: The "standard" platforms used by NPS are Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. We are looking for our vendor to recommend changes if need be based on available data and while adhering to federal policies (for example, Tik Tok is not allowed).

9. Are you looking for your new partner to create social sites for channels with no presence?

Answer: Yes, if it makes sense strategically.

10. Do you have a communication strategic plan already created for the next 12 months? –

Answer: We do not. We are looking for the vendor to provide relevant planning.

11. Is there an existing editorial calendar to review?

Answer: No.

12. What is your budget?

Answer: This is a competitive solicitation. A budget or estimate can not be provided. Proposal should be based on industry standards for this type of requirement.

13. Does line item 0010 also include providing strategic advise and counsel?

Answer: Yes.

14. What is the approval process?

Answer: There may be some slight variability for each park, but generally, the vendor will have content prepared a month ahead of posting and share it with the park for review. This can be done as part of the monthly editorial meetings, or by sharing file batches for the park to review on their own time. Specific details for each park will be decided during the post-award orientation meeting.

15. Can content be provided in 2-week increments to allow for relevancy of material?

Answer: We can try it. If the park is not able to keep up with approvals at more frequent intervals we will require the monthly approval be adhered to. We can finalize these protocols during the post-award orientation meeting.

16. Is there an incumbent? If yes, who is the incumbent? If yes, what is the contract number, contract value, Period of Performance?

Answer: No

17. When does the government anticipate making the award?

Answer: The government plans to award prior to Sept 26, 2023.

18. We request to please list all Social Media Platforms(the exact handles)and any other platforms to be managed under this scope.

Answer: The "standard" platforms used by NPS are Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. We are looking for our vendor to recommend changes if need be based on available data and while adhering to federal policies (for example, Tik Tok is not allowed)

19. Please advise the reels/videos expected to be created per month.

Answer: We expect three posts per week to each platform. These will be mixed media and one post can be shared across platforms. Vendor should explain number and type of media they propose in their technical approach.

20. Would you be against us using one of our video production partners to do filming, interviews etc at each location? Our team would be responsible for editing the footage for social media, posting, etc. Or do we have to use our internal team for filming?

For example if there is a special event that we want to get photos and videos of.

Answer: Using sub-contractors or partners for some of the work is acceptable.

21. Is there an existing database of photos, videos, articles, etc. that we can leverage?

Answer: Yes, but it is limited, especially at the new parks.

22. Will there be a point of contact at each park who will be involved? (Possibly to help coordinate photography, filming, interviews, events, etc.)

Answer: There will be a Contracting Officer Representative assigned to this project. They will assist with coordination at each park or provide a park POC once award is made. This can be discussed in the Kickoff meeting.

23. What is the decision making process behind content approvals?

Answer: We expect the contractor to provide materials for review in a shared location (preferably a month in advance, but this somewhat negotiable) and discussion / resolution of issues at monthly editorial meetings which will be facilitated by the contractor.

24. Are you currently using AI Bots to respond to questions sent to the messengers?

• If not, are you open to the use of AI Bots?

• If not, what is an acceptable response time?

• If AI Bots are not acceptable, are we only responding to messages during a normal 9-5, Mon-Fri, work week? Or are we to be responding immediately

Answer: We are not currently using bots. We are open to the possibility, but we would have to check with our IT team to see if that is allowable for the Federal Government. We expect responses to post 7 days a week, but not 24 hours a day.

25. What is an expected number of portfolio samples you’d like sent? and is sending these in PDF format acceptable?

Answer: PDF format is acceptable. There is no set number of samples. We would like to see enough to give us a good sense of your creative spirit and quality of talent. Anything over 10 pages will likely receive less attention.

26. What is the value of the award the incumbent received? Or is this a new need/solicitation?

Answer: N/A, this is a new requirement.

27. In regards to the two platforms mentioned (Facebook and Instagram), can the same post be made on both platforms? Example: the same 3 weekly posts on Facebook will also be posted on Instagram and that is sufficient

Answer: Yes

28. Will we be allowed access to all 6+ social media accounts on my company’s Canva and Meta Business Suite apps?

Answer: Yes. Contractor is responsible for vetting employees and disciplining them for any breech propriety or policy. We will provide copies of NPS policy at beginning of contract, but it is pretty basic, standard stuff – no profanity, hate speech, explicit content, support of political parties, endorsement of individual people or organizations etc.

29. Are there specific performance metrics you would like reported for the monthly performance metrics? Or are the standard ones provided by Meta Business Suite sufficient?

Answer: We are looking for metrics to include reach and interaction, as well as any other metrics the contractor deems appropriate to help us judge changes in the quality and quantity of our social media presence month-to-month. This is a pilot project for the NPS, metrics that help us demonstrate the programs success (or lack thereof) will be critical for helping us make determinations about expanding this work to include more parks in the future.

30. Are cross posts included in the 3 weekly posts or additional?

Answer: Cross-posts are acceptable when it makes sense to the overall strategy. this will be discussed at the beginning of the contract and in monthly editorial meetings. contractor will be expected to articulate the benefit of cross-posts when used.

31. Are we suggesting additional platforms or will you?

Answer: We are not suggesting any additional platforms. if you are proposing additional platforms we will discuss these during meetings and make sure they are approved for Federal government use (for example, Tik Tok is not allowed for Federal entities)

32. What is the priority of the additional platforms?

Answer: This depends on the professional judgement and recommendations of the contractor.

33. What creative assets are available for agency use?

Answer: We have libraries of photo and video content, but these are limited. we have historical photos, studies, diagrams, and research available. these will be shared with the contractor, but the contractor will need to supplement these libraries with new and original work.

34. What assets do you currently have?

Answer: see above

35. Are there internal resources that we can rely on to help create UGC Video?

Answer: A little, yes, and this will vary by park. Two of the parks (Birmingham and Freedom Riders) have no staff on ground to create UGC.

36. What does the current internal team structure look like?

Answer: This varies by park (see above) but in general, contractor should expect little support from staff in generating UGC.

37. What is the overall budget for this project including any special allowances for strategy and advertising?

Answer: The contractor will determine the amount they estimate for this project in their proposal. This includes anything that they feel is necessary to accomplish the project as stated in the SOW. However, "The U.S. Government is prohibited from expending federal funds on advertising. We may expend federal funds on public awareness, outreach, and education campaigns."