QandA.pdf

Question and Answers Media Relations Services

1. The SOW states that the Contractor and Key Personnel must reside within the boundaries of USAO-SDMS and have an established presence in the local community prior to solicitation response. Please clarify how the Government defines “Contractor,” “Key Personnel,” “reside,” and “established presence” for purposes of technical acceptability.

Please also clarify whether this requirement applies to the offeror’s SAM-registered business address, the personal residence of the proposed Key Personnel, the physical location where work will be performed, or some combination of those factors. The proposed Key Personnel whose resume is used as part of the contract package will reside within the USAO-SDMS district. Contractor, or the proposed Key Personnel, will have an established presence through ongoing relationships with local media (television, print, individual media relationships, etc.)

2. Please describe what documentation, if any, offerors should provide to demonstrate residence, local presence, local media relationships, community familiarity, or ability to perform within USAO-SDMS. Past Performance, and Key Personnel resumes, should demonstrate work performed that involved local media outlets in the USAO-SDMS district to include, but not limited to, local television outlets, local print media, on air personalities with whom a relationship has been established.

3. Please explain how the Government will evaluate an offeror whose proposed Key Personnel has prior FBI Jackson Division experience, direct prior work with the Southern District of Mississippi and Northern District of Mississippi, established Mississippi media and federal law enforcement relationships, direct coordination experience with Main Justice Public Affairs, and experience supporting or coordinating with high-profile U.S. Attorney’s Offices, including the Southern District of New York, Eastern District of New York, Eastern District of Virginia, District of Columbia, and other significant DOJ venues, but whose SAM-registered business address is outside USAO-SDMS. Please clarify whether such experience and guaranteed in-person availability in Jackson and throughout USAO-SDMS may satisfy the Government’s local presence and technical acceptability requirements. Offeror Key Personnel, and/or Contractor, will be evaluated on their Key Personnel, Past Performance, and Price. Key Personnel and Past Performance will be rated based on demonstrated work performed that involved local media outlets in the USAO-SDMS district to include, but not limited to, local television outlets, local print media, and on-air personalities with who an ongoing relationship has been established.

4. Please clarify whether offerors may propose a Mississippi-based Media Relations Assistant as Key Personnel while also identifying an outside senior project executive, quality-control lead, or senior public affairs adviser to provide oversight, review, strategy, and quality control. If permitted, please explain how the Government would evaluate the qualifications of the senior adviser if that person is not proposed as Key Personnel. Key Personnel resumes will be evaluated based on previously answered questions, and their proximity/relationships within the USAO-SDMS district.

5. Please describe the Government’s expectation for where the 1,500 annual hours will be performed. Specifically, please clarify whether performance is expected to be primarily on-site in Jackson, whether hybrid performance is acceptable, and what types of duties may be performed remotely with Government approval. Work performed will be at the

USAO-SDMS office locations within the district, with media outlets within the USAO- SDMS district, and the performance is expected to be primarily on-site in Jackson.

6. The solicitation describes the requirement as one Media Relations Assistant position.

Please describe whether the contractor will support an existing USAO-SDMS media coordinator, public affairs specialist, or spokesperson, or whether the contractor is expected to serve as the primary media relations lead for the office. Please also clarify the expected day-to-day reporting relationship, Government direction, review process and approval process for media products, public statements, news releases, media responses, social media-related work and other public-facing materials. Contractor is expected to serve as the primary media relations lead for the office. The day-to-day reporting relationship, Government direction, review process and approval process for media products, public statements, news releases, media responses, social media-related work and other public facing materials will be established in concert with the U.S. Attorney for

SDMS.

7. Please confirm whether final approval and release authority for all media responses, news releases, statements, public messaging and communications products will remain with the USAO, DOJ or another authorized Government employee. Final approval and release authority for all media responses, news releases, statements, public messaging and communications products will be established between the Offeror and the U.S. Attorney for SDMS.

8. The SOW describes duties that include developing and executing media strategies, coordinating press conferences, drafting releases on cases and office priorities, responding to media and community inquiries, monitoring media and social media, and supporting a complete district-level media relations program. Please clarify whether offerors should price and staff this requirement as an assistant-level support role or as a professional public affairs/media relations role comparable in responsibility to a federal Public Affairs Specialist. Please also clarify the labor category or wage determination classification the Government expects offerors to use when pricing this requirement.

Offerors should staff and price this requirement using a Media Relations Assistant labor category based on the duties outlined in the solicitation. The contractor shall provide support for media relations activities and communication efforts required by the US Attorney’s office. Contractor personnel will not serve as an official spokesperson or independently communicate on behalf of the Government. All media responses, statements, and communication products shall be subject to review and approval by the US Attorney and/or delegated Government staff member prior to release.

9. Please explain how price will be evaluated in relation to technical qualifications.

Specifically, please clarify whether award will be made to the lowest-priced technically acceptable quote or whether the Government will consider stronger technical qualifications, prior DOJ and Main Justice Public Affairs coordination experience, prior USAO coordination experience, high-profile federal district experience, and Mississippi-specific media relations experience as part of a tradeoff analysis. Price will be evaluated as a significant factor in the award decision, but it is not the sole determining factor. The Government will evaluate all quotations in accordance with the evaluation criteria set forth in the solicitation and make the award to who represents the best value and is determined to be the most advantageous to the Government.

10. Please clarify the required quote submission format. Should offerors submit one combined PDF quote package, separate attachments, a completed SF-1449 with supporting documents, or another structure? Please identify any required file naming convention, page limits, font requirements, margin requirements, attachment structure, required order of documents, representations, certifications, past performance contact forms, pricing templates, signed documents or other required attachments. Please also clarify whether offerors may submit a resume or short biography for a project executive, quality-control lead, or senior adviser who is not proposed as Key Personnel. Typical responses are received in a 3 separate PDF format to include Key Personnel, Past Performance, Price.

11. The schedule lists travel as a separate line item with a quantity of zero. Please clarify how offerors address travel in their price quote, including whether travel should be priced at $0, excluded from the quote, or addressed as reimbursable only when requested and authorized by the Government. For the Base year, Travel funding is set at an estimated $2,000. Travel will continue to be budgeted at a separate itemize line for each Option year.

12. Is there an incumbent contractor? This is a new Contracting position for our office and there is not currently an incumbent.

13. If there is an incumbent contractor, will the Government provide the contractor's name, contract number, period of performance, fully burdened hourly rate, and contract value?

N/A

14. If there is not an incumbent contractor, who is currently performing the duties of the Media Relations Analyst position? Other staff members in the office are completing portions of the duties under this SOW as necessary.

15. If there is an incumbent contractor, is the incumbent eligible to bid? N/A

16. If there is an incumbent contractor, will the incumbent contractor’s personnel be eligible for transition/hire under the new contract, or is the Government anticipating full staff turnover? N/A

17. A Service Contract Act Wage Determinations document was distributed with the Solicitation, but an Occupation Code and Title were not specified. Will the Government specify the Occupation Code and Title for bidders to use for all required positions?

Revised Wage Determination 2015-5153

18. In the RFQ, Clause # 52.212-5 Section C (1) "52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards (Aug 2018) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67)" is checked. Can you verify that SCA Rates apply to this contract? Yes, SCA rates do apply

19. In the RFQ, Clause # 52.212-5 Section C (8) "52.222-62, Paid Sick Leave Under Executive Order 13706 (Jan 2022) (E.O. 13706)." is checked. Can you verify that E.O.

13706 applies to this contract? Yes

20. The Solicitation Cover Letter states in the first paragraph: "This position will be in Jackson, Mississippi." The SOW Section 3.0 Place of Performance states: "Work will be performed at the Contractor's office and potentially other sites where community meetings occur. United States Attorney's Office - Southern District of Mississippi location as follows: 501 E. Court Street, Suite 4.430, Jackson, MS 39201." Will the Government confirm if the Media Relations Analyst position is onsite at the United States Attorney's

Office or if this is a fully remote position except for occasional meetings as specified in the SOW? Contractor is expected to work onsite at USAO-SDMS located in Jackson, MS

21. If the position is to be onsite, can you provide more details about the work environment and culture at the United States Attorney's Office in Jackson, MS? The work environment at the USAO-SDMS is a professional, federal, law enforcement environment. All employees and contractors are treated respectfully and with dignity. Employees, and contractors, are expected to conduct their work with guidance and intent from the U.S.

Attorney.

22. If the position is to be onsite, is paid parking provided for the contractor personnel?

Parking is provided for personnel.

23. We did not see any requirements specifying the format for the response volumes. For all response volumes, will the Government confirm any formatting requirements, such as font type and size, margins, etc.? No Specific formatting is required

24. Is there a page count limit for Volume 1 "Proposed Key Personnel and Technical Evaluation"? Three-page max for resumes/No limit for technical

25. If there is a page count for the technical volume, are resumes excluded from the page count? NO

26. If there is a page count limit for Volume 1, are a Cover Page, Cover Letter, and Table of Contents excluded from the page count? Yes

27. Is there a page count limit for the Past Performance Volume? NO

28. If there is a page count for the Past Performance Volume, is there a page count limit for each past performance contact example? NO

29. If there is a page count for the Past Performance Volume, will the government provide a page allowance for a Past Performance Summary?

30. Will the Government provide any requirements for the Past Performance Volume content? Typical responses include 3-4 past performances examples

31. Will the Government please specify if there is a required minimum and maximum number of specific Past Performance Example Contract Citations? Past Performance, and Key Personnel resumes, should demonstrate work performed that involved local media outlets in the USAO-SDMS district to include, but not limited to, local television outlets, local print media, on air personalities with whom a relationship has been established.

32. If the bidder submits pricing on the signed SF 1449, is pricing required to be included in a separate pricing volume? NO

33. If no other pricing Volume is required in addition to the signed SF 1449, can the bidders submit a pricing narrative volume in addition to the required volumes? Yes

34. Will the Government confirm that completing and submitting the Reps & Certs per FAR

52.212-3(b) are the only Reps & Certs required to be submitted other than the contract clauses included on the signed SF 1449? Yes, that is correct

35. Will the Government confirm that none of the contract clauses included on SF 1449 are required to be completed by the bidder? Yes, that is correct

36. Are the bidders required to submit a copy of their SAM.gov reps and certs? You are not required but it would be helpful.

37. Will the Government confirm that the only parts for the bidders to complete on Page 1 of the SF 1449 are Box 12, 17a, 17b (if applicable), 30a (signature), 30b, and 30c? Yes, that is correct

38. Per the Basis for Award section (bottom of Page 70 of 71), will the Government confirm that the award criteria are "Lowest Price Technically Acceptable"? Price will be evaluated as a significant factor in the award decision, but it is not the sole determining factor. The Government will evaluate all quotations in accordance with the evaluation criteria set forth in the solicitation and make the award to who represents the best value and is determined to be the most advantageous to the Government.

39. Point (c) at the top of Page 68 of 71 states, "The offeror agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm for 30 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers." Will the Government please confirm that the bidder's proposals are required to be valid for only 30 days? Yes, that is correct

40. What is the anticipated award date, and will the Government allow an onboarding period prior to the start of performance to accommodate background checks, facility access, and personnel readiness? If so, how much time will be provided between the award and the contract start? The anticipated POP effective date is 7/1/2026. The Government would allow initiation of security prior to 7/1 with the expectation to be completed by 7/1. The personnel would not receive access to the building prior to 7/1.

41. Solicitation # 15JA0526Q00000053, which was due May 20, 2026, seems to have the same scope as this RFP. Did the Government award 15JA0526Q00000053? No, it was re-solicited

42. If Solicitation # 15JA0526Q00000053 was not awarded, why was it cancelled? Due to changes to the scope and POP

43. If Solicitation # 15JA0526Q00000053 was awarded, who was the awardee, and can you provide any contract specifics, such as the contract number, contract value, fully burdened hourly rate, date of award, etc.? N/A

44. If Solicitation # 15JA0526Q00000053 was awarded, would that be the prior contract to this Solicitation, and would the awardee be the incumbent contractor for this Solicitation?

No award was made

45. What changes were made between Solicitation #15JA0526Q00000053 and Solicitation # RF15JA0526Q00000084? The SOW was revised to include additional language in sections 2.0 and 2.3.

46. Will the Government provide any historical volume data for the deliverable described in SOW Section 2.1 "Major Duties"? Historical data is not available. Past Performance, and Key Personnel resumes, should demonstrate work performed that involved local media outlets in the USAO-SDMS district to include, but not limited to, local television outlets, local print media, on air personalities with whom a relationship has been established.

47. Will the Government specify which social media platforms the contractor should have experience with? The Offeror, along with the U.S. Attorney, will develop a strategic communications plan which include the use of social media venues to be used to convey information.

48. Will the Government specify which Microsoft programs the contractor should have experience with? The Offeror should have a working knowledge of, and ability to utilize Microsoft 365 suite. This includes, but is not limited to Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, and Publisher.

49. Can the Government provide any information on the frequency and locations for the onsite meetings? During the initial phase of performance, the Contractor and U.S.

Attorney/team will establish a media plan and work schedule to define recurring priorities and workload expectations. As outlined in the SOW, work will be performed onsite at the USAO-SDMS office in Jackson, MS.

50. Can the Government provide any expectations/requirements for the frequency of any work during off-hours, including evenings, holidays, etc.? See previous answer.

51. Point (1) in the top third of Page 68 of 71 specifies two times for receipt of the bidder's response...4:30 PM and 2:00 PM. Will the Government clarify the due date and time for the solicitation, including the time zone? The deadline for quotations is Friday, June 19, 2026, at 2:00 PM EST.

52. For the Travel CLIN, should offerors enter $0.00 and invoice approved travel separately at actual allowable costs, enter a not-to-exceed estimated travel amount, or price travel in another specific manner? Estimated amount for travel is $2,000.00. Travel will continue to be budgeted at a separate line for each Option year.

53. Please clarify whether local mileage or travel between the contractor’s office, the USAO office in Jackson, and community/media event locations within the Southern District of Mississippi is reimbursable as travel, or whether such local travel should be included in the proposed hourly labor rate. The Contractor will be expected to work onsite at USAO- SDMS in Jackson, MS. This will be the contractor’s primary work location. Travel is budgeted as a separate line item, and the Contractor would be reimbursed for local travel mileage they incur as necessary to complete the job requirements as approved by the US Attorney. Please refer to Section 6.0 on the SOW.

54. Please confirm the applicable wage determination for this requirement. The attached wage determination appears to cover Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties, while the primary USAO location identified in the solicitation is Jackson, Mississippi, located in Hinds County. The correct wage determination is 2015-5153

55. Please identify the intended Service Contract Labor Standards labor category, if applicable, for the Media Relations Assistant position described in the Statement of Work. I’m assuming Occupation Code 13063

56. Section 5 states that the offeror must demonstrate that it has successfully performed similar contracts within the past three years. For a small business offeror proposing highly qualified key personnel with direct media relations, public communications, broadcast/news, and local media experience, will the Government consider the proposed key personnel’s direct experience and references as acceptable evidence of relevant past performance? Yes

57. For Volume 1, should offerors submit only the proposed key personnel resume(s), or should offerors also include a separate technical narrative explaining the proposed approach and how the key personnel meet Sections 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2 of the Statement of Work? Yes, submit proposed Key Personnel Resume and a technical narrative on how the proposed key personnel meets the SOW

58. The solicitation identifies an estimated level of effort of 1,500 hours per year. Should offerors price exactly 1,500 labor hours for the base year and each option year? Yes, if additional hours are needed. The contract will be modified.

59. Will the Government provide the contractor with the equipment, systems access, and software necessary to meet the requirements of this position? Yes, the Government will provide all necessary equipment and access necessary to perform the requirements