19MY3026Q0010_Questions and Answers(W1).pdf

Solicitation No : 19MY3026Q0010 (TV Production Of Malaysian Football Students)

Questions And Answers (W1)

Date : 16 April 2026

GROUP 1: Filming Locations (Geography)

Question 1: Will the six students be based in a single location in the United States, or spread across multiple regions? If multiple locations, should production anticipate travel between sites?

Question 2: Can you confirm whether principal filming will take place primarily in the United States, Malaysia, or both?

Question 3: Should proposals assume international travel for production, or is a hybrid/local crew model acceptable?

Question 4: Will all the videos filmed for the students be shot in the United States?

Question 5: Are there any specific states or locations in United States that the production should focus on?

Question 6: U.S. Locations and Itinerary: In which specific U.S. city or cities will the athletic and academic exchange take place? Are the six students participating as a single group at one location, or will they be split across multiple sites or states?

Question 7: Will there be any stateside filming required?

Question 8: Are the students high school aged? Will filming take place in the U.S.? For instance, will they be living with families here in the United States during filming and if so, are they spread around the country in different locations? I'm trying to determine how may different places we might have to film.

Question 9: How much of the program (if any) is expected to be filmed in Malaysia?

Question 10: It mentions that the football players are participating in an exchange program with the

United States. Would the primary filming location be in Malaysia, the United States, or a mixture of both? Also, where in the United States would they be, if so?

Answer: The primary place of performance is Kuala Lumpur.

GROUP 2: Student Locations

Question 1: Can you confirm the place of performance for the TV Production of Malaysian Football

Students is Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia or somewhere else?

Question 2: What six cities do the students live in?

Question 3: Are the students from the same general area within Malaysia, or will filming locations be throughout the country?

Question 4: Where are the students located (city / state)?

Answer: The students are from Keningau, Kota Bharu, Kuala Lumpur and part of Selangor.

GROUP 3: Student Identity & Program Affiliation

Question 1: For the six Malaysian football students mentioned, would they already be identified under an existing program, or are we expected to source and propose the participants?

Question 2: Is there an existing exchange program that we should coordinate with or collaborate on for this project?

Question 3: Are the students participating in the YES program by chance?

https://www.yesprograms.org/countries/malaysia

Question 4: Are we only focusing on Malaysian students currently studying and living in US?

Question 5: Have the 6 students been cast?

Answer: The students have already been identified under an existing program. All 6 students are in Malaysia.

GROUP 6: Language Requirements

Question 1: Are there any specific language requirements for the production other than English?

Question 2: Will the documentary subjects be speaking in Malay or English?

Question 3: Delivery specs - if subjects are speaking English, will we need to deliver Malay subtitles?

Question 4: What is the primary language the video should be presented in? What language do the participants primarily speak?

Answer: English is the main language, however Malay and local dialects can be used with subtitles provided when other than English is spoken.

GROUP 7: Type of Football

Question 1: Are these students playing American football or what the everyone else calls football

(soccer)? I am assuming they play soccer but I wanted to double check.

Answer: Soccer (bolasepak)

GROUP 8: Production Timeline & Key Events

Question 1: Are there specific program milestones, matches, or academic events that must be captured?

Question 2: Could you kindly confirm the expected timeline for the broadcast? Should it be within

September 2026 or scheduled after the project completion period?

https://www.yesprograms.org/countries/malaysia

Question 3: Production Window: Is the U.S.-based portion of the exchange a single continuous block of time (e.g., 14 days), or is the filming schedule spread across the full July–September performance period?

Question 4: What is driving the timeline? I see that the show is set to be created between July 2026 and

September 2026. Are there specific events taking place that need to be filmed? For instance, is it important to show the students celebrating July 4th in the U.S.?

Answer: Specific program milestones will be provided by Embassy. The final product should be completed by August 31. Teaser should be ready by end of July.

GROUP 9: Program Length/Runtime

Question 1: Deliverable Specifications: Given the fixed budget and the technical requirements for broadcast, can the Embassy confirm that a high-quality 30-minute narrative program is the priority over a 60-minute edit?

Question 2: I understand the show could be 30-60 minutes long. Because of commercial breaks, U.S.

shows are typically 22 or about 42 minutes of content. Are shows in Malaysia roughly the same? Is there a preference for the length of the show yet?

Question 3 : Can we confirm total runtime of program? Says either 30 or 60 minutes, but this is a wide window and can effect budget as it pertains to production and post.

Answer: A draft storyboard, teaser, concept (which includes the length) will have to be approved by the U.S. Embassy through mutual consultation. The range is open between 30 to 60 minutes to provide leeway for the Production Team to present a compelling and competitive proposal.

GROUP 10: TV Station & Broadcast Partner

Question 1: Has a TV station already been identified?

Question 2: Does the contractor have to source the TV station?

Question 3: Is there any existing partnership or preferred TV station for the broadcast, or should we propose and coordinate this independently?

Question 4: Is there a point of contact for the TV station to go over their specifications?

Question 5: What is the designated TV station?

Question 6: The solicitation does not specify a TV network. Will the Government designate the network or platform where the final video will air?

Answer: The TV Station has not been identified yet. The Production Team should source the

TV station.

GROUP 111: Technical Specifications & Delivery Format

Question 1: Are there defined technical specifications required by the designated TV station (e.g., resolution, frame rate, audio specs, delivery codec/format)? Or should the production partner coordinate directly with the broadcaster to confirm requirements, as noted in the

Scope of Work ?

Question 2: For post-production, are closed captions required, and if so, are there any specific formatting guidelines?

Answer: The Production Team should work directly with broadcaster on this requirements.

GROUP 12: Additional Deliverables

Question 1: Beyond the main program, are teaser trailers or social cutdowns required or optional?

Question 2: Will the decision to create promotional teasers/trailers come from the TV station or the

Embassy?

Answer: Teasers and social cutdowns are required. The Production Team will have to work with the TV station on this.

GROUP 13: Budget Scope & Flexibility

Question 1: Is the MYR 195,000 budget cap fixed, or is there any flexibility based on scope adjustments?

Question 2: Are there any priorities or constraints we should consider when allocating budget (e.g., emphasis on broadcast vs. digital deliverables)?

Question 3: Budget Responsibility (Students vs. Crew): Does the MYR 195,000 budget cap need to cover the international and domestic travel, lodging, and per diem for the six (6) Malaysian students? Or is the production partner only responsible for the travel and logistics of their own film crew?

Question 4: Are the travel, accommodation, and equipment costs solely related to the filming crew, or should it also include program organizers, students, and relevant authorities?

Question 5: Are there additional costs to consider with the TV station?

Answer: The budget cap is fixed. The Embassy does not have any cost allocation preferences.

The costs only related to activities in Malaysia.

GROUP 14: Permitting, Access & Coordination

Question 1: Should the production partner be responsible for securing all local filming permits, releases, and permissions, or will any of these be facilitated by program organizers or host institutions?

Answer 1: Production partner is responsible for any permits, released and permissions in

Malaysia.

Question 2: Production Scope Across U.S. Locations:

Will access to schools, training facilities, and related environments be pre-arranged, or should this be coordinated independently by the production team?

Answer 2: All production for this award will be in Malaysia.

Question 3: Access to Participants: Will the Embassy facilitate introductions and scheduling access with the six students, or should this be handled entirely by the production team?

Answer 3: Embassy will facilitate introduction.

Question 4: Local Support in Malaysia:

Will the Embassy provide any in-country coordination support, or should this be fully included in the proposal?

Answer 4: Fully included in the proposal.

Question 5: Government Clearances: Is the Embassy responsible for securing all necessary filming permissions and access for the U.S. athletic facilities and academic institutions, or is the contractor responsible for location scouting and legal clearances?

Answer 5: The Production Team is responsible for the clearances in Malaysia only, if required.

GROUP 15: Release Forms & Legal Clearances

Question 1: Release Forms:

Will participant releases be provided by the Embassy, or should production handle all releases and clearances?

Answer 1: The Production Team to provide the documentation and the Embassy will secure the releases from the participants.

GROUP 16: Review & Approval Process

Question 1: Review Process:

How many rounds of revisions should be anticipated, and who are the primary stakeholders involved in approvals?

Question 2: Will there be an assigned point of contact from the Embassy to coordinate storyboard and filming revisions/approval prior to submission to the TV station?

Question 3: Does the Embassy have an estimated number of rounds of revision they would like to go through? Should the contractor factor in costs for additional revisions?

Answer: The main approval is from the Embassy and the POC will be provided once the job has been awarded. An estimated minimum of 3 revisions.

GROUP 17: Branding & Production Resources

Question 1: 250.gov provides a few branding guides. Are there any additional resources specific to branding for audio/visual media?

Question 2: Is there a sample we can look at that uses the mentioned "Freedom 250 branding"?

Answer: This information will be shared following the award.

Question 3: Does TV station have music library we can use or is production team expected to license music as a line item in budget?

Answer: The Production Team will have to work with the TV station on this.

GROUP 18: Payment Terms

Question 1: Mobilization and Payment: Due to the high upfront costs associated with international travel and gear logistics, will the Embassy provide a mobilization payment or deposit upon contract award?

Answer 1: The Embassy will not provide an upfront payment. Full payment will be settled upon of completion of the job.