Questions and Answers 61320622R0001.docx

Questions and Answers – 61320622R0001

1. In the RFP instructions, the government states "The contractor shall submit a draft Project Management Plan with their proposal, with the final plan to be submitted after the completion of the Kickoff Meeting. The Project Management Plan shall include how the contactor shall will provide coverage, during absences greater than three days for any staff, the hiring process and length of time to replace staff, training on new technology, continuous improvement, and corporate reach-back for technical knowledge." However, in the PWS attachments, the government indicates that project management plans are due 10 days after award. Does a draft project management plan need to be submitted as part of each PWS Technical Approach?

Answer: A draft Project Management Plan for the IDIQ is required within the contractor’s technical proposal, showcasing their management capabilities in performing the overarching scope of work. A final Project Management Plan for each campaign PWS is due 10 days after award of the individual task order, detailing how the contractor will achieve the required results after the Kickoff Meeting with CPSC where any minor adjustments to the contractors proposal for each campaign is addressed.

2. Reference: Request for Proposal – CPSC Public Relations IDIQ, Section 2.3.6 Task Area 6: Traditional and Digital Advertising. What are the goals and key performance indicators for this task?

Answer: The overarching goal of all CPSC advertising is to spread awareness of our safety messages and drive behavior change. The KPIs may include, but not be limited to, engagements, impressions, clicks, views, or other indicators as determined by the COR. Specific KPI goal numbers/metrics are outlined in associated Task Orders.

3. Reference PWS Pool Safely - 3.1 Pool Safely - Social Media and Digital Advertising. Are impressions (contributing to 800 million) and followers the key performance indictor for digital advertising as well?

Answer: The KPIs for Pool Safely’s digital advertising are outlined in the Task Order.

I. a year-end minimum of one (1) million social media engagements II. increase “Pool Safely” social media followers by a minimum of 10,000 on Facebook and a minimum of 5,000 on Twitter, and a minimum of 1,000 on Instagram

4. Is a small business subcontracting plan required for other than small business offerors? If so, will CPSC please provide a summary of its small business subcontracting goals?

Answer: Yes, a template has been added to the RFP posting on SAM.gov with this update.

5. Reference: IDIQ Proposal Requirement Section 10.5 - Are their line spacing requirements for the technical and past performance volumes?

Answer: No.

6. Are key and/or non-key personnel resumes required as part of staffing plans for the IDIQ and/or PWS Technical Approach? If so, are there any page limitations to resumes, and will they contribute toward the overall page limit for the IDIQ and each PWS?

Answer: CPSC does not require resumes, however, the contractor quote must demonstrate that there are sufficient personnel and capabilities to complete the tasks required. It is up to the offeror to determine which of their staff will be Key Personnel for this requirement, and obtain letters of commitment from them. Failure to provide evidence of adequate staffing and Key Personnel could be evaluated as a potential performance risk.

7. Reference IDIQ Section 2.3.4.4 Distribution of Multimedia Assets - How many multi-media news releases are expected per year and standard releases using the tool? (Note: this requirement is also mentioned in Holiday Campaign Support pg. 2) Answer: A minimum of two (2) and up to five or more (5+).

8. The RFP states "Price proposals for the IDIQ must be structured in a menu format to facilitate the creation of each task order for campaign support" – can the Government provide more detailed information about what 'menu format' entails? Please provide more details around the FFP item for pricing purposes: such as size and scope of requested tasks?

Answer: CPSC intends to set up the IDIQ with fully burdened labor rates for each labor category proposed, as well as fixed-pricing for other direct costs associated with the full scope of effort. Vendors should provide pricing fixed-rate pricing for each labor category, material, and other direct cost for each year of the IDIQ. This will allow CPSC to issue task orders for any combination of tasks that fall under the scope of this IDIQ.

9. Would CPSC provide a pricing template at the IDIQ level to ensure standard pricing across all contractors?

Answer: Given the variety of possible solutions for this IDIQ, CPSC does not intend to provide a template – the labor categories that are currently in use would not cover the full scope of this requirement, and might limit vendors in ways that CPSC does not intend.

10. The RFP states "The contractor must include in their price list any labor rates or other items required to perform work under the IDIQ task areas" – Would CPSC confirm that contractors are able to create unique labor rates at the IDIQ level outside of current GSA Schedule?

Answer: Correct, this is not a requirement off of GSA Schedule. The labor categories and rates may be the same as the vendor’s GSA schedule, if applicable, but CPSC pursued this requirement as an open market IDIQ because various tasks would be likely to violate the limits on Order-Level Materials on GSA Schedule orders.

11. The RFP states, "CPSC will also evaluate whether the IDIQ pricing is thorough and covers the scope of all IDIQ task areas fully." Would CPSC please provide additional information on the scope of the IDIQ task areas for FFP pricing purposes?

Answer: The scope of IDIQ tasks is outlined in the RFP document, in section 2.3. The IDIQ pricing will be evaluated to determine whether there are sufficient resources identified to cover all task areas, and in line with the specific approach the offeror has identified in their technical proposals.

The IDIQ pricing should include a price list with all labor categories, materials, and ODCs anticipated to cover the entire scope of the IDIQ task areas, with a fully burdened fixed unit rate for each listed item. The price quote must include a description of each item in enough detail to determine what is included (minimum labor category qualifications, generic item name, specifications of the item, anything provided with the item, etc.) within the pricing. Pricing should be provided for all periods of performance.

12. Would CPSC consider a brief extension to July 27, 2022 in order to grant bidders the time to incorporate any changes to the solicitation resulting from the government's answers to questions?

Answer: The due date for quotes has been extended through July 28, 2022 at 10am eastern.

13. Reference: Request for Proposal – CPSC Public Relations IDIQ Sections 2.3.10.4 Mobile Device Application Development and Support and 2.3.10.5 Virtual Reality and Other Video Game-Style Application Development and Support - Should bidders assume "augmented reality lenses" refers to camera filters on platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, etc.? If so, will CPSC please specify full range of platforms that require support under this IDIQ Task Area?

Answer: Yes. At minimum, the expectation is that the Contractor can create augmented reality experiences for platforms where CPSC currently has a presence. This would include Meta products such as Instagram. However, the Contractor is also expected to have solutions available for new platforms or products if CPSC joins them during the duration of the contract.

14. Reference: Request for Proposal – CPSC Public Relations IDIQ Section 2.3.14 Research, Surveys and Analysis - What IRB and OMB requirements are the formative research activities (e.g., interviews, focus groups) subject to?

Answer: All surveys, focus groups, and other forms of research must follow the regulations outlined in the Paperwork Reduction Act. More information is available here: https://pra.digital.gov/

15. Does an incumbent agency exist for the CPSC Public Relations IDIQ?

Answer: The current scope of work for CPSC’s public relations is being performed under a task order off of GSA Schedule with Widmeyer Communications Inc. The task order number is 61320620F0079. All publicly available information about the order may be viewed on fpds.gov by searching that order number. The task order does not include the full scope of this IDIQ, which is a future-looking document that covers areas CPSC may require in the future, and are not currently being provided.

16. There are 3 specific programs included as amendments in the solicitation, are those specific programs that this opportunity would support? Would there be more programs/campaigns to support, and if so, how many?

I. How large are the programs in terms of media budgets or have they been in the past?

II. Does the 15MM total volume include agency fee or does that represent total media dollars to support the program?

Answer: Yes. Yes, at minimum, there would be four (4) additional programs. The programs range from $300k to smaller program spends for individual initiatives around $1500. Each spend includes fee and media dollars.

17. Can you give an example of a government legal requirement for these campaigns?

Answer: The Contractor would be expected to follow all federal laws while conducting work on CPSC campaigns. One specific law would be Sec 6 of the Consumer Product Safety Act - SEC. 6. [15 U.S.C. § 2055]

18. In reference to 2.3.1.2 – the recommendations for training, hiring, and restructuring, what is the overall expectation for this? Would the agency/contractor be expected to recommend changes to the CPSC staffing? What type of training would be needed?

Answer: Yes. The Contractor would be expected to recommend changes to CPSC staffing. Training could include but not be limited to, 1-hr sessions on public relations best practices, email marketing, social media best practices, and other subject matter as determined by the COR.

19. In 2.3.1.3 there is a reference to legal requirements for federal government activity, can you give an example of a government legal requirement for these campaigns?

Answer: The Contractor would be expected to follow all federal laws while conducting work on CPSC campaigns. One specific law would be Sec 6 of the Consumer Product Safety Act - SEC. 6. [15 U.S.C. § 2055]

20. In reference to 2.3.1.4 – what are the dates of the fiscal calendar?

Answer: The fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30. The current fiscal year will end on September 30, 2022. Task orders under this IDIQ will follow the periods of performance outlined in the individual task order, which may not align with the fiscal year.

21. In reference to 2.3.4.2 – Do these 3 media placements expand to each individual campaign or is this a requirement of one single campaign?

Answer: Three (3) media placements is the minimum expected across campaigns. Each campaign will specify additional expectations for their earned media goals in their Task Orders.

22. In reference to 2.3.5.1, will the CPSC provide access to Meltwater Engage or can we leverage another social media tool such as Sprout Social, etc.? How often are posts required and what is the traditional response time to any user engagement?

Answer: CPSC will provide access to Meltwater Engage. Posting schedule and response time will be determined as a strategy decision between the Contractor and COR following award.

23. In reference to 2.3.6.4, there is reference to “All costs associated with executing the campaign plan must be absorbed by the Contractor unless otherwise agreed upon by the COR.” Which costs would be absorbed by the contractor?

Answer: Examples of costs include, but are not limited to: developing materials (concepting, design production, etc), creating materials (printing, exporting, etc), placing materials (delivery, etc).

24. In reference to 2.3.7 – Would social media influencers count as “Collaborators”?

Answer: Yes. Social media influencers may count as Collaborators.

25. In reference to 2.3.9.1, Photoshoot Production Logistics – should this plan be for 23? There is reference to a photoshoot in 2021 which is over a year ago.

I. Is this a specific deliverable for Pool safety or would this be needed for many campaigns?

Answer: Yes. The inclusion of the 2021 date is a typo. All work would be for the duration of the period of performance. The Contractor would be expected to execute a photoshoot for any CPSC campaigns as determined by the COR.

26. In reference to 2.3.10, For the Website development portions, would we be required to oversee a single website or multiple websites/apps?

I. There is reference that we “must” develop and maintain VR or other video game apps, is this truly a must depending on the strategic recommendation?

Answer: The Contractor would oversee, at minimum, two (2) CPSC websites. The Contractor is expected to be able to develop and support “VR” and “video game-style” apps.

27. Contractor Qualifications: The Contractor Key Personnel must have a minimum of ten years of experience in national education and information campaigns, is this an absolute requirement for ten years?

Answer: CPSC has updated this requirement in Amendment 1 to require a minimum of 5 years of experience for Key Personnel. The Contractor must show that their Key Personnel are experienced professionals. Senior personnel are expected to have more than 5 years of experience.

28. As a potential partner will we be required to meet every single task area, or can we recommend slight changes to the PWS which would better fit our capabilities?

Answer: CPSC intends to issue an IDIQ that covers all task areas – it is anticipated that offerors may need to subcontract or partner to provide a complete solution. Some of the IDIQ task areas may offer the potential for unique solutions, however, each proposal must address how each task area will be provided, should CPSC issue a requirement for services within that task area.

29. The individual campaign PWS’s list various KPI’s which include follower growth. Based upon our assessment of current profiles, the growth may not be attainable. As a partner can we recommend appropriate KPI’s for the program to measure success?

Answer: Yes. Upon award the Contractor may suggest new KPIs. However, the current KPIs, as outlined in the IDIQ and Task Orders, are CPSC’s current expectations for performance. Proposals will be evaluated based on a Contractor’s ability to meet those KPIs.

30. Is 61320622R0001 considered as new requirement or are there incumbent contract(s)? If there is an incumbent vendor(s), would you be able to provide the contract details (such as: Vendor Name, Contract Number, Award and end dates, total contract value) please?

Answer: The current scope of work for CPSC’s public relations is being performed under a task order off of GSA Schedule with Widmeyer Communications Inc. The task order number is 61320620F0079. All publicly available information about the order may be viewed on fpds.gov by searching that order number. The task order does not include the full scope of this IDIQ, which is a future-looking document that covers areas CPSC may require in the future, and are not currently being provided.

31. Reference section 10.5 - Contractors must submit each volume in a separate Word (12 font size), Excel or PDF attachment… Can the contractor include graphics and tables with a smaller font size?

Answer: Yes, however the graphics and tables must be clearly legible.

32. Reference section 10.5, paragraph 2 “This volume is limited to 25 pages. Cover pages, tables of contents, key personnel qualifications, and letters of commitment do not count against this page limit.” Can the contractor include additional attachments such as pictures or example videos in Vol. I? Would additional attachments count toward the 25 page limit?

Answer: Additional attachments would count towards the page limit. The offeror may provide in their past performance section links to videos and other content which the vendor has previously completed as evidence of their abilities. The past performance volume has no page limit. The offeror should not create videos specifically for this RFP.

33. Reference section 10.5, paragraph 3, “The contractor shall describe…..maintained for long-term assignments.” In this section, does this “maintained” mean retained?

Answer: Correct, this has been changed.

34. Reference section 10.5, paragraph 14, “The IDIQ-level Program Manager should have experience managing public relations campaigns.” Does the Government require a curriculum vitae/resume to demonstrate the Program Manager’s and Program Administrator’s experience?

Answer: CPSC does not require resumes. The Contractor should provide ample information regarding the expertise of their Key Personnel. The IDIQ covers a wide variety of projects across all CPSC campaigns. The qualifications of Key Personnel will play an important role in evaluation.

35. Reference 52.215-1, Which Volume would the Government like to see the Representations and Certifications? If the Government issues Amendments, where should we place this in the proposal? Will the Government issue a SF33 for this opportunity? If so, where should we include this in our proposal?

Answer: Representations and certifications may be included with the Past Performance volume. If the offeror is submitting only their current representations from SAM.gov without any changes, they do not need to be included in the proposal, the offeror can merely attest that those representations and certifications are current.

36. Reference Section 10.5 – “Volume IV, Price Proposal – IDIQ Price Proposals for the IDIQ must be structured in a menu format to facilitate the creation of each task order for campaign support.” Does the Government want us to include Task Order Pricing in Volume IV? If not, what does this sentence mean?

Answer: CPSC is requesting that each offeror consider the full scope of the IDIQ and provide a list of fully burdened labor categories, materials and other direct costs that may be used to issue task future orders, over all periods of performance. The pricing for the individual orders that are currently available (Attachments 1-3) are to be included in Volume V, Price Proposal – Task Order PWSs, which must be provided on a Firm Fixed-Price basis for each PWS.

37. Does the Government anticipate extending the submission deadline?

Answer: The due date for quotes has been extended through July 28, 2022 at 10am eastern.

38. Do addenda or attachments need to fit in the page count, or can they be excluded?

Answer: Addenda and attachments are included in the page limit, unless they are for something else already specifically excluded like Letters of Commitment.

39. Reference section 10.5, “Contractors must submit each volume in a separate Word (12 font size), Excel or PDF attachment and must include a table of contents indicating page numbers for each section, figure and table. Each section must start on a new page.” We are starting each high level section (i.e., Header 1, Header 2, etc.) on a new page. Is that sufficient to meet the Government’s requirements, or do you want Heading Levels 2, 3 and 4 to also start on a new page?

Answer: Higher level sections should start on their own page. Heading levels 2, 3, 4, etc do not need to be on their own page.

40. Does the Government have a preference as to where to include responses to the IDIQ Tasks?

Answer: The responses to the technical IDIQ task areas should be included in Volume I, Technical Approach for the IDIQ.

41. Reference Task Order PWS Section 2.0, Objectives, “The procurement addresses two……These two objectives will require the contractor to review current CPSC communications strategies and activities, and to propose additional or alternative strategies and activities to enhance the agency’s communications goals.” Will the Government provide additional campaign information regarding the Task Order (TO) Performance Work Statements (PWS’) to enable responders to provide a more accurate cost estimate for the FFP TO contracts?

Answer: CPSC will not issue additional information for this requirement at this time.

42. Is this a brand-new contract or is there an incumbent providing these services?

Answer: The current scope of work for CPSC’s public relations is being performed under a task order off of GSA Schedule with Widmeyer Communications Inc. The task order number is 61320620F0079. All publicly available information about the order may be viewed on fpds.gov by searching that order number. The task order does not include the full scope of this IDIQ, which is a future-looking document that covers areas CPSC may require in the future, and are not currently being provided.

43. Who is the incumbent?

Answer: Widmeyer Communications Inc.

44. There may be advantages to restructuring CPSC’s web presence. For example, there might be efficiencies or synergies in combining the “Pool Safely,” “Anchor It,” and other child safety campaigns on one website. Are there policy or technical reasons why CPSC has not done or cannot do that?

Answer: There are no policy or technical reasons preventing CPSC from combining websites.

45. To help bidders understand the scope of work on this IDIQ contract better, could you list the subject matter of all task orders that have been issued under the current IDIQ?

Answer: The current contract vehicle for CPSC’s public relations outreach is not an IDIQ. The subject matter includes: carbon monoxide safety, fire/fuel cannister safety, ATV safety, poison prevention, fireworks safety, baby safety, older adult safety, among other subjects. Overall, the Contractor will be expected to execute initiatives for any subject matter that is a priority for the agency.

46. 1.8. Does the $15M estimated over the contract’s four years include other direct costs (ODC) such as advertising purchasing?

Answer: Yes, that is the estimate for the full obligations estimated under this IDIQ for a base year, plus four option years.

47. 1.8. If yes, what percent of the $15M was for traditional advertising? What percent was for digital advertising?

Answer: At this time, CPSC does not have a forecast for what percentage of our budget would go towards advertising, let alone traditional vs digital. Historically, the budget has been prioritized towards earned media outreach, collaboration building, and web site development. More recently CPSC has dedicated more funding to digital advertising. Traditional advertising spends have been limited. Following award, CPSC would discuss with the Contractor what long-term media mix would be most appropriate to accomplish our goals.

48. 2.3.3.1/2.3.13 Are there any historically excluded communities you feel you are not currently reaching or to which you’d like to expand access over current efforts?

Answer: CPSC seeks to do more and improved outreach to all historically excluded communities, while prioritizing those where our data show consumer product-related health disparities. To date, these communities include, Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous communities across various product safety areas.

49. 2.6.3.4. “All costs associated with executing the campaign plan must be absorbed by the Contractor unless otherwise agreed upon by the COR.” May Contractor bill the government for advertising costs and other ODCs at cost or does the Government expect the Contractor to include those ODCs in the fixed price the Contractor quotes for each task order?

Answer: CPSC requires the contractor to provide ODC pricing, to the maximum extent possible, within their IDIQ price list. The pricing should be at fixed rates for all ODCs anticipated to cover the scope of the IDIQ. The vendor may then utilize those fixed rates to price out individual task orders, which must be on a Firm Fixed-Price basis, including any materials or ODCs.

50. 2.3.10 You are only seeking support for the campaign websites, not the overall CPSC website, correct?

Answer: Yes. This support would be exclusively for CPSC’s campaign websites.

51. 2.3.10 On what CMS(s) are the current websites built?

Answer: Current campaign websites are built on Wordpress.

52. 2.3.10 Is the Commission happy with that CMS(s) or is the Commission considering replatforming any of the website?

Answer: CPSC is not considering replatforming these websites at this time through this procurement effort.

53. 2.3.10 Are there any specific performance issues with the website(s) the Commission would like to address in the next four years or are any structural modifications planned to the website(s)?

Answer: CPSC consistently looks for opportunities to improve its campaign websites. These improvements include but are not limited to: content updates, improved accessibility, design updates, and other updates to keep pace with modern public website expectations.

54. Must a small business subcontracting plan be issued with (large) bidders’ proposals or may such a plan be submitted before award to the apparent winner or shortlist?

Answer: Yes, CPSC has provided a template for the subcontracting plan. A signed, finalized draft is required to be submitted with the proposal, as a separate document not included in any of the other volumes. CPSC must approve of the plan, if one is required, from the prospective awardee before award.

55. Pages 15 states that all key personnel must have 10 years’ experience. Page 54 states that the IDIQ-Level Contract Administrator must have five years’ experience. Which is correct?

Answer: CPSC has updated this requirement in Amendment 1 to require a minimum of 5 years of experience for Key Personnel. The Contractor must show that their Key Personnel are experienced professionals. Senior personnel are expected to have more than 5 years of experience.

56. Page 52 states that key personnel qualifications will not count against page limitations. Page 54 states “The contractor must clearly demonstrate that any non-Key personnel included in their proposal meet all requirements of the SOW.“ Page 55 states: “The proposal must include biographies for all personnel quoted and shall indicate the labor categories/positions of which persons within the organization will occupy for this project along with their key functions.” It appears contractors must supply some minimum information about non-Key personnel. Does that information count against the page limitation?

Answer: Yes, information on personnel capabilities is included within the page count. The offeror must demonstrate that they have sufficient capabilities to perform both the IDIQ task areas and the current PWSs, regardless of whether the personnel are identified as Key Personnel or not. Most likely any additional Key Personnel identified will be within the responses to the PWSs. If the personnel will be assigned to multiple PWSs simultaneously, their estimated hours per PWS should be addressed, but their capabilities do not need to be repeated – they can be referenced after being listed the first time.

Information that is specific to minimum qualifications of a proposed labor category for the IDIQ can be included in Volume IV, Price Proposal – IDIQ, which has no page limit.

57. Page 55 requests that contractors designate Key Personnel. Are contractors to designate Key Personnel additional to those identified on page 53? Will contractors receive additional points during the evaluation for such a designation?

Answer: It is up to the contractor to identify any additional personnel that are vital to the success of the project, that should be identified as Key Personnel. CPSC will not be evaluating with a point structure, but including additional qualified personnel with letters of commitment will be evidence of reduced performance risk, and may be used to justify a higher evaluation for a proposal.

58. Page 57. Price is not listed as one of the evaluation factors. Is the Commission excluding price as an evaluation factor, per FAR 15.304?

Answer: CPSC will be evaluating price as listed on page 59, Evaluation of Price, which has been updated to clarify the evaluation process. The RFP has been amended, and clarifies that the evaluation factors listed on Page 57 were the technical factors only. Price will be evaluated separately.

59. The RFP does not request a price proposal for the IDIQ, is that correct?

Answer: The RFP does require price proposals – Volume IV, Price Proposal – IDIQ and Volume V, Price Proposal – Task Order PWSs are both required for a complete proposal.

60. If the Commission does intend to evaluate price, will the task orders only be evaluated or will the IDIQ labor rates be evaluated as well?

Answer: Price will be evaluated both on the IDIQ price list and the response to individual task orders.

61. Does the Commission intend to award the task orders with the award of the IDIQ?

Answer: All 3 PWSs attached to the RFP are anticipated to be awarded from the resulting IDIQ contract.

62. Is the requirement for Task Order 3 for Spanish language support of the Holiday Campaign, or is it just to distribute the B-roll to Spanish-language outlets?

Answer: The requirement is for Spanish-language distribution for b-roll.

63. If the requirement for Task Order 3 is for tasks additional to B-roll distribution, please specify what additional tasks bidders are to quote on.

Answer: Bidders will be evaluated on the quality of their b-roll distribution capabilities.

64. What content management system do you intend to use for the website creation/updated task areas?

Answer: CPSC’s campaign websites are built using Wordpress.

65. In the RFP Section 3-Period of Performance, it says “IDIQ will have a 12-month base period and three 12-month option periods, estimated to include the following dates.” but the chart shows a base period and four option periods. Please clarify.

Answer: This has been corrected in Amendment 1. The award will have a base period of one year, and 4 option periods of one year each.

66. For the attachments -are the campaign metrics goals based on previous campaign metrics results? How did you come up with these numbers (impressions on social media, website pageviews, etc.)?

Answer: Campaign goals are designed to provide the Contractor with a guide for expected effort in a campaign area. The goals are based on a combination of previous performance and campaign priority.

67. Would we have access to all data from previous campaigns, including budget spent, audience targeted, and all results metrics to use in planning future campaigns?

Answer: Yes. CPSC would provide the Contractor will all relevant information in order to ensure campaign success including past campaign performance and associated spends.

68. For media outreach and placement, would we have access to existing media lists and any connections that the CPSC has already established? Same question for collaborator/partnership outreach. Would we be able to get this information from the previous contractors?

Answer: Yes. This information would be made available to the Contractor.

69. Can the government prioritize its target audiences and/or historically excluded communities: African-Americans, new parents, Spanish-speaking communities, and vulnerable populations?

Answer: CPSC is prioritizing audiences as based on our consumer product-related injury and death data. Following award, CPSC can discuss further prioritizing these audiences, but the Contractor is expected to have strategies for reaching all audiences identified and more as determined by the COR.

70. Does the government have any formative research it can share on how to influence behavior change among these audiences?

Answer: CPSC has existing research and use cases that may be made available to the contractor upon award. However, the Contractor is expected to show an expertise in reaching these audiences and will be evaluated on the capabilities they can provide CPSC in driving behavior change among these communities.

71. Is the government open to the contracting including formative research to shape an updated message/creative?

Answer: Yes. As part of the IDIQ the Contractor must have the ability to conduct this kind of research for CPSC.

72. Regarding the 2.3.10.2 Website Development Support: can you share the URL of any other sites apart from anchorit.gov and poolsafety.gov?

Answer: Anchorit.gov and PoolSafely.gov are the two existing sites that the Contractor will be expected to support.

73. Regarding the 2.3.10.5 Virtual Reality and Other Video Game-Style Application Development and Support:

I. Have you used VR in the past and if so, can you share the impact?

Answer: CPSC has not developed VR applications to date. This requirement is included in anticipation of future agency needs.

II. Do you have existing apps in use and if so, are they for android and IOS?

Answer: CPSC’s Pool Safely campaign has an app called “Adventures of Splish and Splash”. It is available in both the App Store and Play store for IOS and Android, respectively.

74. Attachment 2 PWS: Anchor It!

I. Is the government open to including formative research among the target audiences to shape an updated message/creative for this program?

II. Is the government open to the contractor updating the messages/creative for this program?

III. Does the government have any formative research that it can share that led to this message/creative?

IV. Is the government open to paying the influencers/third parties it is seeking to engage with?

Answer: Yes to all above questions.

75. For Volume 1/the technical approach to the IDIQ SOW, can you please share more direction about which types of recommendations CPSC would like included for each Task Area? Can we share our agency’s capabilities in each area, along with examples of our work as well as creative ideas for CPSC campaigns?

Answer: CPSC will not further specify our expectations for bids. Our evaluation criteria are outlined in the IDIQ and Task Orders. Bidders should submit proposals that best showcase their abilities to meet these criteria.

76. Can you please share more detailed information about how CPSC would like pricing submitted for the tactics we recommend for the IDIQ response and each of the task areas outlined in the IDIQ SOW? Do you want prices for each tactic we recommend under each task area?

Answer: The IDIQ pricing should include a price list with all labor categories, materials, and ODCs anticipated to cover the entire scope of the IDIQ task areas, with a fully burdened fixed unit rate for each listed item. The price quote must include a description of each item in enough detail to determine what is included (minimum labor category qualifications, generic item name, specifications of the item, anything provided with the item, etc.) within the pricing.

Technical recommendations should be included within the technical volume, not within the price volume. If multiple approaches are identified in the technical volume, then the offeror can identify which items on their price list are associated with each technical approach.

77. Would you like a separate spreadsheet for the IDIQ pricing and a separate one for the task order recommendations? We see the information included about volumes 4 and 5, but we want to double check about the preferred format.

Answer: Yes, the IDIQ price quote should be submitted separately from the pricing for the task orders.

78. Is CPSC open to receiving technical proposals in the format of PPT slides that have been turned into PDFs?

Answer: Yes.

79. Is CPSC open to receiving documents via an online, shared file platform (such as Hightail) in addition to the five volumes submitted via email? For example, can we include links to documents on Hightail within our written submissions?

Answer: No, to make sure the evaluation is fair and online documents do not get edited after receipt of proposals, only the documents submitted by email will be evaluated.

80. Is attachment 4, “translator qualifications” considered to be one of the Task Orders? Where does it fit into the order of the CPSC evaluation factors?

Answer: The Translator Qualifications are CPSC’s personnel expectations for any Task Orders that call for Spanish-language support. We anticipate this to be most of the Task Orders issued under this IDIQ. The translator qualifications are evaluated as part of Technical Evaluation Factor 3 IDIQ Management and Staffing Plan. CPSC is making significant efforts to reach historically excluded communities, including many Hispanic communities across the country. High quality translation services will be key to ensuring success across CPSC campaigns.

81. How would CPSC like us to price out our recommendations for attachment 4, translator services?

Answer: The price for translator services should be included in the IDIQ price list the same as any other labor category at a fully burdened hourly rate, or on a fixed-price per-word translation service.

82. We do not see an official ask for letters of commitment in the RFP documents anywhere; the only language referenced is in a section about them not counting towards the page counts. Are they required, and if so, what is the submission guideline for these letters?

Answer: Letters of commitment are required for Key Personnel. CPSC has identified 2 Key Personnel for the IDIQ, it will be up to the offeror to identify any additional Key Personnel for the IDIQ or the Task Orders. The letters must be signed by the individual proposed as Key Personnel for this requirement, and include their proposed labor category, specific duties, and timeframe they are committed to not accepting any other offers.

83. If the letters are required, can they contain electronic signatures (for example the “sign” option in a PDF), or do they need to be inked with a wet signature and scanned for submission?

Answer: Electronic signature is acceptable.

84. For the IDIQ SOW, can CPSC please share more information about the period of performance? It starts at the end of August 2022, but that time frame overlaps with the current Fiscal Year, which does not end until the end of September (2022).

Answer: The IDIQ period of performance will not match the fiscal year period. The IDIQ period of performance just identifies the time during which orders can be issued – the individual task orders will include the period of performance specific to the campaign, which may extend beyond the current ordering period of the IDIQ.

85. Paid social media advertising is referenced in several instances across the task orders and IDIQ. Is there flexibility to recommend other paid advertising channels or do we need to consider only paid social methods?

Answer: Yes. Other forms of digital advertising may be proposed in addition to social media advertising.

86. In the IDIQ SOW, Section 2.3.16 Task Area 16: Working with Independent Artists, is the intent for the Contractor to demonstrate it is capable of working with third party creative resources, or is there a requirement that the Contractor develop all or specific creative deliverables in collaboration with independent third parties?

Answer: The Contractor must demonstrate they are capable of working with third party creative resources in addition to the other requirements as outlined in Sec 2.3.16.

87. Under the Anchor It! Task order, B.2, there is reference to a “PSA-style video for the Campaign” to be produced. Can you please provide more detail about the requirement for this?

Answer: The Contractor must show that they are capable of producing a video product that leverages the use of the thought-leader they’ve identified to participate in the campaign. For this item, the only stated requirement is that the thought-leader must be featured in a video. The Contractor may propose the best way to produce/leverage this video for the campaign.

88. Under the Anchor It! task order section D.2 Social Video Series, the scope indicates: “The Contractor must explore free and paid promotion options that include outdoor and/or in-door displays, movie theater ads, or other venues as identified by the COR.” Is the intention for the Contractor to plan and execute a media plan or simply research and provide information and recommendations?

Answer: The expectation is that the Contractor would plan and execute a media plan.

89. IDIQ section 2.3.9.1 “Photoshoot Production Logistics” asks for this to be “completed before June 2021.” Is this a type-o and intended to be June 2023, or is this intended for something else?

Answer: Yes. The inclusion of the 2021 date is a typo.

90. Within the requirements listed for Volume 1/IDIQ SOW, which requests a draft “Project Management Plan with the proposal,” can you please clarify:

I. Should this PMP reflect the Contractor’s approach to creating and executing the entire IDIQ SOW, a PMP for each Task Area, or something else?

II. Is it specific to how the contractor plans to staff the work outlined in the IDIQ SOW, and/or the separate campaign-related Task Orders?

Answer: The draft Project Management Plan should outline what is requested in the IDIQ SOW: “The Project Management Plan shall include how the contactor will provide coverage, during absences greater than three days for any staff, the hiring process and length of time to replace staff, training on new technology, continuous improvement, and corporate reach-back for technical knowledge.” This is separate from the campaign-specific Project Management Plans, which are due 10 days after award of the individual task orders and will detail the specifics of how the contractor’s work will be performed to meet the task order requirements.

91. Under the Pool Safely Performance Work Statement, section 7.0 mentions that the monthly report will be due on the 10th of each month for the prior month. However, Section 7.0a notes that a monthly status report shall be submitted within seven calendar days after the end of each month. What is the difference between the reports due on the 10th and the seven days after the end of each month?

Answer: This is a typo. The report will be due the 10th of each month for the prior month.

92. It appears that there is at least another year available on the current IDIQ (the ceiling hasn’t been reached yet). Can CPSC share why this is being competed now?

Answer: The current award is a Task Order, which does not allow significant flexibility to update campaigns. CPSC anticipates that the current Task Order does not have sufficient scope and ceiling for all the tasks that CPSC requires in the coming year. Therefore, CPSC is issuing this IDIQ to cover the full anticipated scope of public relation campaigns for the Commission going forward.

93. Can CPSC confirm the incumbent of the current IDIQ?

Answer: The current task order for Public Relations support is held by Widmeyer Communications Inc. on task order number 61320620F0079.

94. Is this a single-award IDIQ? Page one refers to an award to a single company. Page 50 refers to a provision allowing awards to two or more sources.

Answer: The provision allows CPSC to award either a single-award or multiple-award IDIQ. CPSC anticipates that only one IDIQ will be issued, in order to maintain consistency among campaigns and reduce duplication of effort.

95. Period of Performance chart on p. 15 shows a five-year contract (base plus four option years). The text above the chart refers to a base and three option periods. Please confirm the length of the IDIQ.

Answer: This was a typo and has been corrected – there is a base period of one year and four option periods of one year each.

96. The government defines Key Personnel in the IDIQ volume, at a minimum, to include two specific roles: IDIQ-Level Project Manager and IDIQ-Level Contract Administrator. The PWS volumes require naming all Key Personnel. Does the government require both IDIQ-level key personnel be included in all PWS task order responses?

Answer: To save space in proposals, Key Personnel for the IDIQ volume may be named only once. The Key Personnel for the Task Order responses may exclude the IDIQ-Level PM and CA provided their backgrounds have already been provided in the IDIQ response.

97. Is there a page limit for Volume III, Past Performance?

Answer: There is no page limit for Volume III, Past Performance.

98. What percentage of the overall budget should we allocate to media buys, for each task order?

Answer: The Contractor must make this determination and propose what they believe best to accomplish the campaign goals as outlined in the Task Orders.

99. Does organic social media support cover main CPSC accounts or only official campaign accounts? (2.3.5) Answer: Only official campaign accounts.

100. Language in Section 2.3.6.4 suggests all costs should be included. Does that mean contractor pricing should account for advertising costs (“media buys”)?

Answer: Yes.

101. Are there existing influencer relationships and database(s) to manage, or just new ones contractors will establish? (2.3.7.1-2) Answer: New ones Contractors will establish.

102. What is the correct date for the photoshoot? (2.3.9.1) Answer: June 2023 will be the earliest date, this has been corrected in Amendment 1.

103. Is the website support mentioned in the RFP maintenance of existing properties or does it also include building new properties? (2.3.10.1-2) Answer: Managing existing, but also building new properties if the need arises.

104. Are there 3 option years or 4? (Section 3) Answer: There are 4 option years, this was a typo that has been corrected in Amendment 1.

105. Are the Key Personnel expected to primarily work on-site on a CPSC facility or a Contractor site?

Answer: Key Personnel are expected to primarily work at a Contractor site as determined by their company policies. Key Personnel may be required to travel to CPSC facilities or other locations as a part of supporting campaign activations.

106. In order to permit contractors adequate time to account for answers regarding dates and contract term length, would CPSC consider extending the deadline for proposal submission by the amount of time taken to receive the answers?

Answer: The due date for quotes has been extended through July 28, 2022 at 10am eastern

107. Is there an incumbent in place for this work?

Answer: The current task order for Public Relations support is held by Widmeyer Communications Inc. on task order number 61320620F0079.

108. How do you define national education and information campaigns contractor qualifications? We will be using AARP and the Life Reimagined initiative case study to build our reply. The program was targeted to 40 plus audience, much younger than the 65+ audience that AARP is known for--AARP has an obligation to educate all ages on planning for retirement. The work included creation of content for national audience and was a very successful information campaign that reached all socio economic cohorts. Also we recruited and worked with a variety of thought leaders/influencers, oversaw social media/paid and organic, digital applications, video placements. Wanted to be sure that this type of case study is on target, please advise?

Answer: Contractors should submit bids that they believe best reflect their work and address the requirements as outlined in the IDIQ. To promote fairness, CPSC will not comment on the appropriateness of examples from Contractors as part of this Q&A process.

109. How do you measure “viewed video”? 100%-50%-video started? We usually go with 50% viewed, please advise?

Answer: Generally, video views are defined by the platforms where the videos are published or ad services used to distribute the video. Following award, CPSC will discuss with the Contractor the most appropriate measure for counting a view.

110. How do you measure engagement? A click, a visit lasting more than X seconds, please advise? We see that you use Meltwater for social measurement, which we use as well.

Answer: Engagements are defined by the platforms where the content is published or distributed. Following award, CPSC will discuss with the Contractor the most appropriate measures for counting engagements.

111. Any more requirements around geography other than “lower socioeconomic areas? We see that some of the success metrics are based on an existing benchmark, which makes sense. Can you share those benchmarks?

Answer: Certain CPSC campaigns are able to leverage geography to help better identify areas of the country where our efforts should be prioritized. For example, drownings consistently occur more frequently in states that experience warm weather throughout the year. Contractors should prepare bids based on the KPIs included in the IDIQ and Task Orders. Following award, CPSC will make all previous campaign data available to the Contractor.