Attachment 1 Statement of Work.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

TITLE: Multimedia technical illustration and graphics support for communicating research by NIST scientists

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and its Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML), require support to provide high-quality illustrative, explanatory, multimedia depictions of advanced research projects and findings in the physical sciences for use in electronic dissemination of NIST/PML news reports and for use by scientists in presentations.

Needed products include animations at various levels of detail, both simple and complex single illustrations, slide shows, animated GIFs, conversion of figures from scientific journal articles, and other similar tasks as determined by PML news/information staff in coordination with NIST’s Office of Public Affairs.

II. SCOPE OF WORK

a. OBJECTIVES/PURPOSE This project’s purpose is to provide high-quality illustrative, explanatory, multimedia depictions of research projects, experimental results, and other findings in advanced physics, chemistry, telecommunications, quantum science and related fields for use in electronic dissemination of NIST/PML news reports and other information products for the interested public and for use by scientists in presentations.

b. GENERAL:

The Contractor shall provide all support for project oversight, administration and technical execution of this task order. The Contractor shall maintain accurate records of project activities and confer online with the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) every week for all active tasks for no more than 30 minutes via Skype or other videoconference platform as scheduled by the TPOC. The TPOC may choose to cancel individual meetings as warranted.

c. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:

The Contractor shall complete the following tasks:

Task 1: The Contractor shall produce a total of twelve (12) explanatory animations per year of lengths from 90 seconds to 180 seconds approximately and in no case to exceed 200 seconds, as directed by the TPOC. Animations shall be in color and made at three different levels of complexity – with the appropriate level for each product to be determined by the TPOC and the relevant NIST scientists – as follows:

Six Level 1 3D ray-traced animations in which three to five elements are active/in motion and perspective changes at least once during the animation (e.g., vertical or horizontal “camera” rotation);

Three Level 2 3D ray-traced animations in which three or fewer elements are in motion without perspective changes; and

Three Level 3 2D animations in which four or fewer objects are in motion.

None of the animations will include voiceover or music. All verbal explanation shall be in the form of text in the frames and/or labels and titles as edited and approved by the TPOC.

General narrative structure and contents of the animations shall be determined prior to onset of work by email messages between the TPOC and the Contractor’s subject-matter expert who is expected, prior to the meeting, to be independently familiar with the research to be depicted from reading the relevant scientific publication/s and supplementary material previously sent to him/her by the TPOC.

Following that, the Contractor shall produce storyboards – showing no fewer than four successive stages in the animation – for review by the TPOC and the relevant scientists who will provide direction to the Contractor by email . As the work proceeds, the Contractor shall provide refined storyboards and/or video clips as directed for the purpose of securing successive interim approvals while proceeding from initial idea to completed product. For each animation, this may entail no more than two additional rounds of message exchange as needed to provide direction for refining and/or modifying the animation, as determined by the TPOC and relevant NIST scientists. TPOC and relevant scientists will determine when a product is completed.

Completed products shall be delivered in 1920 x 1080 resolution (16 x 9 aspect ratio) and in MP4 format. NIST, through the TPOC, will provide mandatory templates for introductory titles and for final credits and identification.

All animations will be the exclusive property of NIST.

Task 2: The contractor shall produce eighteen (18) explanatory illustrations singly or in “slide show” sets of multiple illustrations, each one of which will count toward the annual total. In each case, the initiation, review and approval process will be the same as in Task 1 with the exception that after the initial message exchange no more than one additional meeting will be required.

Finished illustrations shall be capable of screen display at 300 pixels per inch and submitted in one of two formats as determined by the TPOC: vector graphics editable in Adobe Illustrator; or PNG or PSD formats editable in Adobe Photoshop.

All illustrations will be the exclusive property of NIST.

Task 3: The Contractor shall create and maintain a complete web-based online archive, organized in order by date completed, of all graphics products produced for Tasks 1 and 2 above that is accessible at any time by the NIST TPOC.

III. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance shall be one year from the date of award.

IV. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The primary place of performance is off site. There is no requirement to be on a NIST campus.

V. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

Upon start of this contract, NIST will provide the Contractor with a laptop capable of creating and processing the complex graphics listed above. NIST will not pay for Wi-Fi charges associated with the performance of this purchase order.

All property, data and information provided by the Government in the performance of this task remains the property of the Government and shall be surrendered to the government upon completion or termination of this requirement. Likewise, all deliverables generated under this requirement remain the property of the Government.

VI. DELIVERABLES

Task Description Format Quantity Due Date

1 Explanatory animations in accordance with Task 1.

MP4,

PNG,

PSD

No fewer than 12 explanatory animations at one of three complexity levels

One year after award

1 Explanatory drawings and llustrations in accordance with Task 2.

MP4,

PNG,

PSD

No fewer than eighteen (18) explanatory drawings and illustrations

One year after

2 An electronic archive maintained on an open website, readily accessible to the TPOC and his designees, containing all illustrations, animations and other multimedia work products completed during the contract period.

Web-based file storage

Within 1 month of

VII.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENT SUMMARY

Task Desired Output Required Service Performance Standard Monitoring Method

1 -2 Multimedia information products that clearly communicate the scope and significance of PML science and metrology to intelligent general audiences.

Example:

A 2-minute, high-quality 3D color animation depicting a new quantum technique for measurement.

Creation of still and animated graphics to explain or illustrate advanced scientific and metrological research.

Example:

Creation of original graphics in 3D animation software; output approved version with captions in a NIST-approved format such as

MP4.

Complete approval of information products by TPOC and, as needed, relevant NIST scientists.

Example:

Clear, vivid, accurate and understandable graphics with science content approved by relevant scientists. Over the past 7 years, PML has produced scores of high-quality animations and illustrations, which collectively represent a performance standard. (See https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news-updates/org/5651)The TPOC will use these examples in working with the contractor to ensure that standards are met.

Continuous monitoring of products during each iteration from start to finish by TPOC and NIST scientists as appropriate. Weekly email sessions and occasional videoconferences as required.

Example:

TPOC examines and evaluates each successive iteration of the product through completion, in consultation with relevant scientists.

Task

An online archive, containing all graphics produced under this contract, sorted by date and at full size and resolution, that is fully accessible at any time to the

TPOC.

Creation and maintenance of a web-based library of products that is accessible in any browser on Windows and Apple OS platforms.

Graphics produced under the contract must be available in the web library immediately upon completion.

The TPOC will monitor the contents on a weekly basis and email the Contractor with any questions that arise.

Standards for Acceptance of Deliverables:

The TPOC will provide guidance on each stage of the deliverable within no more than seven (7) calendar days from receipt. The Contractor shall make any needed changes to the products within ten (10) calendar days from receipt of electronic or written comments from the TPOC.

The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) will provide written notification when a deliverable is accepted.

VIII. TRAVEL

None.

IX. CONTRACTOR’S MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s or advanced degree in physical sciences from an accredited university, physics preferred, and ability to read and generally understand the contents of scientific journal articles in advanced physical sciences.

Five (5) years of proven ability to communicate complex research results in advanced physical sciences, including various aspects of quantum science, to an intelligent general audience using illustrations, animations, and other multimedia information products.