Attachment_A_-_Statement_of_Work.pdf

Attachment A – Solicitation No. BBG50-R-17-0088JG

OTT Video Cloud Distribution Platform

Broadcasting Board of Governors

Office of Technical Services and Innovation

Statement of Work

I. INTRODUCTION

The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) is the agency charged with U.S. International broadcasting, serving a weekly audience of 278 million adults via 61 languages in approximately

100 countries. The BBG broadcasters include the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio

Liberty, Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa, Radio Free Asia, and Radio and TV Martí.

The BBG reaches audiences across an array of platforms, including terrestrial, satellite, and cable television, radio, and, increasingly, digital and social media.

As consumer behaviors change, so must the BBG’s tactics for delivering content. In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in video consumption. This is occurring not only with short-form content via social, but also long-form and linear content via Video On-Demand (VOD), Over-

The-Top (OTT), and handheld devices (especially mobile phones).

While many of the BBG’s language services provide linear feeds of channels or episodic content via their own websites and sites such as YouTube, the agency’s lack of a holistic, consumer-facing VOD/OTT solution presents itself as a gap in the BBG’s distribution portfolio.

Such a holistic solution would expand the availability of BBG content to would-be consumers who are not served by traditional affiliates or satellite coverage, including diaspora, and provide a catch-up service for those who missed the original broadcast of a program or evergreen documentary on an affiliate or BBG-owned and operated linear service such as Alhurra

Television. A holistic solution would further serve as a compliment to broadcast entity and language service-level efforts by increasing impact through cross-promotion of content.

The BBG seeks to deploy a best-in-class VOD/OTT solution that provides a consumer experience competitive with Netflix, HBO Go, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer and the like.

Based on a previously issued RFI # BBG50-RFI-17-030717 dated March 3, 2017, the BBG believes that numerous such solutions exist in the market today, and can meet Federal management requirements.

II. OBJECTIVE

The primary goal is to increase use of BBG content by deploying a cloud-based SaaS (Software as a Service) solution that exists today for a best-in-class, consumer-facing Video-on-Demand

(VOD) platform with Over the Top (OTT) capabilities. The platform will deliver file-based video content to an array of media devices, including Smart TVs, connected television devices, streaming devices, gaming systems, desktop computers, laptop computers, mobile phones, and other handhelds.

III. SCOPE

The scope of the base year requirement is for the initial development and deployment of the platform. Option year one (1) is for licensing, preventive and corrective maintenance of the platform, and anticipating future enhancements to the platform. The Government reserves its right to compete future enhancements if it determines that to do so is in its best interest.

IV. PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

To provide the desired outcomes of this Statement of Work (SOW), the Offeror shall meet the following performance objectives in support of the VOD/OTT solution.

First-year objectives have been identified, and are as follows:

1) Deploy a VOD/OTT solution that is already proven in the market at a scale of multiple millions of users, in multiple languages, simultaneously. First year expectation suggests a weekly upload approaching 100 hours of content. Further technical requirements are noted below.

2) First year deployment will, at minimum, include the following languages, in addition to

English: Arabic, Farsi, French, Spanish, Chinese/Mandarin, and Russian. Offeror must demonstrate ability to grow significantly beyond these languages and fonts. CMS will be in

English, with consumer-facing UX fields that provide for aforementioned languages and fonts that identify specific programming titles and programming description.*

Solution will focus on file-based playout, but also must accommodate navigation to a minimum of 8 24/7 linear video streams. Offeror will not be responsible for transcoding the live streams.

3) First year app deployment will, at minimum, include Android TV, Android Mobile, iOS, Apple TV, Amazon/Kindle Fire, Samsung Smart TV, and Roku. Additional interest includes but is not limited to Vizio, Philips, and Sony TVs, and gaming devices such as Xbox and Playstation.

Apps will be individually skinned to preserve the BBG brands: VOA, RFE/RL, Alhurra, RFA, and Martí.

* The BBG makes content available in the following languages: Afaan Oromo, Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Bambara, Bashkir, Belarusian, Bengali, Bosnian, Burmese, Cantonese, Chechen, Chinese (Mandarin), Croatian, Dari, French, Georgian, Haitian

Creole, Hausa, Indonesian, Kazakh, Khmer, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Korean, Kurdish, Kyrgyz, Lao, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Ndebele, Pashto, Persian (Farsi), Pilipino, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbia, Shona, Somali, Spanish, Swahili (Kiswahili), Tajik, Tatar, Thai, Tibetan, Tigrigna, Turkish, Turkmen, Ukrainian, Urdu, Uyghur, Uzbek, and Vietnamese.

V. Technical Requirements

The BBG intends to focus on the deployment of a VOD/OTT front-end/media management system (SaaS), with related apps for playout on aforementioned devices.

Therefore, the solution must be CDN agnostic. The BBG expects to continue its existing CDN relationship(s) and the solution must work within that environment. The BBG expects to handle the vast majority of transcoding, including that of live 24/7 streams. Thus, the projected cost of bandwidth for storage and file transfer to the end consumer should be adjusted accordingly. The BBG expects a content upload to exceed 200 hours per week in the first year, with the potential for significant growth in subsequent years.

(a) List of Technical Elements

The solution shall feature at minimum:

A) a scalable, cloud-based Platform* with the ability to store, manage, and play out or otherwise deliver media assets in the form of video, audio, and text.

B) a permissions system allowing for multiple levels of employee access.

C) output of HTML5-compatible video as well as RTMP, HLS, MPEG DASH and other popular on-demand and live streaming formats, with playlist feature and the enabling of automatic play of featured content.

D) metadata fields akin to AP Metadata or similar.

E) cloud-based ability to upload, access, and create/edit new content from multiple global locations simultaneously (create/edit new component preferable but not mandatory).

F) a consumer-friendly UX for VOD playout via aforementioned devices competitive with consumer experiences offered by Netflix, HBO Go, Amazon Prime Video, the

BBC iPlayer, and the like.

G) the ability to integrate with the broadcast media asset management system, Dalet, Pangea - the BBG’s custom CMS (SOAP/REST API), and known global Content

Delivery Networks (CDN).

H) cloud-based tools that allow for creating, editing and publishing featured content across social media such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Snapchat, and similar digital and social properties worldwide (preferable).

I) the ability to incorporate Digital Rights Management (DRM), and

J) the ability to incorporate geo-blocking.

The playout system shall additionally feature the following: sort/search functions, preview screen, drag and drop interface, ability to trim, edit, and set in-out points on video files; adjust titles and descriptive text in multiple languages, position, and audio control.

Offeror must demonstrate existing ability to deliver at scale by citing relevant client case studies.

Offeror must describe the solution and related workflow.

Offeror must suggest a reasonable exit or sun-setting strategy should a new contractor be awarded in out years. For example, to prevent “orphaning” of Apps, Apps and related code would become property of BBG to aid in transition to a new platform.

Offeror recognizes that all rights related to the content on the platform are retained exclusively by the BBG.

BBG requires a seamless and integrated enterprise solution that is compatible with and runs on Windows or Linux Operating Systems.

(b) List of Elements in User Interface/User Experience

i. Output of HTML5-compatible video as well as RTMP, HLS, MPEG DASH and other popular on-demand and live streaming formats, with playlist feature and the enabling of automatic play of featured content;

ii. metadata fields akin to AP Metadata or similar;

iii. a permissions system allowing for multiple levels of employee access;

iv. cloud-based ability to upload, access, and create/edit new content from multiple global locations simultaneously (create/edit new component preferable but not mandatory);

v. the ability to integrate with the broadcast media asset management system, Dalet, Pangea - the BBG’s custom CMS (SOAP/REST API), and known global Content

Delivery Networks (CDN);

vi. cloud-based tools that allow for creating, editing and publishing featured content across social media such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Snapchat, and similar digital and social properties worldwide (preferable);

vii. the ability to incorporate Digital Rights Management (DRM), and J) the ability to incorporate geo-blocking;

viii. Offeror must show compatibility with Windows or Linux Operating Systems;

ix. Offeror must demonstrate ability to grow significantly beyond the 7 initial languages and fonts noted in the SOW;

x. Section 508 compliance;

xi. Type of license (or buyout if applicable). BBG prefers enterprise level;

xii. Back-end of Playout system features: sort/search functions, preview screen, drag and drop interface, ability to trim, edit, and set in-out points on video files; adjust titles and descriptive text in multiple languages, position, and audio control;

xiii. Consumer interface and functionality that is on par with best-in class solutions already deployed in the marketplace, such as Netflix, HBO Go, Amazon Prime

Video, and the like.

xiv. Offeror must describe the solution and related workflow;

xv. Support and reliability. The support services under this solicitation are critical to the mission of the Broadcasting Board of Governors. The operation and maintenance of this solution must be (1) transparent in design and practice to the government oversight personnel (2) be reasonably accessible to a government team skilled in the art of computer programming, maintenance, and upgrading, including documentation and licensing of any third party software components or modules; and (3) assure that the ability of the system contemporaneously archives to assure stability and the ability to survive outages.

VI. Maintenance and Enhancements

Maintenance in option year one is defined as the delivery of preventive and corrective software upgrades and patches, as needed, to ensure and maintain system operability.

Enhancements are defined as changes within the scope that "enhance" the platform, i.e., debugging, maintaining "state of the art features" and adding unforeseen operating features.

Enhancements, should any be required, will be negotiated when the need for enhancements are identified.

VII. Deliverables

Offeror to provide project roadmap, engage in an on-premises strategic site visit, on premises training at launch, weekly remote meetings, weekly status reports, regular software upgrades and debugging as required. The contract period of performance for this requirement shall consist of one (1) year from date of award with one (1) option year period.

Task/Deliverable Due Date Medium of Delivery

Project Roadmap Award Date (AD) + 14 days Hard Copy/Report and presentation

Site Visit: Strategy AD + 30 Days On-Site at BBG DC HQ

Site Visit: Integration

Strategy

AD + 45 Days RFE/RL HQ, Prague

Training for Soft Launch AD + 150 Days On-Site at BBG DC HQ

Internal Launch AD + 180 Days

Soft Launch AD + 210 Days

Weekly Meetings Skype for Business or Similar

Status Reports Weekly Brief Bullet Point/Hard Copy

Software upgrades/debugging As Necessary

Hard Launch AD + One (1) Year

VIII. Period of Performance

Project roadmap due within two weeks of award, strategic site visit within 30 days of award, and soft launch/beta of product training within 150 days of award. Solution should be fully operational within one (1) year of award date.

IX. Key Personnel

For BBG: The main point of contact for the BBG will be the Contracting Officer Representative

(COR), to be identified upon award.

However, the weekly status meetings and report will be delivered to and consist of a team of

BBG individuals. These individuals will be identified and introduced to the contractor upon contract award. All communication should include this team unless alternative direction is given.

For Contractor: The contractor shall appoint a supervising point of contact that is responsible for the deliverables. This person will be the main point of contact for BBG and will give updates, answer questions, and keep the BBG informed of any issues, delays, etc.

Contractor’s supervisor will give the BBG a list of its team members (name and contact information) who are working on this contract; a brief professional biography of key players is encouraged in proposal submission. If any team members need to be present at the BBG’s

Headquarters located in Washington, DC for other than routine meetings, they must pass a background check and be able to obtain the proper security clearances via the BBG’s Office of

Security.

X. Place of Performance

The primary place(s) of performance is/ are as follows:

Broadcasting Board of Governors

330 Independence Ave, SW

Washington, DC 20237

Cohen Building

Some activities within this statement of work may be performed at other locations rather than the primary place of performance. The contractor must seek Contracting Officer (CO) approval for any location not designated as the primary place of performance and for any remote work arrangements.

XI. Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and Task Manager:

The designated BBG COR for this order will be provided at time of award:

Task Manager: TBD

Email: TBD

Phone: TBD

XII. Non-Disclosure Agreements

Standard non-disclosure statements shall be provided as required for Contractor personnel who may have access to government data during the term of the contract.

XIII. Miscellaneous

a. Offeror should provide information relating to Section 508 compliance, type of license

(or buyout if applicable), and reference previous projects and/or clients of similar size and scope if applicable. If solution is licensed, the BBG prefers enterprise level.