Music_Feature_writer_and_producer_REVISED.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

Non-Personal Services Music Feature Writer and Producer Voice of America English Division Washington DC

REVISED 8/6/2015

1.0 Introduction

(a) The Voice of America’s English Service has a requirement for an independent contractor (hereinafter referred to as “Contractor”) The contractor shall have a wide range of skills that will enable her/him to provide Radio Features services as described below. The work shall be performed on a “per Assignment” basis. In addition, the Government will reimburse the Contractor for actual expenses as stated below. The Contractor’s assignment rate shall include overhead and profit. All work shall be performed in accordance with The VOA Journalistic Code and the VOA Charter as well as VOA English.

The contractor must request pre-approval before engaging in outside speaking and writing that might give rise to an actual or perceived violation of the Code.

For purposes of this SOW, an Assignment is a single, fully produced, ready-for-air, radio feature with a complete written script. The Contractor shall be required to complete the assignment by the deadline stated below. The Contractor’s ‘start time’ and “duration of effort” is a business decision on the Contractor’s part and does not influence the “per assignment” rate stated in the contract

2.0 Scope of Work

The Contractor shall perform the following work at his home or office or on location and will deliver the finished product to VOA either in person (at the Voice of America Headquarters Building, 330 Independence Ave, SW)or via FTP, email, or other digital method mutually agreed to by the Contracting Officer:

(a) Report, record, produce and deliver radio features on music-related topics. Features will be three-to-five minutes long, and ready for broadcast.

(b) Features will be edited, before production, by the VOA Editor to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with “The VOA Journalistic Code”. The assignment is not completed until the VOA Editor has accepted the finished ready-for-air feature

(c) The Music Feature Writer and Producer must have:

· A broad knowledge of American music, both historic and current; a solid understanding of the role of music in American culture;

· A proven ability to secure and conduct engaging, informative interviews;

· Technical skills to record interviews;

· Journalistic skills to write scripts incorporating interviews with other researched information to create engaging, accurate feature stories;

· Demonstrated voice-talent skills to voice feature pieces; and demonstrated technical skills to combine interview materials with other recorded sound to create fully produced, broadcast-ready radio features of the highest professional quality.

Evaluation Factors/ Qualifications:

Music Features Writer /Producer:

· At least 5 years of major market or network broadcast news experience with professional delivery

· Excellent writing and storytelling skills with the ability to tailor and adapt content across platforms

· Skillfully researches, writes, produces and voices feature stories

· Must possess broad knowledge of American music and culture.

· Adept at generating exclusive and distinctive content, and be able to think creatively about how to communicate that content to a wide-ranging audience.

· Applicant must submit exemplary samples of social media engagement, digital journalism including written copy and a broadcast news aircheck.(no more than 3 samples)

3.0 Deliverables

Deliverables are submitted within a specified timeframe. This specified time will be arranged by the Contracting Officer Representative.

4.0 Contractor Performance Evaluation Criteria:

The quality and efficiency of the services performed by the Contractor shall be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that the Contractor is meeting the requirements of the Government.

5.0 Approximate number of hours, Holidays and Weekends

VOA is a 24/7 news/program operation and the schedule will vary depending on the need of the Government. The contractor may be required to provide service on Federal holidays and weekend work. Schedule and times of performing assignments will be coordinated by the Contracting Officer Representative.

6.0 Background Check

NOTE: If contractor fails to pass a security background check, the contract will be terminated.

7.0 Award Duration

Two years from date of award to commence on or about August 31, 2015 and no later than September 10, 2015.

8.0 BUSINESS ETHICS AND CONDUCT

The Contractor shall conduct itself with the highest degree of integrity and honesty and during the term of its relationship with the Agency shall maintain a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics in accordance with the VOA Charter and the VOA Journalistic Code.