Data Analytics Statement of Work_RPPR_FINAL.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

Data Analytics Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Contract 03/10/2022

Introduction

The Department of State (DOS), Office of the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (R), Office of Policy Planning and Resources (PPR) is located at 2200 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20520 (SA-5).

R/PPR supports various DOS public diplomacy (PD) efforts, and intends to support PD efforts involving data analytics: the science of using statistical and social scientific methods to discern from data sets meaningful insights into audience behavior and information environments.

In particular, R/PPR intends to provision DOS with Data Analytics deliverables to be used for PD purposes, which can be categorized into eight (8) Data Analytics Project Groups (defined in §3), and which include audience research, digital message testing, marketing and strategic planning, and consultation; professional services and/or technology that DOS can use to generate data analytics; and various other deliverables directly related to data analytics.

In order to provision these deliverables, R/PPR intends to contract with a vendor with specialized experience in data analytics by establishing an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract (IDIQ).

Objective

R/PPR seeks to establish an IDIQ to secure a broad array of technical, consultative and support services in Data Analytics to be used for PD purposes. We seek assistance in collecting and analyzing data that will help us better understand global audiences, international media environments, the efforts of our global adversaries to deploy disinformation, and the effectiveness of our programs. We seek a vendor capable of acquiring and effectively deploying industry standard tools and practices as well as emerging technologies for collecting and analyzing data.

Requirements

Under GSA Federal Supply Schedule, DOS is procuring Data Analytics deliverables which are encompassed by the following Data Analytics Project Groups.

Project Group 1: Marketing and Strategic Planning. Includes:

· International Marketing: Marketing for specific target audiences abroad, incorporating understanding of language and culture and related nuances, assessment of messengers, content platforms/vehicles, and timing in delivery of message(s); buying advertising in markets abroad.

· Marketing Campaign Planning: Employing focus group research or similar to drive multi-channel marketing plan development including content calendaring, channel optimization, messenger diversification, market assessment and opportunity identification.

· Digital, Social, and Traditional Advertising: Development of advertising copy, designing visual creative elements, buying targeted advertising in digital, social, or traditional mediums.

Project Group 2: Program Measurement and Evaluation. Includes:

· Program Evaluation: Assessing outputs, outcomes, and impact of paid, earned, shared, and owned communications programs via AMEC integrated evaluation framework or equivalent.

· In-Cycle Optimization: Guiding and/or executing strategic pivots on running programs based on analysis of performance metrics, such as moving away from less-effective or toward more-effective tactics to improve overall program performance.

· Measurable Design: Identifying and recommending opportunities to capture data in order to answer key research questions and provide measurability of program outcomes and impact.

Project Group 3: Product Development, Consultation, Sales. Includes:

· Product and Case Study Development: Distilling of products and services into discrete offerings with specific use cases, supported by case studies developed to demonstrate deliverables and strategic utility of same.

· Training Development, Execution, and Evaluation: Creating curricula in the form of training manuals, detailed instruction plans, videos, or other designed to raise skills and familiarity of target audiences with specific concepts, products, or services.

· Leading effective trainings, primarily via online platforms, for overseas Department of State officers and local staff on both the functionality and strategic use of digital platforms, tailored and customized to achieve specific digital diplomacy strategic objectives.

· Developing, maintaining and managing materials and resources used in each module, whether in-person or via online platforms.

· Managing communications, training schedules and logistics with clients, stakeholders, project contributors and project managers.

· Assisting with communications and marketing at appropriate levels for assigned trainings.

· Developing, executing and submitting detailed reports measuring effectiveness of assigned training modules.

· Applying knowledge of the various levels of adult learning, and breaking technical and at-times complicated information into distinct, hands-on modules that achieve identified and desired learning objectives.

· Adapting training modules for varying conditions in the field, customizing modules for maximum outcome for trainees’ level of skill, desired learning objectives and the overall strategic digital diplomacy objective.

· Designing, leading or co-leading interactive and hands-on modules whether training is delivered in-person or via online platforms.

· Utilizing adult learning strategies and approaches to maximize learning outcomes, whether via live, virtual/online training (synchronous learning) or on-demand training modules (asynchronous learning).

· Designing, developing and implementing impact assessment and evaluation methodologies to assess effectiveness of training modules.

· Consultative Sales: Developing personal understanding of customer business need to create tailored product/service recommendations designed to solve assessed needs.

Project Group 4: Data and Social Sciences. Includes:

· Data Science: Statistical modeling, machine learning, natural language processing, large-scale data analysis with Spark, Hadoop, or similar software, AI usage, and data manipulation or retrieval via SQL and Python (or equivalent) software programming languages; providing senior-level guidance on data science and analytics best practices.

· Social Science: Quantitative and qualitative opinion research, behavioral psychology, and statistical analysis using SAS, R, SPSS, or equivalent software; providing validation of methods and identifying best practices.

· Experiment Design: Developing research approaches to ensure measurability and outcome validation of research question(s), employing proven research methods from fields of psychology and behavioral economics.

Project Group 5: Digital Analytics. Includes:

· Web Metrics: Analyzing world wide web traffic, log data as captured by Google Analytics or similar, and/or broadcast e-mail performance statistics (e.g. MailChimp).

· Social Metrics: Analyzing social network performance metrics from sources including Twitter, Facebook, Sina Weibo, WeChat, and VKontakte Analytics retrieved through GUI platform or API.

· Digital Optimization: A/B testing of digital templates and content for websites and e-mails via Optimizely, MailChimp, or equivalents.

· Bot Detection: Detecting the behavior of autonomous or semi-autonomous bots spreading disinformation or committing other harmful activities.

Project Group 6: Digital Engagement.

· Using digital engagement tools (e.g., collaboration platforms such as Slack, email optimization, digital marketing and outreach, social media, contact relationship management tools (including Salesforce and other industry standard tools) and online virtual meeting platforms) for public engagement purposes.

Project Group 7: Open Source Analysis. Includes:

· Source Validation and Targeted Collection: Identifying gaps in existing coverage, providing options for filling those gaps, and determining steps required to implement those measures, including adding new platforms and individuals to data collection systems. Gathering and processing volumes of data across traditional, digital, and social media environments.

· Multisource Analysis: Compiling large volumes of multisource data, including traditional and digital media, read and understand the data, quickly validate the reporting, and drawing conclusions from a number of sources with surety in the conclusions.

· Report Writing: Processing multiple sets of source data and compiling those findings into concise, clear, and accurate reports that include an understanding of the event, context of the event, the level of engagement the event is getting in both traditional and digital media.

· Data Visualization: Creatively developing visualizations for reporting from written analyses and raw reporting data for both written and digitally hosted products.

Project Group 8: Miscellaneous Data Analytics Deliverables.

· Deliverables not covered under Project Groups 1-7; may include various consulting services; conducting trainings; provision of Data Analytics software/technology; etc.

Data Analytics deliverables shall be ordered in separate, discrete IDIQ Calls/TOs. All IDIQ Calls/TOs issued under this IDIQ shall be FFP, shall include specific identifiable deliverables with defined delivery dates, and shall identify vendor roles in each Data Analytics deliverable.

Deliverables

For each Data Analytics deliverable DOS will procure, the Vendor shall receive a Request for Proposal (RFP) from the AQM Contracting Officer (CO), including a Statement of Work (SOW). The Vendor shall then submit a proposal with technical, cost, and other information as necessary to the CO. The CO shall afford the Vendor a maximum of ten days to submit a proposal.

NOTE: Only AQM COs have the authority to request and/or receive the Vendor’s proposals.

The Vendor’s proposal shall include:

· Execution plan: Expected steps to take toward Data Analytics deliverable completion; appropriate details concerning project logistics.

· Timeline: Completion date for each step in the execution plan.

· Staffing: Key personnel, including personnel who will be sited at DOS and their onboarding requirements (e.g. clearance; VAR processing; systems access; badging; etc.)

· Reporting requirements: information, if requested, for satisfying U.S. government reporting requirements, including reporting requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA).

· FFP cost.

Task Order Performance

For each accepted Vendor proposal, the CO shall issue an IDIQ Call/TO for the Data Analytics deliverable.

The COR shall approve and accept all Data Analytics deliverables. Upon acceptance, all deliverables shall become property of the U.S. government. The Vendor shall not invoice DOS for deliverables until the COR approves and accepts them. A copy of COR approval must accompany invoices in accordance with 011NV as found in the Terms and Conditions of this IDIQ.

The vendor will be expected to equip staff assigned to calls/TOs with laptops and any other computer hardware required to perform the work. The Government will provide access to Government-managed networks and platforms required to perform the work.

Period Of Performance

The base Period of Performance (POP) for this IDIQ shall be one year and four option periods of one year each.

Security Clearance

The vendor must have a Top-Secret Facility Clearance Level. Individual call orders may be issued for staff ranging from Tier 1 to TS/SCI clearance depending on the nature of the work.

Place of Performance

The work under this requirement will take place in the following Department of State location and/or other locations to be mutually agreed upon by the COR, the COR’s designee, the Government Manager, and the contracted personnel:

State Annex 5 2200 C Street NW Washington, DC 20037

Telework

Situational or Part-Time Domestic telework may be mutually agreed upon by the COR, the COR’s designee, Government Manager, and the contracted personnel. The contracted personnel will abide by all Departmental telework regulations.

Travel

Contracted personnel may be required to travel during the period of performance. All funding for travel must be coordinated with and authorized by the COR or the COR’s designee, and the Government Manager. The vendor shall be responsible for handling all administrative and logistical responsibilities related to contracted personnel travel. These responsibilities include, but are not limited to, registration and payment for any conferences, purchasing of tickets related to transportation, and booking hotels. Airfare, hotel fares, and per diem rates shall be chosen in accordance with the relevant GSA allowances and Federal travel regulations. All associated travel fees are receipt reimbursable in accordance with the Joint Travel Regulations.