NAGB_Social_Media_Industry_Day_Responses_to_Questions.pdf

RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS

EDNAGB16SOCIALMEDIA

Social Media Industry Day

February 11, 2016

Technical Questions:

1. Will the contractor be expected to create content for social media?

The contractor should expect to play a role in creating some social media content during the life of the contract. The level of effort will depend largely upon the strategies proposed by the successful contractor and approved by the Board staff involved in the work.

2. What is the size of your social media staff?

The Board does not have staff dedicated to social media exclusively, we do not believe that the work will involve a full-time effort, however, that projection may change based on the proposed offer. The Board’s public affairs specialist works with our current communications contractor to devise social media content and strategies, along with other outreach efforts.

3. Which other agencies will the strategy need to anticipate working with?

There is a possibility of coordinating this work with work performed by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), which partners with the Board for the NAEP program. However, the contractor should assume that the primary effort will focus on the Governing Board and its work as mandated in our authorizing legislation.

4. Is the expectation that the contractor would be creating and posting content daily? And that given social media is becoming more visual, would it also include the expectation that we would create video and graphics?

The proposed outreach social media strategies vis-a-vis Board requirements will govern the creation and posting of content. There may be peak periods when Report Cards are released and periods where work requirements may not be full time. We do not believe that content will need be created on a daily basis. Responses to posting may be more frequent at times when Report Cards are released. The creation of videos and graphics will involve working in collaboration with our current communications contractor to produce and post content.

5. Are you considering a cloud solution? Will the Department consider leveraging cloud applications?

The Board is interested in receiving proposals that provide innovative cross platform engagement tools that have the ability to leverage existing and new technology to deliver content to targeted audiences safely and securely with the ability to engage in ways that are user friendly, and that can be tracked in meaningful ways. Using a single interface cloud based solution that is integrated with the systems we already use may result in cost savings. The Board will therefore consider all cloud based solutions as long as they comply with federal regulatory standards and Department of Education requirements with respect to information assurance and security.

6. Do you want one firm that can do the research, strategy, and social media execution, or will you look at expertise in those specialties and combine resources?

It is our expectation that offerors will propose solutions based on their unique research capabilities, insight, and social engagement and implementation capabilities, whether the solution is for a collaborative effort or a single solution. It is noted that the Board’s approved communications plan will serve as the foundation for planning the research and strategies for execution.

7. Is the interest in using social media for a project which has goals and an objective within a certain group of individuals?

The goal is to institute a comprehensive social media strategy that is integrated into the Board’s overall outreach and communications efforts, designed to reach a variety of audiences. This effort is not designed just to address a particular project or audience.

8. Would the communications strategy have social media as an integrated component, or would social media be a stand-alone strategy and function?

The communications strategy the Board hopes to expand will have social media as an integrated component.

9. Do you have a sense of the constituent groups with whom you would want to use social media?

The Board wants to reach a variety of audiences through social media, not just target one or two stakeholders. Our website www.nagb.gov provides content by audience type --parents, educators, business leaders, policymakers and media. We need an effective social media strategy to reach those and potentially other audiences.

10. What do you think is missing from the current strategy and repertoire of communications tools available?

http://www.nagb.gov/

We need to greatly expand our audience base, increase stakeholder interest in our work to improve knowledge and understanding of our work which ultimately seeks to improve student achievement in the nation. We need to ensure that our social media tools are deployed based on comprehensive research on social media education/assessment conversations and trends that could provide insight to make outreach efforts more effective. We also need to focus on driving the conversation in education as it relates to the Board’s legislative mandates.

11. Are you anticipating all Social Media communication to be in English or are you interested in also communicating in Spanish to U.S. Hispanics?

Although efforts would primarily be in English, the Board is open to proposals that demonstrate effective social media strategies in Spanish (or other languages) to reach targeted audiences.

Contract Questions:

1. What is the name of the NAGB's Communications Contractor (Prime)? Are there existing large or small business contractors serving NAGB with marketing and communications services? If so, can you share with us who they are?

The District Communications Group is the Board’s current outreach and dissemination contractor. They are a small business located in Washington, DC.

2. Can you repeat the anticipated release date?

The Request for Proposals has an anticipated FBO release in late-February, 2016.

3. Will you notify the vendors about the posting of this RFP?

Vendors can access the solicitation at www.fbo.gov once it is issued. We will also post a link to the solicitation on the Board’s website at its procurement pages, www.nagb.gov.

4. Will there be an RFI?

No.

5. Will a list of attendees/participants of this webinar be posted on FBO?

In order to maintain the confidentiality of webinar attendees/participants, we cannot release the names. However, we requested approval for release of interested vendors names only for those registered at www.fbo.gov prior to the event’s RSVP deadline. For http://www.nagb.gov/ http://www.fbo.gov/ those vendors who responded that they would allow their information to be shared, we will post this list as an amendment to the notice.

6. Is there a target award amount or range that you can share?

We anticipate the level of effort (labor mix) of approximately one full time employee per year. However, since this is a new procurement, we are open to receiving proposals (and pricing) based on the proposed strategies that can be supported by our existing budget allocation for this work derived from our internal costs estimates that cannot be shared publicly.

7. We have a great team but our members are new to government contracting. Does it make sense for us to prepare a proposal?

The RFP will provide the requirements on corporate capabilities and experience which should guide your decision on responding to our solicitation.

8. Can companies outside the USA apply for this? (from India or Canada)

All proposed offerors have to meet federal government small business size standards for the particular NAICS code and need to be registered in SAM.gov. Guidance on contractor qualifications for award of federal contracts can be found at https://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/contracting.

9. Can we perform tasks (related to RFP) outside the USA? (from India or Canada)

See the response to Question 8 above.

10. Do we need to come over for meetings?

There will be an in-person kickoff meeting required for the base year and both option years, if exercised. Other meetings may take place via teleconferences or online meeting platforms. Occasional in person meetings may be needed, the RFP will provide additional details.

11. Can we submit proposals via email?

We will require multiple hard copies of proposals as well as an electronic portable media with all proposal content. The Instructions to offerors in the RFP will provide details.