Request for Information FirstNet Authority Local Media Engagement Amendment 0001.pdf

AMENDMENT 0001-Changes Highlighted

Request for Information/Sources Sought Notice First Responder Network Authority Local Media Engagement Requirement

Amendment 0001

1.0 ACQUISITION BACKGROUND

The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 established the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) and charged it with the responsibility to ensure the building, deployment, and operation of a nationwide public safety broadband network (NPSBN) designed to meet the information and communications technology needs of first responders and public safety users. The FirstNet Authority is an independent authority within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) under the Department of Commerce.

This Request for Information (RFI)/Sources Sought Notice by the FirstNet Authority seeks qualified contractors that can provide public affairs expert contractor support to craft and implement media engagement strategies to educate the public safety community about the NPSBN, as well as to raise awareness among this critical audience of the FirstNet Authority. The proposed acquisition classified under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 541820 –Public Relations Agencies (Size Standard of $16.5 Million).

The anticipated period of performance is one twelve-month base and four twelve-month option period. A draft requirements document has been included as an attachment to this RFI.

DISCLAIMER:

This RFI/Sources Sought Notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI/Sources Sought Notice that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to this RFI/Sources Sought Notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI/Sources Sought Notice.

Submissions will be used for market research purposes only and will not be used as a part of the source selection evaluation. All information received will be protected and safeguarded as ACQUISITION/SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE in accordance with FAR Part 2.101 and 3.104, Procurement Integrity.

2.0 PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS

Replies to this RFI/Sources Sought Notice must be self-contained (i.e., no web links to additional documents), be submitted electronically, follow the outlines and/or instructions as indicated below, and completely respond to the RFI/Sources Sought Notice objectives and associated attachments.

1. Please review the draft requirements attachment and respond if you are an interested party.

2. Include both a capabilities statement and complete all sections of the Market Research

Questionnaire, Attachment 1.

3. Both large and small businesses are encouraged to participate in this market research. Joint ventures or teaming arrangements are encouraged and are up to each industry partner. Multiple teaming arrangements are acceptable. Please express your intentions in the questionnaire and capabilities package. If applicable, please specify your small business classification in any response.

4. Any questions regarding this RFI should be directed to Alejandra Loyet via email at

Alejandra.Loyet@firstnet.gov no later than 12:00 p.m. EST on November 7, 2022. No questions will be accepted after the November 7, 2022 date. Responses to questions will be posted as an amendment to the RFI on BETA SAM.

5. If, after reviewing this document, you desire to participate in this market research request for information, you should reply via email with the corresponding questionnaire responses and your capabilities statement to Alejandra Loyet via email at Alejandra.Loyet@firstnet.gov no later than 12:00 pm EST November 21, 2022. Proprietary information should be clearly marked. All submissions shall be sent via e-mail. The electronic format may be in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) or compatible with the Microsoft Office suite of software.

6. Any proprietary materials submitted in response to this announcement must be marked accordingly. The Government will not reimburse industry for any expenses incurred in reviewing and responding to this RFI/Sources Sought Notice and corresponding documents.

The responses to this RFI/Sources Sought Notice will be used for informational purposes only. This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP) or Request for Quote (RFQ). The Government is neither seeking nor accepting proposals at this time.

7. Format and Structure

• Page count – 10 pages, Cover and Table of Contents pages are not counted. Appendixes will be counted in the page count. If a copy of GSA schedule is provided (as requested in Question 8 below), it will be not be counted as part of the page count.

• Paper Size – 8.5” x 11” paper

• Margins – no less than 1 inch

• Spacing – single-spaced

• Font – Times New Roman, 12 point. Text embedded within graphics, diagrams, or tables may not be smaller than 10 point.

• Please provide a point of contact information (noted in question 11 below) in the cover page or table of contents page.

• Submission type should be in electronic format may be in Adobe Acrobat Portable

Document Format (PDF) or compatible with the Microsoft Office suite of software.

mailto:Alejandra.Loyet@firstnet.gov

Attachment 1: Market Research Questionnaire:

Please review and respond to the following questions regarding business size.

• Please indicate your business classification for NAICS code 541820 (Size Standard of $16.5 Million) below:

Small Business Other Than Small Business

• If your business classification is Small Business, do you anticipate remaining under the size standard of $16.5 Million for the next two years?

Yes No

• If your business classification is Small Business, do you qualify under any of the following certification programs and socio-economic categories?

HUBZone

Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)

Women Owned Small Business (WOSB)

8(a)

• Please indicate which of the requested tasks outlined in Section 3 you can complete in their entirety. Note: The FirstNet Authority is not interested in a vendor’s abilities to complete only some aspects of a specified task.

• Please indicate any organizational conflicts of interest, if applicable.

Market Research Questions:

1. Provide at least one example of a targeted public affairs campaign for local and state media engagement that includes earned media success and a targeted social media promotion plan.

Describe the steps you took to carry out the campaign—both for earned media and social promotion. (Limit to four pages)

2. Provide at least one example of a press pitch and a final written product, such as an op-ed.

3. Describe how you track metrics for earned media and digital promotion campaigns and provide an example of a metrics report.

4. What labor categories would you recommend to complete each of the tasks? Please include a description of each labor category. Is there any additional information needed that would assist in determining the labor categories? If yes, please describe.

5. What would you suggest for contract type based on the above requirements (Firm-Fixed- Priced, Time and Material, or Labor-hour)? Please explain/justify.

6. Please provide details regarding potential joint ventures, teaming arrangements, strategic alliances, or other business arrangements to satisfy requirements. Offerors are encouraged to identify teams and indicate each team member’s size based upon the NAICS code of the work that the team member may be doing.

7. Is your company anticipating subcontracting to satisfy requirements? If so, identify the anticipated subcontracting efforts and the percentage of the work the subcontractor would be performing. If your company is a large business, how successful have you been in meeting small business subcontracting goals?

8. If these services are offered by your company on a contract with the General Services Administration (GSA), please provide the GSA contract information along with a copy of the contract. Your copy of the GSA schedule will not be counted as part of the page count.

9. Are there any other NAICS that would be appropriate for this type of work? If suggesting another NAICS, please answer the bullets in the questionnaire above using alternate NAICS.

10. Please provide details on any additional initiatives/tasks that you believe should be included as part of this requirement.

11. Provide the following Point of Contact information (Please include this in the cover page or table of contents):

Company Name:

DUNS Number:

Address:

Point of Contact:

Point of Contact position:

Phone Number:

Email Address:

Request for Information/Sources Sought Notice