HQ0516-FY-26-0001 Questions Answers.pdf
PDF 223 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Sources Sought To acquire broadcast distribution rights to allow AFN to distribute and broadcast digitally
- Solicitation number
- HQ0516-FY-26-0001
- Issued by
-
Defense Media Activity
About this file
This document contains Questions and Answers (Q&A) for Sources Sought notice HQ0516-26-FY-0001 issued by the Department of Defense Defense Media Activity for Radio Programming, Content, & Support services.
The Q&A addresses key clarifications regarding contract structure, technical requirements, and implementation timeline. The Government has not yet established a budget estimate or determined whether this will be a small business set-aside, SBA SDVOSB sole source award, or direct award, with these determinations to be made following market research completion. The Contractor shall provide all necessary equipment including satellite receivers, IP Audio streaming appliances, and redundant spares configured to operate within a Government DODIN environment and to descramble/decode broadcast quality signals. Task 4 requires direct access to MediaBase for terrestrial and streaming radio data analytics; industry-equivalent services are not acceptable. Full implementation and integration of all contract deliverables must begin May 1, 2026, with the contract period of performance starting on that date. The Government will provide SCTE-35 metadata profiles and specifications to assist the Contractor in configuring content cues for BE/AudioVAULT and WheatNet-IP systems integration. This is a successor to previous contract HQ0516-21-C-0004, which was awarded to Radio Networks, LLC.
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| File | Type | Posted |
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| Sources Sought Notice HQ0516-FY-26-0001.pdf |
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Text version
Sources Sought HQ0516-26-FY-0001
Radio Programming, Content, & Support
Questions and Answers
Q1. Section e: Contract Vehicles Given the requirement for specialized IP-based media distribution, is the Government considering an SBA SDVOSB Sole Source award (FAR
19.1406) or a direct award under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold to a capable Veteran-
Owned firm?
A1. This notice is for market research purposes in part to determine contract and set-aside type.
This determination will be made aftter market research has been conducted.
Q2. Task 1: Music Format Feeds Can the Government clarify the total projected Not to Exceed
(NTE) value for the 5-year lifecycle of this contract to ensure the proposed “Digital Wing” solution remains within specific small business set-aside funding limits?
A2. There is no established budget estimate for this project at this time.
Q3. Task 1C: Satellite Merge Regarding the requirement to merge content from satellite receivers: Will the Contractor be responsible for providing the satellite receivers, or should the proposed IP Audio streaming appliances (Task 1F) be configured to ingest the analog/digital outputs of existing Government-furnished equipment (GFE)?
A3. The Contractor shall provide necessary equipment, (e.g. satellite receivers, IP Audio streaming appliances) and an equal number of redundant spares necessary to descramble/decode/receive a broadcast quality signal for the contracted services. Contractor-provided equipment must be configured to perform as required within a Government DODIN environment.
Q4. Task 1D: Non-Commercial Ops Will the Government provide the specific SCTE-35 metadata profiles or sub-audible cue configurations required for seamless integration with
BE/AudioVAULT and WheatNet-IP systems?
A4. Government will provide specifications to assist the Contractor in configuring cues for the content they provide.
Q5. Task 4: Research & Analytics Does the Government require direct access to a MediaBase portal, or is an industry-equivalent real-time monitoring and reporting service (e.g., STS/Warm) acceptable for fulfilling the “streaming music research” requirement?
A5. Direct access to the terrestrial and streaming radio data and analytics provided by
MediaBase is required.
Q6. General: 2026 Sunset To align our transition plan, is the implementation of these digital music services required to coincide with the scheduled March 22, 2026, satellite distribution sunset?
A6. Full implementation and integration of all contract requirements (deliverables) shall begin at the start of the contract period of performance, May 1, 2026
Q7. Is this a brand new contract or is there an incumbent performing these services? Can you provide the contract number?
A7. Previous contract number is HQ0516-21-C-0004 awarded to Radio Networks, LLC.
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