QAs.pdf

Questions and Answers

1. Can we know how many surveys and campaigns are proposed to be run during the year?

There are no campaigns, and the government is not sure what is meant by that term in this context.

The government anticipates one survey in each country, and 25-35 countries a year.

2. Are the vendors responsible for determining and collecting lists for individual respondents?

The government is unsure what is meant by this question. The government requires bidders to use probability sampling methods to select participants for surveys. We assume bidders would maintain lists with contact information for participants in order to perform survey data quality control procedures. However, the government does not want these lists after the surveys are complete and delivered.

3. While we understand that a typical survey duration could be 4 minutes, can we know how many questions are likely in each questionnaire?

The full survey is 20 questions, but not all respondents will answer all questions.

4. How many surveys are expected to be conducted for each campaign?

Irrelevant question

5. Is each survey expected to be conducted simultaneously in multiple regions and languages?

The surveys do not have to be conducted simultaneously. The surveys should be translated into the major languages spoken in each country.

6. We use our proprietary software, SatisACTual, which can conduct surveys in CAPI, CATI, and CAWI mode. However, we have not seen any mention of CAWI surveys. Is that an option that is being considered?

We will not accept CAWI.

7. On the other hand, we see a mention of PAPI surveys. Is it expected that some of the surveys will be in PAPI mode?

Some surveys may be administered as PAPI, if security conditions dictate that is a safer mode.

8. Is there an expected proportion of surveys in each campaign that are CAPI, CATI, and PAPI? You will appreciate that the pricing for each mode is different, and an understanding will help us provide an accurate quote.

Again, the government is not sure what “campaign” means in this context. It is not mentioned in the RFP. Each survey will be administered either CAPI, CATI, or PAPI, depending on the best mode for that particular country.

9. We understand that weighting is required. However, is it our responsibility to determine weights only, or is it expected that we should also collect secondary data to determine the population for each demographic segment? (we typically use RIM weighting methods)

The latter. The government expects that bidders will collect secondary data (census and PRB data) in order to assist in weighting.

10. Can you elaborate on what you mean by “survey coverage no less than 80%”?

The final sample must represent 80% of the national population, or exclude no more than 20% of the national population.

11. Can you elaborate on what you mean by “already existing omnibus”? Does this refer to the survey, the campaign, the questionnaire, the respondents, or the software application?

This refers to omnibus surveys that bidders might already be running or have access to, to which they can add the USAGM module.

12. Can we hire subcontractors locally for data collection in various countries? Do such persons need to be on rolls of ComSim?

The government does not have a preference as to whether subcontractors are staffed by ComSim or not. Bidders may hire sub-contractors to oversee survey administration.

13. Who are local vendors? Who is responsible for appointing them, and what is their role?

Local vendors refer to local sub-vendors that bidders might work with in order to administer surveys.

14. In some countries, we will need to work with local sub-vendors to implement the USAGM module. How are vendors different from sub-vendors? What would implementing the USAGM module mean? Does that include the entire cycle from questionnaire design, translation, sampling, data collection, weighting, analysis, and report delivery? Are all of these expected to be completed when required to “implement the USAGM module”?

Vendors and sub-vendors are interchangeable terms here. Implementing the USAGM module means administering USAGM’s required survey questions, and that does include translation, sampling, data collecting, weighting. Analysis is not a part of the requirements. A technical report is a requirement; however an analytical report is not.

15. Should training of sub-vendors be done physically at their location, or can it be done remotely using video conferencing facilities?

The government prefers in-person training.

16. We are a member of the Insights Association and not CASRO. We do not believe that CASRO exists as a separate entity any longer. Would Insights Association guidelines work instead?

The government would consider Insights Association standards.

17. Is there any preference to the style in which references for past performance need to be provided?

Listed in order of relevant/similar projects.

18. Is it allowable to alter the pricing spreadsheet provided by USAGM to provide multiple rates (a rate per year) that reflects natural increases due to inflation over the 5-year period of performance? Yes, that’s acceptable.

19. Is it allowable to alter the pricing spreadsheet to provide additional, per-minute pricing should USAGM choose to add an additional minute to its planned, 4-minute module?

Yes, that’s acceptable.