NEARFP19-04_Presolicitation_Notice.docx

Presolicitation Notice Reference Number: NEARFP19-04 Arts and Technology Field Scan Place of Performance: Washington, D.C.

In accordance with (IAW) FAR 5.204, this document serves as the presolicitation notice. No response is required by interested offerors at this time. The Government intends on releasing a Request for Proposals (RFP) in the near future for the identified services below. It is anticipated that an RFP will be posted on or about fifteen (15) days from the posting of this presolicitation notice, with proposals being due on or about 30 days from the date of the RFP posting.

SET-ASIDE: Total Small Business Set-Aside

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIRMENT:

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is seeking a Small Business for Arts and Technology Field Scan services.

These services will respond to the NEA’s FY 2017-2021 Research Agenda, which calls for new investments in exploratory studies that describe factors that enhance or inhibit arts participation and/or arts/cultural assets, including the arts-and-cultural workforce. By fully understanding how artists are incorporating technology into their creative work, and by learning more about the current and prospective sources of support for these artistic practices, the NEA can make informed decisions on how to leverage greater support for this field. This qualitative study will respond to the following research questions:

1. How do artists incorporate technology in their artistic practices?

a) What is the range of examples of such work across artistic disciplines and technology platforms? Are there categories or classifications for identifying this work, by genre or sub-discipline or by type of technology used?

b) What is the range of career paths or trajectories taken by artists working with technology? Across artistic disciplines, how are these pathways similar or different?

c) How do artists working with technology participate in cross-sectoral and/or cross-disciplinary partnerships, and/or in their local creative economies? How are these relationships formed and to what purpose? What are the associated risks, challenges, and opportunities for artists?

2. What are current and prospective sources of support for artistic practices using technology, and how might they be improved and/or sustained?

a) What types of technical training and resources are used and needed to support artistic practices using technology? What gaps in training and resources currently exist for these artists, across artistic disciplines and technology platforms?

b) What are current and emergent models for supporting artistic practices (financially and non-financially) using technology? Across artistic disciplines, how are these models similar or different?

c) What are organizational risks, challenges, and opportunities in supporting artists working with technology? How do these differ among for-profit and non-profit organizations? By sector, artistic discipline, and/or technology platform?

The NEA will convene a Technical Working Group of stakeholders in the arts and technology fields, including, but not limited to, artists, arts presenters and curators, arts researchers, tech industry representatives and other funders working at this intersection. The Technical Working Group will provide feedback on the research plan, selected deliverables, and the dissemination of study findings, and will recommend participants in the roundtables, interviews, and case studies.

It is strongly advised that proposals will include as appropriate subcontractors with substantial subject matter expertise and past research experience in the field of contemporary arts and technology, the cultural creative economy, and the ecosystem of artists, institutions, funding entities, and other organizations working at the intersection of contemporary arts and technology.

The project scope is as follows:

Note that the Contractor’s research plan, which should reflect input from the NEA Project Director and the Technical Working Group, will finalize specific project activities, including deliverables. The project will be implemented in two distinct phases; Phase 1 focuses on research, and Phase 2 focuses on dissemination of study findings.

Phase 1

· Attend a project kick-off meeting with the NEA Project Director

· Prepare a detailed timeline and work plan, including regular communications with NEA Project Director

· Prepare a research plan and execute the first phase of the study. At a minimum, the research study shall include:

· Literature scan of research papers, conference proceedings, reports, and other relevant publications and analysis of selected NEA grant project descriptions

· Data collection through:

· Group discussions taking place at 4 regional roundtables and one virtual roundtable;

· Individual interviews with up to 20 field experts, including, but not limited to, artists, heads of leading art and technology schools, cultural institution leaders, artist service organization staff, public and private sector funders, and others

· Case studies with 10 artists engaging with technology

· Prepare interim and final reports presenting study findings Phase 2

· Support the dissemination of report findings through:

· Presentations and discussion taking place at 7 in-person roundtables;

· Series of 10 briefs or articles commissioned from media arts stakeholders, including, but not limited to, artists, artist service organization staff, and cultural institution leaders.

ANTICIPATED TASKS

NOTE: These tasks will be described fully in the upcoming solicitation for these services.

Phase I: Research (NEA Lead: ORA)

· literature scan and grant data analysis

· 4 in-person roundtables and 1 virtual roundtable and travel for up to 11 participants

· 20 phone interviews

· 4 virtual case studies and 6 in-person case studies

· transcription costs for 1500 minutes Phase 2: Dissemination

· Series of 10 briefs or articles commissioned from media artists, organizations, etc.

· Contract/costs for 7 in-person roundtables, supporting travel for up to 10 guests

PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS:

Project Director Education: Master’s degree Years of Experience: At least 5 years technical experience conducting projects similar in scope to the present study; 4 years supervisory experience Experience & Other Requirements: Experience leading research studies that involve literature reviews; collecting information through interviews, large group discussions, and case studies; conducting landscape analyses of infrastructure needs; producing briefs; and planning and facilitating large group meetings that have involved professional presentations and extensive travel arrangements. Experience supervising projects similar in scope. Demonstrated ability to effectively and professionally interact with government program managers, the COR, and public stakeholders.

Subject Matter Expert Education: Bachelor’s degree Years of Experience: At least 5 years technical experience in the field of media arts research Experience & Other Requirements: Experience in research on digital and emerging media, artists, and arts organizations. The individual must have conducted prior research in the field of contemporary arts and technology, the cultural creative economy, and/or the ecosystem of artists, institutions, funding entities, and other organizations working at the intersection of contemporary arts and technology.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST (OCI):

OCI provisions and clauses will be incorporated into the forthcoming Request for Proposal (RFP) and any resultant contract award. The forthcoming RFP will provide instructions to potential Offerors to submit an OCI mitigation plan as applicable with their proposals.

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS): 541720

Product Supply code (PSC): AJ72

Place of performance: Washington, D.C.

Type of Contract: Commercial, Firm-Fixed-Price/Time and Material (T&M)/Hybrid Contract, Single Award

Representations and Certifications:

FAR 52.212-3 – Required to be filled out in the offeror’s SAM.Gov profile.

Note: All Businesses MUST be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) Database and have an active registration at the time of the offer, at the time of award and throughout the life of the contract. THIS PRESOLICITATION NOTICE IS BEING POSTED IN ANTICIPATION OF A RFP BEING POSTED WITHIN FIFTEEN (15) DAYS, RESULTING IN A CONTRACT AWARD. THIS WILL NOT BE A FEDERAL ASSISTANCE AWARD (e.g., GRANT, COOPERATERATIVE AGREEMENT).

Point of Contact: Caroline Helms, Contracting Officer, helmsc@arts.gov image1.png image3.jpg image2.png image4.jpeg