PR15551249 Questions and Answers.pdf

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS – Q&As

PR NO. 15551249

Target Audience Market Research for the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in Ecuador

Design

1. Could you provide guidance on sample sizes for both the quantitative and qualitative phases, or indicate if there is a budgetary ceiling to help frame our proposal?

For the quantitative research, the company should select a minimum sample of 400 surveys per city (Quito, Guayaquil, and Manta) to ensure optimal results, aligned with the study’s objectives. For the qualitative phase, we aim having, at least 4 focus groups and 15 direct interviews per city.

2. Should the sampling design follow a random or non-random approach? Alternatively, would you like GeoPoll to recommend the most suitable method based on best research practices?

The company should consider its expertise, established criteria and preferable methodology and tech tools to ensure technically sound results aligned with the study’s objectives.

Targeting

3. Are there specific subgroups the Embassy would like us to prioritize (e.g., youth, small business owners, women in vulnerable neighbourhoods, migrants/refugees, teachers, health workers, NGO leaders)?

For the quantitative research, we prefer including profiles from Generation Z, Generation X, but the largest sample should be from Millennials given Ecuador’s median age). The sample should have gender equity and represent the range of socioeconomic levels—low, lower-middle, middle, upper-middle, and high.

The qualitative research, focus groups and interviews can include unemployed or out-of-school youth (Neet or “Ninis” in Spanish), university students, workers, professionals, and entrepreneurs We are especially interested in:

• English language teachers

• Community leaders who work with vulnerable youth

• Government officials who work in security (Police and Military), commerce, education, sports, and culture

• National Assembly of broad political spectrum

• Representative of political parties or movements in Ecuador (including indigenous)

• Policial Activists

• Opinion leaders

• Civil Society

• Journalists

• Social media influencers targeting Millennials and Gen Z

4. Should the sample be representative by census within each region, or should it focus on subgroups most likely to influence public opinion (e.g., tertiary-educated respondents)?

The sample should be representative by census in each city, combining with the preferred methodology that the company has used in the past for this type of research and considering the specific group described above.

Local Implementation

5. Can GeoPoll submit a bid as a U.S. research firm while providing full details of our vetted in-country field teams and consultants?

Yes

6. We would like to have a meeting with the team responsible for this project to further understand the general and specific goals of this research, as well as target market, age groups, socioeconomic level, to determine the sample size on each city.

Not permitted during the bidding process.

7. Also, in the 6-month period of the Project, we’d like to know the number of field works you are interested on.

The performance period should run for six (6) months, starting immediately after receiving the notice to proceed. Please also refer to the responses to questions 1, 8, and 9.

8. How many Focus Groups should be conducted?

For the quantitative research, the company should select a minimum sample of 400 surveys per city (Quito, Guayaquil, and Manta) to ensure optimal results, aligned with the study’s objectives. For the qualitative phase, we aim having, at least 4 focus groups and 15 direct interviews per city.

9. Will the Focus Groups and Surveys be conducted in the same 3 cities specified for the focus groups?

Yes, we prefer having, at least, 4 focus groups and 15 direct interviews per city.

10. Will the Focus Groups be in person or virtual?

As long as the used methodology meets the technical requirements to meet the results, it can be either way.

11. Are the Focus Groups expected to target specific subgroups in the population? If yes, what subgroups might these be?

Please see response to question 3

12. What is the approximate expected administration time or length for the survey questionnaire?

The survey could last between 10-12 minutes.

13. The RFP indicates the survey will be conducted as Computer Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI). Do all surveys have to be done in person or would a multimode survey be acceptable?

A multimode survey or other methodology preferred by the company is acceptable, as long as the results meets the objective of the study.

14. Do survey results have to be generalizable to the population in each city and to what, if any, subpopulations?

See response to question number 3.

15. What is the precision (that is, minimum detectable difference/margin of error) expected for the overall sample, for each city, and for any sub-populations?

The reliability of the study should be 95%. The margin of error should be ±4.9%. Sampling scheme: by quotas. The duration of between 3 and 5%. Minimum sample size and margin of the surveys should last between 10 to 12 minutes.

16. Will the survey data be delivered at the same time as the final report (i.e. 3 wks after completion of data collection)?

Yes.

17. Would survey samples drawn from a panel be acceptable?

The sample design should be based on the company's preferred methodology in similar studies and as long as it meets the objectives of this study.

18. Are any oversamples needed/expected?

If this is something the company can present, the proposal should add the associate cost so the U.S. Mission in Ecuador can evaluate the need to include this to the technical design of the study.

19. For message testing in the surveys, does the agency envision a split-sample design? If yes, how many splits?

Please see the response to question 3.

20. Is there a maximum length (in number of pages) for the proposal?

There is not a maximum length, in number of pages, for the proposal.

21. The RFP lists as deliverables the Focus Groups flash report and the Final Report. Any other deliverables?

The results report should present the respective research supporting documents, such as data, surveys, focus group recordings, and stakeholder interviews.

22. To provide a complete proposal, we need more details than provided in the RFP.

Therefore, we respectfully request an extension of the proposal due date to one-week after responses to bidders' questions are posted.

Please see the responses to the question 26 and SAM.gov for the new timeline for proposal submission.

23. Proposal Due Date Clarification: The Sam.Gov notice states that proposals are due on September 15, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EDT, but the Statement of Work (SOW) document notes September 16, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. local time. Could the Government please confirm the submission deadline?

Please see the response to question 26 and refer to the SAM.gov notification for the official timeline for proposal submissions.

24. SAM Registration Status: If an offeror’s SAM registration is in process, and the company has already been issued a CAGE code but does not yet appear as “active” in SAM.gov due to administrative processing, would proof of registration in process be sufficient for proposal acceptance?

No, Offerors shall be registered in the SAM (System for Award Management) database at https://www.sam.gov prior to submittal of their offer/proposal as prescribed under FAR

4.1102. Failure to be registered at the time of proposal submission shall deem the offeror’s https://www.sam.gov/ proposal to be considered non-responsive to the solicitation instructions and requirements and no further consideration will be given. Therefore, offerors are highly encouraged to register immediately if they are interested in submitting a response to this requirement.

25. Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable (LPTA) Evaluation Process: The SOW indicates that the award will be made to the lowest priced technically acceptable offeror. Could you clarify whether all technical proposals will be reviewed for technical acceptability, or if the Government will first evaluate the lowest-priced offer and, if that proposal is found acceptable, award without reviewing higher-priced technical proposals?

The Government first checks all the proposals that are considered technically acceptable, and the prices are reviewed later.

26. Standardization of Submissions among Offerors: Are there any page limitations or formatting requirements (e.g., font size, margins) for the technical and economic proposals, beyond the specified file size and file type restrictions?

Your proposal must be submitted, by e-mail, to the Contracting Officer, at QuitoContracts@state.gov before 4:00 p.m., local time, on September 19, 2025. No proposal will be accepted after this time.

It is important to make sure the submission is made in specific size and format; in MS-Word 2007/2010 or MS-Excel 2007/2010 or Adobe Acrobat (pdf) file format. The file size must not exceed 25MB. If the file size should exceed 25MB, the submission must be made in separate files and attached to separate emails with less than 25MB each.

The technical and economic proposals must be submitted separately. Do not include pricing within the technical proposal. Failure to that may deem the offeror’s proposal to be considered non-responsive to the terms of this solicitation.

27. Workshop Logistics: For the one-day interactive workshop in Quito, does the Embassy plan to host this event at its facilities, or should the contractor budget for an external venue and related logistical arrangements?

The Embassy will host this event at its facilities.

28. Participant Compensation: The solicitation notes “modest compensation” for focus group and interview participants. Is there a standard amount the Embassy considers appropriate, or should the contractor propose compensation amounts as part of its budget submission?

The contractor should propose the compensation amount as part of its budget submission.

mailto:QuitoContracts@state.gov

29. Do you have thoughts about the target audience for this research? Is it the general public or a subset, such as people who are doing business with the United States or have traveled to the U.S.?

Please see response to question 3.

30. Do you have a preference for in-person vs. virtual focus groups?

Please see response to question 3.

31. Are you looking for a particular number of focus groups, and number of participants in each focus group, or are you looking for the recommendation of the contractor?

Please see response to question 3.

32. Similarly, do you have a threshold for the number of quantitative interviews you are seeking to make the research valid?

Please see response to question 1 and 3.

33. Recent market audience survey sample:

Specifically, regarding the request for a recent market audience survey sample, we kindly ask for your guidance to confirm whether a specific format or structure is required.

Typically, such documents include:

Objective and scope of the study.

Date and geographic coverage.

Sample profile and methodology applied.

Questionnaire design and main topics covered.

Summary of results with key findings.

Conclusions and recommendations.

Could you please confirm if this approach would be acceptable to meet your requirement, or if there are any additional elements we should consider?

Please provide the technical details of your proposal as part of the technical proposal. The Embassy will evaluate all proposals after the submission deadline and cannot advise in advance if a specific technical approach meets the requirements of the solicitation.

34. What is the required language for submitting the proposal? Should it be submitted in

English, or can it be submitted in Spanish?

All proposals must be submitted in English.

35. What is the required currency for the financial proposal? Should it be submitted in USD?

All pricing, economic, and financial proposals must be quoted in U.S. dollars (USD).

36. Is there an estimated budget or reference range for the project?

We are unable to provide a response to this question.