Q and A for News Summary.pdf

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (Q&A)

SOLICITATION # 19SA7024Q0023 (News Summary Service)

pg. 1

1. Can international and/or U.S.-based companies submit proposals in USD? Yes

2. Can US (VAT-exempted) companies submit their proposals without including the 15% VAT? Yes

3. Can you please provide samples of the required product?

See sample attached from Page 2 to 5.

4. Is there an expected number of individuals to be performing the work in this contract?

Minimum two individuals.

5. How many individuals are currently performing the work? Two

6. Does the location of individuals perform the work matter?

Does not matter as long as the service provider is able to meet the timelines requested and able to respond to communications in Saudi Arabia time zone.

7. Can they be located outside of Saudi Arabia?

Not an issue as long as the service provider is able to meet the timelines requested and able to respond to communications in Saudi Arabia time zone.

8. Is this the first time this project is running? No

9. If not, who is the current incumbent? Oliver-SARL

10. What was the most recent contract value? $39,750.00

11. Performance Work Statement, point 9: “The period of performance will be one year with a second-year option.” However, elements of the pricing show a base year plus two options years, for a total of three years. Can you please confirm that this is a base plus two option years contract? Base year plus two option years contract.

12. Could you please confirm if there are any specific details or information that need to be included in the proposal? Follow the Scope of Work and Section 3 “Instruction to Offerors”.

pg. 2

ATTACHMENT SAMPLE FOR SOLICITATION # 19SA7024Q0023

(News Summary Service)

SAUDI ARABIA MEDIA SUMMARY

August 08, 2024

TOP STORIES AT A GLANCE

• Saudi Arabia Says Hamas Leader's Killing Was 'Blatant Violation' Of Iran's Sovereignty- Reuters

• Arab and Western Nations Urge Restraint as Israel-Iran Tensions Simmer- NY Times

• Arab States Urge Iran to Show Restraint in Conflict With Israel- NY Times

• Eastern Region Governor Receives U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia- SPA

• Vice Foreign Minister Meets with the Iranian Acting Foreign Minister- SPA

U.S. & INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Saudi Arabia Says Hamas Leader's Killing Was 'Blatant Violation' Of Iran's Sovereignty- Reuters Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran was a "blatant violation" of Iran's sovereignty. The comment by the Saudi deputy foreign minister during an extraordinary meeting of members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was the first by the Kingdom, the region's major power alongside Iran, since the killing of the Palestinian Islamist leader in the Iranian capital on July 31, reported August 7.

Arab and Western Nations Urge Restraint as Israel-Iran Tensions Simmer- NY Times Arab and Western countries, seeking to head off a major regional conflict in the Middle East, are urging Iran to show restraint after it vowed to attack Israel in retaliation for the killing of Hamas’s political leader in Tehran last week, reported August 7.

Arab States Urge Iran to Show Restraint in Conflict With Israel- NY Times Several Arab countries are encouraging Iran to exercise restraint in responding to the assassination of Hamas’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran last week, as fears of an unpredictable regional war expand. The diplomatic blitz, led by countries allied with the United States, came as the Biden administration was trying to lower tensions in the Middle East and renew efforts to achieve a cease-fire in Gaza, reported August 7.

Gulf Shares Broadly Extend Gains Amid Global Stock Rebound- Reuters Stocks in the Middle East broadly rose, extending their comeback from an aggressive sell-off in global stocks earlier in the week driven in part by fears of a possible U.S. recession, reported August 7.

Saudi Takes 2 Million Photos of Neom in ‘Ground X’ Project to Build Investor Trust- SKift Saudi Arabia wants investors to know its ambitious Neom development is on track. Its effort is called “Ground X” and is meant to show live feeds of construction sites, project deadlines, and a “progress library” for each zone of Neom, including Sindalah, The Line and Trojena, reported August 7.

Saudi Arabia's Abutaleb's KO dashes Israel's Olympic taekwondo hope- Daily Sabah Taekwondo Olympic medalist Abishag Semberg was left in tears after her defeat to Saudi Arabia’s Dunya Abutaleb in the women’s flyweight round of 16 in Paris. Abutaleb, the first Saudi woman to secure direct Olympic qualification, triumphed with scores of 2-6, 5-4 and 10-0. 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pg. 3 sealed her victory with two head kicks and two body kicks in the decisive third round, reported August 7.

Iran Might Be Second-Guessing Its Israel Attack- Politico Iran may be rethinking launching a multi-pronged attack on Israel, U.S. officials say. The Biden administration has in recent days worked through diplomatic channels, bringing in its Middle East allies to lobby Tehran to reconsider moving forward with a military attack on Israel, reported August 7.

Saudi Court Overturns Death Sentence Against Retired Teacher Over Posts On X- Middle East Eye A Saudi court has overturned the death sentence of a former teacher over social media posts made from anonymous accounts with 10 followers, a UK-based human rights group has reported. Last July, the kingdom's Specialized Criminal Court gave Mohammed al-Ghamdi the death sentence over tweets, including some which focused on unemployment and calling for the release of political prisoners, reported August 7.

TOP STORIES IN SAUDI ARABIA NATIONAL NEWS

Eastern Region Governor Receives U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia- SPA Governor of the Eastern Region Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz received the U.S.

Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney and U.S. Consul General in Dhahran James Sindle, with whom he discussed various topics of mutual interest, reported August 7.

Kingdom Participates in 14th Meeting of UN Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management- SPA The Kingdom participated in the 14th meeting of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management. The meeting in New York discussed several agenda items, including enhancing global arrangements for geospatial information management and supporting the future geospatial information environment, reported August 7.

Arab Oil and Gas Sector Attracted Investments Worth $406bn Over 22 Years: Report- Arab News Arab nations have attracted $406 billion in investments from 356 foreign and regional companies in the oil and gas sector over the past 22 years, according to recent data from the Arab Investment and Export Credit Guarantee Corp., also known as Dhaman, reported August 7.

Professor Sir Edward Byrne AC to Lead KAUST as President on September 1, 2024- SPA KAUST announced the appointment of Professor Sir Edward Byrne AC as its new president, effective September 1. Professor Byrne's appointment marks a significant milestone for KAUST as the university continues its transformative journey through the implementation of its Accelerating Impact Strategy, reported August 7.

King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam Sets New Container Throughput Record- SPA The King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam set a new record for container throughput on a single vessel, handling an impressive 20,645 TEUs on the COSCO SHIPPING AQUARIUS 036E. This achievement underscores the port's pivotal role in supporting trade and the logistics sector, in line with the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, helping cement the Kingdom's position as a global logistics hub, reported August 7.

Aramco to Become Majority Shareholder in Petro Rabigh- SPA https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com%2Fnewsletters%2Fnational-security-daily%2F2024%2F08%2F07%2Firan-might-be-second-guessing-its-israel-attack-00173112&data=05%7C02%7CAlawiAY%40state.gov%7C66c7098a66db4769d99608dcb774c175%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638586959396637450%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=wgzw3yCRSLW3NE8E58p%2B9vZmN7FBoDL03at58As1xdA%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.middleeasteye.net%2Fnews%2Fsaudi-appeals-court-overturns-death-sentence-over-retired-teachers-tweets&data=05%7C02%7CAlawiAY%40state.gov%7C66c7098a66db4769d99608dcb774c175%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638586959396642790%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=7OjGKK%2B7tE%2FKFcMo%2FYAANmFS2%2F56lqDK68WQeAecd80%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.middleeasteye.net%2Fnews%2Fsaudi-appeals-court-overturns-death-sentence-over-retired-teachers-tweets&data=05%7C02%7CAlawiAY%40state.gov%7C66c7098a66db4769d99608dcb774c175%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638586959396642790%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=7OjGKK%2B7tE%2FKFcMo%2FYAANmFS2%2F56lqDK68WQeAecd80%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.spa.gov.sa%2Fen%2FN2150373&data=05%7C02%7CAlawiAY%40state.gov%7C66c7098a66db4769d99608dcb774c175%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638586959396648050%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=k%2BWDJGEYULHJz8%2BhoRkfwKd8kVdXNywkpf%2Fyl9tgSQM%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.spa.gov.sa%2Fen%2FN2150727&data=05%7C02%7CAlawiAY%40state.gov%7C66c7098a66db4769d99608dcb774c175%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638586959396653281%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=IQPnsIldMSa6Uw8nNd13%2B005Vuu%2Fk5GUYNPS9hA9azA%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.spa.gov.sa%2Fen%2FN2150727&data=05%7C02%7CAlawiAY%40state.gov%7C66c7098a66db4769d99608dcb774c175%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638586959396653281%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=IQPnsIldMSa6Uw8nNd13%2B005Vuu%2Fk5GUYNPS9hA9azA%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arabnews.com%2Fnode%2F2564311%2Fbusiness-economy&data=05%7C02%7CAlawiAY%40state.gov%7C66c7098a66db4769d99608dcb774c175%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638586959396658495%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=23mFMGrkPaRG22vOxIPgDDbs0LQo1Ii6kEqrNNDzyWg%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arabnews.com%2Fnode%2F2564311%2Fbusiness-economy&data=05%7C02%7CAlawiAY%40state.gov%7C66c7098a66db4769d99608dcb774c175%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638586959396658495%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=23mFMGrkPaRG22vOxIPgDDbs0LQo1Ii6kEqrNNDzyWg%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.spa.gov.sa%2Fen%2FN2150379&data=05%7C02%7CAlawiAY%40state.gov%7C66c7098a66db4769d99608dcb774c175%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638586959396663881%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=xvOFv%2BoXjEj9357Rstydoong%2FCsAJDT%2BCBYV%2BmxHXuo%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.spa.gov.sa%2Fen%2FN2150471&data=05%7C02%7CAlawiAY%40state.gov%7C66c7098a66db4769d99608dcb774c175%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638586959396669310%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Cp4Q2Lrt3Lmdh3hn2MRltvf64DmcYWdbR158Ne0v2n0%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.spa.gov.sa%2Fen%2FN2150398&data=05%7C02%7CAlawiAY%40state.gov%7C66c7098a66db4769d99608dcb774c175%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638586959396674622%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=eRr%2Fb0H48yi5%2FaE3sJiokKHBTIZ%2BPUGvJOJ%2FK4JIr3U%3D&reserved=0

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Aramco issued a press release informing that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire from Sumitomo Chemical an additional stake of approximately 22.5%, worth $702 million, in Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Co., reported August 7.

The Unified Translation Center at the Ministry of Justice Assists Saudi Judicial Departments-

SPA

The Ministry of Justice established the Unified Translation Center to serve all courts in the Kingdom to improve the services provided to beneficiaries and find innovative and effective solutions to all challenges, reported August 7.

Unified Geospatial Platform: Enhancing Service Management Efficiency for Makkah City, Holy Sites- SPA Geospatial information systems have become vital for driving economic growth, maintaining security, accelerating development, and facilitating decision-making. They are also pivotal in fostering creativity and innovation by enabling the smart use of geospatial information to achieve sustainable development goals and ensure long-term economic growth, reported August 7.

Changes to Saudi Labor Law Set to Increase Job Stability, Protect Workers’ Rights- Arab News Recent amendments to several labor law articles will create a more attractive work environment for employees and promote sustainable development, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development said, reported August 7.

Saudi U23 Triathlon Team Prepares for Major Championships at Training Camp in Tabuk- SPA The Saudi U23 triathlon team is currently undergoing intensive training in Tabuk. The training camp, which will last until August 8, is a crucial part of preparation to represent the Kingdom at two significant events on the International Federation's calendar: the Asian Championship, set to be hosted by Jordan in early November, and the World Championship, scheduled for November 15 in the UAE, reported August 7.

Saudi Arabia to Host Space Tourism Firm’s Test Flight- Arab News In collaboration with the Kingdom’s Communications, Space and Technology Commission, or CST, the sixth Halo Space test flight in September will use a life-size prototype capsule, Aurora, which will ascend to 30 km above the Earth’s surface, reported August 7.

Industry Ministry Opens Bidding For 7 Exploration Licenses on 1,000 sq. km Areas- Saudi Gazette The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources opened the bidding for seven new exploration licenses. According to the ministry, the total area covered by the new licenses is close to 1,000 square kilometers, reported August 7.

Red Sea Fund Opens Registration For Post-Production Grants- Arab News The Red Sea International Film Festival has opened registration for the fourth phase of the Red Sea Fund, which supports post-production film projects. The registration period runs until Aug. 21, reported August 7.

REGIONAL NEWS FROM SAUDI PRESS

Vice Foreign Minister Meets with the Iranian Acting Foreign Minister- SPA The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eng. Waleed bin Abdulkarim El-Khereiji, met in Jeddah, on the sidelines of the open-ended extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee at the level of Foreign Ministers of the OIC member states, with Iran’s Acting Foreign Affairs Minister, Ali Bagheri Kani and reviewed the relations between the two countries, discussed regional and international developments, and addressed issues of mutual interest, reported August 8.

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Secretary General of Etidal Receives Australian Ambassador- SPA The Secretary-General of the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology (Etidal), Dr.

Mansour Al-Shammari, received the Australian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mark Donovan, at the center’s headquarters. During the meeting, topics of common interest were discussed, reported August 7.

Saudi Ambassador to Morocco Meets with Moroccan Director General of Civil Aviation- SPA Saudi Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco Dr. Sami bin Abdullah Alsaleh held a meeting with the Director General of Civil Aviation in Morocco, Trik Talib, at the directorate's headquarters. The two officials engaged in discussions on a range of common interests, reported August 7.

Pakistan Red Crescent Society Delegation Visits Saudi Red Crescent Authority- SPA President of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority Dr. Jalal bin Mohammed Al-Owaisi received here a delegation from the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, led by its Chairman Sardar Shahid Ahmed Laghari. The visit is bound to bolster cooperation and help share expertise in humanitarian aid and relief efforts, reported August 6.

Top Spanish Falcon Farm Joins Riyadh Auction- Arab News The renowned Spanish Cocero Falcons farm is taking part for the first time in the International Falcon Breeders Auction organized by the Saudi Falcons Club, reported August 7.

CARTOONS

(Arab News)

OPINION

The Region and the Never-Ending War- Hanna Saleh, Asharq Al-Awsat Lebanese writer Hanna Saleh paints a vivid picture of the region teetering on the brink of a volcano, prompting crucial questions to surface. When will we witness Iran's response, and will it align with Hezbollah's reaction? Could Israel resort to preemptive strikes? Despite these uncertainties, signs of a full-scale war remain elusive. Saleh highlights a key factor driving tensions: the imbalance of power between the Iranian regime and its military capabilities versus Israel and its allies, including the United States and major NATO nations. Published on August 8.

Five Minutes to Midnight as All-Out War Looms in the Middle East- Osama Al-Sharif, Arab News Jordanian writer Osama Al-Sharif argues that the U.S. and the rest of the world must contain Netanyahu and force a deal that delivers a Palestinian state. We are five minutes to midnight, and unless a bold U.S. intervention takes place, the region will quickly slip into the unknown. Published August 7.

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