Sole_source_intent_notice.pdf

PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS

INTRODUCTION

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT OR PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-

NAME).

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), Division of Contract Management (DCM) on behalf of the Office of Communications (OC) intends to negotiate and award a purchase order without providing for full and open competition (Including brand-name) to Cision US, Inc., 300 S Riverside PLZ Chicago, Illinois 60606-6613 to monitor earned media across all media types and provide insightful analytics.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE

The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 513210, Software Publishers with a Size Standard of 47 million.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2023-04, effective 06/02/2023.

This acquisition is conducted under the procedures as prescribed in FAR subpart 13.5— Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Products and Commercial Services and FAR subpart 12— Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY FAR 6.302-1

This acquisition is conducted as non-competitive under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c) under provisions of the statutory authority of FAR Subpart 6.302-1 -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

The determination by the Government to make this a single-sole source requirement is based upon the market research conducted as prescribed in FAR Part 10-Market Research. The results of the market research concluded that Cision US, Inc., has the software and capability needed to complete this project.

Cision’s Communications Cloud software allows OC to monitor earned media across all media types and provide insightful analytics. The tool gives OC unlimited clips/mentions from 7+ million global online media sources, unlimited tailorable searches, interactive dashboards and widgets, unlimited real-time alerts and daily digests, unlimited on-demand reports.

Being able to monitor news about SAMHSA is key in understanding how SAMHSA’s messaging are being covered by the media and the impact it is having as a result. The analytics portion enables the Government to measure campaign, program, and organizational performance and it also helps to improve SAMHSA’s communications and outreach accordingly.

Background OC first entered a Firm Fixed Price contract with Cision US, Inc. in April 2019 for license use of its Cision media relations tool. SAMHSA then extended the contract with Cision for continued exclusive use since then for year 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Purpose and Objectives The purpose of this contract is to secure a sole-source license software with Cision US, Inc., for its Cision Communications Cloud to monitor earned media across all media types and provide insightful analytics for SAMSHA. Cision US, Inc. is the incumbent contractor and possesses the needed capabilities for this requirement. Cision US, Inc is uniquely qualified to serve the needs of SAMHSA’s Office of Communications because it offers a very powerful and comprehensive media monitoring tool with access to more than 7 million global online media sources and will allow to 1) track and report on campaign, program, and organizational performance; 2) collect and organize key data points across print, online, broadcast, podcast and social content to build the foundation of SAMSHA earned media measurement program; 3) build end-to-end measurement programs that track campaign progress, attribute value, and demonstrate earned media ROI. Additionally, it is the only tool that integrates with SAMHSA’s Office of Communications existing media database, which has been developed over time using the Cision Media Database tool. This gives the Government access to more than 1.4 M professional media profiles, outlets and opportunities. Using another media monitoring tool would be incompatible, cost ineffective and cumbersome to the Government.

Anticipated Period of Performance Base Year: July 2023 - July 2024 Option Year1: July 2024 - July 2025 Option Year2: July 2025 – July 2026

Product Description Cision shall provide the Comms Cloud - North America Influencer Database that will provide access to North American media contacts, outlets and editorial opportunities for users. Provides premium pitching tips including preferred contact methods, topics of interest, biographical information and personal pet peeves.

The package shall also include the following modules;

Influencer Module Access to blogs, bloggers and Influencer Search functionality

Email Campaigns Additional email tracking functionality including reader interaction statistics and automated activity tracking.

HARO within Cision Communication Cloud Access to real-time media opportunities, straight from journalists, on a deadline needing a source.

Cision Comms Cloud Additional Concurrent User(s) Concurrent user license allows one user to access the software per license.

Cision Comms Cloud International Media Data Access to international media contacts and outlets in nearly 200 countries and territories outside of North America.

Cision Comms Cloud - Custom Fields

Cision Mid-Tier Training Package Up to 6 topic specific online training sessions with Cision expert instructor (instructor depends on topic and timing) according to schedule preferences including a post Q&A session. In addition, gain access to unlimited 24/7 pre-recorded online instructional videos and online help documentation including online webinars covering set topics on set days and times.

12 Pack Web Power Releases Flat Rate Package of 12 Web Power releases. Includes three Cision Journalist Lists, PR Newswire SocialPost, and Priority Distribution.

News OnDemand: Online, AP & LexisNexis Print Monitoring North America Coverage of nearly 10,000 North American print sources of newspapers, magazines, trade/business journals and newsletters from the LexisNexis library as well as tens of thousands of North American news websites and the Associated Press. To include up to 5 clients.

Cision Comms Cloud News OnDemand: International Monitoring Upgrade News OnDemand package to international content.

News OnDemand: Streams An easy-to-use dashboard that enables quickly monitor and share news, and directly engage with influencers.

Cision Comms Cloud Broadcast Monitoring: US Monitor the closed-caption text from all national and cable news television programs as well as local coverage in all 210 US markets. Includes Radio monitoring. Receive video snippets of coverage with tools to easily edit, share and archive coverage.

News OnDemand: LexisNexis QuickShare Recipients Provides permission to distribute full text of LexisNexis News OnDemand content to a specified number of recipients.

Cision Comms Cloud Social Media Monitoring: Up to 600,000 results per year Monitor millions of blogs, social media sites and Twitter. Limit of up to 600,000 Twitter hits per year.

Cision Impact Reporting – Placed Media A monthly report for any and all press releases sent in the prior month. To include impact data via the Cision Comms Cloud platform.

Cision Impact - Basic add-on up to 5,000 Articles/Month Add-on of 5,000 additional articles per each rolling 30 days.

Analytics: Advanced with Prominence Reporting Advanced charting and analytics that allows to analyze news based on custom categories including company, message, product, spokespeople or brand. Also includes impact and prominence scoring of articles.

Analytics: Automatic Toning Automated toning of articles on a three point scale

Auto Translation Up to 1,000 Clips per Month Automated translation of up to 1,000 news articles every month into English language.

Broadcast Monitoring: Canada and Europe

HARO Premium within Cision Platform Access to real-time media opportunities, straight from journalists, on a deadline needing a source.

Any Domestic Wire (includes US1)

PREMIUM VISIBILITY REPORTS - IMPACT AUDIENCE (BRAND)

New Logo with 1-year Archive Allows one new logo to be uploaded, archived in Media Studio & added to press releases for 1 year

Cision Communications Cloud Social Listening Premium powered by Brandwatch - 10 queries

Cision Comms Cloud - PRN Integration with Single Sign On

Cision Comms Cloud - Social Stats for Social and Web Clips Track social engagement metrics including likes, shares, comments, and followers for Facebook and Twitter.

Cision Social Influencer Identify and target relevant social contacts who are influential on brand topics.

CLOSING STATEMENT

This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties’ bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the SAM Unique Entity ID (UEI), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size must be included in the response. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management

(SAM).

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

All responses must be received by 06/19/2023 at 12:00pm EST and must reference solicitation number 280-23-0650 on your electronic request.

Responses must be submitted electronically to Ahmed.Hassan@samhsa.hhs.gov

All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency.

mailto:Ahmed.Hassan@samhsa.hhs.gov