Source Sought for SW Broadcast Caribbean and S. America.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

DATE: SEPTEMBER 06, 2023

OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES, AND INNOVATION, BROADCAST

TECHNOLOGIES DIVISION, ENGINEERING & TRANSMISSION DIRECTORATE

U.S. AGENCY FOR GLOBAL MEDIA

Short Wave Transmission Services to the Caribbean, Central and Northern South America

Product Service Code: 5820 - RADIO AND TELEVISION COMMUNICATION

EQUIPMENT, EXCEPT AIRBORNE

NAICS Code: 516110 - Radio Broadcasting Stations

Place of Performance: United States of America

This is a Sources Sought Notice and should not be construed as a solicitation announcement.

The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), Office of Technology, Services, and Innovation Broadcast Technologies Division, Engineering and Transmission Directorate (T/E/B) is seeking preliminary information, for market research purposes only, from capable and reliable sources who have licensed capability to provide reliable, good quality shortwave broadcast transmissions to the Caribbean, Central, and Northern South America. .

The purpose of this notice is to gain knowledge of potential domestic qualified short wave broadcast licensees, with facilities capable of providing year round, high quality reception in the defined region.

Since all of the work will be performed within the continental U.S., set-asides or socioeconomic preference may be granted to eligible licensees.

Response Requirements: Interested offerors that meet the requirements above are encouraged to submit a Statement of Capability (SOC) in response to this notice. The SOC must include the following:

(a) Documentation demonstrating that offeror has an active licensed short wave broadcast capability currently in operation with the ability to broadcast to the defined region on a daily basis.

(b) Documentation showing authorized transmitter power, antenna complement and location of the licensed transmitter site.

(c) Map or statement of predicted coverage area for SW frequencies targeting the region. Please refer to Appendix A for USAGM target performance criteria.

(d) Years of company experience with SW broadcasting.

The SOC must contain a cover letter including the company name, local address, point of contact, telephone and e-mail address.

The SOC must be submitted via e-mail to tharvin@usagm.gov by 12:00 Noon U.S. Eastern Standard Time, October 5, 2023:

Contracting Officer: tharvin@usagm.gov

Please include the following in the subject line: Short Wave Broadcast Transmission Service

The submission of this information is for planning purposes only to determine industry interest. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to procure any services, nor does USAGM intend to award a contract based on this request for information or otherwise pay for the information solicited.

THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL AND PROPOSALS RECEIVED

AS A RESULT OF THIS NOTICE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED OR EVALUATED.

Appendix A

USAGM’s goal for shortwave “coverage” is to provide the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) required for standard broadcast quality levels for 90% of the listeners and for 90% short term fade protection.

USAGM has determined that this requires a minimum SNR of 73 dB referenced to a noise power of -145 dBW in a 1 Hz bandwidth at 3 MHz, as calculated by the Voice of America Coverage Analysis Program (VOACAP).

Transmitter power, frequency band and antenna configurations required to achieve this target will vary depending on the originating station location, solar cycle and time of day.