Sources Sought Notice HQ0516-FY-26-0001.pdf

Sources Sought Notice – MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY

Radio Programming, Content, and Support for the American Forces Network.

Sources Sought Tracking Number – HQ0516-FY-26-0001

Contracting Office Address:

Defense Media Activity

6700 Taylor Avenue

Fort George St. Meade, MD 20755

Background: The 24/7 Radio music services, imaging and production materials, show preparation materials and music research services shall enable the Defense Media Activity

(DMA) to meet and support the AFN mission. DMA AFN mission tasking per DoD Instruction

5120.20 is to support the Internal Communications mission of the Department of Defense by providing a broad range of information and entertainment programming to DoD personnel and their family members overseas, thus attracting an audience for Internal Communications messages placed within AFN programming. The AFN Contracting Office has purchased similar programs and services repeatedly over the years. The rates paid by the Government do not vary, regardless of the popularity or commercial value of a particular music format.

Scope: The contractor shall be responsible for all credentials, hardware, software, licensing, rights, royalties, training, documentation, warranty, and support services required to provide

24x7x365 delivery of the contracted services detailed in this Sources Sought.

Purpose: To acquire broadcast distribution rights to allow AFN to distribute and broadcast digitally, terrestrially, and via satellite, the contracted branded radio music services, and nationally syndicated audio content, provide online affiliate access to imaging production materials, radio show preparation materials, and US terrestrial and streaming music research services. Procurement of these rights will enable AFN to meet and support the AFN mission.

Instructions:

Vendors who wish to respond to this should send responses via email 23 January 2026 4:00 PM

EST to Anthony LeAnder anthony.m.leander.ctr@mail.mil and Nathan Mack nathan.e.mack.civ@mail.mil. Interested vendors are requested to respond to this Sources Sought with a white paper and itemized budgetary estimate. Submissions cannot exceed 10 pages, single-spaced, 12-point type with at least one-inch margins on 8 1/2” X 11” page size, not including any manufacturer cut sheets or system block diagrams. Responses must specifically describe the contractor’s capability to meet the requirements outlined in this Sources Sought.

Requested Information:

a. Company’s Name, mailing address, phone number, fax number, company’s website, and e-mail of designated point(s) of contact.

b. Business Type: Based upon North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 516110 Radio Broadcasting Stations. Identify the type of entity (large business, small business, small disadvantaged, woman-owned, 8(a), HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned, etc.).

c. CAGE Code

d. Contractor’s past performance in meeting stated objectives/requirements, statement of qualifications to include information that clearly demonstrates the respondent’s capabilities, expertise and experience to perform the specific requirements contained in this Sources Sought.

e. Contract vehicles that would be available to the Government for the procurement of the product and service, to include General Service Administration (GSA), GSA MOBIS, NIH, NASA SEWP, Federal Supply Schedules (FSS), or any other Government Agency contract vehicle. (This information is for market research only and does not preclude your company from responding to this notice.)

Questions:

Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted by e-mail to Anthony LeAnder at anthony.m.leander.ctr@mail.mil and Nathan Mack at nathan.e.mack.civ@mail.mil. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. The Government does not guarantee that questions received after 16 January 2026 4:00 PM EST will be answered. The Government will not reimburse companies for any costs associated with the submissions of their responses.

Performance Requirements:

Task 1: 24/7 Music Format Feeds - The Contractor shall provide AFN with the 24/7/365 music services and broadcast rights to Current Country hits, New Rhythmic/Urban hits, and Seasonal

Holiday music formats.

1A. 24/7 Mainstream Music Formats: The Contractor shall provide the two continuous automated music format services to include, Mainstream Country, and New Rhythmic/Urban hits, each format shall be professionally programmed and “lightly hosted” and/or imaged by an experienced, professional broadcaster/producer to effectively promote the AFN Country and

AFN Gravity brands.

1B. 24/7 Seasonal/Holiday Music Formats: The Contractor shall provide a continuous seasonal/holiday music service beginning on or about the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving Day and running through the second day of the new year, approximately 37 days.

1C. Technical Integration: The continuous music formats provided by the Contractor to AFN shall integrate with the automation, routing, and scheduling systems currently used by AFN.

These include BE/AudioVAULT, Wheatstone/WheatNet, and MusicMaster. The provided format channels shall be able to merge third-party syndicated content, wholly or in part, sourced from satellite receivers, or as audio files from a local or networked container.

1D. Commercial free content. The Contractor shall support AFN in maintaining non-commercial operation. Content provider shall provide necessary cues and/or commands that allow industry standard radio automation systems to preempt, cover, or otherwise prevent from airing, any or all commercial advertising material in music formats and/or content provided to

AFN.

1E. Performance Rights: The Contractor shall obtain all authorizations and clearances (including all union and guild clearances and rights to music and other properties) necessary to permit AFN to distribute the provided programming via official global outlets. All rights and title in and to the formats, contents, creative material and all other elements of intellectual property in the programming (other than material in the public domain) shall, except as otherwise agreed to in this contract, remain vested in provider.

1F. The Contractor shall provide necessary equipment, (e.g. satellite receivers, IP Audio streaming appliances) and an equal number of redundant spares necessary to descramble/decode/receive a broadcast quality signal for the contracted services.

Task 2: Imaging and Branding Materials and Resources - The Contractor shall provide online access to imaging and branding production materials and resources.

Task 3: Radio Show Prep Materials. The Contractor shall provide access to online DJ/Radio show preparation materials.

Task 4: Radio Music Programming Research and Analytics - The Contractor shall provide access to US terrestrial and streaming music research services, i.e. MediaBase.

Task 5: Additional Programming and Content, where applicable - The Contractor shall provide access to special audio programming, such as concerts, events, and award shows, nationally syndicated entertainment, news, and/ or informational programming within the repertory maintained and curated by the Contractor.

Task 6: Support Services -

6A. The Contractor shall provide assistance and advice to AFN on technical, operational, and programming issues related to the formats and services licensed hereunder.

6B. Technical support shall be available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, year-round.

Response time for Off Air situations when a support engineer is not immediately available and has to call / email back shall not exceed a period of thirty (30) minutes.

6C. The Manufacturer/Contractor shall provide all firmware and/or software updates and support for the life of the contract. The Contractor is responsible for alerting the government when updates are available and describe the details of the update, i.e. release notes.

DISCLAIMER:

This Sources Sought is not a Request for Proposal (RFP) and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals, nor will any award be made as a result of this synopsis. All information contained in the Sources Sought is preliminary, as well as, subject to modification and is in no way binding on the Government. FAR clause 52.215-3, “Request for Information or

Solicitation for Planning Purposes”, is incorporated by reference in this Sources Sought. The

Government does not intend to pay for information received in response to this Sources Sought.

Responders to this invitation are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this Sources Sought. This Sources Sought will be the basis for collecting information on capabilities available. This Sources Sought is issued solely for information and planning purposes. Proprietary information and trade secrets, if any, must be clearly marked on all materials. All information received in this Sources Sought that is marked “Proprietary” will be handled accordingly. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned nor will receipt be confirmed. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this Sources Sought are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.

PARTICIPATION IN THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY AND FOR

PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS A

COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PROCURE ANY ITEMS/SERVICES OR

FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR THE INFORMATION RECEIVED. THE

GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ASSOCIATED COSTS AS A

RESULT OF PROSPECTIVE OFFERORS INTEREST, RESPONSE OR

PARTICIPATION IN THIS SOURCES SOUGHT. ANY FORMAL SOLICITATION WILL

BE ANNOUNCED AT A LATER DATE. THE GOVERNMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT

TO CANCEL THIS REQUIREMENT AT ANY TIME DURING THE ACQUISITION

PROCESS.

ANY SOLICITATION RESULTING FROM THE ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION

OBTAINED WILL BE POSTED TO THE PUBLIC IN FEDERAL BUSINESS

OPPORTUNITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FAR PART 5. HOWEVER,

RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED RESPONSES TO A

SOLICITATION.