Sources Sought Radio Show Prep Services.pdf

Sources Sought

Radio Show Prep Service

Sources Sought Tracking Number: HQ0516-FY-26-0007

Department of War Information Activity (DWIA) American Forces Network (AFN)

6700 Taylor Avenue Ft. Meade, MD 20755

The Department of War Information Activity (DWIA) is conducting market research to identify potential sources capable of providing a commercial, subscription-based, daily radio DJ show prep service. This service is for American Forces Network (AFN) broadcasters who provide radio programming to U.S. service members, civilians, and their families stationed or assigned overseas.

The purpose of this Sources Sought notice is to gain a better understanding of the marketplace and to identify qualified, interested businesses (including small businesses) capable of fulfilling the requirements outlined in the attached Scope of Work (SOW). The information received will be used for planning and budgeting purposes and to assist in developing the acquisition strategy.

No contract will be awarded from this notice.

1.0 Background

The Department of War Information Activity (DWIA) manages the American Forces Network (AFN), which provides radio and television programming to U.S. service members, civilians, and their families stationed or assigned around the world. AFN radio requires a consistent source of high-quality, relevant, and engaging content to support its military and civilian broadcasters in producing professional on-air programming for a diverse, global audience. This Scope of Work defines the requirement for a commercial, subscription-based service to provide these materials.

2.0 Objective

The primary objective is to procure a comprehensive, daily radio show prep service that provides timely and topical content for AFN broadcasters. This service will equip AFN on-air talent with the necessary resources to produce high-quality, entertaining, and informative programming across multiple music formats, tailored to the unique interests of the U.S. military community.

3.0 Scope

The contractor shall provide a secure, web-based, service that delivers a complete package of daily show prep materials accessible to authorized AFN personnel worldwide. The service must be a "turn-key" solution, providing all necessary content and platform resources to fulfill this requirement.

4.0 Specific Tasks

The contractor shall perform the following tasks:

4.1 Daily Content Provision:

• The contractor shall research, write, and produce a daily package of show prep materials and deliver it to the platform no less than once every 24 hours.

• All content must be written and produced in a style suitable for immediate on-air use by radio broadcasters.

4.2 Content Categories:

The daily content package must include a wide variety of materials suitable for multiple radio formats (e.g., CHR, Hot AC, Rock, Country). Required content categories include, but are not limited to:

• Topical News & Discussion Starters: Summaries of current events, trending topics, and thought-provoking questions designed to spark on-air conversations.

• Entertainment & Pop Culture: News and gossip related to celebrities, movies, music, and television.

• Lifestyle & Offbeat Content: "Weird news" stories, lifestyle trends, consumer information, and holiday-specific content.

• Music & Artist Information: Trivia, facts, and news about artists and songs, including information on new music releases.

• Interactive Content: Ideas and outlines for on-air games, listener contests, and phone topics.

• Access to Pre-Produced Audio: A library of broadcast-quality audio elements, including comedy bits, sound effects, song parodies, and drops.

4.3 Platform and Accessibility:

• The contractor shall provide and maintain a secure, password-protected, web-based platform for content access and delivery.

• The platform must be accessible to authorized AFN personnel globally on a 24/7 basis.

• The platform shall include a searchable archive of all previously published content.

4.4 Digital Media Content:

• The contractor shall provide content that is easily adaptable for use on digital platforms, such as station websites, blogs, and social media channels (e.g., Facebook, X, Instagram), to enhance AFN's online engagement.

4.5 Customer and Technical Support:

• The contractor shall provide responsive customer and technical support to AFN personnel via email and/or phone during standard business hours to resolve any issues related to service access or content.

5.0 Deliverables

The contractor shall provide the following:

Deliverable Format Frequency Due Date

Daily Show Prep Materials

Electronic via Web Platform Daily Updated every 24 hours

Secure Platform Access Web-based URL & Credentials

Continuous At contract start

Online Content Archive Searchable Web Database Continuous Available 24/7

Customer/Technical Support Email / Phone As needed

During Contractor business hours

6.0 Period of Performance

The period of performance shall be for one (1) Base Year of 12 months, with four (4) one-year Option Periods, which may be exercised at the discretion of the Government.

Additional Considerations

• The contractor must comply with all applicable FAR and Department of War clauses and provisions incorporated into the resulting contract.

PSC Code: B503 - Special Studies/Analysis - (Other than R&D)

NAICS Code: 519290 - Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services

Interested parties are requested to submit a capabilities statement of no more than ten (10) pages.

The statement should be in sufficient detail to permit a comprehensive analysis of the respondent's ability to meet the requirements. The submission should address the following:

• Company Information:

• Company Name and Address.

• Point of Contact (Name, Title, Phone Number, and Email Address).

• CAGE Code and UEI Number.

• Business Size and any applicable socio-economic classifications (e.g., Small

Business, Woman-Owned Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, etc.).

• Capability Statement:

• A detailed description of your company's ability to meet all the requirements outlined in the Draft SOW (Section 2.0).

• A description of your content offerings, your approach to curating military-specific news, and the features of your web-based delivery platform.

• Confirmation that your service is a commercial item, readily available in the commercial marketplace.

• Past Performance:

• A brief summary of at least two (2) recent and relevant contracts (within the last three years) of a similar scope, nature, and complexity. Please include the client name, period of performance, and a brief description of the work performed.

Response Guidelines:

Vendors who wish to respond to this should send responses via email NLT 12 May 2026 01:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Contracting Specialist nastashia.d.willoughby.civ@mail.mil and Contracting Officer thomas.j.brown314.civ@mail.mil and Interested parties are requested to respond to this SOURCES SOUGHT with a white paper.

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.

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.

mailto:nastashia.d.willoughby.civ@mail.mil mailto:thomas.j.brown314.civ@mail.mil

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 SAM.GOV IN ACCORDANCE

WITH THE FAR PART 5. HOWEVER, RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE WILL NOT BE

CONSIDERED RESPONSES TO A SOLICITATION.