Amendment_1_-_Questions_and_Answers.pdf

T17SOL10016: AMENDMENT 1 – QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

1. When would work on the pilot start?

ANSWER: THIS STILL NEEDS TO BE DETERMINED.

2. When would The Smithsonian like to launch the pilots onsite?

ANSWER: YES.

3. Does The Smithsonian have a preferred timeline for what and when they would like to have in place?

ANSWER: THE SMITHSONIAN HAS SOME “POSSIBLE” EXHIBIT LAUNCHES THEY MIGHT WANT TO

TIE TO THIS RFP, BUT THESE MEETING THESE DEADLINES IS NOT A CRITERIA FOR ACCEPTANCE

OF AN RFP PROPOSAL.

4. Is there any preference for Mobile Applications? NO. For responsive website or mobile website?

ANSWER: NO.

5. Will the proposals be shared with the Museums, or will they remain in the property of

Smithsonian Enterprises?

ANSWER: YES THEY WILL BE SHARED.

6. Is the information in the proposals confidential?

ANSWER: YES.

7. Are there any museums that are looking to implement the multimedia guides as part of a strategic plan?

ANSWER: YES.

8. Is there an incremental or Smithsonian budget for desired marketing plan?

ANSWER: NO.

9. Is the Smithsonian expecting specifically noise-cancelling headphones?

ANSWER: YES.

10. Can we add electrical power, wired (ethernet) connections for data chargers, telephone?

ANSWER: POSSIBLY, BUT EVERY SITE IS DIFFERENT.

11. What is the procedure for being able to mention the Smithsonian name in our own advertising, marketing, promotions, on our website, etc.

ANSWER: ALL OF THIS WILL BE DEALT WITH IN THE FINAL CONTRACT WITH WHOMEVER IS

AWARDED SAID CONTRACT. GENERALLY, VENDORS WITH SMITHSONINA CONNECTIONS ARE

ALLOWED TO USE THE BRAND IN MARKETING MATERIALS RELEVANT TO THAT PARTNERSHIP.

12. Can we ask for mutual indemnification?

ANSWER: SEE RFP UNDER PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS, #5, LAST BULLET.

13. Are we allowed to run a visitor survey so that we can understand better their audiences.

ANSWER: YES, IF YOU ARE THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT.

14. If they have run surveys themselves, will they be willing sharing the results?

ANSWER: YES.

15. Is a floor plan of NMAH available?

ANSWER: IT CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEBSITE OF NMAH.

16. Are they interested in marketing campaigns inside (across all Smithsonian museums) and outside (off the National Mall) of the museum, or will these campaigns be confined to the museum that we are operating within?

ANSWER: THE MARKETING PLAN IS THE PURVIEW OF THE VENDOR, WHO SHOULD DO WHAT IT

THINKS IS BEST, SUBJECT TO SMITHSONIAN REVIEW AND APPROVAL.

T17SOL10016: AMENDMENT 1 – QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

17. Would they be will to take suggestions on updating their current brochures to include tours (ie maps, and handouts?).

ANSWER: POSSIBLY BUT NOT NECESSARILY A BUDGET TO REDO EXISTING MATERIALS.

18. Are we allowed to actively sell tours? If yes, what are the constraints?

ANSWER: YES, SUBJECT TO ANY STIPULATIONS FROM INDIVIDUAL MUSEUMS.

19. Are we allowed to install an alarm system? If yes, what are the constraints?

ANSWER: THIS WOULD NEED TO BE DISCUSSED WITH THE INDIVIDUAL MUSEUMS ONCE THE

RFP HAS BEEN AWARDED. THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT.

20. Will they up sell tours from the ticket desk? If yes, are we responsible of providing a training plan for their staff?

ANSWER: TBD, BUT WILL NEED TO BE DETERMINED BY INDIVIDUAL MUSEUM; YES TO TRAINING

PLAN, PER THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN THE RFP.

21. Combine ticketing?

ANSWER: TBD DEPENDING UPON NEEDS/WANTS OF INDIVIDUAL MUSEUMS.

22. They note storage space for equipment, would we be able to utilize this as an office as well, or would they be willing to provide an office space?

ANSWER: TBD, AGAIN DEPENDING UPON INDIVDUAL MUSEUM’S SPACE CONSTRAINTS. SPACE

IS TIGHT IN ALL OF THE MUSEUMS.

23. Because there is the possibility of two tours, one for permanent collection, and one for a special

EXHIBIT, would they be willing to allow for a second desk location for the special exhibition?

ANSWER: TBD DEPENDING UPON NEEDS/WANTS OF INDIVIDUAL MUSEUMS.

24. Can we have the typical length or the special exhibitions?

ANSWER: THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT DEPENDING UPON THE MUSEUM IN QUESTION: 8 MONTHS

TO TWO YEARS!