Revised_SOW_Video_Journalist_for_NY_2019.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

VIDEO JOURNALIST/PRODUCER

VOA Persian Division – New York, NY

1.0 Introduction

The Office of VOA Persian Division (VOA/LNN) has a requirement for a Video

Journalist/Producer (hereinafter referred to as “Contractor”) for a Farsi language based entertainment and political satire news program as well as News and other programs as described below. The work shall be performed on an assignment basis. The contractor shall be paid on an assignment basis. In addition, the Government will reimburse the Contractor for actual expenses as stated below. The Contractor’s assignment rate will be inclusive of all associated cost to include overhead (e.g. health insurance), G&A (General and Administrative cost), and profit. Contractor shall be responsible for meeting all obligations under the term of this award.

2.0 Scope of Work

2.1 Contractor shall perform the following services upon direction and approval of the

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and shall be fluent in speaking Farsi and English as well as being able to write and read the languages:

a. The contractor shall be available to go on shoots as needed in preparation for news, interviews, feature stories, and other venues for broadcast. Upon completion of shoot material shall be logged and digitize. All material shall be placed into appropriate servers and program folders for editing.

b. Contractor shall edit all packages and deliver final product to the

VOA Persian Service for review and acceptance of work.

Responsibilities are:

a. Planning and storyboarding shoots

b. Shooting studio and on-location segments

c. Edits multiple show segments

d. Creates video and still graphics

e. Coordinates the use of music

f. Creates promos and bumpers

g. Lights shoots

h. Monitors cultural trends inside and outside of Iran

i. While on shoot follow direction of and collaborate with the executive producer/field producer for vision and style of shoot.

j. All work submitted must suitable for broadcasting.

Journalism experience o At least 3 years of experience working for a news agency o Strong journalistic and television (TV) production skills o Proficient in Persian and English languages o Ability to edit with Adobe Premier.

o Experience working on TV and multimedia projects

Ability to navigate on social media

Possession of a fully functional and active mobile smart phone connected to a wireless service provider. Know how to communicate via SMS, to take/send professional pictures as well as compose photo galleries and videos and send same to VOA

Valid identification with current and correct information, even if the Contractor uses a pseudonym

TASK OVERVIEW

The Contractor shall perform the following:

Shift work, weekends, evenings, holidays and uncommon working hours, as determined to meet the requirements of each task order/deliverable

Generate ideas for multimedia/technical projects

Conduct interviews, cover events and prepare reports based on research, interview and/or event coverage

Produce/document multimedia and digital media reports for both pre-recorded and live stories/events in assigned beats (via radio, television, social media, telephone, Skype and/or the world-wide web/internet) o Reporting of events in Persian Service’s Target Area or as assigned, such as; posting and updates of news stories, uploading of pictures and short video clips (i.e. Facebook Live and other technologies as they become available for professional broadcast distribution) o Work with Bureau Coordinators, Managing Editors and MCs on final production

Edit short stories using videos and still photos.

Record sound-bites, shoot video, edit recorded video and voice material.

Ensure the finished product is suitable for final release, post, distribution and/or broadcast

Meet or comfortably beat all reporting/program delivery broadcast deadlines and timelines

a. The Contractor shall research relevant video/archive footage/b-roll, and produce the piece.

b. The Contractor shall produce a web-friendly version of the package scripts, write up a headline and a sub-headline for it and submit it to the web for approval and publishing.

c. Revise work as directed by COR to ensure accuracy and completeness. The contractor shall meet deadlines as assigned by the COR.

d. Assignment schedule will be coordinated by the COR or the Assignment Desk.

Contractor may be asked to work federal holidays and weekends.

1. Additional assignments outside of the given schedule will be requested.

2. Contractor is to inform the COR if they are unable to perform assignments via e-mail. COR information will be given to contractor upon award.

Time of Performance: VOA is a 24/7 new/program operation and the schedule will vary depending on the need of the government.

e. All work submitted must be suitable for broadcasting. Quality, content, adaptability according to VOA editorial and production standards and approved by COR.

f. The Contractor shall at all times adhere to all standards and principles in the Voice of America Journalistic Code at https://www.insidevoa.com/p/5831.html and VOA

Best Practices Ethics.

g. The Contractor shall request pre-approval from the service and VOA Public

Relations before engaging in outside speaking and writing that might give rise to an actual or perceived violation of the Journalistic Code.

h. The Contractor agrees that he/she is solely responsible for his/her use of any content or program materials that he/she access through VOA News and Information

Websites, including any copyrighted portion(s) of those materials. The Contractor further agrees that he/she shall secure all necessary licenses from VOA AND FROM all persons or organizations that hold a copyright in any portion of program materials he/she access through VOA News and Information Websites before making any use of those program materials, except uses of program materials permitted by the

Copyright Act of 1976, as amended.

The contractor agrees that no employer-employee relationship exists between the contractor and the Voice of America.

https://www.insidevoa.com/p/5831.html

Provide a list of relatives working for VOA. Please indicate if any relatives currently work with

VOA: Yes ___ or No ___: If yes, please list the relatives below:

3.0 Qualifications:

a) Contractor shall have at least 3 years of experience in the same field.

b) Contractor shall be fluent in speaking Farsi and English as well as being able to write and read the languages.

c) Three samples of recent work product must be submitted to the agency. Required samples of anchoring, writing and reporting are to be submitted.

d) Resume must reflect the scope of work and expertise

4.0 Place of Performance

Contractor shall perform the services at USAGM/IBB/Voice of America Headquarters Building

26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY or another mutually assigned area. Location assignment will be designated by the COR or the Assignment Desk.

If the contractor fails to pass a security background check, the contract will immediately terminated.

Contractor must have a valid registration in SAM.Gov in order to provide services to the federal government.

5.0 Period of Performance

The period of performance is July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020 with an option to continue services for one additional year through June 30, 2021 subject to the availability of funds

6.0 Government Furnished Property, Facilities Services or Information

The Government will furnish office space, expendable supplies, and equipment (e.g., PC with

LAN connection, camera, laptop, fax and telephone) if necessary solely for the Contractor’s use while performing the work prescribed herein. Contractor shall maintain equipment that is loaned out for editing, report and document all broken/lost/stolen equipment to COR. Contractor shall have access to Government studio and equipment, therefore, Government space and equipment shall be provided

7.0 Submission of Deliverables:

(a) The Contractor shall be responsible to research and find all relevant material, such as video, audio, graphics of the story assigned.

(b) The Contractor shall submit edited material at least two hour prior to when the material is intended for broadcast use. For example, material to be used at the

10:00am broadcast must be submitted to the COR by 8:00am.

(c) The Contractor shall insure that they are providing the highest level of quality

(95%) without errors (such as wrong format or file type, color imbalances (color correction), audio errors, jump cuts, flash frames, missing video or missing audio for submission or use) in order for work to be approved or accepted.

(d) The Contractor shall maintain all folders of accessible agency servers that they are using to insure that their folders and system is clean of clutter and unneeded material.

(e) The Contractor shall submit assignments to the COR at the address listed below:

US Agency for Global Media

Cohen Building - Room 1458

330 Independence Ave., SW

Washington, DC 20237

Attn: Gholamreza Allahyari

• Clarity - Deliverables and technical content shall be relevant and unambiguous, and shall adhere to accepted elements of style. Presentations, if any, shall be easy to understand and be relevant to the supporting narrative.

• Adherence to Requirements - All deliverables must satisfy the requirements of this statement of work and must contribute to the overall success of the tasks.

• Format - Deliverables shall be submitted in the format specified in the task order (if applicable), or as specified by the COR. If format is not specified in the task order, the

Contractor shall submit all work products in formats compatible with USAGM system format.

• Completeness - Deliverables shall be comprehensive and entirely developed (i.e. have all required parts and elements).

• Timeliness - Deliverables shall be submitted to the COR at the time required (as specified in the task order) and generated on or before the specified the due date.

• Significant Deficiencies - Deliverables shall be free of significant deficiencies.

Significant deficiencies are findings by reviewing officials of serious omissions, inaccuracies, noncompliance with contract requirements and standards.

The Contractor shall provide deliverables that are responsive to the statement of work and/or specifications described in each individual task order. The Contractor shall submit all deliverables to the COR identified herein for dissemination to BBG subject matter expert(s) for review and comments. Final inspection and acceptance of all work performed and deliverables shall be performed by the COR. The following deliverables are required for the successful completion of this contract. The Contractor shall submit the required deliverables to the COR in accordance with the following schedule:

DELIVERABLES RATE PER

ASSIGNMENT($)

QUANTITY/DELIVERY

CYCLE

Complete Video Packages- Features

(15 min in length)

1 Package per week

8.0. Deadlines

All work performed under this contract shall be completed and delivered within the established due date as started in the above table or as specified in each individual task order. The

Contractor shall advise the Ordering Office and COR of any anticipated delays within twenty-four (24) hours after receipt of an order.

9.0 VOA Control of the Work

While VOA encourages initiative in discovering, pursuing and developing stories, etc., until VOA accepts a story, etc., VOA will not pay the Contractor for any story, etc. VOA follows Voice of America journalistic guidelines and standards available at https://www.insidevoa.com/p/5831.html and VOA Best Practices. The Contractor and those reporting stories are responsible for errors or material breaches of these journalistic https://www.insidevoa.com/p/5831.html guidelines. Material errors or breach are grounds for VOA to refuse to provide further work to the persons breaching these standards and can be the basis for a termination for default of this agreement in whole or part. The remedies in this clause are cumulative and do not restrict any other actions VOA may have under the agreement, at law or in equity.

Before designating a stringer to a VOA assignment (story, etc.,) VOA must have approved the use of that stringer. VOA also reserves the right to restrict use of some stringers for some VOA assignments. The Contractor shall notify VOA of the names of the designated stringers as soon as the Contractor designates the stringer. VOA has complete discretion to require the Contractor to remove stringers from VOA assignments.

VOA and stringers may communicate directly via the designated COR.

VOA has complete editorial control over the content of stories VOA publishes in any form or media. Stringers who object to VOA editorial decisions shall present their objections to the Contractor/COR who can determine whether and how to pursue the matter with VOA.

Editorial decisions concerning the content or presentation of stories shall not be subject to the disputes clause. Those decisions are solely within the discretion of the Contracting

Officer.

VOA is not responsible for the safety or health of the Contractor and its stringers when pursuing any story. The Contractor and the involved stringers must determine on their own the risks and are at liberty to stop and exit any story or situation when they reasonably believe they are at risk of injury, particularly if any person or persons, know or unknown, are reasonably believed to be seeking to inflict harm on journalists.

If VOA/COR does not accept a deliverable from the Contractor due to inferior quality, errors, etc., the Contractor may, depending on the type of deliverable, be entitled to resubmit the deliverable at VOA/COR’s sole discretion. For example, if the item submitted was a breaking news item and its publication is time sensitive, VOA will not accept resubmission of that breaking news item. In any event, the Contractor must obtain approval in writing from VOA/COR before resubmitting a deliverable that VOA/COR deemed unacceptable.

9.1.Contractor Performance Evaluation

Contractor’s performance shall be evaluated quarterly to ensure that the Contractor is meeting the requirements of the VOA.

10.0 Submission of Invoices:

The Contractor shall submit an original monthly invoice of detailed work completed and accepted by the Government to the COR. The Contractor’s monthly invoice shall list: (a) the days for which assignments/hours billed for work performed, (b) the programs produced, (c) reimbursable expenses, if any, and (d) comply with 1952.232-91 Electronic Invoicing and

Payment Requirements clause (below):

1952.232-91 Electronic Invoicing and Payment Requirements

- Invoice Payment Platform (IPP) (April 2016)

Payment requests for all new awards must be submitted electronically through the U. S.

Department of the Treasury's Invoice Payment Platform System (IPP). "Payment request" means any request for contract financing payment or invoice payment by the Contractor. To constitute a proper invoice, the payment request must comply with the requirements identified in

FAR 32.905(b), "Payment documentation and process" and the applicable Prompt Payment clause included in this contract. The IPP website address is: https://www.ipp.gov.

11.0 Reimbursable Items:

(a) Travel and Per Diem - The terms and conditions of the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) shall apply to all travel and travel-related matters authorized herein. The Contractor shall be reimbursed at cost for travel-related expenses upon submission of properly substantiated invoices. There shall be no profit allowed on these expenses in connection with authorized travel.

(d) The USAGM will not reimburse costs associated with “Local Travel” to/from the

Contractor’s office to/from USAGM Headquarters or for parking at USAGM Headquarters.

Neither will the USAGM reimburse the Contractor for his “travel time”. However, the USAGM will reimburse the Contractor for costs associated with “Local Travel” to/from the Contractor’s office to/from locations to cover stories if applicable. This reimbursement will include mileage

(at FTR rates), tolls, and hourly parking.

https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates

(e) The Contractor shall obtain prior written approval from the Contracting Officers

Representative (COR) identified in the Contract before incurring any of the above reimbursable expenses.

12.0 Critical Evaluation Factors Farsi Language Skills-Set and Experience.

Apart from proficiency in spoken and written Farsi, the Contractor is absolutely expected to have the flair for; and control of VOA Standard Farsi-language broadcast skills-set. This invariably means the Contractor has to be an experienced, practicing, multimedia journalist with print, electronic and on-line presence over a minimum of three years at a licensed Farsi broadcasting station, online media outlet or has a discernable online blog. The Contractor’s past experience and current capacity to multitask with a crew to pre-plan, script, shoot, edit, post-produce and host content on TV and create/manage customized VOA websites, which shall be tested, should be added advantages.

End of Statement of Work

Price Quote:

Base Period:

July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020

DELIVERABLES RATE PER

ASSIGNMENT($)

QUANTITY/DELIVERY

CYCLE

Complete Video Packages- Features

Option Year (subject to the availability of funds)

July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021

DELIVERABLES RATE PER

ASSIGNMENT($)

QUANTITY/DELIVERY

CYCLE

Complete Video Packages- Features