Video_Journalist_SOW-Final.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

Video Journalist Services

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

The Voice of America’s Central News Division has a requirement for a talent vendor (hereinafter referred to as “Contractor”) to provide Video Journalist services described below. The Contractor shall be responsible for meeting all obligations under the term of this contract. All work shall be performed in accordance with “The VOA Journalistic Code.” The contractor must request pre-approval before engaging in outside speaking and writing that might give rise to an actual or perceived violation of the Code.

BACKGROUND

The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) is an Executive Branch Federal Government agency that oversees U.S. broadcasting of news and information to audiences around the world. BBG includes the Voice of America (VOA) and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (VOA), as well as grantee entities Radio Free Asia (RFA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and the Middle East Broadcasting Network (MBN). Together, VOA and VOA distribute programming in English and 42 other languages to an estimated weekly audience of 175 million people.

The News Center is a multimedia news room providing 24/7 content and editorial guidance and direction for all VOA language services and English platforms. This material includes TV reports, standups, web and digital vids, radio and web reports, photo content and animated explainers.

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

(1) General Responsibilities of Contractor. Contractor serves as a Video Journalist for a VOA News Center TV program/newscast. Contractor ensures that all material engages audiences in support of the VOA Charter and in accordance with VOA's journalistic code.

(2) Required expertise.

· Proficiency in the use of Premiere but not limited to this editing format to log and capture images, editing them using color correction and being able to export files, selecting the correct method, depending on final destination and format needs.

· Proven experience with journalistic principles, practices and ethics.

· Professional skill in videography that enables the incumbent to shoot, using motivated camera movements with a digital video camera. Skill in lighting and video editing.

· Familiarity with file transfer systems over the internet, including ftp and other htttp: file transfer tools such as “dropbox” and “weTransfer,” etc…

· Expert in creating, editing and publishing multi-media content for both web and other social media platforms.

· Must be able to use all Dalet technology VOA has available. Work side by side colleagues, assuring that they are up to speed in recording and editing from the Dalet system.

· Experience working as part of a broadcast team, cooperating with other team members to ensure deadlines are met and assignments completed in a constructive manner.

· Proven experience shooting, editing and writing short and long format TV packages

· Proven experience shooting, editing, lighting for various situations including breaking news, interviews, feature shoots, studio interviews and performances.

· Able to travel on assignment

DELIVERABLES, INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE, AND PAYMENT TERMS

DELIVERABLES

The Contractor shall provide deliverables that are responsive to the statement of work / specifications described in the task order and that conform to the Deliverables Inspection and Acceptance Criteria section of this 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 will be performed by the COR.

The following deliverables are essential to the successful completion of this contract:

· Contractor serves simultaneously as solo producer, reporter, videographer, writer, and where applicable, voice, for television news and feature stories considered, of a competitive quality level for the international broadcast market. Handles audio and lighting elements on assignment, might work with other producers, reporters or vj’s as assigned.

· Contractor has the ability to edit audio/video projects and bring them to completion, while meeting broadcast quality standards. Must have the ability to meet deadlines.

· Creates/shoots/edits highly nuanced video and digital packages, vo’s and vosots.

· Creates original packages, but also turnarounds using material and elements from other sources, including feeds; curates material from other reporters

· Creates products with refined aesthetics and various design styles that enhance presentations.

· Contractor will conceive, plan, research and write highly targeted, in –depth original news stories in different formats: TV packages, intros, VO’s, VOSOT’s- for TV program. Subjects covered may include international affairs, politics, economics, cultural affairs, scientific developments, and health issues, on a national and international level.

· Contractor will conduct in-depth interviews, and will conduct extensive research prior to the interview to ensure they are as informative as possible

· Contractor ensures the accuracy of all aspects of story development

· Contractor possesses outstanding editorial judgment and creative abilities

· Contractor provides ambitious/unbiased reporting/writing and utilizes appropriate reporting tools to include analysis of documents and developments, which are unbiased, accurate, balanced, and comprehensive.

· Contractor handles breaking news in a calm manner

DELIVERABLE SCHEDULE

The Contractor shall submit the required deliverables to the COR in accordance with the following schedule:

F.4 PLACE OF DELIVERY FOR DELIVERABLES

Item(s) to be delivered under this contract shall be delivered electronically to:

News Center 330 Independence Ave SW

The COR will specify the place of delivery for items to be delivered under this contract that have not been listed in the preceding table upon their assignment.

DELIVERABLE INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

Inspection The COR will review, for completeness and quality, all deliverables submitted by the Contractor, and may return them to the Contractor for correction. The Contracting Officer may delegate responsibility for review to other employees with appropriate expertise. Absence of any comments by the COR will not relieve the Contractor of the responsibility for complying with the requirements of the contract. Final approval and acceptance of deliverables will be provided to the Contractor in writing by the COR. The COR will have up to 2 hours to inspect deliverables and return them to the Contractor for correction.

Acceptance Criteria All contractor-produced documents and documentation (‘deliverables) shall meet the following general acceptance criteria. Final inspection and acceptance of all work performed, reports and other deliverables, will be performed at the place of delivery by the BBG’s COR.

· 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 on the Deliverables section of the contract (if applicable), or as specified by the COR. If format is not specified in the Deliverables section of the contract, the Contractor shall submit all work products in formats agreed to at time of assignment.

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

· Timeliness –Deliverables shall be available at the time required and generated on or before specified and mutually agreed to due dates or in accordance with a later mutually agreed to scheduled 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.

PAYMENT

The Contractor shall submit invoices only for work that has been submitted to the COR, and inspected and accepted by the COR.

SECURITY

All staff must be able to obtain and maintain a public trust background investigation. (If applicable).

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The contract will commence on or about August 20, 2018 until August 19, 2019, with an option to continue services for one additional option year.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The work on this contract shall be conducted at the Broadcasting Board of Governors, 330 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20237 or contractor’s worksite.

CONTRACT TYPE/VEHICLE

Firm Fixed Price to be awarded under a commercial contract.

SUBMISSION OF INVOICES

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.