SOW_Creative_Education_Writer_LE_2018-Posted_to_FBO.pdf

Statement of Work Non Personal Service

Creative Education Writer Voice of America

VOA Learning English

1.0 Introduction

The Voice of America’s Learning English has a requirement for a talent vendor (hereinafter referred to as “contractor”) to provide educational content, writing, web, mobile, social media and eLearning as described below. The Voice of America’s Learning English Branch teaches American English to foreign audiences through its content on radio, television, the Internet, and mobile. There are a number of initiatives that will require the development of new content and innovative methods to increase program awareness and maintain VOA Learning English’s loyal audience.

The work shall be performed on a Fixed-Price-Labor-Hour basis. The Contractor’s hourly rate shall include overhead (e.g., health insurance), G&A, and profit. All work shall be performed in accordance with “The VOA Journalistic Code,” the VOA Charter, and VOA Learning English writing, production and broadcast standards.

The contractor must request pre-approval before engaging in outside speaking and writing activities that might give rise to an actual or perceived violation of VOA’s Journalistic Code.

2.0 Scope of Work

The Contractor shall perform the following work at the IBB Voice of America Headquarters Building (330 Independence Ave, SW) unless otherwise mutually agreed to by the Contracting Officer, with some telework options being permitted. The Contractor shall provide the following combination services for the VOA Learning English Branch:

(a) Create original educational content for Learning English curricula that includes segments to be used for digital, text, audio and video content. TESOL certification required.

(b) Develops and produces creative content for learning and education for projects and or content offerings for target audiences. Contributes to the creation, production and post-production of learning curricula and learning projects.

(c) Creation of content that uses research, write, produce, present on camera, and coordinate the production of VOA Learning English products, VOA Learning English digital programs, and content for all multimedia platforms, including audio, video, internet and posting to content management system, on social media, and for mobile distribution.

(d) Collaborate with other team members across Voice of America, USAGM, as well as partners and stakeholders.

(e) Assignments shall be produced using VOA equipment and be suitable for broadcast on VOA. This shall be accomplished in consultation and in coordination with the VOA Learning English Branch staff to include: VOA Learning English Branch chief, managing editor, and other branch staff members as assigned by the branch chief.

(f) As directed by the VOA Learning English managers, all scripts shall be accurate and complete, and in compliance with “The VOA Journalistic Code,” the VOA Charter, and VOA Learning English writing, production, and broadcast standards.

All completed assignments shall be held to the same standards.

3.0 Attendance /Work hours:

The contractor shall be available for work between the core hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and weekends -- including Government holidays.

Telework options may be exercised only upon consultation and approval of the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). A 30 minute non-paid meal break shall be coordinated with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). The contractor shall meet all interim deadlines during his/her hours of work.

4.0 Award Duration

Contract Award will be for approximately one year to commence on or about November 2018.

5.0 Facility and Equipment

VOA/IBB will provide the contractor a work area, computer- furnished office space, expendable supplies, and equipment (e.g., Laptop with LAN connection, fax, and telephone) solely for the Contractor’s use while performing the work prescribed herein.

6.0 Deliverables

All written, audio and video content are to be submitted to the COR for acceptance in accordance with VOA standards. The time of delivery will be determined by the COR based on the needs of the government.

7.0 Contractor Performance Evaluation Criteria:

The quality and efficiency of the services performed by the Contractor shall be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that the Contractor is meeting the requirements of the Government.

8.0 Holidays and Weekends

The contractor may be required to provide service on Federal holidays and weekend work.

9.0 Meal Break

A thirty- minute non-paid meal break shall be coordinated with the Contracting Officer Representative

10.0 Contractor travel

In the event it is required, contractor travel shall be in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations. Invoiced costs of travel shall be based on actual expenditures subject to the FTR and per diem rules for reimbursement. All contractor travel shall be pre-approved by the COR

11.0 Building Access/ID Card

Contractor shall enter the main entrance of Cohen Building and report to the Security Manager, and submit a request for a VOA ID card via the Contractor Verification System (CVS). Upon verification and notification of an approved application, the contractor will report to the Security Manager’s officer for issuance of an ID Card. Days and hours of availability are Monday and Wednesday 9AM-3PM. This ID Card must be carried at all times while performing duties and must be used to access Cohen Building

11.2 NOTE: If contractor fails to pass a security background check, the contract will be terminated.

- End of Statement of Work –

EVALUATION FACTORS/QUALIFICATIONS

Creative Education Writer

• TESOL-certified professional with at least 3 years of experience in producing eLearning content in English. An additional foreign language such as: Mandarin, Turkish, Farsi, Pashto, Dari or Vietnamese is preferred.

• Portfolio that includes examples of products and or content that demonstrates candidate’s expertise and experience creating original content for English curricula.

• Possess strong experience in all media and practical knowledge in order to write, edit and produce educational reports for publication on multiple platforms.

• Adept at generating exclusive and distinctive content, and be able to think creatively about how to communicate that content to a wide-ranging audience.

• Ability to work in teams.

• Applicant must have substantial experience producing English learning educational content and provide samples of such work in a learning setting, or educational app.

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 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 compatible with Microsoft.

• 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.