RFI and Government Answers to Digital Communication and Graphic Design Services dated 2026.05.20.docx

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

TITLE: REGARDING DIGITAL COMMUNICATION AND GRAPHIC DESIGN SERVICES

SOLICITATION: W911S8-26-Q-A014

PAN: PANMCC-26-P-0000 035776

RFI DUE DATE: 20 May 2026 SOLICITATION CLOSE DATE: 27 May 2026

1. We noted the Secret safeguarding requirement and wanted to ask whether the Government would reconsider or provide any flexibility regarding this requirement for otherwise qualified offerors.

Government Answer: The requirement for a SECRET clearance stands. Contractor personnel require a U.S. Security clearance (SECRET) to access certain meetings necessary to understand and fulfill the communication mission.

2. Could you please clarify whether offerors are required to possess an active Facility Clearance (FCL) and personnel SECRET clearances at the time of proposal submission, or whether the Government will allow sponsorship and processing after award for otherwise qualified offerors?

Government Answer: Personnel performing work under this contract must possess and maintain a current U.S. Security clearance (SECRET) as indicated in the PWS. The Government will not delay performance for post-award sponsorship; clearances must be active to ensure immediate capability during the phase-in period starting June 18, 2026.

3. We would like to know if this is a brand-new contract OR if there is (was) an incumbent performing these services. If not brand new, could you please provide the current / previous contract number?

Government Answer: The government has previously procured digital media and communication support services. The previous contract number is W911S825PA036.

4. Is there any incumbent/recompete or this is a brand-new project? If yes, could you please provide us with their award number or even if the customer bought similar services in the past?

Government Answer: The government has previously procured digital media and communication support services. The previous contract number is W911S825PA036.

5. I would like to request clarification regarding the expected work location and performance requirements for this effort. Could you please confirm whether this requirement is expected to be:

· fully onsite,

· hybrid, or

· eligible for remote performance?

Government Answer: Performance occurs primarily onsite within the assigned I Corps Public Affairs workspace at Joint Base Lewis-McChord to ensure direct synchronization and real-time event coverage. Situational telework is a privilege that may be authorized by the COR on a case-by-case basis, provided it does not impact mission timelines or operational responsiveness.

6. Additionally, if onsite support is required, please advise on the anticipated frequency of onsite presence at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Government Answer: Performance occurs primarily onsite within the assigned I Corps Public Affairs workspace at Joint Base Lewis-McChord to ensure direct synchronization and real-time event coverage. Situational telework is a privilege that may be authorized by the COR on a case-by-case basis, provided it does not impact mission timelines or operational responsiveness.

7. I would also appreciate clarification regarding the security clearance requirements referenced in the solicitation. Specifically:

· Is an active Secret clearance required at the time of proposal submission?

· Or is the selected contractor required to obtain the clearance after award?

· If sponsorship is available, what is the anticipated timeline/process for obtaining the clearance?

Government Answer: An active SECRET clearance is required at the time of proposal submission to demonstrate technical acceptability and immediate readiness to perform. Post-award sponsorship timelines will not support the required contract phase-in start date.

8. Does the Government have a historical or estimated staffing level (e.g., number of designers or social media managers) required to successfully meet these objectives Government Answer: The Government evaluates proposals based on the offeror’s capability to deliver a complete, "turnkey" solution that fulfills all PWS objectives. The exact staffing levels and mix are determined by the contractor's unique technical approach.

9. To accurately estimate labor costs, what is the historical average volume for the following...Number of social media posts produced per week/month across all platforms?

Government Answer: Historically, the predecessor contract averaged approximately 95 combined posts per month. However, the current PWS establishes a firm baseline requirement of a minimum of one post per day on Facebook and one post per day on Instagram, supplemented by monthly reels, unique videos, and dynamic coverage of shifting command events across all five official platforms

10. Average number of direct messages or public inquiries requiring a response within 24 hours?

Government Answer: Historically, the contractor receives an average of ten director messages, public inquiries, and/or collaboration requests requiring a response within 24 hours. The exact volume varies dynamically based on the information environment. The contractor is required to monitor all incoming direct messages continuously and respond within 24 hours to any inquiry.

11. How often do you typically request graphic design work, such as trifolds or presentations, and what is the usual scope per month?

Government Answer: Regular design support is embedded in daily operations for social media and web platforms. For high-level executive communication products (VIP briefs, briefing decks, infographics) it is dependent on commander input but the scope is strictly capped at a maximum of three completed executive products per quarter. Historically, the executive products average to be about six projects per year.

12. Do all proposed personnel need to have an active Secret clearance when submitting the proposal, or is it enough for them to be "clearable" and get the clearance during the 12-day phase-in period?

Government Answer: All proposed personnel must possess an active SECRET clearance at the time of proposal submission. It is logistically impossible to process and adjudicate a SECRET clearance within the 12-day phase-in period.

13. Since performance is "primarily onsite" at JBLM, will the Government sponsor Common Access Cards (CACs) for all contractor personnel during the phase-in period to ensure immediate access on July 1st?

Government Answer: Yes. The Government (via the COR) will coordinate site entry and initiate the security onboarding/CAC process during the phase-in period (June 18 – June 30, 2026) to ensure full operational capability on July 1, 2026.

14. Will contractor-furnished workstations be allowed to connect to the Government network (NIPR/SIPR), or are they intended solely for offline content creation?

Government Answer: Contractor-furnished workstations are intended for offline content creation and local design development. The Government provides the necessary workspace and Wi-Fi network access required for official connectivity, portal management, and secure system access within the Public Affairs Office area.

15. Does the government already have an "enterprise-grade" platform like Sprinklr that the contractor needs to use, or should the contractor supply and pay for a new platform license?

Government Answer: Per PWS 4.4 and 4.3.3, the contractor is explicitly required to supply, configure, and maintain the enterprise-grade digital monitoring, tracking, and media intelligence platform at no additional cost to the Government. No specific commercial vendor is mandated, provided it meets the unified monitoring and analytics metrics outlined in Section 5.12. Historically, the contractor has used Sprinklr.

16. Is there a minimum onsite requirement, like three days a week, or specific events when the team must be physically present? Remote work is allowed if it doesn't impact the mission.

Government Answer: There is no fixed "day-count" minimum, but the contractor must be physically present to attend key onsite battle rhythm events and to manage daily visual information tasks that require local network and workspace access. Performance occurs primarily onsite within the assigned I Corps Public Affairs workspace at Joint Base Lewis-McChord to ensure direct synchronization and real-time event coverage. Situational telework is a privilege that may be authorized by the COR on a case-by-case basis, provided it does not impact mission timelines or operational responsiveness.

17. Is there an incumbent contractor currently providing these services? If yes, will there be a formal "knowledge transfer" session scheduled during the phase-in period (June 18–30)?

Government Answer: Yes. We cannot guarantee the incumbent will be able to attend a formal “knowledge transfer.” A formal phase-in period is explicitly built into the schedule from June 18 to June 30, 2026, precisely to facilitate the knowledge transfer of existing digital assets, accounts, and workflows to ensure a seamless handover.

18. Does this library already exist, or is the contractor expected to draft the initial library for Government approval during the phase-in?

Government Answer: The contractor is responsible for researching, developing, and submitting the initial Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) response library within 30 calendar days of contract award. The Government will provide initial baseline operational materials to inform this library.

19. Is there a set budget for paid social media ads like boosted posts, or is the contractor only responsible for managing the software to improve organic reach?

Government Answer: There is zero budget or requirement for paid advertising or ad buys under this contract. The contractor is strictly focused on optimizing organic reach and information dissemination.

20. Digital media strategy and campaign planning - Can you tell me in a sentence or two what the campaign(s) would center around and what your goals are? If you had the guess, how long would you prefer the strategy and planning would take before implementing it?

Government Answer: Campaigns center around reinforcing official command themes, operational tracking, training exercises, and community engagement. This website is a good starting reference: https://www.army.mil/ICorps#org-about. The strategy must be delivered to the Government within fifteen (15) business days of contract award and approved prior to full execution.

21. Social media management and engagement support - Can you explain how in-depth this would go and how many accounts we would manage on a weekly basis?

Government Answer: Management covers five core platforms: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and YouTube. Support includes content layout, continuous comment monitoring, response management, and clearing out illicit or non-compliant commentary.

22. Multimedia content creation - What kind are you thinking, and how often?

Government Answer: Content includes imagery, short-form video/reels, infographics, and written copy. Some of this visual information will be taken directly from DVIDS (Defense Visual Information Distribution Service) and it is the contractor’s responsibility to publish from it from there using appropriate command messaging. Current battle rhythms dictate a daily posting cadence plus distinct video and reel deliverables every month.

23. Executive communication support - Are you struggling with anything in particular that needs ongoing support?

Government Answer: Current support centers on transforming complex operational data and evolving command priorities into clean, clear visual graphics, sleek briefing decks, and infographics for senior leadership engagements.

24. Graphic design services - Would this be digital, print or a combination? Also what kind of design products are you looking for? Brochures, website graphics, something else?

Government Answer: It is a combination of both digital and print media. Products include website graphics, social media assets, print layout materials (trifolds, glossies, handouts, posters), and executive presentation decks.

25. Do you have an idea of how much of this you would need or how often on a monthly basis?

Government Answer: General design tasks follow a daily content publishing and scheduling battle rhythm. Special executive design requests are capped at three completed products per quarter.

26. Copywriting, editing, and proofreading - About how much copy would need regular editing per week?

Government Answer: The contractor provides editing and proofreading for all materials produced under the contract, which equates to text for at least one post per day alongside monthly analytics reports.

27. Analytics dashboard configuration and reporting - Would this be Google Analytics for a website, Youtube Analytics, an internal system, or something else entirely?

Government Answer: The platform must aggregate and centralize cross-platform analytics across all five channels (Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, YouTube) into a singular, unified dashboard for the Public Affairs Office to inform leadership within the organization. As long as the information is presented in one dashboard or page, we will not limit or constrain the contractor what kind of application/program is used to gather the data.

28. Photography, video, graphics, and animation support - Do you have an idea of how many videos you want and what they would be about? If you had to guess, how many subjects or categories you want to cover would need at least 1 photo shoot over the next year?

Government Answer: The contract explicitly requires a minimum of two unique videos and one reel per calendar month. Content will depict training, operations, personnel milestones, and activities occurring within the I Corps area of responsibility. Photo coverage is tied directly to major command milestones, which include annual training exercises, brigade-and-above changes of command, and distinguished visitor arrivals.

29. Content management support for Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, and related digital platforms. - Would this be scheduling posts, videos and monitoring performance? If so, how often would you guess you'd need support on this per week?

Government Answer: Yes, tasks encompass full end-to-end scheduling, publishing, performance tracking, and active community moderation. This is an ongoing, daily operational support function throughout the week.

30. RFP page 25 Section 3. RESUME of the solicitation requires a resume for a “contractor employee”. Could the Government please clarify if that is referring to the Project Manager, designated in PWS 1.20.1 as the Key Personnel, or if it refers to a different LCAT?

Government Answer: The solicitation mandates the submission of a resume for the Key Personnel position of Project Manager. If an offeror’s technical strategy leverages additional personnel to meet the separate graphic design, videography, or platform management qualifications, those resumes should also be included in the technical package.

31. Is the PM expected to be a dedicated standalone resource, or is it permissible for the PM to concurrently perform technical tasks on the contract?

Government Answer: It is permissible for the PM to concurrently perform technical tasks (e.g., strategy, design, or writing), provided they successfully fulfill all contract management duties , remain available during core operational hours (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM PT) , and maintain open lines of communication with the COR.

32. PWS 1.16 outlines the qualifications for Key Personnel, stating that the Contractor must possess experience as a digital media engagement, graphic design, and content management firm. To ensure compliance, could the Government please confirm if the proposed Project Manager must individually possess specific social media and communications experience?

Government Answer: Yes. Per PWS Section 1.21, the individual PM must meet high standards of baseline capability and demonstrate a track record of success in public relations, marketing, communications, or related fields to successfully oversee the specialized outputs required by the contract.

33. The DD254, as currently written, requires Secret safeguarding. Could the Government please clarify what specific contract deliverables or performance requirements will necessitate the storage of classified material at the contractor's facility? If contractor possession of classified material is not required, we respectfully request the Government update the DD254 to remove the safeguarding requirement.

Government Answer: Performance occurs primarily onsite within allocated government office spaces at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. While personnel require SECRET clearances to access certain government networks and intranet sites, the Government does not anticipate a requirement for the storage or possession of classified material at the contractor’s private facility.

34. RFQ page 24, Section 2.2 Technical states, "A resume shall be submitted for the anticipated contractor employee presenting that employee's qualifications." Please confirm whether the Government anticipates all of the work in the PWS being performed by one contractor employee. If the Government anticipates additional non-Key Personnel supporting performance, please identify the anticipated number of personnel.

Government Answer: The Government does not mandate a specific headcount. The contractor must provide an organizational structure and labor mix sufficient to meet all daily content, weekly reporting, monthly monitoring, and event coverage thresholds simultaneously.

35. PWS page 8, Section 1.20 identifies the Project Manager as key personnel. Please clarify whether the PM is expected to directly perform all day-to-day digital communication, social media, graphic design, analytics, and reporting tasks described in the PWS, or whether the PM is an overhead/management role separate from the individual(s) performing the technical work.

Government Answer: The contractor may propose a single blended resource or a multi-person team. However, the proposal must demonstrate that whoever is performing the technical work possesses the minimum qualifications required, such as five years of experience with Adobe Creative Suite and primary social media platforms.

36. The solicitation includes FAR 52.222-41 Service Contract Labor Standards, FAR 52.222-43 Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Labor Standards—Price Adjustment, and Attachment 3 Wage Determination. Given the requirement for public affairs, communications strategy, graphic design, social media management, analytics, and executive communication support, please clarify whether the Government considers the anticipated contractor employee to be a covered service employee under SCLS or an exempt professional employee.

Government Answer: Offerors are responsible for mapping their proposed labor categories to the provided Wage Determination in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Department of Labor regulations, based on their unique technical design.

37. The solicitation states that “a resume shall be submitted for the anticipated contractor employee.” Please confirm whether the Government requires submission of only the Project Manager (PM) resume, or resumes for all proposed personnel supporting contract execution.

Reference: Solicitation W911S826QA014, Page 24, Section 2.2 Technical; PWS Section 1.20 Key Personnel.

Government Answer: The Government requires the resume of the Project Manager. If the offeror’s technical approach relies on additional distinct staff to meet the specialized technical qualifications (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite 5-year requirement), those resumes should be included to prove technical acceptability.

38. Please confirm whether the Alternate Project Manager (APM) is considered Key Personnel and whether submission of an APM resume is required or recommended.

Reference: PWS Section 1.20.1.

Government Answer: The PM is the primary designated Key Personnel. Because the APM must meet the exact same qualifications as the PM and have full authority to act in their absence, submitting an APM resume is highly recommended to confirm seamless continuity.

39. Please confirm whether letters of commitment are required for proposed personnel whose resumes are submitted with the quotation.

Reference: PWS Section 2.8 Key Personnel.

Government Answer: A letter of commitment may be required from the individual whose resume is provided to ensure personnel stability upon contract award. Currently, letters of commitment are not required for submission.

40. The PWS requires contractor personnel to possess a SECRET clearance. Please confirm whether personnel must possess an active SECRET clearance at time of proposal submission, at contract award, or prior to system access/performance.

Reference: PWS Section 1.16.6.

Government Answer: Personnel must possess an active SECRET clearance at the time of proposal submission to demonstrate technical acceptability and immediate readiness to access required systems upon contract initiation.

41. Please confirm the anticipated number of contractor personnel the Government expects to support execution of this requirement.

Reference: PWS Sections 4.2 and 5.2.

Government Answer: The Government leaves the staffing footprint to the discretion of the offeror, provided it guarantees 100% compliance with the Performance Requirements Summary (PRS).

42. Please clarify whether the Government anticipates full-time onsite staffing during core business hours or whether hybrid/remote performance is acceptable for portions of contract execution.

Reference: PWS Section 1.15.

Government Answer: The contractor must provide adequate coverage to meet all mission requirements. Performance occurs primarily onsite within the assigned I Corps Public Affairs workspace at Joint Base Lewis-McChord to ensure direct synchronization and real-time event coverage. Situational telework is a privilege that may be authorized by the COR on a case-by-case basis, provided it does not impact mission timelines or operational responsiveness.

43. Please confirm whether contractor personnel are authorized to perform event coverage outside normal duty hours, including weekends, evenings, and federal holidays, and whether those hours should be included within proposed fixed pricing.

Reference: PWS Sections 5.10 and 5.10.1.

Government Answer: Content collection outside of normal duty hours will be covered by uniformed service members.

44. The PWS states the Government will provide office space, computing equipment, and network access, while the contractor must provide a high-performance workstation and media equipment. Please clarify which equipment will be Government-furnished, which equipment must be contractor-furnished, and whether contractor-owned systems may connect to Government networks.

If contractor furnished, will the Government IT personnel image the machine?

Reference: PWS Section 1.15; PWS Section 4.1; PWS Section 4.4.

Government Answer: The Government furnishes the workspace desk and basic network access for official communication and release tasks. A basic processing computer can be signed out to the contractor if needed. The contractor must furnish their own specialized, high-performance multimedia design workstations, color-accurate monitors, and audio/video recording/editing hardware/software. Contractor-owned machines will remain on an external or off government network status for production and will not be imaged or directly connected to internal government networks (NIPR/SIPR).

45. Please confirm whether the Government will provide access to existing Sprinklr or other enterprise social media management platform licenses, or whether the contractor is expected to furnish all platform licensing.

Reference: PWS Sections 1.16.4 and 4.4.

Government Answer: The contractor must furnish all necessary analytics, tracking, and monitoring software licenses required to generate the reporting products. As the Joint Enterprise License Agree (JELA) permits, the government can provide an offline version (no cloud or artificial intelligence access) of Adobe Creative Cloud suite.

46. The PWS requires an enterprise-grade media intelligence and monitoring capability. Please clarify whether the Government has an existing preferred platform or whether contractor-provided commercial platforms are acceptable.

Reference: PWS Sections 5.12 and 5.12.1.

Government Answer: Contractor-provided commercial platforms are entirely acceptable, as no specific commercial platform or vendor is required, provided it satisfies the technical intelligence capabilities in PWS 5.12.1.

47. Please clarify whether media monitoring requirements include foreign-language monitoring, international media sources, or only English-language domestic sources.

Reference: PWS Section 5.12.1.

Government Answer: Media monitoring spans digital, social media, broadcast, print, podcast, and online news sources within a unified environment. While focused on narratives relevant to I Corps operations, capabilities must support monitoring international media sources within our theater area of responsibility.

48. Please clarify whether the Government requires transfer of all raw/unedited source media files generated during contract performance or only finalized production files.

Reference: PWS Sections 4.5, 4.5.1, and 4.5.2.

Government Answer: The contractor must deliver both. At the end of each contract year, the contractor must supply a hard drive containing all finalized packaged files as well as all native/raw source files used during performance.

49. Please confirm whether cloud-based storage solutions may be utilized for visual information management and archival support.

Reference: PWS Sections 5.15.1 – 5.15.4.

Government Answer: Cloud-based storage solutions may only be utilized if they are officially approved, government-secured environments (such as the I Corps SharePoint portal). The contractor shall not utilize external, unapproved commercial cloud environments to store or manage official I Corps visual assets.

50. Please clarify whether the required “one post per day” requirement for Facebook and Instagram applies seven days per week or business days only.

Reference: PWS Section 5.5.2.

Government Answer: The minimum requirement of one post per day applies seven days per week to maintain audience awareness and continuous communication, utilizing platform scheduling tools to manage weekend distribution.

51. Please clarify whether reposted/shared content from subordinate units counts toward the minimum daily posting requirement.

Reference: PWS Section 5.5.2.

Government Answer: Yes, unique content can be supplemented by curated, shared content from down-trace units to meet the daily posting rhythm.

52. Please clarify the expected format and average page length for Weekly Information Environment Snapshots, Monthly Digital Communication Assessments, and Annual Communication Summaries.

Reference: PWS Sections 5.11.1 – 5.11.6.

Government Answer: Weekly Snapshots are intended as concise executive summaries (typically no more than 1–2 pages). Monthly and Annual Assessments must be delivered in a presentation format, optimized for clarity, quantifiable information, and leadership briefings rather than a specific page length.

53. Please confirm whether travel associated with event coverage, distinguished visits, or operational support is expected under this requirement and whether travel costs should be proposed separately or included within fixed pricing.

Reference: PWS Section 5.10.1; Solicitation CLIN structure, Page 3.

Government Answer: Performance is primarily at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. If operational travel outside the local area is required, it will be directed by the COR and funded separately via a dedicated, cost-reimbursable Other Direct Costs (ODC) travel CLIN, rather than bundled into the baseline firm-fixed-price labor rates.

54. Please clarify whether overtime, after-hours support, and surge-event coverage should be included within proposed firm-fixed-price CLINs.

Reference: PWS Sections 5.10 and 5.10.1.

Government Answer: The contractor must provide adequate coverage to meet all mission requirements. Some social media posts may be required to be posted unscheduled or as dictated by mission requirements. Content collection outside of normal duty hours will be covered by uniformed service members.

55. Please confirm whether the Government intends to make award on a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) basis.

Reference: Solicitation Evaluation Criteria, Pages 29–30.

Government Answer: No, the Government intends to award on a Best Value Tradeoff basis where technical capability parameters are evaluated.

56. Please confirm whether Technical Capability will be evaluated solely on the submitted resume(s), or whether the Government will also evaluate organizational capability and staffing approach.

Reference: Solicitation, Page 29, Factor 1 Technical Capability – Resume.

Government Answer: Technical Capability will be evaluated based on the specific criteria defined in Section 2.2 of the solicitation instructions, verifying that the qualification parameters of the resume meet the required skill baselines.

57. Please clarify whether incumbent contractor transition support will be available during the Phase-In period.

Reference: PWS Section 1.7 Phase-In Period.

Government Answer: The Phase-In period (June 18 – June 30, 2026) is designed to allow the incoming contractor to establish workflows and coordinate asset handovers with the Public Affairs Office. Government staff will facilitate the transfer of all accounts and core creative assets.

58. Please confirm whether all required Government system access, account provisioning, and onboarding activities are expected to be completed during the 12-day phase-in period.

Reference: PWS Section 1.7.

Government Answer: Yes. The 12-day phase-in period is the designated window for securing access, provisioning accounts, and initializing workflows to ensure the team hits full operational capability on day one of the base year.

59. Please identify the current incumbent contractor supporting this requirement and indicate whether the incumbent personnel are expected to transition to the follow-on contract.

Reference: PWS Section 1.7 Phase-In Period; PWS Section 1.20 Key Personnel.

Government Answer: Historical LOE details are internal or proprietary. Offerors must independently estimate their hours and staffing mix to fulfill the firm-fixed-price tasks mapped out in Section 5 and the PRS.

60. Please provide the historical level of effort (LOE) for the incumbent contract, including number of personnel, labor categories, estimated annual labor hours, and percentage of onsite versus remote support.

Reference: PWS Sections 1.15 and 4.2.

Government Answer: The government evaluates the proposal based on performance outcomes. Offerors are encouraged to propose an optimized, modern staffing structure that meets the current PWS parameters. Historically this effort has been executed by one contracted individual.

61. Please provide the current contract number, current contract value, and period of performance for the incumbent contract supporting these services.

Reference: Solicitation CLIN structure, Page 3.

Government Answer: Historical metrics are mirrored in the PWS performance thresholds: a daily post requirement , 1 reel/month , 2 unique videos/month , 1 weekly snapshot , 1 monthly assessment , and coverage of major annual command milestones.

62. Please clarify whether the Government anticipates the same staffing level and labor mix under the follow-on requirement as currently provided under the incumbent contract.

Reference: PWS Sections 4.2 and 5.2.

Government Answer: The IGCE is an internal government tool and will not be disclosed. Proposals will be evaluated strictly in accordance with the evaluation factors set forth in the solicitation.

63. Please provide any available historical workload metrics associated with the incumbent effort, including average monthly content production volume, number of social media posts, number of videos produced, analytics reporting requirements, and event coverage frequency.

Reference: PWS Sections 5.5, 5.8, 5.10, and 5.11.

Government Answer: Historical metrics are mirrored within the current PWS performance thresholds. Offerors should build their technical and pricing approaches around the baseline rhythms established in the PWS, which include a daily cross-platform posting requirement , a minimum of one reel and two unique videos per calendar month , weekly environment snapshots , monthly presentation assessments , and organic coverage of major annual command milestones.

64. Please clarify whether the Government has an Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE)-based staffing expectation for this requirement and whether proposals will be evaluated for staffing realism in addition to technical acceptability.

Reference: Solicitation Evaluation Criteria, Pages 29–30.

Government Answer: The Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) is an internal government planning tool and its details will not be publicly disclosed. Proposals will be evaluated strictly in accordance with the evaluation criteria, factors, and baselines set forth in the solicitation package.

65. Does the contractor or proposed contractor personnel need to possess an active SECRET clearance at the time of quote submission or award, or may qualified personnel with prior federal/government experience complete any required clearance process after award?

Government Answer: Personnel must possess an active SECRET clearance at the time of proposal submission. The Government will not allow post-award processing or delay performance for clearance sponsorship; the clearance must be active to ensure immediate capability during the phase-in period starting June 18, 2026.

66. The PWS states that performance will primarily occur at the I Corps Public Affairs Office at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, while also noting that remote work is authorized when it does not interfere with contract requirements. Can you confirm whether this requirement is expected to be primarily on-site, or whether a hybrid/remote performance arrangement may be considered when deliverables and coordination requirements are met?

Government Answer: Performance occurs primarily onsite within the assigned I Corps Public Affairs workspace at Joint Base Lewis-McChord to ensure direct synchronization and real-time event coverage. Situational telework is a privilege that may be authorized by the COR on a case-by-case basis, provided it does not impact mission timelines or operational responsiveness.

67. DD Form 254, Blocks 1a/1b; PWS 1.16.6, Contractor personnel performing work under this contract shall require a U.S. Security clearance (SECRET) to access certain intranet websites. Does the Government require the prime contractor to hold an active Facility Clearance (FCL) at its own facility, or is it sufficient for individual personnel to hold SECRET clearances and access classified material exclusively within Government-controlled spaces at JBLM? Will the Government sponsor personnel clearances if required individuals are not yet cleared?

Government Answer: Individual contractor personnel must hold active SECRET clearances at the time of submission. Because all access to sensitive networks occurs within Government-controlled spaces at JBLM, the Government does not require classified safeguarding or storage capabilities at the contractor's private facility. The DD254 requires a Facility Clearance only to verify baseline organizational eligibility , and the Government will not sponsor initial personnel clearances post-award.

68. Attachment 1, PWS 4.4 Contractor shall supply, at no additional cost to the Government, all photographic, video, and audio recording and editing equipment, and all graphics, animation, photographic, video, audio, analytics tracking, and media buying software, licensing, or memberships needed to fulfill the requirements of this contract. Does “at no additional cost to the Government” mean these costs should be embedded in labor rates, or will the Government consider a separate Other Direct Costs (ODC) line item for equipment and software licensing? Is there a Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) inventory from the current contract that the successor contractor could leverage?

Government Answer: All required specialized contractor hardware, high-performance multimedia design workstations, and external enterprise analytics or monitoring software licenses must be factored entirely into the firm-fixed-price labor rates. There is no separate cost-reimbursable ODC line item for contractor-furnished tools or platforms under this solicitation. The Government does not maintain an existing production-grade equipment inventory for contractor reuse, though basic desk spaces, connectivity, and baseline computers can be issued for official government network release tasks.

69. Attachment 1, PWS 1.20; SF 1449, The Government considers key personnel for this contract to be the Contractor’s Project Manager (PM). Is only one individual (the Project Manager) designated as key personnel? How many total FTEs does the Government anticipate are needed to meet the performance requirements of this contract?

Government Answer: Yes, the Contractor's Project Manager (PM) is the only individual explicitly designated as Key Personnel under this contract. The Government does not mandate a specific FTE headcount. Historically, this effort has been successfully executed by one dedicated, full-time contracted individual, but offerors are free to propose an optimized organizational structure or labor mix that guarantees 100% compliance with all daily, weekly, and monthly performance thresholds simultaneously.

70. Attachment 1, PWS Section 4.3.3, “The contractor shall ensure that the Public Affairs Office has access to the analytics dashboard for real-time viewing of communication performance indicators.” Will the PAO require user/editing access to the digital communication analytics dashboard? If so, how many users will require access?

Government Answer: Yes, the contractor must provide the Public Affairs Office with direct administrative/export access to the centralized analytics dashboard. Access must be provisioned for a minimum of three core Government representatives (including the PAO and COR) to ensure seamless strategic oversight, reporting integration, and leadership briefings.

71. Attachment 1, PWS Sections 3.1, 4.3.3 Government will provide access for existing social media channels that are under the control and purview of I Corps/JBLM, to include Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.” / “The dashboard shall aggregate analytics from official I Corps digital platforms including Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube… How many official I Corps social media accounts will be managed under this requirement?

Government Answer: Management covers a total of five official primary channels under the control and purview of I Corps/JBLM: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and YouTube.

72. Attachment 1, PWS Sections 5.12, 5.13.2, “Support monitoring and analysis across digital, social media, broadcast, print, podcast, and online news sources within a unified analytical environment.” / “Monitor digital and traditional media sources for discussions, coverage, or narratives related to I Corps activities.” Will the PAO require monitoring of social media, online news, print, television, radio, and/or podcasts? Can the Government clarify the required scope of monitoring across social media, online news, print, television, radio, and podcasts, including any required geographic scope, keyword/topic scope, languages, source lists, or minimum coverage expectations?

Government Answer: Yes, the enterprise monitoring system must span all referenced domains—digital, print, broadcast television, radio, podcast, and online news—within a single, unified analytical environment. The geographic scope is theater-wide, focusing on narratives, public questions, or emerging topics relevant to I Corps activities and operations within our strategic area of responsibility. Content monitoring is primarily English-language domestic and regional partner communication, utilizing keyword tracking and automated transcription to flag misinformation, shifts in online discourse, or items generating media attention.

73. Attachment 1, PWS Sections 5.5.2, 5.10.1, “The contractor shall manage the creation of and post no less than two unique videos per calendar month.” / “The Contractor shall provide amplification of real-time coverage through posts, live-video, stories, or other social media best practices… Can the Government clarify the expected length, production complexity, filming requirements, captioning requirements, and source-footage assumptions for the monthly video deliverables?

Government Answer: Video deliverables must consist of a minimum of two unique videos and one short-form reel per calendar month. Production complexity ranges from basic social snippets to structured multimedia recaps of training exercises or distinguished visits. Source footage will be a combination of assets captured locally by uniformed service members and/or raw media pulled directly from DVIDS (Defense Visual Information Distribution Service).

74. Attachment 1, PWS Sections 4.3.3, 5.12, “The contractor shall configure and maintain a digital communication analytics dashboard…” / “The contractor shall employ an enterprise-grade media intelligence and digital monitoring capability…” / “No specific commercial platform or vendor shall be required for execution of this requirement.” Must the contractor provide and fund all monitoring platform licenses and data access needed to meet this requirement?

Government Answer: Yes. Per PWS 4.4 and 4.3.3, the contractor is entirely responsible for procurement, funding, and maintenance of all platform licensing, data access, and tracking tools required to deliver the specified analytics. As a courtesy, the Government can provide access to an offline version of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite via its Joint Enterprise License Agreement (JELA).

75. Solicitation Section 2.3; Evaluation Criteria, “The Government will evaluate an Offeror's past performance…” / “The Past Performance evaluation will assess the Offeror's probability of meeting the solicitation's requirements…” Should offerors submit past performance references, and if so, how many and in what format?

Government Answer: The Government does not require past performance references under this solicitation. Technical Capability will be evaluated strictly against the resume criteria set forth in the solicitation package , and the Government is not obligated to review any submitted references.

76. Attachment 1, PWS Sections 1.20, 1.21; Solicitation Sections 2.2, 52.212-2, “The Government considers key personnel for this contract to be the Contractor's Project Manager (PM).” / “A resume shall be submitted for the anticipated contractor employee presenting that employee's qualifications.” / “FACTOR 1: TECHNICAL CAPABILITY - RESUME” The solicitation appears to request a resume for a single anticipated contractor employee, while the PWS includes requirements across project management, digital content creation, social media management, analytics, reporting, media monitoring, graphic design, video production, and executive communication support. How many FTEs does the Government anticipate will be required to perform this contract, and should offerors submit resumes for all proposed personnel or only for the Project Manager/key personnel?

Government Answer: The Government requires the submission of a resume to evaluate qualification baselines. If an offeror chooses to utilize a multi-person labor mix to simultaneously satisfy distinct specialized PWS requirements (such as the 5-year Adobe Creative Suite requirement), those technical resumes should be included to confirm overall organizational capability and technical acceptability.

77. Attachment 1, PWS Section 1.7 “Phase-In Period: A phase-in period for this contract would be a transition where the contractor gradually assumes responsibility for the digital media and design services. Key activities would include knowledge transfer of existing digital assets and accounts, securing access for all contractor personnel, and establishing workflows with the I Corps Public Affairs Office.” Is there an incumbent contractor currently performing these or substantially similar services? If so, for transition and pricing purposes, can the government please provide the incumbent contractor name, contract number, current contract value, and period of performance.

Government Answer: The contract data is publicly available, The contract number is W911S825PA036

78. Can the government please verify if there is an incumbent already performing this work? If yes, can you please provide the contract number of the incumbent.

Government Answer: The historical contract number is W911S825PA036.

79. Can the Government please clarify whether this effort represents a continuation of the current scope and level of effort under the incumbent contract or whether there are anticipated expansions, increased operational tempo, or additional requirements offerors should account for in staffing and pricing assumptions?

Government Answer: This effort represents a continuation of baseline digital communication, social media management, analytical tracking, and graphic design tasks. While the core operational focus remains consistent with historical services, the current PWS establishes clear baseline performance metrics—such as a firm minimum publishing standard of one post per platform per day on Facebook and Instagram, alongside specific monthly video and reporting rhythms —which offerors must account for within their proposed firm-fixed-price structure.

80. Can the government please confirm the number of hours per FTE?

Government Answer: The Government does not mandate a specific headcount or fixed labor hour metric per FTE under this requirement. Offerors must independently determine the appropriate hours and labor mix required to satisfy all core business coverage hours (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM PT, Monday through Friday) and meet 100% of the Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) thresholds.

81. Can you the government please provide the historical workload/staffing or the number of FTE desired for this effort?

Government Answer: The exact staffing footprint is left to the discretion of the offeror's unique technical approach, provided it guarantees full compliance with all PWS metrics. Historically, this operational effort has been executed by one dedicated contracted individual.

82. ITO 3.1, Page 25 Each Offeror shall provide a resume listing the potential contractor employee's qualifications. Resumes should not be more than two (2) pages in length. Can the government please clarify the number of resumes required for the submission as well as the desired labor categories?

Government Answer: The Government requires the submission of a resume for the designated Project Manager (PM), who is considered the sole Key Personnel for this contract. If an offeror’s technical strategy leverages a multi-person labor mix to satisfy the separate graphic layout, videography, or analytical qualifications simultaneously, those technical resumes should be included to confirm overall organizational capability and technical acceptability. Offerors are responsible for identifying their own labor categories based on their technical design.

83. PWS 1.15; 4.1 IAW PWS Section 4.1, the Government states that “The contractor shall provide a high-performance workstation capable of supporting the latest version of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite”; however, PWS Section 1.15 states that “Workspace, computing equipment, and network access necessary to support connectivity will be provided by the Government.” Can the Government please clarify whether contractor personnel are expected to provide contractor-furnished computers/workstations for performance of this effort or whether Government-furnished computing equipment will be provided.

Government Answer: The Government will furnish an onsite workspace desk, basic network access, and an office computer that can be signed out for official secure network connectivity, portal content management, and information release tasks. The contractor is explicitly required to provide their own specialized, high-performance multimedia design workstations and associated peripherals for offline production and content creation. Contractor-owned machines will remain on an external status and will not be directly connected to internal government networks (NIPR/SIPR).

84. Attachment 3 WD The government provided a Wage Determination sheet for this effort. Can the government please clarify if SCLS is applicable to this requirement and please clarify which positions are classified as such?

Government Answer: Service Contract Labor Standards (SCLS) are applicable to this solicitation. Offerors are solely responsible for mapping their proposed labor categories and staffing mix to the provided Wage Determination in strict accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Department of Labor regulations.

85. PWS 1.7 "Key activities would include knowledge transfer of existing digital assets and accounts…" Can the government please clarify if there is a transition period for this effort?

Government Answer: Yes. A 12-day Phase-In period is built into the contract from June 18, 2026, through June 30, 2026. This period is dedicated to securing building and network access, provisioning accounts, and initializing workflows with the I Corps Public Affairs Office.

86. Can the government please clarify if this work is on-site or must be done remotely?

Government Answer: Performance shall primarily occur onsite within the assigned I Corps Public Affairs workspace…