QuestionsAnswers.docx

W912LQ-17-Q-0007

Questions and Answers

Clarification: Many questions have been received regarding outdoor advertising other than billboards. The Virginia National Guard Recruiting and Retention Command obtains these advertising services through other national contracting vehicles. Therefore, this requirements is limited to outdoor advertising services via means of highway billboard only.

Question 1: The Guard’s request is for 60 posters and 20 bulletins. Do you want that many billboards for each period (4 weeks) of the media plan?

Answer 1: Per the Performance Work Statement (PWS), this is the minimum requirement an advertising package shall provide for a one year period. Paragraph 5.1 and subsequent subparagraphs detail the minimum requirements for display times within each market.

Question 2: How, if any, does the request for 60 posters and 20 bulletins relate to the Guard’s request for 70% coverage in minor markets and 20% in major markets?

Answer 2: The numbers are provided as minimum government requirements of the successful contractor’s advertising package.

Question 3: Should the minor market billboards be quoted in 3-period increments (each period is 4 weeks)? Standard practice is to quote per period (4 weeks).

Answer 3: Per the PWS, paragraph 5.1.5, advertising in minor markets is required to be displayed a minimum of three consecutive months. While the pricing schedule for line items 0004 and 1004 are structured for pricing per quarter, DFARS provision 252.204-7011 authorizes alternative pricing; therefore, the requirement can be quoted under an alternate period.

Question 4: Do you want a la carte pricing for each per billboard per period (4 weeks)? Or, do you want a recommendation made for the entire year with one total figure?

Answer 4: One total figure is not authorized. See pricing schedule included in the combined synopsis solicitation.

Question 5: Does the government have a budget cap?

Answer 5: This information is not releasable. An award will not be made if the government is unable to determine fair and reasonable price and has funding available.

Question 6: Are digital billboards acceptable?

Answer 6: Yes.

Question 7: Will all billboard messages be the same across the Commonwealth or will there be different images/messages in different regions?

Answer 7: No. Images and messages will vary.

Question 8: What regions in Virginia have the highest/lowest recruiting results?

Answer 8: This is defined in the PWS as major and minor markets.

Question 9: Are all billboards expected to run for the entire 12 months?

Answer 9: No. See response above to question 1.

Question 10: Please clarify PWS paragraphs 5.1.5 and 5.1.6.

Answer 10: In minor markets billboard adverting shall be displayed at a minimum in 3 month intervals (i.e. August 1 – October 31). In major markets billboard advertising is only required to be displayed in 30 day intervals (i.e. August 1-31).

Question 11: Has VAARNG run similar products in the past? What were the results?

Answer 11: Yes. Results of past campaigns require submission of a Freedom of Information Action (FOIA) request.

Question 12: PWS paragraph 5.1.7 requires photographs. Do the photos need to have the VAARNG imaging or can they be photos of the billboard to show visibility and placement?

Answer 12: Yes, the photographs are required to provide proof of placement and location of approved advertisement.

Question 13: Is there an incumbent the VAARNG is currently working with? If so, who is the incumbent?

Answer 13: The current contractor is Focus Outdoor Advertising & Marketing.

Question 14: Are you considering advertising in the major market of Northern Virginia or is that not a target area?

Answer 14: Per the PWS, a minimum of 20% of billboard advertising shall be in major markets. This would include Northern Virginia.

Question 15: If a company’s past performance is more than 12 months old does this disqualify the company? If not, will more “weight” be given to firms having more recent experience?

Answer 15: Vendor’s without a record of past performance or a record of recent/relevant past performance will be assigned a neutral rating. These vendors will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on past performance.

Question 16: Do you require on-site meetings?

Answer 16: While on-site meetings are preferred, the government has and will continue to conduct meetings via conference call unless the situation warrants face to face discussions.