Audience Engagement Strategist - Smithsonian Institution
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Monday, June 07, 2021 10:33 AM

Smithsonian Institution Request for Quote: May 10, 2021

Office of the Under Secretary for Museums and Culture
Our Shared Future: Reckoning with Our Racial Past

Technical or Professional, Non-personal Services
AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIST

This Request for Quote (RFQ) is issued by the Office of the Under Secretary for Museums and Culture (OUSMC), Smithsonian Institution, for technical, professional, non-personal services for Audience Engagement Strategist to the Race, Community and Our Shared Future Initiative. The contract will be awarded for a not-to-exceed price (based on an hourly rate) after selection on a best-value basis.

 

I. SUBMITTING YOUR QUOTE

Price quotes and relevant information may be submitted by electronic mail (email.) Quotes are extended, and due by 6:00 PM, EST, Monday June 11, 2021. Please send all quotes to Travis Helms, [email protected]

 

II. BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION OF THE REQUIRED SERVICES

The Contractor shall provide audience engagmenet strategist services, working under the guidance of the Director of Public Engagement for the Our Shared Future: Reckoning with Our Racial Past (RWORP) initiative, located in the Office of the Under Secretary for Museums and Culture (OUSMC). See attached Statement of Work for more detailed descriptions of tasks. The award will be for one basic year and four one-year options. This option period is subject to: 1) continuation of the need for the services, 2) acceptance and approval by the Contracting Officer's Technical Representative during the respective contract period, 3) availability of funds from which payment for contract purposes can be made, and 4) the contract price for services to be provided under the optional period to be outlined 2 weeks before the option is extended and quote received from contractor at that time. This option has been outlined due to the uncertain nature of the duration and continuation of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Initiative will focus on issues of race, inequity and justice and explore how Americans currently understand, experience and confront racism, its impact on communities, and how that impact is shaping the nation’s future. The Initiative will deliver programs and activities across the breadth of the Smithsonian’s museum, education and research complex and develop external partnerships to examine the historical context and contemporary challenges facing the nation today. The Initiative’s signature program will be a series of (virtual) Town Hall conversations among national and regional leaders in history, art, culture, science, education and other areas of expertise to add context and help drive understanding and meaningful change in communities across the country. A key programmatic element of the initiative is educational programming, both virtual and physical.

 

III. EVALUATION

The contract will be awarded for a not-to-exceed price after selection on a best-value basis. Prospective Contractors should submit a resume or other summary of qualifications and experiences of prior work similar to the described services in the attached Statement of Work including professional references.

Prospective Contractors should state what price per project, as described in the attached Statement of Work, would be required for the services. Qualifications (see below) will be compared to the tasks in the Statement of Work to determine how well Contractors will support RCOSF needs.

The Smithsonian Institution intends to award the contract without further communicating with contractors. Consequently, contractors are highly encouraged to quote their best technical and pricing quotes in their initial submissions. However, the Government reserves the right to communicate with any or all contractors submitting a technical and price quote, if it is determined advantageous to the Government to do so. This statement is not to be construed to mean that the Government is obligated to communicate with every quoter. A contractor may be eliminated from consideration without further communication if its technical and/or pricing quotes are not among those Contractors considered most advantageous to the Government based on a best value determination

Qualifications in these factors will be evaluated for ability to successfully complete the work. All of the following factors are of equal importance. Evaluation factors are:

A. Relevant Experience (paid or unpaid)

  1. Relevant experience is that obtained within the past 3 years providing or performing services similar to the described services in the attached Statement of Work. Description of relevant experience should be supported by at least two points of contact and their current telephone numbers who can answer specific questions on quality, workmanship and scheduling.

B. Qualifications/Technical Competence

Education or experience substantiating:

  • B.A. or B.S. in Marketing, Communications, Digital Audiences, Brand Psychology, Audience Strategies or fields related to public/audience engagement, audience research and evaluation, or marketing strategy.
  • Experience working within museums, libraries, archives, repositories or
    other cultural institutions on historical topics.
  • Experience coordinating projects through the use of audience surveys, analytics, existing data, and changing strategies as needed on a short timeline.
  • Demonstrated practical experience with race-based work and organizing.
  • Experience with social justice, social history and public policy.
  • Ability to work well under tight deadlines with competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
  • Strong communication skills, written and oral.
  • Familiarity with museum working processes. Experience within the Smithsonian Institution is preferred, but not required.

C. Price for services

Questions or clarifications

Prospective Contractors needing additional information may contact:

Travis Helms
Project Manager
Office of the Under Secretary for Museums and Culture
Email: [email protected]

 

III. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

Upon award, Contractors working on Smithsonian property, or working with sensitive objects or data, must provide proof of adequate professional insurance. Prospective Contractors for the services described above are required to have Commercial General Liability Insurance including coverage for bodily injury and property damage. The Smithsonian Institution must be listed as additional insured under this policy. Proof of insurance must be submitted with quotes. Contractors with questions about meeting insurance requirements should contact:

Carol Youmans, Management and Program Analyst
Office of Planning, Management & Budget
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 633-5164

IV. DUNS NUMBER

A DUNS number is a unique nine digit identification number available for each physical location of your business and is needed to register with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) system. DUNS numbers are provided through Dun and Bradstreet at no charge. You may contact Dun and Bradstreet to obtain DUNS numbers by toll free telephone call to 1-866-705-5711 or on the internet at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/pages/CCRSearch.jsp.

 

V. SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (SAM)

It is a requirement that current and prospective recipients of contract and purchase orders awarded by the Smithsonian Institution must complete registration and maintain an active record in the System for Award Management (SAM). The SAM requires a one-time business registration, with annual updates, and allows vendors to control the accuracy of the business information they enter. The financial data you enter, which includes the electronic funds transfer (EFT) data collected by SAM, will assist the Smithsonian Institution in complying with the Federal Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996. You may complete or update your information (if you were registered within CCR) in SAM online at http://www.sam.gov. Questions regarding the process may be directed to the SAM. Note: You may want to use a different browser than Internet Explorer to accomplish this task.

If yours is the acceptable price quote and you are selected for award, your organization's valid and active registration with SAM must be verifiable by Smithsonian Institution staff administering this procurement prior to contract or purchase order award, and any modifications or amendments to awards.

It is strongly encouraged that prospective contractors enroll in SAM in parallel with responding to this RFQ: while not an evaluation criterion, delays in obtaining proof of an active SAM enrollment from the selected contractor may necessitate NPG having to adjust this RFQ and solicit new quotes.

NPG staff are not authorized to assist prospective contractors in completing SAM enrollment. Prospective contractors should seek the assistance of regional help bureaus at http://www.aptac-us.org/contracting-assistance/

 

VI. SUBMITTING YOUR QUOTE

Please submit your quote, via email, by 6:00 PM, EST, Monday June 11, 2021, or sooner to the attention of:

Travis Helms, Project Manager
Office of the Under Secretary for Museums and Culture
Email: [email protected]

Information to be Submitted with Quote

Quotes submitted must not exceed 5 pages and must include the following information to be deemed responsive to this Request for Quote and accepted by the Smithsonian Institution:

  1. Name, address, telephone number, email address and DUNS number
  2. Résumé
  3. Letter of interest/statement of purpose (which must include confirmation of the availability to perform the services as described)
  4. Description of prior relevant experience (Past Performance information should include the contract number, contact person with telephone number and other relevant information for at least 2 recent relevant contracts for the same or similar goods and/or services.)
  5. Qualifications/Technical Competence
  6. Pricing, i.e. the hourly rate Contractor charges. The quoted hourly rate should be fully burdened, i.e. after the award of the contract no direct expenses such as phone calls or messenger service, or any indirect or overhead expenses will be approved. And including pricing for requested options.
  7. Availability for proposed contract
  8. Cite the date through which pricing submitted is valid – i.e. June 30, 2021.


ATTACHMENT(S):

  • Statement of Work
  • Smithsonian Institution Purchase Order Terms and Conditions (December 2016 SI-147A)
  • Smithsonian Institution Privacy and Security Clauses (December 2016 SI-147B)
  • Smithsonian Rights-in-Data Clause
  • Smithsonian Confidentiality Clause
  • Smithsonian Institution Travel Reimbursement Clause
  • Background Investigations and Credentials for Contractors Personnel (OCON-520)