News Monitoring Services

Solicitation

This solicitation seeks proposals for "News Monitoring Services - AI-Enhanced Platform." The U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) Public Affairs requires a continuous and comprehensive media monitoring solution to assess news coverage, identify trends, and analyze message tone and context. The AI-enhanced platform aims to simplify complex analyses, provide actionable insights, and enhance situational awareness.

• A web-based platform aggregating news and social media content from global sources.

• AI-driven data analysis for sentiment, trend, and statistical analysis in near real-time.

• Elimination of manual search limitations through automated insights.

• 24/7 availability.

• Provision of at least twenty (20) personalized user logins.

• A robust statistical analytics suite.

• Instant translation for articles (English to Spanish and vice versa).

• Customizable dashboard reporting.

• A dedicated help desk with a 30-minute response time for technical issues and user requests.

• The platform must be accessible via a cloud-based web and synchronized mobile app interface.

• Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price.

• Period of Performance: One (1) Base Year of 12 months and four (4) 12-month option years.

• Evaluation Basis: Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable (LPTA).

• Technical Volume: Maximum of ten (10) pages, clearly articulating technical capabilities and approach.

• Hands-On Technical Evaluation Phase: Quoters will provide unfettered access to their proposed web-based site for a four (4) hour evaluation.

• Minimum Experience: 5 years in training and consulting media monitoring services.

• Past Performance: Submission of Government and/or commercial contracts from the past three (3) years.

• Quote Acceptance Period: 30 days.

• Submission Method: Email ONLY to dyan.e.jackson.civ@mail.mil and lian.pinzon.civ@mail.mil.

• Offer Due Date: 05 June 2026, 09:00 AM Local Time.

• This acquisition is unrestricted.

• The solicitation incorporates FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4, and 52.212-5 by reference.

• The Performance Work Statement (PWS) is detailed in Part 1 and Part 5 of the document.

• Attachment 1 provides the Performance Requirements Summary.

• Attachment 2 outlines the Deliverables Schedule.

• The document includes numerous FAR and DFARS clauses incorporated by reference.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment updates the solicitation to correct errors and provide clarifications to industry. Specifically, it modifies the Performance Work Statement (PWS) for "News Monitoring Services - Al-Enhanced Platform." Key changes include:

• PWS Updates: Miscellaneous text within the PWS has been modified.

• Attachment Addition: "Clarification Responses" (dated May 29, 2026) has been added as an attachment.

• Page Count Change: The "Clarification Responses" document now has 3 pages.

• Performance Work Statement (PWS)

• Attachments (Addition of Clarification Responses)

This amendment provides clarifications that may impact how offerors prepare their proposals. Offerors must acknowledge receipt of this amendment. The solicitation's original deadline for receipt of offers is extended by this amendment. Bidders must ensure their proposals reflect any changes or clarifications introduced by this amendment.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides clarification responses to vendor inquiries regarding the News Monitoring Services opportunity (W91QEX26QA011).

• User Accounts: The requirement is for twenty (20) personalized user login accounts.
• Software Licensing: Data rights in PWS Section 1.6.16 apply only to materials, configurations, deliverables, and code developed under this contract. For the underlying platform, offerors must submit their standard End User License Agreement (EULA) or Terms of Service (ToS) for Government review.
• AI Inference Costs: The Government will not provide access to DoD-negotiated AI or LLM infrastructure. Contractors are expected to independently secure, host, and fund all necessary AI infrastructure, models, and inference capabilities. All associated costs must be fully burdened within the Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) quote. No Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) clause will be included.
• Content Licensing: The Government will not provide any government-furnished content licenses, data feeds, or existing DoD-negotiated content agreements. The contractor is solely responsible for procuring, maintaining, and funding all necessary content licensing, API access, and data aggregation agreements.
• Technical Acceptability: In addition to submitted documentation, the Government will conduct a hands-on assessment of the offeror's web-based site, requiring unfettered access for evaluators.
• AI vs. Boolean Search: The platform must support both natural-language, prompt-based analysis and traditional Boolean search logic. AI is intended to augment, not replace, Boolean functionality.
• Third-Party Quotes: Quotes from authorized resellers/partners are acceptable if the proposal explicitly demonstrates the underlying service provider/OEM is fully committed and directly involved in service execution.
• Onsite Support: The contractor must assume a fully remote onboarding, implementation, and training approach. The Government will not provide physical access to facilities.

These clarifications address ambiguities in user accounts, software licensing, AI infrastructure costs, data sourcing, technical evaluation methods, and support models. Offerors must ensure their proposals fully account for these clarifications, particularly regarding cost burdens and the remote nature of support.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation seeks "News Monitoring Services - AI-Enhanced Platform" for USSOUTHCOM Public Affairs. The objective is to provide a comprehensive, integrated web-based platform that aggregates global news and social media content, enhances data analysis through AI for real-time sentiment and trend analysis, and eliminates manual search limitations. The platform must ensure 24/7 availability.

• Provide an AI-enhanced web-based interface for news monitoring.

• Offer at least fifteen (15) personalized user logins.

• Include a robust statistical analytics suite and instant translation capabilities (e.g., English to Spanish).

• Provide customizable dashboard reporting.

• Maintain a dedicated help desk with a response time of within thirty (30) minutes for technical issues and user requests.

• The platform must be available 24/7.

• Deliverables include Basic Services and User Instructions/Operational Documentation.

• The contract type is anticipated to be Firm Fixed Price.

• The period of performance includes one (1) Base Year of 12 months and four (4) 12-month option years.

• The delivery date for the first year is June 12, 2026.

• Offers are due by June 5, 2026, at 09:00 AM local time.

• The evaluation basis is Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA).

• Technical acceptability is defined as meeting all specifications in the solicitation.

• Quotes will be ranked by price, and the lowest priced technically acceptable quote will be evaluated first.

• Past performance and minimum experience (5 years) are also evaluation factors.

• The acquisition is currently unrestricted.

• NAICS code is 519290 with a size standard of 500 employees.

• The Performance Work Statement (PWS) is included and details specific tasks and requirements.

• Attachments include a Performance Requirements Summary and a Deliverables Schedule.

• Various FAR and DFARS clauses are incorporated by reference.