Telecommunications News Subscription Services

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This Request for Quote (RFQ) aims to award one (1) firm-fixed-price contract for Telecommunications News Subscription Services. The acquisition will be conducted in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services. The requirement is an open market RFQ, welcoming participation from all firms, including small and other-than-small businesses. Services are anticipated to begin as soon as possible following award.

• The contractor must provide a solution that includes:

  • Access to a news service covering telecommunication issues, with a website offering daily news and analysis, archives, and customizable daily e-mail newsletters.
  • E-mail delivery of daily news alerts and digests.
  • Technical support, including customization assistance.
  • Real-time notifications with operable links for in-person and virtual events.

• Deliverables include:

  • Access to Subscription Service (Website, links, emails) at award.

• The contractor must provide all personnel, equipment, and resources to achieve the objectives detailed in the attached Statement of Work (SOW).

• All Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) deliverables must comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

• Contract Type: Firm-fixed-price.

• Period of Performance:

  • Base: 4/1/2026 - 3/31/2027
  • Option 1: 4/1/2026 - 3/32/2028
  • Option 2: 4/1/2027 - 3/31/2029
  • Option 3: 4/1/2028 - 3/31/2030
  • Option 4: 4/1/2029 - 3/31/2031
  • Option to Extend Services: 4/1/2030 - 9/31/2031

• NAICS Code: 519290 Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services.

• Quotations must be submitted via email to Gregory Karpovics at gregory.karpovics@gsa.gov.

• Quotation Due Date: March 30, 2026, 10:00 AM Eastern Time.

• Submission Package: Consists of two volumes: Volume 1 - Technical Quote and Volume 2 - Price Quote.

• Evaluation Factors: Total Evaluated Price, Past Performance, and Technical Capability. Technical Capability and Past Performance are significantly more important than price. A passing score on the Technical Questionnaire is required for award.

• Quotes must be valid for 90 calendar days.

• Open market RFQ; all firms are welcome to participate.

• The following documents are incorporated by reference: Attachment 1: Scope of Work (SOW), Attachment 2: Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP), Attachment 3: Contractor's Technical Proposal.

• A SF 1449 will be issued at award.

• Offerors must register in GSA ASSIST.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, Attachment 3: Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP), outlines the Government's systematic method for evaluating contractor performance. It ensures that the contractor meets the Acceptable Quality Levels (AQLs) defined in the Statement of Work (SOW) and fulfills the requirements of the Service Order.

• Roles and Responsibilities: Defines the Contracting Officer (CO) and Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) roles in contract management and performance monitoring.
• Surveillance Methods: Details the methods the COR will use, including 100% Inspection, Periodic Sampling, Direct Observation, and Validated User Feedback.
• Surveillance Matrix: Provides a table linking SOW tasks/requirements to performance standards/AQLs, surveillance methods, and frequency. Key requirements include "100% Accuracy; Zero Critical Defects" for Technical Deliverables and "Feedback addressed within [1] Business Day" for Responsiveness.
• Documentation and Reporting: Specifies the maintenance of a Surveillance Folder by the COR and the process for issuing a Contract Discrepancy Report (CDR) if AQLs are not met.
• Acceptance and Invoicing: States that the COR will not sign off on an invoice if uncorrected deficiencies or missed deliverables are identified during surveillance.

This QASP is crucial for bidders as it defines the performance standards and quality expectations that will be used to evaluate their work. Understanding these requirements, surveillance methods, and reporting procedures is essential for developing a compliant proposal and ensuring successful contract performance. Bidders should pay close attention to the AQLs and the COR's surveillance activities to ensure they can meet or exceed the government's quality expectations.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Excel spreadsheet titled "Attachment 2 Offer for Standard Services.xlsx" and serves as a pricing sheet for potential bidders. It provides a template for submitting pricing for "One Year Subscription Access for end user" under Product Service Code R499.

• Instructions: Bidders are instructed to fill out only the highlighted boxes and must not alter quantities in Column D or O, or any existing formulas.
• Format: Submissions must be in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets format with digitally entered numbers; scanned or hand-written submissions will not be accepted.
• Pricing Structure: The sheet includes columns for Base Year Unit Price, Option Year 1-4 Unit Price, and a 6-Month Extension Unit Price. It also includes columns for calculating Base Year Total, Option Year Totals, and a 6-Month Extension Total.
• Item: The primary item listed is "One Year Subscription Access for end user" with a Unit of "User" and a Quantity of 1.0.
• Totals: The sheet includes fields for calculating various totals and a "Total Evaluated Price."

This pricing sheet is critical for bidders to understand the required format for submitting their financial offer. Bidders must accurately complete the highlighted fields according to the provided instructions and adhere to the specified submission format (Excel or Google Sheets) to ensure their offer is considered. The structure of the sheet indicates the expected pricing breakdown over the base year, option years, and a potential extension period.

Statement of Work (SOW)

To obtain access to a telecommunications news source provider to manage and stay updated on regulatory work performed on behalf of small businesses.

Subscription to telecommunication news services, including complete published articles and industry-relevant event calendars with active registration links, delivered electronically.

• Provide comprehensive coverage of 'telecom' congressional hearings, court proceedings, and industry events (e.g., FCC, NTIA meetings).

• Deliver news articles with hyperlinks to original sources and a searchable archive.

• Provide links to relevant articles and an events calendar for registration.

• Include a daily personnel column with industry 'comings and goings'.

• Provide detailed instructions and a reliable contact person.

• Access to a news service website with daily news, analysis, archives, and customizable daily e-mail newsletters.

• Daily e-mail delivery of news alerts and digests.

• Technical support, including customization assistance.

• Usernames and passwords for up to three Office of Advocacy employees.

• Period of Performance: Base period (4/1/2026 - 3/31/2027) with four option periods and a six-month option to extend.

• Place of Performance: No physical delivery location; services provided via electronic means. Contractor facility or approved alternate work site.

• Security: Contractor must implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards for government data. Data obtained or produced is government property. Strict controls on data access, disclosure, and removal are required. Employees must comply with facility access and security procedures.

• Personnel: Contractor employees must be qualified, responsible, ethical, and capable. Unprofessional conduct is not tolerated. Employees must identify themselves as contractors and ensure contractor participation is disclosed.

• Hours of Operation: Support required Monday-Friday, 0730-1800 EST, excluding Federal holidays or government-directed closings.

• Type of Contract: Firm-fixed-price.

• Conflicts of Interest: No potential conflicts identified, but contractor must disclose any potential or actual conflicts.

• Travel: Not required.