Broadcast Facilities, Operations and Maintenance for FM Broadcast Station in Nairobi, Kenya

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACTSolicitation Number: USAGM-APR-19-2019JG This notice is issued in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) section 5.201 to notify the public of a proposed contract action. INTRODUCTIONThe U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) intends to contract by means of other than full and open competition and enter into a sole source contract with Mast Rental Services Ltd., a private company with headquarters located in Nairobi, Kenya. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition that is applicable to this procurement is 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1), which is implemented at FAR 6.3021 as follows: "When the supplies or services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source, and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, full and open competition need not be provided for." The nature of the proposed sole source award requires that the unique services and supplies for

this procurement are to be provided by the current Contractor in order for the USAGM to continue its FM broadcasts in Nairobi, Kenya on a 24 hour, 7 days per week, uninterrupted basis. DESCRIPTION OF THE REQUIREMENT The United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) will be issuing a new firm fixed-price contract for facilities, operations and maintenance, including provision of commercial power and diesel fuel charges for the FM broadcast station located in Nairobi, Kenya. The contract period of performance for this contract is estimated as follows: Base Year: July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020Opt Year 1: July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021Opt Year 2: July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022Opt Year 3: July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023Opt Year 4: July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024 The Contractor shall provide the facilities, personnel, supplies, and equipment, including commercial power and diesel fuel necessary to perform the operations and maintenance services needed to provide a broadcasting presence on the FM band in Nairobi, Kenya on a twenty-four (24) hour, seven (7) days per week basis. Type of Contract1. This requirement is anticipated to be a firm fixed-price contract.2. All invoices to be submitted by Contractor shall be submitted in US Dollars. STATEMENT OF WORK1. Objectives a. Operate and maintain the US Government funded FM Broadcast equipment in Nairobi, Kenya for United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM). b. Perform routine preventive and emergency maintenance, as required to maintain a 24-hour daily broadcast at the rated/licensed power. c. Perform routine and emergency service, as required to restore broadcast system to rated/licensed power. d. Install replacement equipment from spare stock, as necessary to update and maintain system reliability and performance. e. Monitor the Kenya FM Network on a daily basis. 2. Scope a. The USAGM operates and maintains an FM network in the East African Region and as part of this network, the USAGM seeks to continue operations of a FM Station in Kenya on a contractual basis. b. The Mast Rental Services, Ltd., is the current Contractor providing the service and physical space to operate and maintain the FM Station. 3. Tasks Broadcast System and Program Feed Programa. The Contractor shall be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the FM broadcast transmission station located in Nairobi, Kenya, including all transmitting equipment and related satellite receiving facilities, each day of the contract term, at the designated frequency, unless stated otherwise b. In the event that any FM transmitter system or its individual components fail, the Contractor shall promptly begin trouble-shooting/repairs within three (3) hours of the failure to restore broadcast service to full power operation as soon as possible. 3.2 Definition of Operation and Maintenance TasksOperation and maintenance tasks at each FM broadcast station shall include but not be limited to:a. Providing personnel to perform preventive and corrective maintenance of the broadcast equipment, program feed equipment, air conditioning equipment, and power generating equipment.b. Payment of electricity and any other utility charges.c. Payment of facility leases, annual frequency and licensing fees.d. Security of the broadcast and program feed equipment.e. All other services and supplies required to maintain the broadcast and program feed equipment as fully operational. Major spare parts and assemblies for the broadcast equipment and program feed equipment has been provided by the USAGM as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE).  3.3 Program Monitoring - shall consist of the following basic minimum monitoring points: a. the satellite feed as received from the satellite;b. the feed to the transmitter input;c. the transmitter output, and off-air alarm and notification.  Program monitoring shall verify correct audio presence, quality and fidelity. The Contractor shall monitor each broadcast site at least once daily.3.4 Technical Monitoring - shall consist of the following transmitter technical and operational parameters. Minimum points shall include the following:a. Monitor satellite signal level;b. Any transmitter fault, fold-back or other indications of abnormal transmitter operation; c. Primary Mains Voltage, Critical Transmitter Voltage/Current Readings; d. Status of Ancillary/Support Equipment; e. Conduct periodic visual inspections of the broadcast system 3.5 FM Broadcast System and program Feed Corrective/Preventive a. The Contractor shall provide maintenance support for the USAGM FM transmission systems installed in Nairobi, Kenya. b. The Contractor's primary responsibility shall be to ensure that the broadcast signal is on the air with a minimum of downtime caused by failures or out-of-specification conditions. To accomplish this, the Contractor shall: 1. Monitor transmissions and equipment performance;2. Take corrective action to repair or replace equipment or parts upon failure and; 3. Perform periodic preventive maintenance. 4. Additional requirements will include keeping a monthly reporting log to document the operation status of each broadcast system and all corrective and preventive maintenance performed. The USAGM could not identify any additional potential sources beyond the current Contractor who can meet this requirement. It has been determined that the current Contractor is the only known Contractor that the USAGM is aware of who is capable of and authorized to continue the uninterrupted 24 hour, 7 days per week FM broadcasts requirement in Nairobi, Kenya (see attached agency justification for other than full and open competition - JOFOC). This notice of intent in not a request for competitive price proposals. Interested firms must submit a written response or capability statement that demonstrates their ability to provide the above requirements. Also, interested firms must state how they would fulfil the requirement above and include appropriate documentation describing the number of years they have been provide such services. Responses received shall provide sufficient detail to allow for an evaluation by the Government without the need for submission of additional information. Responses must be submitted to Jacqueline Gray, Contract Specialist via email at jgray@usagm.gov, not later than 4:30 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Tuesday, May 7, 2019. ALL ATTACHMENTS MUST BE SENT IN "PDF FORMAT" AND INCLUDE THE SOLICITATION NUMBER IN THE SUBJECT LINE. PLESE NOTE THAT THE TOTAL SIZE OF ALL ATTACHMENTS MUST NOT EXCEED 23MB. Telephone or faxed responses are not acceptable and will not be considered. Any questions regarding this Notice of Intent shall be in writing and submitted to Jacqueline Gray, Contract Specialist, via email at jgray@usagm.gov. Any determination to compete or not to compete this proposed contract is solely within the discretion of the Government. This Public Notice is not a RFP, IFP, or RFQ.