Inactive

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS EXPLORATORY RESEARCH FOR INTERNET FREEDOM TECHNIQUES, TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGIES USAGM-OIF-INTERNET-TOOLS-BAA-10-16-2020 GENERAL and BACKGROUND INFORMATION ... BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS EXPLORATORY RESEARCH FOR INTERNET FREEDOM TECHNIQUES, TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGIES USAGM-OIF-INTERNET-TOOLS-BAA-10-16-2020 GENERAL and BACKGROUND INFORMATION Introduction This is the solicitation for the United States Agency for Global Media’s (USAGM) - Office of Internet Freedom (OIF) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Exploratory Research for Internet Freedom Techniques, Technologies and tools. This notice was synopsized previously in Beta.SAM in accordance with FAR Part 5.201 to meet the mandatory requirement for pre-solicitation notification. All questions regarding this announcement should be directed to the assigned Contract Specialist, Ms. Natalie Ellis at nellis@usagm.gov. General information The USAGM conducts this Broad Agency Announcement solicitation in accordance with FAR Section 35.016 for proposals of scientific study, experimentation, techniques, tools and technologies directed toward advancing the state-of-the-art or increasing the Government’s knowledge and/or understanding in the area of internet censorship circumvention. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. No other request for proposals will be issued under this solicitation. Any responsible entity, including individuals and those already holding Basic Ordering Agreements (BOAs) with the USAGM may respond to this notice. The agency may award contracts, grants and/or cooperative agreements to responsible entities that respond to the BAA that are actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) and that are capable of providing the services described herein. However, neither the issuance nor the exact date for issuance of contracts, grants and/or cooperative agreements is guaranteed. Such issuance is subject to the government’s needs and the availability of funding; therefore, such issuance may occur at any time of the year or may not occur at all. Generally, the agency will follow FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures[1] when awarding contracts resulting from this BAA. The contract type for each contract will be negotiated at the time awards are made. Generally, contracts will be awarded on a firm fixed- price basis. When necessary and in the best interest of the agency, contracts may be awarded on a time-and-materials basis. All services provided under this announcement shall be performed from the entity’s facilities, unless a contract specifies otherwise. Objective of the Broad Agency Announcement The OIF, through this announcement, seeks to broaden its internet freedom efforts by learning about new internet freedom techniques, tools and technologies, including those that are unknown to the USAGM that can strengthen the USAGMS’s efforts in the field of internet freedom and can lead to transformational changes and truly revolutionary advances in this field of interest. The agency’s intent is to acquire services under this announcement that cannot be acquired under the agency’s current Basic Ordering Agreement, which is described in the Current Efforts section of this announcement. The agency may award contracts, grants and/or cooperative agreements to entities proposing new internet freedom techniques, tools or technologies of interest to the agency or may invite these entities to make oral presentations or participate in more detailed exploratory discussions[2] on the subject matter. Notice on Availability of Solicitation This Broad Agency Announcement will remain open through the initial submission due date, and will remain open indefinitely until it is closed by the agency. While the announcement remains open, the agency will continue to accept and consider new proposals that are submitted in accordance with the solicitation instructions provided herein. After the initial submission deadline, the agency intends to conduct a quarterly review and evaluation of new proposals received in response to this announcement until the agency closes it; however, the agency reserves its right to evaluate new proposals more or less frequently than on a quarterly basis and may award new contracts, grants and/or cooperative agreements at any time. Procurement Authority The agency will conduct all procurement actions related to this Broad Agency Announcement under the USAGM’s statutory authority to conduct procurements without regard to any other provision of law relating to such procurements [See 22 U.S.C. 6204(a)(10)]. Where Congress has authorized a government entity to acquire goods or services “notwithstanding any other provision of law related to the acquisition of such goods or services…”, those transactions, by their nature, are not subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), or to other procurement-related laws, such as the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) [See 10 U.S.C. 2304, “…except in the case of procurement procedures otherwise expressly authorized by statute…”]. Because competition requirements under CICA will not apply to the procurement, GAO will not have jurisdiction over protests related to BAA selection process or to any contract awarded under the BAA. All protests related to the procurements must be submitted directly to the contracting officer, whose final decisions are appealable to the agency’s Senior Procurement Executive. Background Information The United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is the independent federal agency that oversees U.S. Government-sponsored, public service media networks that provide unbiased news and information in countries where the press is restricted. Its mission is to inform, engage and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy. The Agency’s mission is reinforced by the missions of the individual entities that are overseen by USAGM. More specifically, the USAGM oversees the mission and operation of several civilian overseas broadcasting entities of the United States Government, including the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia (RFA), the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Marti - OCB), Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN). In support of its overarching mission, the USAGM, through the broadcasting entities that it oversees, transmits news and information in 61 languages to over 100 countries around the world, reaching a weekly audience of 350 million across radio, television and the internet. With more and more people around the world turning to the internet as their primary source of information, the USAGM’s target audiences are increasingly accessing and sharing information and news content on digital platforms and via social media. At the same time, many of them live under repressive regimes where freedom of the press and expression are curtailed or nonexistent. As a result, internet freedom technologies that provide access to blocked content, safe and secure methods to source and share it, and the means for journalists to operate in hostile markets have become critically important and fundamental to carrying out USAGM’s mission. In order to distribute USAGM networks’ reliable and unbiased news content to their intended audiences in targeted countries around the world and to help provide a forum for freedom of expression and free press in closed countries, the USAGM has been involved in activities to circumvent foreign governments’ aggressive censorship of the internet since 2002. The USAGM is determined to expand internet freedom and freedom of expression by continuing to explore, develop, and fund the most secure and effective internet freedom tools through its Office of Internet Freedom (OIF), which is responsible for the USAGM’s internet freedom program. About the Office of Internet Freedom The mission of the OIF is to support the testing, deployment, and management of technologies that circumvent internet blocking, filtering, and other censorship techniques principally used by repressive regimes by overseeing the USAGM’s internet freedom program. The internet freedom program furthers the mission of the USAGM by enabling the dissemination of USAGM content through unrestricted secure access online, and by providing tools and techniques to enable the secure participation in global online forums with freedom of expression from inside closed societies. The OIF accomplishes its mission by backing technologies that embolden journalists, activists, and other citizens fighting for liberty around the world by allowing them to evade censorship and surveillance. The OIF has generally focused on funding or sponsoring internet freedom tools that provide online access, where censorship exists, to a large number of audiences around the world using web proxies and client-based software tools. The OIF backs and funds these technologies by awarding and administering contracts and other agreements that provide the public with censorship circumvention technology. Current Efforts The USAGM has in the past awarded a variety of contracts and agreements for internet censorship circumvention tools. The current USAGM Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) for Internet Censorship Circumvention Tools is one such contractual agreement. The USAGM’s current BOA supports OIF’s internet freedom initiatives by providing critical services in the following six task areas: Task Area 1: Circumvention Client Software Provision of software to circumvent internet censorship imposed by foreign governments and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) using client software technology, which, at a minimum, transparently proxies Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) traffic, and may implement transparent proxy services for additional protocol traffic, up to and including full Virtual Private Network (VPN) service. Software works on operating systems, which may include various desktop and mobile computing devices. Software allows internet users in target countries to use the client software package to circumvent the censorship of the internet within their country. Accomplished by accessing a network of servers, which are distributed globally and use a diverse set of Dynamic Internet Protocol (IP) addresses that cannot easily be discovered, enumerated, and blocked. Task Area 2: Clientless Web Proxies Provision of a network of web proxies which may be accessed by any web browser which supports Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTPS) and which can be distributed by USAGM broadcasters. Allows internet users in target countries to circumvent the censorship of the internet within their country by accessing web proxies operated by the firm, which are distributed globally and use a diverse set of domain names and dynamic IP addresses which cannot easily be discovered, enumerated, and blocked. Proxy sites are changed regularly, based on the specifics of site blockages in the target countries. Task Area 3: Data privacy and security tools Provision of software that uses cryptography to protect user privacy for digital information stored on computers and/or mobile devices from discovery and access by parties not specifically authorized by the user. Software may provide various features including, but not limited to, secure on-device storage, anonymous access to the internet, and secure communication, but the overriding principles must be to allow for user privacy and security in countries where internet freedom is threatened. Task Area 4: Training Development and conduct/delivery of training courses in digital security and circumvention tools for journalists and stringers in various countries worldwide who produce news and other content for USAGM, as well as for trainers and other relevant personnel. Trainers may be required to conduct/deliver the training courses in several designated languages around the world. Training may require in-person, online and/or digital delivery. Task Area 5: Censorship Circumvention Technical Expertise and Support Provision of technical expertise in internet censorship circumvention to further the USAGM's other internet anticensorship initiatives. May consist of producing technical documentation and reports on the current state of internet censorship in target countries; providing computer programming and software engineering for USAGM's internal software products, open source software, or the firm’s other software; or setup, maintenance, and operation of computer systems and network devices. Task Area 6: Promotion of Internet Freedom Tools and Techniques Promotion and distribution of tools and techniques within USAGM, as well as its entities and in USAGM target regions, to provide information and awareness of the availability of such tools and techniques that allow for securely accessing and sharing USAGM broadcasting networks’ online news and other programming to counter foreign government-sponsored internet censorship controls. Notice to firms currently holding a BOA for OIF’s Internet Censorship Circumvention Tools: The preceding task area descriptions reflect scope revisions to Task Areas 3 and 4, and the inclusion of a new Task Area 6. The USAGM will modify the existing BOAs to reflect the new task area requirements during the forthcoming weeks. SOLICITATION INSTRUCTIONS Submission Requirements This solicitation sets forth submission requirements for proposals to provide the USAGM with proposals for scientific study, experimentation, techniques, tools and technologies directed toward advancing the state-of-the-art or increasing the Government’s knowledge and/or understanding in the area of internet censorship circumvention. The agency will evaluate all proposals it receives in response to this notice in accordance with the evaluation and award criteria set forth herein, provided that submitted proposals conform to the following solicitation requirements. Neither this solicitation nor any part of a submitted proposal will become part of the resulting contract, grant or cooperative agreement except to the extent expressly incorporated therein by the Contracting Officer. Interested entities shall submit a Proposal in accordance with the following requirements: Proposal Format – Any entity (Offeror) desiring to submit a proposal must submit its written proposal in either Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Adobe-compatible PDF formats. Font type and size of proposals shall be Arial or Times New Roman, no smaller than 12-point pitch, respectively. Smaller fonts are acceptable for graphics, figures, tables, footnotes, and legends. Proposals shall be presented on 8 ½ x 11-inch page size with 1-inch margins. Proposal documents may be submitted in PDF format if desired. Hard copies will not be accepted. Content of Proposals - Offerors may submit proposals for scientific study, experimentation, techniques, tools and technologies directed toward advancing the state-of-the-art or increasing the Government’s knowledge and/or understanding in the area of internet censorship circumvention. Proposals must include the name and address of the entity, the entity’s mailing address if it is different from its main address, and the entity’s DUNS Number. All proposals must provide a clear and comprehensive description of the scientific study, experimentation, technique, tool or technology it is proposing and an explanation of how these will advance the state-of-the-art, increase the Government’s knowledge and/or understanding in the area of internet censorship circumvention, and/or how the proposed scientific study, experimentation, technique, tool or technology will support, advance or improve the agency’s internet censorship circumvention efforts. Arrangement of Proposals - All submissions must address the following criteria in order to receive consideration for an award: Volume 1 - Capabilities and Qualifications - To be considered, Offerors are required to submit a description of their entity’s history and an informative capability statement that describes in detail the entity’s subject matter expertise, capabilities, credentials, general experience and other qualifications that enable it to successfully undertake and perform projects in the area of internet censorship circumvention. Volume 2 - Past Performance and Experience - In addition, each submission must include specific and relevant examples of the Offeror’s past performance and experience history conducting work or research in the area of internet censorship circumvention or related technological fields. Pricing Information - Pricing information or funding requirements are not required at this time, but may be provided. The agency will request pricing information and/or funding requirements after it identifies proposals it is considering for award. Submission Due Date – Entities submitting proposals for consideration (Offerors) must submit their proposals via e-mail to Natalie Ellis, Contract Specialist, at nellis@usagm.gov and to J.R Hill, Branch Chief, at chill@usagm.gov no later than 9:00 A.M Eastern Daylight Time on Monday November 2, 2020. The email subject line must read: Proposal - Internet Censorship Circumvention Broad Agency Announcement – [Name of Entity] QUESTIONS - Submit all questions via email to Natalie Ellis at nellis@usagm.gov by 12:00 P.M Eastern Daylight Time on Monday October 26, 2020. Please be advised that the Government reserves the right to transmit those questions and answers of a common interest to all prospective entities. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS The USAGM may evaluate proposals as they are received, including proposals received prior to the proposal due date. The Government will evaluate the following elements of each proposal submitted in response to this solicitation: Compliant Proposal – The agency will evaluate the Offeror’s submission to determine whether it complies with the solicitation’s format, content and submission instructions. The agency may reject non-compliant submissions or may, at its discretion, return a non-compliant submission for revision. Overall Technical Capability and Likelihood of Advancing USAGM’s Mission - The agency will evaluate proposals (1) to assess entities’ subject matter expertise, capabilities, credentials, experience and other qualifications as they relate to the area of internet censorship circumvention, (2) to assess the degree to which proposals are likely to support and advance the USAGM’s circumvention efforts, and (3) to determine the agency’s confidence in the entity’s probability of successfully undertaking and conducting work or research in the area of internet censorship circumvention or related technological fields. Past Performance and Experience History - The agency will evaluate the Offeror’s experience conducting research or providing tools, techniques, technology or other services of similar scope to those required by this announcement to determine the agency’s confidence in the entity’s probability of successfully conducting the necessary scientific study or experimentation, or of providing the techniques, tools and technologies necessary to advance the state-of-the-art or increase the Government’s knowledge and/or understanding in the area of internet censorship circumvention. The Offeror’s submission shall contain detailed and verifiable information about its past performance and relevant experience history conducting scientific study or experimentation, or of providing techniques, tools and technologies necessary to advance the state-of-the-art or increase knowledge and/or understanding in the area of internet censorship circumvention. The Offeror’s submission must include, where possible, a description of at least three prior projects, their associated deliverables, and client contact information for each experience reference. The point of contact must be someone who can verify the Offeror’s past performance experience. BASIS FOR AWARD The USAGM, at its sole discretion, may award contracts, grants and/or cooperative agreements to any responsible Offeror, whose proposal, in response to this announcement, conforms to the submission instructions of this solicitation and whose proposal the agency determines, through a comprehensive evaluation, demonstrates that the Offeror is highly qualified and capable of conducting the necessary scientific study or experimentation, or of providing the techniques, tools and technologies necessary to advance the state-of-the-art or increase the Government’s knowledge and/or understanding in the area of internet censorship circumvention. SOLICITATION PROVISIONS The following solicitation provisions and contract clauses are incorporated into this solicitation by reference and any resulting contract. Any grant or cooperative agreement that the agency awards will include similar provisions and clauses. The full text of all Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provisions are available electronically at http://www.acquisition.gov/far 52.212-1 Instruction to Offerors-Commercial Items 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items (Complying with this provision requires prospective Offerors to register in the System for Award Management (SAM) website at www.sam.gov (Offerors must be registered in SAM prior to submitting a proposal.)) 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items 52.204-24, Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment 52.204-26, Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services-Representation 52.227-14 Rights in Data-General 52.242-15 Stop-Work Order. [End of Solicitation] [1] See solicitation section on USAGM’s Procurement Authority. [2] The term “discussions” as used herein is not intended to have the same meaning as given in Part 15 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).