Radio Program Development and Production Tender, Liberia - 25594259

Procurement Summary

Country : Liberia

Summary : Radio Program Development and Production

Deadline : 11 Aug 2018

Other Information

Notice Type : Tender

TOT Ref.No.: 25594259

Document Ref. No. :

Competition : ICB

Financier : United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Purchaser Ownership : -

Tender Value : Refer Document

Purchaser's Detail

Purchaser : UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Monrovia
Liberia
Email :jessica@another-option.com / anotheroptionnow@gmail.com

Tender Details

Request for proposals are invited for Radio Program Development and Production.

USAID Read Liberia Background

Early grade reading levels among students in Liberia is well-below the international standards.

The reasons range from social and cultural practices, to breakdown of systems stemming from the civil war to economic disparity. USAID/Liberia and the Government of Liberia have joined together to support the Liberia Early Grade Reading Strategy which is to improve the reading and comprehension capabilities of its students beginning in Kindergarten and Grades one through two.

To address the behavioral barriers the activity’s Social and Behavior Change (SBC) component is implementing an integrated strategic plan that will create awareness of the value of early grade reading and engage with parents and teachers to accept and apply early grade reading among their children and students. One of the strategies to do this is to develop a 15-minutes radio, weband mobile-based media program that airs several times a week and combines a segment of teaching tools and techniques targeted to teachers and principals, and a segment for parents and teacher to hear an assigned text read by a well-known Liberian to help practice reading.

Rationale for the Program Design

One of the behaviors to become a stronger reader is to read at least 10 minutes a day. Key messages which articulate positive behaviors focus on children reading out loud to their parents (or older brothers and sisters, and grandparents or caregivers) as well as reading quietly alone.

Research shows that there are high-levels of low or non-literacy among parents and they feel inadequate in helping their children to learn to read. The radio program will follow the reading curriculum of the early grades introducing new words and reading materials relevant to the child’s grade. By reading a story or book (chapter) aloud on the program will help parents be familiar with the reading content and words in the home assignment. Reading aloud will also assist the children in following along in their reading materials to formulate words and sentences.

Request for Proposal (RFP)

Another Option LLC is issuing a Request for Proposal for a Liberian communication agency or production company with the skills and experience to support Another Option in its mass media strategy under USAID Read Liberia. Specific technical support in the development and production of a 15-minute radio and web-based program that is comprised of two segments: teaching tips and guest readers. The radio program is to resonate with target audiences and be adaptable to county- and community-level radio stations.

The overall concept for the program must be approved by relevant actors, i.e., USAID/Liberia
and the Government of Liberia’s Ministry of Education. The selected contractor will not be
responsible for developing the overall creative concept but will provide the SBC team creative
counsel and development in the following areas:
? Ideas on localizing the national radio program to regional languages and that is culturally
sensitive to the different target populations and regions of Liberia which may include
translation or wordsmithing to be relevant to a community
? Planning (timeline, reporting) and account management services of the award
? Creative services such as contribute to script writing, talent identification, pre- and postproduction,
overall management of the mass media process
? Develop and produce six 12- to 15-minute radio programs comprised of two segments:
segment #1 teacher tips and segment #2 parent and student reading. Each segment will be
approximately six- to seven-minutes long and in Pidgin English or local dialects
? Create a program jingle or music to be used on the radio program, PSAs, and MP3
? Select traditional or popular music as segment transition
? Prepare the radio programs in appropriate format for easy access by radio stations and on
MP3 to be used by social mobilizers and in schools
? Weekly status reports via email
The organization will work closely with the Read Liberia SBC team and will follow the
communication strategy that has been approved by the government. The SBC team includes a
graphic designer and a senior SBC technical expert. The award will be from August through
December 2018 with the episodes spaced for the first to be ready for September 2018 launch in
at least one county. Pre-testing of the radio program will not be included in this Scope of Work
but will be conducted among target audiences and findings will be used to finalized segments.
SCOPE OF WORK
The agency will work closely with the SBC and Read Liberia’s Reading Technical Team for
content to assist in writing six segments for teachers and six segments for parents to form the 12-
to 15-minutes episode of the radio program.

? The radio program format will be mobile- and web-based to be accessible on mobile
phones and smart devices. Three broadcast quality copies in WAV and MP3 format; and
two CD/DVD copies for non-broadcast listening.
? The radio segments will be designed to be stand-alone segments that can air
independently, or the two segments combined to be a full 15-minute program.
? Products will be developed originally in English and Liberian English and adapted to
identified languages of the target audiences.
? The organization will work closely with the SBC team and the Ministry of Education in
the development and production of this assignment. Final approval of the materials is
required from USAID/Liberia and the Ministry.
? National is to be interpreted as two metro areas: Monrovia, and a second district to be
identified. It is not inclusive of the whole country.
? The programs must be able to be adapted to cultural and social norms and sensitivities of
the target populations across counties and districts and communities in a cost-efficient
and consistency with content and practices.
? All communication activities will follow the USAID branding and marking strategy.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
The organization will submit two applications: 1) technical application and 2) financial
application. In the email subject line include: Application for Radio Program Read Liberia. The
technical application must reflect the following:
1. Understanding of the Objective and Issues (not to exceed one page)
Agency should articulate their understanding of the objective and issues and how this
understanding frames the strategies and creative work that follows. 10 points
2. Experience and capabilities managing radio development and production (not to
exceed two pages) References Annex; Proof Liberian company
Agency is to provide brief examples of its experience in designing and producing radio and webbased
programming at the national-level and county-levels targeted to Read Liberia’s audiences.
Agency capabilities such as in-house production equipment and studio, human resources,
creative and producers. In an annex include three references (name, contact information such as
phone or email) of the agency’s clients with a similar Scope of Work. Assignment to have been
completed within the last three years. Experience working with USAID programs is not required
but beneficial; indicate work experience with donor organizations including USAID. 15 points

3. Program Development and Production (not to exceed three pages)
Agency is to outline its program development and production process. The agency is to show
how it will plan, manage, create, produce, and orchestrate its process to produce an episode. 20
points
4. Staffing and Management (not to exceed three pages) Annex: Management Plan
Agency is to propose all of the principal technical staff who will work on this project, the
percentage of their time assigned to this Scope of Work, their responsibilities, and a brief cameo
of their skills relevant to this Scope of Work. In addition, include a management plan and
structure, in sufficient detail to allow reviewers to know how the account will be managed, who
will be responsible for what, how the work will flow through the agency, and how the agency
will interact with Another Option as the client. Registration as a Liberian company or legal
entity. Take in to consideration time for approval by Read Liberia, USAID/Liberia, and the
Government of Liberia’s Ministry of Education. 20 points
5. Illustrative Timeline and Implementation Plan
Agency is to include a timeline and implementation plan of the development and production
process that are the responsibility of the agency or other actors. It should illustrate anticipated
lead times, timing and sequencing of creative development, pre-testing, pre- and post-production,
and approvals. 20 points
6. Cost Proposal
Agency is to submit a complete budget. Specifics to be included in the budget are in the Cost
Proposal Section (below). Take into consideration edits and recrafting materials. All prices to be
unloaded, without OH, benefits, or fees. 15 points
Do not submit any tapes, videos, or other examples of the agency’s work. If desired, Another
Option will request examples of an agency’s portfolio. Another Option holds the right to request
a presentation by the agency.

Documents

 Tender Notice