Video On Demand

This is combined synopsis/solicitation with a notice of intent to issue a Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) contract to TVN Entertainment, Inc, 4111 W Alameda Ave, Ste 401, Burbank, CA 91505, on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements, 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1). The proposed procurement is to provide Video-On-Demand (VOD) services to cable and satellite companies across the United States in support of The Pentagon Channel’s business and operational objectives located at Alexandria, VA. The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs (OASD(PA)) is responsible for delivering timely Department of Defense (DoD) news and information to DoD activities and military members in the United States and around the world. The Pentagon Channel’s mission is to disseminate DoD news and information programming to the DoD community to include active duty, reserve, National Guard, retired, civilian employees and family members located in the U.S. and around the world via satellite, cable television and the Internet. In support of this mission, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Internal Communications (DASD(IC)) seeks video-on-demand support from an experienced service provider for a complete video-on-demand (VOD) distribution system solution with a network based platform for content management, delivery and distribution of content originating from the Pentagon Channel. This system must include the hardware, software, network integration, and human effort and skills required for the design, development, procurement, installation/configuration/testing, operation, management, maintenance and future upgrades to ensure VOD requirements will be met. The service provider must be able to provide VOD customized solutions from small to large market cable companies, Multiple System Operator (MSO) and telecommunication companies to ensure distribution of Pentagon Channel VOD content is widely disseminated to its military members across the country and around the world. The service provider must have sufficient network capabilities and service that would not be compromised during peak demand periods, not be vulnerable to any malicious attacks, nor be compromised by single points of failure in its delivery service and meet broadcast industry-standard protocols. The service provider must be capable of delivering a single source distribution solution to include content packaging, encoding, asset management, metadata, distribution transport via satellite or fiber and 24-hour technical support. All material and workmanship performed on this contract shall conform to best commercial broadcast practices. The Contractor shall provide and support a single source management and distribution solution for VOD originating from the Pentagon Channel located at 601 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia to small and major cable and telecommunication companies.The Contractor will maintain and provide all equipment necessary to MSO’s, small and major cable, telecommunication and satellite distribution companies to integrate with the variety of VOD server system architecture and application requirements. The Contractor will need to meet the operational space requirements and complexity of these MSO’s, small and major cable, telecommunication and satellite distribution companies to deliver Pentagon Channel VOD content with the highest encoding bit-rate consistent with quality and available storage. The Contractor will ensure that metadata is CableLabs (www.cablelabs.com) compliant and compatible with every deployed combination of server, middleware, IPG, and set-top box. The Contractor will provide a comprehensive VOD service to include encoding, quality control and assurance, transmission and receipt, forward error-correction, asset management and distribution, remote storage, network management and operations and receipt verification of content. The Contractor will be responsible for encoding all Pentagon Channel VOD Products. The Contractor will verify release, deactivate and delete dates of content after notification from Pentagon Channel management. The Contractor will provide monthly transport costs for each VOD product provided by the Pentagon Channel along with an asset management fee. The Contractor will have the capability to monitor VOD systems and asset information and make necessary corrections to ensure delivery of VOD content is provided to MSO’s, small and major cable, telecommunication and satellite distribution companies. The Contractor will provide Pentagon Channel management with programming objectives and demand goals to meet a cost effective VOD solution. The Contractor will provide transport rates to include the various turnaround rates to meet the needs of Pentagon Channel VOD content. The Contractor must be a well established provider of VOD who currently has a proven track record of industry expertise with the majority of MSO’s, small and major cable, telecommunication and satellite distribution companies in providing a turnkey solution. They will also have the capability to provide all hardware and software to MSO’s, small and major cable, telecommunication and satellite distribution companies in an all inclusive VOD system. The Contractor will have the capability to encode in a variety of codecs and an industry-wide content delivery in both standard and high definition. The Conctractor will have the capability to consult the Pentagon Channel regarding VOD menu structure and setup. The Contractor will have the ability to pull and push product through Pentagon Channel FTP services. The Contractor must also have the capability to pull off-air via satellite or fiber to convert on-air content to MPEG-2/MPEG-4 for VOD distribution. The Contractor shall maintain, manage, and update Meta data for archive provided by the Pentagon Channel. The Contractor shall provide a global, distributed network. The contractor shall: Provide VOD content to Telco, Satellite, & Cable television interfaces. Guarantee 99 percent availability of delivery to any client with a functional connection to the Internet. Provide a scaleable network capable of handling anticipated long-term growth in content demand. The Contractor must be able to assess changing requirements to meet new VOD content and analyze network configuration and response times to determine the most efficient means of meeting a user’s content request. The Pentagon Channel management must have complete control over its content on the contractor’s hosted website and distributed network. The contractor shall ensure that: The Contractor will provide the Pentagon Channel the ability to insert, control and maintain all spot inserts in all VOD content. The Pentagon Channel management has the ability to immediately update or purge information from the distribution network through the contractor. The Pentagon Channel management through the contractor has the ability to “push” critical information out across the contractor’s network during periods where immediate availability of new content is critical. The Pentagon Channel management through the contractor is able to customize refresh rates for individual pages and/or product based on Pentagon Channel management determined assumptions on the “shelf-life” of the content presented. The Contractor shall support the evolution of the Pentagon Channel and web portal. The Contractor shall: Review current system designs, audience feedback reports, failure analysis data and life cycle costs to establish areas of required upgrades. Investigate technology for furthering system integration and effectiveness. Research open systems architectures, ATM, and SONET technologies for application to advance video switching and integration. Develop plans for phased upgrade implementation based on technology availability, prototype demonstrations, manufacturer lead-time, and scheduling requirements. The Contractor shall produce technical products documenting the results of the Contractor’s technical efforts (such as reports or reviews, technical assessments, programming documentation, charts, manuals, matrices, sketches, and schedules) in formats, numbers of copies and times specified in individual task orders. As appropriate, flow charts, networks, work breakdown structures and other planning, scheduling, review/control methods, inspection and certification type documentation related to the subject area shall be included. The above listed guidance may be updated or superceded from time to time. The updates and/or superceding issuances, directives and/or instructions shall be considered as part of this SOW. The contractor will provide a 24-hour customer technical support and will monitor the VOD system and asset information providing a single-source support solution. The contract provider may be required to work with (or subcontract to) other VOD providers to enhance the overall mission requirements of the Pentagon Channel. The contractor will provide a monthly asset management breakdown. This report will track where, when, and the amount of VOD content being distributed. Rationale for sole source: Research has shown that there are many companies that provide video-on-demand (VOD) services but many of these companies do not provide a true broadcast quality VOD or only provide the software or partial service for distribution of VOD. A large portion of VOD providers push Near VOD, a pay-per-view or a Push VOD technique that lacks the interactivity to provide true VOD. What has become common is that many VOD providers do not provide an all inclusive service and have not networked themselves into the market across the country but only in limited marker areas. Our research included a web based search of VOD providers who provided services to cable companies that utilize or would like to utilize Pentagon Channel programming but lack the channel space until full digital conversion. Broadcast VOD can not be confused with web VOD. However, efforts to ensure that offers are solicited from many sources is not possible based upon the following set of facts: a. Reach – TVN currently packages, distributes and manages more than 3000 hours of VOD programming every month from more than 150 content providers. This includes most of the major network and cable providers around the world. b. Deployment - TVN holds over 90% of the video on demand market, making them the largest VOD provider in the US. TVN is deployed to over 300 cable head ends and is integrated with every combination of VOD server, middleware, IPG and set-top box. TVN is the only single source solution for On Demand programming. TVN offers content services including aggregation, metadata creation, encoding, distribution, asset management and 24- hour customer technical support. c. Experience - Their diversity of content and special marketing needs is proven with their current cliental of over 80 small and medium sized markets. Optimizing the content mix, providing turn-key programs and supplying intuitive management tools that are critical to launching and managing a cost-effective VOD solution. TVN is the only company that all MSO’s accept VODs from. TVN is also the only VOD aggregate that can provide content to not only Cable but Satellite and Telco systems as well. TVN also has the capability to monitor VOD systems ad asset information to not only make necessary corrections if needed but also report statistical download data. This announcement constitutes the only notice, a written solicitation will not be issued. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, the Government will consider all proposals received by the closing date specified in the Request for Quote (RFQ). A determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. This order will include the following referenced clauses which may be accessed electronically at www.arnet.gov: Provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-23 effective 26 Dec 2007 and DFARS Change Notice 20071207. (1) FAR 52.212-1 (Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items) (NOV 2007): (a) Re para (a): NAICS 334112; small business size standard is $13M. (b) Note that para (k) requires quoter to be registered with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database at time order is issued and throughout performance. (2) FAR 52.212-2 (Evaluation – Commercial Items) (JAN 1999) with the following insertion in para (a) “lowest priced technically acceptable quote with acceptable past performance.” Proposals must include completed copy of provision at FAR 52.212-3 (Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items) (MAR 2005) with Alt 1 (APR 2002) or indication that reps and certs are in ORCA. FAR 52.204-9 (Personal Identity Verification of Contractor Personnel (SEP 2007); FAR 52.212-4 (Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items) (FEB 2007); FAR 52.212-5 (Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statues or Executive Orders-Commercial Items) (DEC 2007); FAR 52.219-8 (Utilization of Small Business Concerns and Small Disadvantage Business Concerns) (MAY 2004); FAR 52.232-33 (Payment by Electronic Funds-Central Contractor Registration) (OCT 2003); DFARS 252.204-7004, Alt A (Required Central Contractor Registration (CCR) (SEP 2007); DFARS 252.232-7003 (Electronic Submission of Payment Request) (MAR 2007); DFARS 252.246-7000 (Material Inspection and Receiving Report) (JAN 2008). Additional FAR and DFARS clauses required by the regulations may be included. Local DMC clauses, 52.0100-4028 (Contract Contact Information)(DMC) (JUN 2005) and 52.0100-4094 (Marking Instructions for All Items to Include Drop Ship and Direct Shipment) (JUN 2006), will be included.