Production, Translation, and Broadcast Services for Weekly Radio Program - "Sous L'Arbre À Palabre"

1. STATEMENT OF WORK

(Incorporated in full from the Government-furnished SOW; reproduced here for completeness of the solicitation package.)

1. 1. Background

The U.S. Embassy in Guinea's radio program, "Sous L'Arbre à Palabre," is currently broadcast in six languages across Guinea. The radio show highlights U.S. embassy engagement in Guinea,

U.S. companies and other U.S. organizations operating in Guinea, U.S. government exchange alumni, and other Guineans that share U.S. values and priorities. The podcast-style program explores inspiring stories and transformative initiatives across various themes, including healthcare, security, education, business, and entrepreneurship. The target audience includes a wide range of listeners, especially those with limited internet access, literacy, or French language skills. By showcasing these stories, the Embassy aims to connect with all Guineans on issues of importance to the U.S. Embassy in Guinea.

1. 1. Objectives

The primary objective of this project is to produce, translate, and broadcast a 20-minute, weekly radio show, "Sous L'Arbre à Palabre," on behalf of the U.S. Embassy in Guinea. The program aims to:

1. 1. 1. Highlight U.S. Engagement in Guinea: Provide a platform for dialogue between the embassy, local partners, and the Guinean public to highlight key areas of U.S. engagement in Guinea, including but not limited to: U.S. businesses and commercial investment in Guinea, key health and security initiatives, and educational and exchange opportunities offered by the U.S. government.
      2. Promote U.S.-Guinea Shared Values: Through inspirational stories and interviews, encourage attitudes and behaviors that align with the values and goals of the U.S. embassy and its partners.
      3. Reach a National Audience: Engage with audiences across Guinea, particularly those with limited internet access, literacy, or French language skills.
         • Broadcast languages: French, Poular, Sousou, Malinké, Kissi, and Guerzé.
         • Broadcast in all four regions: Forest region: Kissidougou, N'Zérékore, Guéckédou; Upper Guinea: Kankan, Siguiri, Faranah; Middle Guinea: Labe, Mamou; and Coastal Guinea: Kindia, Boke

1. 1. Period of Performance

The period of performance for this project is October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027. During this period, the contractor will record new twenty-minute radio programs; translate newly recorded and previously recorded Embassy-provided programs, as specified in the Service Delivery and Pricing Schedule; and broadcast completed programs weekly across all regions in Guinea.

Key Milestones:

• Weekly Radio Shows:
  • First Show Broadcast: October 11, 2026
  • Subsequent Weekly Broadcasts: Every Sunday at 15:30, unless the parties mutually agree in writing to a different recurring broadcast day and/or time.
  • Final Show Broadcast: September 5, 2027
• Monthly Reports: First Monday of each month, beginning November 2, 2026.
• Final Evaluation Meeting: Week of September 27, 2027

Disclaimer: Dates are tentative and may be adjusted to reflect solicitation, evaluation, and award timelines, and in response to force majeure/acts of God.

1. 1. Prior-Contract Episode Inventory

The Embassy will provide the Contractor with:

• 13 French-language episodes produced under a prior contract requiring translation and broadcasting under this contract.
• 9 episodes produced and translated under a prior contract requiring broadcasting only under this contract.

At the beginning of the period of performance for the contract envisaged by the current solicitation , some of the these previous contract episodes may still be in production or translation and may therefore not be immediately available to the contractor.

The Service Delivery and Pricing Schedule at section IV above reflects only the services to be performed under this contract. Each service is considered a separate unit of performance, and an episode may require any of the following combinations of service elements:

1. Recording, translation, and broadcast;

1. Translation and broadcast only;
2. Broadcast only.

Accordingly, services completed under the prior contract are not included as service units under this contract; only the remaining translation and/or broadcasting services to be performed by the contractor are reflected in the applicable service quantities.

The U.S. Embassy is not required to identify or provide all prior-contract episodes at the beginning of the period of performance. The Embassy may select and provide these episodes to the contractor on a rolling basis during the period of performance and may determine or revise the sequencing of such episodes, provided that the applicable advance-notice requirements below are met.

For an episode requiring translation and broadcast under this contract, the Embassy will provide the completed French-language audio file to the contractor at least 14 calendar days prior to the scheduled broadcast date.

For an episode requiring broadcast only under this contract, the Embassy will provide the completed translated audio files to the contractor at least 7 calendar days prior to the scheduled broadcast date.

1. 1. Service Delivery and Pricing Schedule

Because the Embassy will provide previously produced episodes at different stages of completion, the total quantities for recording, translation, and broadcasting are not equal. The quantities below represent the total units of each service to be performed under this contract.

Total Services during service period (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027):

• Total Recordings: 26 (new podcast recordings in French)
• Total Translations: 195 (39 podcasts translated to five local languages)
• Total Broadcasts: 480 (48 podcasts, broadcast once per week in 10 locations)

Summary of Total Services by Week Weeks 1–13 Each week:

• Record 1 new podcast
• Translate 1 podcast into five languages (equaling 5 translation units of service)
• Broadcast 1 completed podcast in all 10 regions (equaling 10 broadcast units of service)

Weeks 14–26 Each week:

• Record 1 new podcast
• Translate 1 podcast into five languages
• Broadcast 1 completed podcast in all 10 regions

Weeks 27–39 Each week:

• Record 0 new podcasts
• Translate 1 podcast into five languages
• Broadcast 1 completed podcast in all 10 regions

Weeks 40–48 Each week:

• Record 0 new podcasts
• Translate 0 podcasts
• Broadcast 1 completed podcast in all 10 regions

Use the remaining time for quality control, promotional content, monitoring, and preparation for the next production cycle.

Production Totals

Activity

Weeks

Total

Recording

Weeks 1–26

26 podcasts

Translation

Weeks 1–39

39 podcasts (195 translation units)

Broadcasting

Weeks 1–48

48 weekly broadcasts

DISCLAIMER: Dates are tentative. Project launch date and project completion dates may be adjusted to reflect the amount of time taken to solicit, review offers and issue approved contract awards. Dates may be adjusted further in response to force majeure/ acts of God.

1. 1. Place of Performance

The primary place of performance for this project will be the media outlet's facilities located in Conakry, Guinea; however, recordings may be done at studios in other locations as appropriate. The radio show will be broadcasted across all four regions in Guinea including 10 cities to ensure nationwide coverage.

1. 1. Definition and Sequence of Service Requirements
2. Production
   • Schedule and record interviews in French with embassy-selected guests using embassy-provided questions.
   • Edit recordings as needed so that each recording is 20-minutes.
3. Translation
   • Translate French-language recordings, including previously recorded Embassy-provided episodes identified for translation under the Service Delivery and Pricing Schedule, to Malinke, Sousou, Poular, Guerze, and Kissi.
   • Upload all recordings to Airtable (online platform) to facilitate embassy review.
4. Broadcasting
   • Broadcast completed episodes, including both episodes produced under this contract and Embassy-provided episodes produced during a prior period of performance, in 10 cities to ensure comprehensive coverage across the country.
   • Broadcast weekly in French or most widely spoken local language.
5. Technical and Logistical Support
   • Provide all necessary technical and logistical support for the broadcasting of the radio shows.
   • Ensure high-quality audio production and reliable broadcast transmission.
6. Monitoring and Reporting
   • Monitor the impact of the broadcasts and gather feedback from the audience to evaluate the effectiveness of the communication strategy.
   • Provide monthly reports to the U.S. Embassy on the performance of the radio show, including listener feedback and any observed changes in behavior or attitudes.

1. 1. Travel

Broadcast activities will take place at the media outlet's facilities in Conakry or at radio stations outside Conakry. Any necessary travel within or outside Conakry will be coordinated by the media outlet vendor.

1. 1. Government-Provided Resources

The U.S. Embassy will provide the following resources to support the project:

• Guest list and their contact information.
• Review and approval of the content for each radio show.
• Embassy-owned audio files produced during a prior period of performance that require outstanding translation and/or broadcasting services under this contract.

1. 1. Ownership and Usage Rights

All audio files produced as part of this contract will become the property of the U.S. Embassy. The U.S. Embassy reserves the right to use these audio files in full or in derivative form for various purposes, including but not limited to:

• Broadcasting on other radio stations
• Posting on social media platforms
• Inclusion in other embassy communications and promotional materials

This clause ensures that the U.S. Embassy retains full control over the distribution and use of the produced content.

 

1. SCHEDULE OF DELIVERABLES

Deliverable

Due Date

Delivered To

Recorded interviews with Embassy guests

Within 30 calendar days of receiving guest contact information from the Embassy, with sufficient advance notice to complete translation before the planned broadcast date

U.S. Embassy Conakry, via Airtable

Translated interviews

One week in advance of the scheduled broadcast date

U.S. Embassy Conakry, via Airtable

Weekly radio show broadcast

Weekly, at the agreed day/time (default: Sundays at 15:30), October 1, 2026 – September 30,

2027

U.S. Embassy Conakry, via radio station broadcast

Monthly performance report

First Monday of each month, beginning November 2, 2026

U.S. Embassy Conakry (COR) — summary of recordings, translations, and broadcasts completed, plus listener feedback

Final evaluation meeting/report

Week of September 27, 2027

U.S. Embassy Conakry

Note: Recordings completed in a given week are not necessarily intended for broadcast that same week; the Embassy may sequence new and prior-contract episodes to maintain the weekly broadcast schedule.