Description of Services Requested
The contractor will provide DC city tours for Meridian program participants. City tours will discuss significant historical points around DC, the United States government and federalism. City tours may be conducted virtually or in person. For in-person tours, Meridian will provide ground transportation for the group and guide. Tours may be catered to the group’s topic of interest or specialty.
Technical and/or Functional Requirements
The contractor must clearly present relevant information about DC and the landmark(s) visited throughout the tour. For in-person tours, the contractor must be able to guide the group to the point(s) of interest and remain engaged with the group throughout the tour, including answering questions from the group.
Deliverables and Timing
Meridian representatives will directly contact the contractor to schedule city tours as needed. The tours may last anywhere between 1 hour to 4 hours depending on the time allotted by the Meridian representative. Most International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) city tours will be conducted on Sundays, the day after the group’s arrival and before the start of the program on the following Monday; tours for other programs may fall on other days of the week. The contractor is strongly encouraged to allow time for participant questions during and after the city tour.
Fees and Expenses
On IVLP projects, the U.S. Department of State authorizes $250 per city tour. Additional Meridian programs’ cost structures may vary depending on the program. The contractor will be notified in advance of the cost structure offered for the tour. Please include in your response to this RFQ a) confirmation that you agree to the specified price for IVLP city tours and b) what your pricing structure will be for non-IVLP programs, if different.
Awarding the Quote
Quotes will be evaluated based on the contractor’s level of expertise, previous experience with the IVLP and similar groups, additional skills (including but not limited to languages spoken for the presentation), and availability for services during 2022, with two possible one-year extensions through 2023 and 2024, depending upon Meridian’s need and satisfaction with the contractor’s performance.
Questions regarding the services provided should be directed to Ellen Manwaring, Operations Manager at emanwaring@meridian.org no later than the question/inquiry submission deadline December 29, 2021.
Quotations for the above services will be accepted from December 20, 2021 – January 5, 2022. Quotations will be evaluated based on their ability to provide the services outlined above and their price competitiveness. Meridian may contract with multiple vendors on a non-exclusive basis, and vendors will be notified of their selection status on January 7, 2022. Services will go into effect on January 12, 2021.
General Terms
