RFP GMU Web Host Services for GoMason.com Questions and Answers

Transcription

1 Purchasing Department Mailing Address: 4400 University Drive, Mailstop 3C5 Street Address: 4441 George Mason Boulevard, 4 th Floor, Suite 4200 Fairfax, Va Voice: Fax: RFP GMU Web Host Services for GoMason.com Questions and Answers Q1. Are you open to separating the live and on-demand audio/video streaming portion of your RFP? A1. Yes Q2. Can companies outside of the USA apply for this? (e.g. India or Canada) A2. Yes Q3. Will we need to come over there for meetings? A3. Other than the oral presentations, probably not. Q4. Can we perform the tasks (related to RFP) outside USA? (e.g. India or Canada) A4. That is for you to determine. Q5. Can we submit the proposals via ? A5. No, please see RFP for instructions on submitting your proposal. Q6. Can you provide us with historic revenue numbers from the following revenue streams in order to assess financial model and offers? A6. GoMason.com Team Shop Total Receipts - GoMason Shop (2015) $5, (2014) $11, (2013) $9, (2012) $8, (2011) $17, FY15 Subscriptions Advertising FY14 Subscriptions 5, Advertising Photo Store Q7. What are the page views and unique visitors for the past 24 months? A7. Page views: 6,961,613 Users: 1,091,166 Q8. What percentage of that traffic was from desktop, tablet, and smartphone?

2 A8. Desktop 55%, Mobile 34%, Tablet- 9% Q9. Will George Mason want to operate a premium (paid) service for their live audio/video content? If so, what are the number of subscribers for the past 12 months, and what gross revenue was generated from these subscriptions? A9. Approximately $3200 for subscriptions in FY15 Q10. What is the Wi-Fi connectivity in the football, basketball, and baseball venues like? A10. Wi-Fi connectivity is decent at most of our competition venues with the exception of softball and baseball, although we prefer doing anything for our website through hard-wire Ethernet. Q11. Do all digital products need to launch on July 1st? Are there are websites involved? A11. The web site must launch by July 1, 2016 Q12. Does George Mason Athletics currently have an ios or Android app? If so, what are your current ios and Android mobile app downloads? A12. Yes Q13. Is George Mason willing to pay annual fees (provided the overall platform is generating revenue)? A13. Yes Q14. How many live events did you stream in the last year? A14. More than 100 Q15. Which sports are being streamed and do viewers need a paid subscription? A15. We stream all home men's and women's soccer, men's and women's volleyball, wrestling, men's and women's basketball, women's lacrosse and baseball games. All are under a subscription wall. Q16. Do you anticipate using a subscription-based model for live events in future years? A16. We evaluate that every year and currently staying with subscription model. Q17. Does George Mason conduct any auctions? If so, how many were conducted in the past 12 months? If no, would the University of Rhode Island being willing to conduct online auctions. A17. Yes, we conduct auctions Q18. Would the team store be included in RFP? A18. No Q19. Is there a current vendor providing these services? If so, can you please share the incumbent information? A19. Barnes and Noble

3 Q20. Is there an established budget? A20. No Q21. What is the anticipated value of this contract? A21. Financials were disclosed in A6 Q22. In the General Requirements it asks for the vendor to develop and manage the ICA website. It also asks for the development and delivery of content through the use of new media platforms. Can you please be more specific as to what George Mason intends to manage vs. the vendor? For example: Banner/Sponsor management o Design for the sponsor Content written and shared for each page Photos (will the chosen firm be responsible for taking these?) Events and schedules Bios for Players/Coaches Blog updates Social Updates Promotions A22. We manage all of the above through the CMS you provide. Q23. Is there a preferred/desired content management system/online media system George Mason wants to use? What is currently using to power the website, online media, live stats, message boards, etc.? Can you provide us with a list of any current software/3 rd party services being used on the site? A23. No preferred CMS. Q24. Will the new site still link out to in order to sell/fulfill George Mason products? A24. No, that is our current providers Q25. The RFP asks for us to provide a model for integration of content with ICA portal technologies. Can you please provide the names of these technologies and versions currently in use? Can you please list all current software that you will continue to use? A25. This is no longer a requirement of the RFP Q26. The RFP asks for integration with University back-end systems to support data exchange. Can you please provide the names and versions of these back-end systems? A26. Titan is the back-end system Q27. The RFP asks for the vendor to work closely with the Atlantic 10. Can you please elaborate on this request? Do you want us to use their existing tech already in place? Does A10 already use a sports feed for scores, stats, data, etc.? If so, what is it and do you want to use those services? For video or live stream, what tools are currently being used? Is this in tandem with the A10? A27. We stream A-10 sports directly to the A-10 Network, not GoMason.com (with the exception of wrestling and men's volleyball as they are not A-10 sponsored sports). We provide links for the other sports

4 streamed to the A-10 Network on GoMason.com, which sends them to the A-10's website. Q28. In section 2b it asks for virtual interactive publications. Can you please be more specific on the interactive portion of this request? Are you looking for a publication that allows for commenting, social sharing, hyperlinks for ads content, products, etc.? A28. In the past we have utilize a third party to add another dimension to our site. Q29. In relation to 2A/2B/2C/3A: Is vendor responsible for fully staffing and managing all positions for execution, or does George Mason have personnel in place to work in tandem with the sports agency? A29. Work in tandem Q30. Audio and Video assets provided by the selected vendor: Can you explain examples of the video and audio assets to which you are referring? A30. Streaming of events, videos, podcasts Q31. Will the University accept a USB Flash drive electronic copy of the response as a substitute for electronic CD copy? A31. Yes Q32. Development and management of the ICA website; Any specific mandated university platform or technology needed to integrate with University site(s)? A32. We don t currently integrate with University site. Q33. On-line promotion of the sports website. Will need more details, ie: Banner ad networks, Facebook marketing, Paid advertising, etc.? Is there set monthly online ad budget to dictate the opportunities? A33. Mason currently has a marketing agency Q34. Audio and video streaming on the web for all ICA events, press conferences, coaches shows, and other audio and video events ICA deems worthy to be on the website. All of these items should be able to be archived on the website. For live streaming video, a large amount of server bandwidth will be needed. Will the hardware/site be supported by University assets or will that be managed by the vendor? A34 Managed by the vendor. Q35. Serve as a medium to generate revenue for ICA through on-line merchandise, tickets and, with preferences given to contractors who can provide incremental revenue streams in advertising sales, e-commerce and business development and newsletters data base. Please clarify. Is the vendor to build an internal banner-ad system for third parties to advertise on the ICA website? Should these ads print on e-tickets as done on TicketMaster? What is the e-ticketing system? Will we need to integrate with other ticket sales companies so that ticket inventory is always updated? Will vendor need to build seating and mapping tool for events and seat previews?

5 A35. Yes, vendor needs to build internal banner-ad system. We currently work with Archtics & Ticketmaster for our ticketing needs and it is not connected to our current web provider. Q36. Provide a model for integration of content with ICA portal technologies. Please provide examples of such. A36. This is no longer a requirement of the RFP Q37. Provide integration with University back-end systems to support data exchange. Please provide details on the University platforms and examples. A37. This is no longer a requirement of the RFP Q38. Develop and implement marketing campaigns that include the use of , social media and other advancing technologies. Please provide social media channels to see current activity and we can provide a quote for management. How many posts anticipated per month for each channel? A38. Facebook up to 50 posts per month 100+ posts per month Instagram posts per month Q39. Work closely with Atlantic 10 website. Is this a data share via API or simply work with the Atlantic 10 team? A39. New Media Platforms: ICA seeks a strategic partnership with a firm that will provide for the integration of new media platforms and technologies to allow for the seamless and efficient delivery of compelling sports content to a variety of constituents. Such platforms and technologies include, but are not limited to, mobile applications, social networking, viral marketing, and and web applications. Is this open-ended recommendation or will there be specific channels to quote? Q40. Provide audio, video and other marketing and communications messages in real time to mobile devices (e.g., live content, interactive fan activities, e-commerce, branding, and imaging). Is the vendor creating the media to share, or just provided the vehicle to share them? A40. Providing vehicle to share. Q41. Trade or bonus media purchases, with a proven track record of increasing ticket sales of at least 15% at other Division I collegiate athletic programs in a variety of markets and experience in the area of creative sports marketing. Is the chosen website vendor permitted to subcontract Items 3, 3a, 3b to a sports advertising agency for an agreed upon management fee? A41. This is no longer a requirement of the RFP