Commissioning Brief

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RADIO COMMISSIONING

Commissioning Brief

Commissioning Brief No.: 50032 2021 Ad Hoc commissioning round for 5 Live

Version 1.0 07.01.21 BBC Radio Commissioning Brief

CONTENTS

SECTION A: EDITORIAL OPPORTUNITY ...... 3

Important Points to Note: ...... 4 1. The Opportunity ...... 5

2. Editorial Strategy ...... 6 3. Editorial Objectives ...... 6

4. Key Deliverables ...... 6 5. Success Measures ...... 7

6. Social Media / Marketing ...... 7 7. Risk Management ...... 7

8. Production Eligibility Questionnaire ...... 7 SECTION B: PROCESS, EVALUATION & ASSESSMENT ...... 8

1. Evaluation Panel ...... 10 2. Assessment Criteria...... 11 SECTION C: THE COMMISSIONING TIMETABLE ...... 13

SECTION D: REFERENCE INFORMATION ...... 15

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SECTION A: EDITORIAL OPPORTUNITY

Commissioning Brief ID / Title: 2021 Ad Hoc Round

Commissioning Owner Richard Maddock – Commissioning Editor

Commissioning Contact Richard.maddock@bbc.co.uk

Commissioning Brief Title 2021 Ad Hoc Round

Network BBC Radio 5 Live

Guide Price Price to be agreed based on proposal depending on ambition, not exceeding £50,000. Proposed budget must include delivery of all radio and digital assets. All fees including travel, accommodation, presenters and pundits to be covered by the producer.

Genre Speech

Duration To be agreed based on proposal

No. of Episodes To be agreed based on proposal

Transmission Period 2021

Slot Day To be agreed based on proposal

Slot Time To be agreed based on proposal

Production Location To be agreed based on proposal

All proposals must be submitted via Proteus and go through Production eligibility checks first. Please make your short proposal using no more than 250 words.

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Important Points to Note:

The guide price gives an indication of the budget we have to spend in this round. The budget might be divided between a number of projects or used to fund one big idea. How the budget is spent will be based on the results of the round. A maximum of 2 ideas will be accepted per company.

About 5 Live

5 Live is the voice of the UK, bringing the most entertaining conversation, gripping sporting events, compelling news stories and diverse opinions to over 5 million people every week.

The station aims to set the national agenda on big news and sport stories through the ownership of key issues and we put the audience at the heart of everything we do. Broadcasting from our base in Salford, we take our commitment to reflect how the whole of the UK really thinks and feels very seriously. We tell more stories from more places than any other broadcaster, capturing the widest range of voices and views. We also travel the world to give our listeners insight into life beyond our borders.

5 Live’s world-class sports coverage and commentary brings nation-uniting moments to life across many different sports. We cover a minimum of 20 different sports a year, from broadcasting over 100 commentaries from the Premier League each season, to the Olympics, Wimbledon, 6 Nations and Test Match Special.

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1. The Opportunity

We are looking for ad hoc ideas that will bring new under-represented audiences to 5 Live.

Your idea may take the form of a number of features or specials that live within an existing show on the network. For example, a themed season that has a daily or weekly slot in a specific daytime news programme or a series of broadcasts from particular locations that provide a creative and unique week or month of broadcasting across the whole network.

You may want to propose a run of stand-alone programmes with a new presenter that will have its own space within the schedule or a big one-off project that will create huge impact across the radio station and the wider BBC.

We are particularly interested in reading proposals that help drive target audiences to key dayparts, including Breakfast and early evening and we want you to be ambitious. We want ideas that will really stand out and make a real difference to our audience.

We are looking to create high impact content moments separate from the big news and sports events in the 2021 diary. We would want to broadcast a new commission away from the big sports events in 2021, such as the Euros and Olympics. We are not looking for ideas tied to events such as these as our programming is already extensive at these times. As such, your idea would probably need to run before June 2021 or after September 2021.

We are looking for creative proposals that have the tone and character of the network, but will bring new under-served listeners to the radio station. This is not about super-serving our current audiences, but delivering something different and exciting that 5 Live hasn’t done before.

Your idea should be ‘linear-first’ but you should also detail how your proposal works digitally and how it helps grow BBC Sounds, either through listening live to the network through the app, or how your project can attract on-demand listening. We also want your idea to also reflect the diversity of the whole UK, either through the output or production.

We have set a budget of £50,000. This might be split between several projects or used to deliver one big idea. Agreement on the level of investment will be done on a case-by-case basis so please provide detail of your proposed costs. We may go above the guide price for the right idea.

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2. Editorial Strategy

5 Live’s aim is to grow its distinctiveness and purpose as a channel that reflects the whole of the UK, particularly hard to reach audiences outside London. The station has broad appeal with a strategy to inform and entertain our target 25 to 44 year olds on air and under 35 year olds digitally. We want to be relatable to all socio-demographic groups but with a clear focus on real people from everyday households.

5 Live is evolving to address the ever changing needs of our target audience. The station balances authority and expertise with warmth and a lightness of touch. As well as being informed, our audiences want to be entertained and to hear their views represented. Similarly, our sport output balances depth and knowledge with humour and content that helps to unwind.

We encourage partners to support the BBC’s ambitions to lead more sustainable lifestyles and not promote carbon-intensive or unsustainable behaviours. For example, we encourage production techniques that avoid creating environmental harm.

3. Editorial Objectives

Our editorial objectives to resonate with under-represented audiences have five key elements:

1. Relatable presenters with warmth, character, humour and expertise. 2. Contemporary speech that is relevant, inclusive and entertaining. 3. Honest debate and strongly held opinion. 4. Distinctive and diverse sports coverage 5. Journalistic integrity that makes a difference to our audience.

Through our distinctive agenda, we aim to be a place where people across the UK come to talk about issues that affect them with more diverse voices on air than any other network.

4. Key Deliverables

The key deliverables will be determined by your individual idea, but will be linear- first, with an accompanying digital presence.

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5. Success Measures Success will be measured by growth in linear listening to 5 Live (via Compass or Rajar data) and increased activations or engagement in BBC Sounds.

Individual success measures will be discussed with the winning applicants based on their proposal.

6. Social Media / Marketing The social media deliverables will be determined by your individual idea and will be discussed with the winning applicant.

7. Risk Management You should identify any specific risks e.g. production risk, business continuity etc.; and the processes or systems that will be put in place to manage these.whose

8. Production Eligibility Questionnaire (Appendix 1) The Production Eligibility Questionnaire is the first part of your submission that the BBC will consider as part of the process. Please complete this in no more than 150 words. Once completed, please copy and paste your responses into the Add/Edit Notes Here section of the Create Proposal page in Proteus – as per the screen grab below.

Please note: the answers given in response to the above questions will only be considered during Stage 1 of the commissioning process. If you are shortlisted and invited to submit a Full Proposal, you may wish to consider repeating some, or all of the information given, in your Full Proposal

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SECTION B: PROCESS, EVALUATION & ASSESSMENT

The Five Stages

STAGE 1: ELIGIBLITY, SHORT PROPOSAL AND INITIAL SHORTLISTING

Step 1: ELIGIBLITY • Via Proteus, submit your responses to the Eligibility Questionnaire set out in Appendix 1. • The Production Eligibility question may differ from those used in other 5 live briefs. • All answers to the Eligibility Questionnaire should be entered into the ‘Add/Edit Notes Here’ section in Proteus.

The Eligibility Questionnaire is designed to allow the BBC to understand more about your company and your experience in producing live programmes and podcasts. The BBC Commissioning Editor Richard Maddock and Controller Heidi Dawson will evaluate all eligibility questionnaires against the editorial brief set out in Section A before evaluating the Short Proposal (i.e. your short proposal may be declined at this stage if the information you provide indicates you do not meet the criteria), so please answer these questions carefully

Step 2 SHORT PROPOSAL Suppliers who performed best on their eligibility stage (by best demonstrating their experience and capability in producing programmes and or podcasts as required) will then have their Short Proposal assessed and a shortlist will be compiled. Your Short Proposal should be no more than 250 words1 and summarise your specific ideas for this programme according to the topics on page 5. It should demonstrate your ability to produce the programme, set out your editorial ambitions and address the requirements set out in Section A of this brief.

1 Please note, only the first 250 words of your Short Proposal will be read.

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Step 3 SHORT PROPOSAL SHORTLISTING You will be notified of the outcome of Stage 1. Shortlisted suppliers will be asked to make a Full Proposal. No feedback will be provided for unsuccessful proposals at this stage.

STAGE 2: FULL PROPOSAL

Step 1 Producers proceeding to this stage will be invited to provide a Full Proposal, via Proteus, responding to this commissioning brief, which includes all the elements outlined in Section C paragraph 1 (“Full Proposal”). For guidance, your Full Proposal should not exceed five sides of A4 when printed using Arial font, size 11. The Production Eligibility answer will only be considered during Stage 1 of the commissioning process. Producers may wish to consider repeating some, or all of the information given in the Full Proposal.

Step 2 Producers will be offered the opportunity to discuss the programme brief with the commissioning editor prior to submitting their full proposal.

STAGE 3: INTERVIEW / PITCH (IF NEEDED)

Step 1 You may be invited to an interview/pitch meeting on Zoom with the evaluation team. We will notify you which members of the evaluation team will be attending this meeting and you should expect to be asked to discuss and elaborate on your proposal, and answer questions about it. It is also possible we may ask you to share additional relevant material to this meeting – for example, a sample feature.

Step 2 Following the interview/pitch, the evaluation team will re-evaluate your Full Proposal against the assessment criteria, taking into account the responses given during the pitch, and any additional material requested. The evaluation team may then decide to award the contract to the producer(s) which best meets the assessment criteria; Note: At any stage of the process, we may need to come back to you to seek clarification. Your answers will be factored into the evaluation process as appropriate.

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Step 3 Or we may decide to hold second interviews, for example, in the event where we need more information to be able to differentiate between proposals.

STAGE 4: CONTRACT SIGNED

STAGE 5: FEEDBACK If you’re unsuccessful after attending an interview / pitch meeting, you may request feedback. Once notified you have two weeks to request feedback. Requests for feedback should be made to Richard Maddock. Feedback will be provided within two weeks of receiving the request.

1. Evaluation Panel

The following people will be involved in the evaluation of your proposal: • Commissioning Editor: Richard Maddock • Controller: Heidi Dawson • Managing Editor: Julie Cullen • Digital Editor: Will Cooper • Business Manager: Sarah McHugh

Subject matter experts (e.g. production experts, network management, finance, etc.) may also be consulted.

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2. Assessment Criteria We will assess your Full Proposal and pitch according to the main criteria below (editorial proposal and capability, strategic priorities, value for money and risk). More details on how we will make our assessment will be given to all those shortlisted at the same time they are asked to submit a Full Proposal.

Assessment Criteria Weighting

Planning & Management 10% ➢ Ability to deliver your project ➢ How you would work with internal existing programmes and editors to ensure buy-in and collaborative working.

60% Editorial Proposal and Capability ➢ Fit of editorial proposal to meet the network’s strategic vision and objectives ➢ Format and structure of your idea ➢ Ability to deliver ‘appointment to listen’ radio. ➢ Innovation and creativity ➢ Audience appeal/Ability to grow linear target audience ➢ Ability to work with talent and existing programme teams on the network if needed ➢ Additional digital innovation across multiple platforms and social media ➢ Ability to drive activations and engagement to BBC Sounds, ➢ Strategies to evolve listener engagement including diversity in its broadest sense. ➢ Diversity of ideas and people (on-air and off air)

Production Capacity 10% ➢ Recruitment and management of key production talent ➢ Technical ability and knowledge to meet the key deliverables

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Assessment Criteria Weighting

Value for Money 10% ➢ Financial plan and budget breakdown ➢ Efficiency of production process ➢ Acceptance of key contract terms (which includes compliance with all applicable UK law)

Risk 10% ➢ Production Risk ➢ Business Continuity (incl. Delivery) ➢ BBC Reputation ➢ Conflict of interest ➢ Ability to comply with all relevant UK legislation and BBC Policies (not limited to Editorial)

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SECTION C: THE COMMISSIONING TIMETABLE

The commissioning process for this brief consists of a number of stages, as set out in the timetable below:

Stage Timings Activities (all midday) Launch Wednesday Publication of commissioning brief 06.01.21 documentation and round opens in Proteus.

Short Proposal Wednesday Deadline for Eligibility & Short Proposal to and 27.01.21 be submitted via Proteus. shortlisting Wednesday Suppliers shortlisted, notified of outcomes 03.02.21 and asked to prepare a Full Proposal.

Full Proposal 08.02.21 – Opportunity to discuss commissioning brief and 12.02.21 with Commissioners prior to submitting Full shortlisting Proposal.

24.02.21 Deadline for Full Proposal to be submitted via Proteus. Evaluation panel shortlists Full Proposals.

01.03.21 Successful suppliers may be invited for interview / pitch.

Interview / 08.03.21 & Interview / face-to-face pitches with Pitch 09.03.21 shortlisted suppliers. (if needed)

Conditional 10.03.21 Commission award decision made, Commission commissioning specification completed and and Contract contract issued.

Tbc. Agreement of all programme related deliverables and technical specifications (for further information on requirements, please see the BBC’s commissioning website). Full contract signed.

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Feedback 10.03.21- Feedback on rejected Full Proposals, 24.03.21 provided in Proteus. Suppliers have two weeks to request further feedback.

We will assess your proposal according to this timetable. Late submissions cannot be accepted.

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SECTION D: REFERENCE INFORMATION

Proposals must be submitted in accordance with any instructions and information contained within this commissioning brief and on the Commissioning website (via links below). Proposals not complying may be rejected by the Commissioner whose decision in this matter will be final.

The BBC reserves the right at any time prior to the award of a commission, and without incurring any liability to the affected suppliers, to accept or to reject any proposal, or to annul the commissioning process rejecting all Full Proposals.

By submitting your proposal, you confirm acceptance of the key contract terms.

Please refer to the information below to support your proposal submission:

1. What We Need From You:

Your Full Proposal must be entered into the main ‘Synopsis’ section in Proteus by noon on 24.02.20 - late submissions cannot be accepted. It should adopt the structure below and, should not in total exceed five sides of A4 when printed using Arial font, size 11.

Part 1 – Your detailed Full Proposal, showing your response to the BBC’s requirements outlined in Section A of this commissioning brief.

Part 2 – A section containing the following information: (i) The name and contact details of your nominated representative (a single point of contact within your organisation who will be responsible for all communication related to the commissioning brief). (ii) The planned location for the production team who will produce the content should you be successful. (iii) Evidence that you have the skills to deliver, or the ability to acquire the skills to deliver, the production of the programme in line with this commissioning brief.

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(iv) Details of third party suppliers. You may want to work in partnership with third parties to deliver the brief. If so, you should include: o responses on behalf of each partner o details of the responsibilities of each partner o an outline of the main personnel who will be responsible for the production and delivery of the programme o an explanation of how working in partnership would be successfully achieved, including a proposed legal structure (e.g. one lead contractor and sub-contractors). (v) Details of your proposed total programme and per episode cost, broken down by price to BBC Public Service and any other funding sources. As part of our strategic priorities the BBC is making a commitment to the real living wage (as described by the Living Wage Foundation – see livingwage.org.uk). The per episode cost of the programme should be budgeted to account for the real living wage and the Full Proposal should include details of how compliance with the real living wage will be achieved. (vi) Depending on the detail of your proposal, if you are successful in your bid to produce the programme, TUPE – Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 – (and/or any superseding or amending legislation) may apply. If this is the case, we will need additional information from you (See Section D, paragraph 10, “Transition”).

Please note, the contract will be offered as a “fixed price” deal, with you being responsible for any overspend and entitled to keep any underspend. Whilst you are welcome to include proposals to deliver levels of content over and above that set out as required in Section A, this will need to be funded from within the published guide price. If you have any questions regarding the submission of your Full Proposal, please ensure you email them to Richard Maddock by 12.02.20 at the latest.

What To Expect From Us:

NOMINATED REPRESENTATIVE The BBC’s nominated representative for this commissioning brief is Richard Maddock. No individual other than the BBC’s nominated representative (or his delegates as advised by the BBC) is authorised to discuss the contents or the

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substance of this commissioning brief with you. We’ll let you know of any change or addition to the BBC’s nominated representatives.

RESPONSES TO YOUR QUESTIONS In the interest of fair competition, where we feel it’s appropriate, anonymised questions and responses will be circulated to all producers.

CONFIDENTIALITY Subject to Section 2, paragraph 5 (Freedom of Information Act), the BBC will keep confidential all commercially sensitive information included in responses to this commissioning brief and will only use this information for the purposes of evaluating the Full Proposal, provided that you have identified the confidential nature of any such information in your response documents.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT As a public authority, the BBC is required to comply with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“FOIA”), which came into force on 1 January 2005. The FOIA is intended to deliver greater accountability for decisions and spending across the whole of the public sector. It requires public authorities to strike a balance between achieving transparency and protecting genuinely confidential or commercially sensitive information. You should be aware that, under an FOIA request, the BBC may be required to disclose information contained within the Full Proposal or future contractual information. Following a request, the BBC may take the views of organisations submitting proposals into account when deciding what information will be disclosed. For more information on the Freedom of Information Act see bbc.co.uk/foi.

COSTS You submit responses to this commissioning brief and take part in this process at your own cost.

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A FIXED PRICE DEAL The contract will be offered as a “fixed price” deal; with you being responsible for any overspend and entitled to keep any underspend.

More information relating to all commissioning briefs and rounds, regardless of Networks can be found on the ‘Pitching Ideas’ page of the Radio Commissioning Website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4fC4NcVXqkZntJv8ZHpClD8/pitchi ng-ideas

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APPENDIX 1: ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONNAIRE GUIDANCE The Eligibility Questionnaire is the first part of your submission the BBC will consider as part of the process. Once completed, please copy and paste your responses into the Add/Edit Notes Here section of the Create Proposal page in Proteus – as per the screen grab below.

Proteus Screen Grab

Copy and paste Eligibility Section below into this field in Proteus.

You MUST complete Eligibility Production Experience.

We require a production base with considerable expertise in delivering live speech radio and/or pre-recorded speech radio features or specials.

In no more than 250 words please summarise your track record in this area.

[Insert details]

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