Commissioning Details Commissioning Year 2016/2017 Core Strand Pause For Thought Round Opens 20/10/16 Round Closes 17/11/16 @ noon Invitation to tender for ‘Pause For Thought’ BBC Radio 2 is a distinctive mixed music and speech network, broadcasting for a broad audience which aims to appeal to all age groups over 35, with the average listener age being 52. The network offers entertaining popular and specialist music programmes and speech-based content including news, current affairs, documentaries, religion, arts and social action output. The station boasts an award winning blend of top name presenters including, Chris Evans, Steve Wright, Claudia Winkleman, Graham Norton, Jeremy Vine, Ken Bruce, Paul O’Grady, Dermot O’Leary, Simon Mayo, Jo Whiley, Bob Harris, Clare Balding and Paul Gambaccini. Religion and faith are key to the stations remit, where informed, articulate and engaging presenters provide intelligent presentation representing beliefs and comment from across the broad spectrum of faith across the UK. The Pause For Thought programming currently sits within Janice Long (pre-rec), Alex Lester (pre-rec), Vanessa Feltz (live), Chris Evans (live), and Anneka Rice (pre-rec). The contract will be for an initial period of 12 months (with the potential to extend up to a maximum of two further years). This business represents part of the WoCC (Window of Creative Competition) and is therefore open both to Independent and Internal suppliers. EDTIORIAL BRIEF FOR PROGRAMME Radio 2 is looking to commission a production base and producer with a proven track record in national radio for creating innovative radio programming around a spoken word religious format - with proven knowledge of scripting for religious / faith output. The programme should serve the broad Radio 2 audience expectation spanning the 35 upwards demographic, representing the views from across the religious / faith spectrum. The 3 minute programme should explore contemporary themes and reflect on issues relevant to the audience, exploring the importance of faith in people's lives, celebrating the broad spectrum of beliefs in the UK today. There will be scope to discuss and develop the programme format with the network. The presenters will be contracted by the production base. The programme will be a mixture of live studio based presentation and pre- recorded. Radio 2 has existing studio space and resources within BBC Western House, London, although producers are not required to use these resources. Independent companies wishing to make use of non-BBC studios are welcomed. It is intended that the production will start in January 2017. FINANCE & CONTRACT DETAILS The strand is being put to tender for 17 originations a week. The contract will be offered initially for a period of 12 months (with the potential to extend up to a maximum of two further years). The Guide Price for the production of the strand has been set at £188 per show (should the producers choose to use Western House studios - based on the historic use of Radio 2’s studios for the live transmissions). Tenders submitted in excess of this guide price on this basis are extremely unlikely to be considered further. The price remains at the same level for programmes that are pre-recorded. TERMS OF TRADE These production contracts will be offered under the new (2015) BBC Terms of Trade for Independent Radio Commissions (a copy of which is available at http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/site/radio-general-terms-2015.pdf), amended to reflect that the ownership of the format and programme copyright remains with the BBC. THE TIMETABLE Tender Round opens: October 20th 2016 Tender Round closes: November 17th 2016 Shortlist decision announced: November 21st 2016 Shortlisted Pitches heard: w/c November 28th 2016 Decision announced: w/c December 5th 2016 1st On-Air date: January/February 2017 HOW & WHAT TO SUBMIT Applications to be considered in the tender process must take the following form – failure to comply will result in the application being disregarded: 1 The relevant BBC Health & Safety questionnaire must be completed and returned in advance (see http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/radio/network/busaffairs.shtml para 5) 2 There is the requirement that all production staff working on this commission (producer & executive producer) have completed the BBC 'Safeguarding Trust' Compliance course prior to attending any pitching meeting (see http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/radio/network/compliance.shtml 2 The relevant programme proposal(s) must be submitted via the PROTEUS system only and it should cover all the points outlined in this document. (For PROTEUS access: http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/radio/network/busaffairs.shtml para 6) 3 Accurate proposed episode prices must be submitted in Proteus – NOT the Network Guide Price 4 Tenders must be submitted against the following Proteus commissioning brief: Year: 20162017 Round: 3 Brief: 20169 - Pause For Thought Core 5 If alternative studios are proposed the submission must include full evidence of the Studios technical integrity, suitability and robustness as well as details of back-up plans and ability to link into the BBC’s Transmission network in full broadcast quality in a cost-effective manner. 6 NO additional materials should be submitted at this stage and anything sent will be disregarded THE CRITERIA To be considered for the tender all Independent companies should ensure that their submitted proposals in PROTEUS can demonstrate the following: 1 Company evidence of considerable experience and staffing depth in national religious and faith-based production. 2 Considerable ‘production team’ experience of producing a national religious / faith radio programme, with strong relationships with different faith communities. 3 Proposed presenter(s) must be recognised as a credible, authoritative choice, with a natural association with, and relationship to, religion and faith. 4 An ability to understand and represent Religion / faith within Radio 2 as a whole and, an ability to articulate its remit and purpose within the wider BBC Radio portfolio. 5 A detailed understanding of the religious wants and needs of the audience. 6 A detailed understanding of BBC Editorial Guidelines in relation to the delivery of music, particularly with reference to dealing with possible conflict of interest and broadcasting contentious artists and/or lyrical content 7 An understanding of the issues surrounding talent management 8 A realistic understanding of the pressures, staffing and infrastructure involved in producing weekly shows over a long period 9 The ability to provide accurate financial information 10 An understanding of the importance of multimedia content in modern radio and the ability to provide rich data and content for multiplatform environments 11 An understanding of relevant Health and Safety issues for both studio-based and outside broadcast programmes 12 An understanding of relevant HR / employment issues relating to long-running strand production .