def METHOD_NAME(event, opts):
    """
    Prepare a payload for submission to the Splunk HTTP event collector.
    """
    # Get Splunk Options
    opts = _get_options()
    # init the payload
    payload = {}
    # Set up the event metadata
    payload.update({"index": opts["index"]})
    payload.update({"sourcetype": opts["sourcetype"]})
    # Add the event
    payload.update({"event": event})
    log.info(
        "Payload: %s",
        salt.utils.json.dumps(payload),
    )
    return payload