SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Middle East Executive Training Program (MEET)
- Notice Date
- 4/17/2003
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Acquisition and Grants Office, SSMC4 - Room 7601/OFA61 1305 East West Highway, 7th Floor, Silver Spring, MD, 20910
- ZIP Code
- 20910
- Solicitation Number
- TAIP3450391662
- Response Due
- 4/28/2003
- Archive Date
- 5/13/2003
- Point of Contact
- Diane Husereau, Contracting Officer, Phone 301-713-0839 x102, Fax (301) 713-0809,
- E-Mail Address
-
diane.c.husereau@noaa.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- STATEMENT OF WORK The Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration's MEET US (Middle East Executive Training Program in the United States, is developing a program for business owners and managers (Training Program) from the Arab nations of North Africa and the Gulf (Interns). The program will consist of two or three one- month sessions: The first session is scheduled from June 2 through June 27, 2003 and will provide training for women business owners and managers. The second session for hospital administrators and administrators of private clinics will begin September 8 and end October 3, 2003. The third session will take place on or after January 2004. A Program Coordinator will recruit companies to provide the Training, overseeing training and program development with each organization that hosts any of the groups. The Program Recruiter will assist with logistical and administrative support for the program. MEET US will hire a contractor to serve as the program coordinator for the Training Program (Recruiter). SABIT anticipates that the contract will begin in April 2003 and continue through March 2004. The Coordinator position will be located at either the SABIT office in Washington, or in the Department of Commerce, however, some travel within the United States or abroad with or in advance of the group during the Training Session may be required. Basic Qualification Requirements for the Program Coordinator: 1. Knowledge of history, government, demographics, and politics of the Middle East. 2. Ability to perform liaison functions among various organizations involved in the programs. 3. Strong organizational skills, in particular, ability to organize, plan and coordinate logistics associated with a group of 18-25 interns, including arranging ground transportation, lodging, and domestic air travel if necessary. 4. Strong administrative skills. 5. Strong intercultural communications skills. 6. Strong public speaking ability. 7. Ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, in Arabic is preferred, but not required. Basis of Evaluation: Applicants who meet the Basic Qualification Requirements above will be further evaluated based on their experience, education and training shown on their application as it relates to the quality ranking factors listed below. Quality Ranking Factors: 1. Experience developing international technical assistance, international training, or international exchange program's. 2. Demonstrated past performance that depicts experience in performing similar contracts or similar work. Please indicate at least three references to support the above. References should be included: Contractor name, Contract number, dollar value, period of performance and narrative of services performed. 3. Experience and/or contacts in the following fields: business, management, and hospital administration. 4. Understanding of the economic, business and cultural environments in the countries of the Middle East. 4. Previous experience working abroad. 5. Knowledge of QuattroPro, Excel, WordPerfect. 6. Working knowledge in Arabic. Evaluation of Quotation: Quotations will be evaluated on a "best value basis", giving due consideration to price, approach, and past performance. Quality of the approach and past performance are considered to be more important than price. However, the closer the quotations are in terms of quality of approach, the more important price will become. Be sure to carefully address all elements in the RFQ so that your quotation can be fully evaluated. GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES The U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration shall provide the service provider with a complete list of attendees several weeks in advance of each training session. Substitutions shall be made with as much notice as possible, but are subject to last minute changes. ITA will provide the service provider with a desk, office supplies, a computer, telephone, and fax capabilities at the Department of Commerce. The Recruiter shall implement the Training Programs as follows: 1. Handle logistical program operations for the training programs including the establishment of housing arrangements, domestic, international and local transportation, and other operational aspects of the Training Sessions. 2. Develop and coordinate the non-Commerce developed portion of the Training Program by identifying suitable government, non-profit and company site visits. Handle any adjustments to the Sessions, either programmatically or logistically that arise. 3. Coordinate any logistical issues with the Facilitator regarding housing and transportation. 4. Act as the Washington liaison among the Interns, Host Firms, Interpreters, Facilitators relevant Commerce offices in Washington and the Middle East. 5. Assist the MEET Program in monitoring the Facilitator=s and Interpreter=s activities to ensure that the Facilitator and Interpreters are in compliance with his/her statement of work. 6. Provide Host Firms and Interns with guidelines and logistical information on the Training programs prior to their arrival in the United States. 7. Answer routine questions regarding MEET program rules and restrictions; refer unusual situations to MEET Program Officer. 8. Assist Host Firms and Interns with visa and insurance related questions. Alert Meet Program Officer to possible problems or delays. 9. Conduct an interview the Interns and/or Facilitator to ascertain that the internships are progressing as planned and that all parties are satisfied. If problems arise, alert the SABIT Director. 10. When speaking with Interns, use Arabic as necessary to ensure clear communication, particularly in the case of unusual situations. 11. Coordinate with the MEET Program any necessary adjustments to the Training Programs. The MEET program reserves the right to approve or disapprove any adjustments to the Training Programs. 12. Track and maintain supporting documentation for obligations, accruals and expenditures associated with the Training Programs using the SABIT standardized system in Quattro Pro. Coordinate budget documentation closely with the MEET Program Officer and the SABIT Budget Officer. 13. Coordinate collection of receipts/invoices for all items with Travel Agency for items including airline, lodging, ground transportation, reception/luncheon costs, and other costs to the program. 14. Assist in preparation of travel orders, advances and vouchers for each Intern. Assist in training interns and providing assistance to interns in use of new per diem disbursal system. 15. As requested by Meet Program Officer, communicate airline itinerary and departure date to each of the participants in the Middle East prior to departure. 16. Assure that within two weeks prior to the completion of each Training Session each Intern completes an Exit Questionnaire. Such Questionnaire shall be submitted to the Meet program as part of the final report of each group of Interns. 17. Participate in important events during the Training Sessions, such as orientation, feedback sessions, and other group activities. 18. If facilitator is unavailable, accompany group to the airport to ensure that each Intern departs from the United States on the scheduled departure date. 19. Prepare and submit to MEET a final report for each group within one week of the group=s departure. Coordinate with MEET, and the Facilitator to prepare the final report. Contained in the report should be a brief summary covering lessons learned, suggested improvements for future programs as well as a summary of the Interns= experiences during the Training. The final reports should also address the extent to which the goals and objectives of the Training Program (Attached hereto) have been met. 20. After each Training Program has been completed, incorporate into the Report summarizing the success stories, contracts, and other business transactions completed or in negotiations that are associated with the Training Programs. 21. Assist SABIT Program with success story collection, database updating, and alumni activities throughout the NIS as directed by the SABIT Director. 22. With the guidance from SABIT Director and MEET program officer, assist program staff with the grant process, including review of applications for completeness, identifying and setting up evaluation panels, processing grant applications and monitoring training associated with grant recipients. Interim Deliverables Bi-weekly reporting which updates activities Period of Performance: One Year Interested parties should respond by e-mail to Juanita.Beck@noaa.gov, the e-mail subject should state: MEET. Award is anticipated to be made o/a May 1, 2003. Offerors should also fill out a vendor profile form which can be found at: http://www.ofa.noaa.gov/%7Eamd/contracting.html click on C*Stars Vendor Profile form and follow the instructions. Award will be made via simplified acquisitions procedures. This is a small business set-aside.
- Web Link
-
Link to FedBizOpps document.
(http://www.eps.gov/spg/DOC/NOAA/AGAMD/TAIP3450391662/listing.html)
- Record
- SN00306767-F 20030419/030417222132 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |