U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), REDSO/ESA, Unit 64102, APO AE 09831

D -- ROLLING STOCK INFORMATION SYSTEM (RSIS) COMPONENT OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (SADC) TRANSPORT EFFICIENCY PROJECT (690-0256.13) SOL RFP NO. 623-P-97-001 POC Contact Point: Raymond L. Edler, Regional Contracting Officer, REDSO/ESA Nairobi, Kenya, Tel. No. 254-2-751613, Ext. 315, Fax No. 254-2-743204/748670/749590. The United States Agency for International Development/Regional Economic Development Services Office for East and Southern Africa (REDSO/ESA) invites interested and qualified organizations, with significant experience and capability, to submit proposals to implement the rolling stock information system (RSIS) component of the Southern African transport efficiency project. The project calls for the phased implementation of a real-time, interactive management information system on the National Railways of Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, plus the Tanzania- Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara). The project also incorporates full-system links to the already existing system (Sprint) used by spoornet in the Republic of South Africa. In addition to the Real-time, on-line transportation information system, the project scope also includes a complementing off-line management information system as well as specific RSIS management and user training. The project contemplates a single prime contractor who will be responsible for: (A) implementing the project, (B) managing the installation of the communications and computer equipment and the system software, (C) seeing that the system functions as an integrated whole, (D) getting the railways running effectively using the new system, (E) integrating the operation of the system with the overall management of the railways. Further the project contemplates using two different railway information software applications in conjunction to create the regional RSIS. The two programs are ACIS (Advanced Cargo Information System) and Sprint (Spoornet's mainframe-based system for tracking rolling stock assets and consignment). Both ACIS and Sprint, however, will require enhancements to meet the functional requirements of the RSIS. A cost-reimbursement-fixed-fee (performance based) completion type contract is contemplated. The estimated performance period for successfully installing the RSIS on the SADC member railways and implementing the project is twenty-two months after the award of the contract. Interested organizations, their subcontractors and employees must qualify under USAID's source/origin/nationality requirements. The prime contractor must be organized under the laws of the U.S. and meet the conditions governing the nationality of suppliers of services for USAID financing. The authorized source for goods and services to be provided by the selected U.S. prime contractor shall be in accordance with USAID's source, origin and nationality requirements. USAID's source, origin and nationality requirements may be found in 22 CFR 228. Also in accordance with FAR 19.702, offerors are required to submit a subcontracting plan for small business. While no minimum subcontracting requirement for disadvantaged entities exists, offerors are encouraged to subcontract with disadvantaged entitites to be maximum extent possible. The RFP will the released not earlier than 15 days after the date of the CBD publication and proposals will be due at the specified location in Nairobi 60 days thereafter. Final approval of this procurement is pending, however, it is anticipated it will soon be approved. Prospective offerors should be aware that if the procurement is not approved no RFP will be issued. Interested offerors may request a copy of the RFP by submitting a written request to USAID/REDSO with two self-addressed mailing labels. (Requests may be faxed but must be followed up by written requests with self-addressed labels.) The preferred method of distribution of USAID procurement information is via the Internet or by request of a solicitation on a 3.5" floppy disk (Wordperfect 5.1/5.2 format). This CBD notice can be viewed and downloaded using the Agency Web Site. The RFP, once issued, can be downloaded from the Agency Web Site. The worldwide web address is http://www.info.usaid.gov. Select Business and procurement opportunities from the home page, then "USAID procurement." On the following screen, select "Download Available USAID Solicitations." The RFP can also be downloaded via anonymous file transper protocol (FTP). The FTP address is FTP.INFO.USAID.GOV. Logon using the user identification of anonymous" and the password is your e-mail address. Look under the following directory for the RFP: pub/OP/RFP/623P97001/623p97001.rfp. Receipt of this RFP through Internet must be confirmed by written notification to the contact person noted above. It is the responsibility of the recipient of this solicitation document to ensure that it has been received from Internet in its entirety and USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processess. "Accordance with FAR 19.702, offerors are required to submit a subcontracting plan for small business concerns, small disadvantaged business concerns and women-owned small business concerns to the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in contract performance consistent with its efficient performance." (0098)

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