U.S. Trade & Development Agency, Room 309, SA-16, Washington, D.C. 20523-1602

R -- AUDIT/TELECONSULT POC Ms. Della Glenn, USTDA, Room 309, SA-16, Washington, D.C. 20523-1602, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax No.: (703) 875-4009 The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) wishes to announce an opportunity for small businesses to bid on a Competitive Total Set-Aside to provide technical assistance to audit a TDA grant and contract supporting a feasibility study on a project in Eastern Europe. The grant was for a feasibility study of a proposed telecommunications system upgrade. The contractor will be required to provide his/her conclusions on the following issues: 1. Did the feasibility study consultant and the grantee meet all requirements of the relevant agreements? 2. Were Federal funds used for allowable costs? 3. Was the cost of producing the study shared as required by the grant agreeement and related contract? The contractor will compare the outcome of the project with TDA's grant objectives and will asses the internal TDA procedures for reviewing and approving the grant, offering recommendations for strengthening them as needed. This will be a firm fixed price contract. The project is expected to begin in August 1997 and be completed within nine months. The contract may be incrementally funded. TDA, located in the Washington, D.C. area, is a commercially-oriented U.S. Government export promotion agency that helps U.S. companies pursue overseas business opportunities. TDA's principal activities are "feasibility studies," which evaluate the technical, legal, economic, and financial aspects of a development project in the concept stage. Feasibility studies typically include procurement plans, contact information, technical data, financial analysis, and market studies. Through the funding of feasibility studies, orientation visits, training grants, and various forms of technical assistance, TDA enables American businesses to become involved in the planning stage of infrastructure and industrial projects in middle-income and developing countries. The Small Business Act, at 15 U.S.C. 644, authorizes procuring agencies to set aside procurements or portions of procurements for the exclusive participation of Small Business Concerns.The Sic Code for this procurement is 8721. Definition: "Small business concerns" for purposes of TDA award of this total set aside contract means a concern, including its affiliates, that is independently owned and operated, not dominant in the field of operation for which it is bidding. In determining whether dominance exists for TDA's purpose for this contract, consideration is given to annual gross receipts. Any concern that has annual gross receipts above $5 million dollars, averaged over a three year period, is not considered small and is therefore, NOT eligible for award under this contract. All participating organizations involved with supplying professional services must be incorporated or chartered in the United States. Consultants planning teaming arrangements must be U.S. citizens or resident aliens. In accordance with FAR 19.301, offerors will be required to submit self certification relating to business size. The competitive proposals method of solicitation as set forth in Part 15 of the FederalAcquisition Regulation (FAR) (48 CFR Chapter 1) shall be utilized for this procurement. This solicitation in no way obligates TDA to award a contract, nor does it commit TDA to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the proposal. Any explanation desired by an offeror regarding the meaning or interpretation of this solicitation must be requested in writing and with sufficient time allowed for reply to reach the offerors before submission of their offers. All oral explanations or instruction, given before award of this contract will not be binding. Any information given to a prospective offeror concerning the solicitation will be furnished promptly to all prospective offerors as an amendment of the solicitation, if such information is necessary to offerors submitting proposals or if lack of such information would be prejudicial to uninformed offerors. TDA will choose a contractor demonstrating proficiency in government grant and contracting procedures and regulations. The contract team shall include an accountant/auditor with an understanding of generally accepted government accounting and auditing standards, individuals with engineering experience related to telecommunications projects sufficient to assess whether the final report was of high quality, and a professional editor. The contractor must be in the position to present fair and unbiased information pursuant to the statement of work. The Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued on/about (15) fifteen days after the publication date of this synopsis. Closing date will be approximately twenty-one (21) days thereafter. Only written requests for the RFP that indicate the businesses size will be honored. U.S. eligible small businesses interested in receiving the RFP should send a fax requesting it to Della Glenn at (703)875-4009 or a letter by U.S. mail to Ms. Glenn at U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA), Contracts Unit, Room 309, SA-16, Washington, D.C. 20523-1602. Delivery by any other means must be addressed to Ms. Glenn at 1621 N. Kent Street, Room 309, Rosslyn, VA 22209. (0167)

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