Della Glenn, USTDA, Room 309, SA-16, Washington, D.C. 20523-1602, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax: (703) 875-4009

B -- ARGENTINA SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE MINING PROJECTS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE POC Della Glenn, USTDA, Room 309, SA-16, Washington, D.C. 20523-1602, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax: (703) 875-4009 The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) wishes to announce a Competitive Total Set-Aside for a Small Business to provide technical assistance and a briefing book regarding small and medium scale mining projects in Argentina. The Nuevo Cuyo region of Argentina, composed of the provinces of San Juan, La Rioja, Mendoza, and San Luis, is the site of numerous metallic and nonmetallic mineral deposits with the potential to be developed on a small and medium scale. The Argentine Undersecretariat of Mining and the provincial governments have identified a number of specific prospective small and medium scale mining projects in Nuevo Cuyo which offer potential for development. There is a need to review and evaluate the existing studies on these projects to assess how these projects could be structured so as to stimulate interest among U.S. companies. TDA is interested in providing the technical assistance required to review the studies and evaluate these projects, to identify and evaluate other prospective projects and gather additional information as needed, and to present detailed project profiles and background information on Argentina's mining sector in a briefing book which could be presented at conference on Mining Opportunities in Argentina to be held in Denver in November 1997. TDA is seeking to meet this objective by contracting the services of a specialized consulting team. The Government's cost estimate for the complete execution of this contract does not exceed $60,000. Work should be completed by October 31, 1997. 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. 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 8999 -- Services, N.E.C. 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 Federal Acquisition 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. The Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued on/about (15) fifteen days after the publication date of this synopsis. Closing date will be fifteen (15) 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. Telephonic requests, other than fax will not be accepted. (0192)

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