U.S. Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/OFA/AGFS/AMD -- OFA51, 1305 East West Highway -- Station 7604, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

R -- PERSONAL SERVICES CONTRACTS SOL 7-09201 DUE 091597 POC Joel Perlroth, 301-713-0829 x121 E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contract Specialist, Joel.L.Perlroth@noaa.gov. The U.S. Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration intends to award a personal services purchase order under Simplified Acquisition Procedures, to provide contractual services for the Commercial Environmental Specialist for U. S. Foreign Commercial Services/Asian Development Bank (ADB), Liaison Office under the U.S.- Asia Environmental Partnership (AEP) in accordance with the statement of work detailed below: BACKGROUND Incumbent serves as the commercial environmental specialist (CES) assigned to the Commercial Service Liaison Office for the Asian Development Bank. The ADB lends over $5 billion annually to the developing countries of Asia. The CES is responsible for projects in or related to the environment sector, which composes over $1 billion of the ADB's total lending program. The CES will work in a complex commercial structure that is managed by a Senior Commercial Officer at the FS-01 level. In addition, the incumbent will be responsible for developing a regional marketing plan, analyzing Bank policies and rules, and reporting on major trade and investment opportunities. PURPOSE The purpose of placing the US-AEP Commercial Environmental Specialist to liaise with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is to increase substantially the amount of trade and project lead information about opportunities for the export of U.S. environmental and related energy technologies, goods and services for projects funded by the MDBs. This enhanced level of information will reach U.S. businesses through regular information distribution channels of the International Trade Administration (ITA) in the DOC as well as through special USAID distribution efforts. SCOPE OF SERVICES The environmental specialist will be responsible for identifying, tracking and reporting back to ITA Washington and USAID current and future opportunities for contracts for architectural, engineering, construction, equipment supply, and consulting services for projects related to the environment, which are being considered by the ADB. Early identification of prospective infrastructure projects for water, wastewater, solid waste, hazardous waste and related energy projects shall be a strategic focus of this activity. As appropriate, the CES will refer U.S. environmental and energy companies to the US-AEP Technology and Infrastructure Representatives and/or USAID for additional assistance on US- AEP informational and program activities. Under the direction of the US&FCS/ADB SCO, the CES will directly assist U.S. firms exploring opportunities arising from ADB programs. MAJOR DUTIES The CES will have the following duties: Program Planning: Incumbent formulates portions of the ADB Country Commercial Guide in coordination with the ADB SCO. Provides detailed information on specific environmental projects to regional US&FCS posts for inclusion in the Country Commercial Guide prepared by each post. Incumbent will produce an environmental commercial guide and related strategy for use by MDBO and U.S. business. Incumbent will also develop an annual business plan detailing proposed programs, goals, and objectives. This will be followed by a detailed annual report submitted to both US&FCS and USAID. The annual report will be submitted with the business plan and will compare established goals with actual accomplishments. The CES will also prepare and submit monthly reports to US&FCS and the US-AEP. Commercial Program Support: Incumbent provides information and assistance to American business representatives regarding ADB-financed environmental contracts. Incumbent will use detailed knowledge of infrastructure projects and ADB policies and guidelines to provide technical assistance to U.S. businesses. Incumbent will assist the Senior Commercial Officer in resolving U.S. company disputes on ADB-financed contracts and will solicit the support of US&FCS employees in the region. CES will refer U.S. environmental and energy companies to the Technology Representatives or USAID for additional assistance on US-AEP activities. Commercial Information Support: Prepares articles for inclusion in the MDBO Newsletter to provide U.S. business with information on ADB projects in the environment sector and to advertise future business outreach events in Asia and the United States. Identifies, tracks, and reports on environmental infrastructure projects financed by the ADB. Prepares detailed analyses of ADB policies and guidelines to provide U.S. business with accurate and complete information on ADB lending in the environment sector. Submits trade leads to DOC and the American Consulting Engineers Council (ACEC) for distribution to U.S. business. SUPERVISION The DOC/US&FCS ADB SCO in Manila, will provide day-to-day supervision of the Environmental Specialist. Broad program guidance will be provided by the Director, MDBO and the Executive Director, US-AEP. COMPUTER LITERACY REQUIREMENTS Incumbent will utilize and/or manage automation hardware and applications software to provide services, prepare reports, analyze data, etc. Incumbent must also be able to understand and operate the basic functions of a microcomputer in a commercial section environment, namely word processing, database, and spreadsheet applications. OFFICE AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS DOC will arrange for adequate office space and necessary working equipment within the US&FCS/ADB office in Manila, Philippines. REPORTING The CES will, in addition to the standard US&FCS reporting requirements, submit monthly reports to the US-AEP Program Operations Manager, employed by the USAID technical support contractor. The monthly reports will detail the trade and investment opportunities arising from current and future ADB projects and will outline activities during the month, any need for additional information or other support, and any potential problems. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The work is mostly sedentary. Often the nature of the work requires long periods of intense activity and concentration frequently performed on an overtime basis in a high pressure work situation. Frequent travel, both domestic and international, is required. This position requires some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items such as books and papers. RELOCATION EXPENSES Relocation expenses will be paid to move the contractor from the United States to the duty station, Manila, Philippines. Relocation expenses shalll not exceed $25,000 and must follow all applicable Federal travel and relocation guidelines. Specific items covered under the relocation expenses category include shipping of household effects, shipping of personal vehicle, personal airfare, temporary lodging (if necessary), miscellaneous air freight, and a transfer allowance of $350. MISCELLANEOUS The US&FCS Liaison Office and the US&FCS/MDBO will provide the contract hire with assistance in identifying appropriate living quarters in Manila, Philippines. This will include, if necessary, assistance in locating an embassy approved realtor to assist the contractor in finding appropriate rental units. EVALUATION CRITERIA Proposals to be acceptable and eligible for evaluation must be prepared in accordance with and comply with the instructions given in this solicitation document and must meet the specifications set forth. Proposals meeting the requirements and complying with the provisions will be evaluated in accordance with the procedures described. Responses to this notice will be evaluated on a "best value" basis giving due consideration to price, approach, and past performance. Quality approach and past performance are more important than price. However, the closer quotations are in terms of quality approach and past performance, the more important price will become. Offeror shall demonstrate their knowledge and working experience with the US-Asia Environmental Partnership program. Offerors shall demonstrate working knowledge of the services provided by U. S. & Foreign Commercial Services (US&FCS) programs offered overseas. Offerors shall provide detailed understanding of developing countries in Asia and their specific needs and requirements for environmental infrastructure as well as a strong working knowledge of the ADB and its policies and guidelines. Offerors shall demonstrate their capabilities of conducting substantial business promotion activities to promote the services US&FCS offers to small and medium sized businesses. These activities will include visiting regional posts in Asia to promote U.S. commercial policies and ADB lending priorities to businesses and other audiences, participating in environmentally- focused business outreach seminars and conferences in the United States and Asia, and counseling U.S. businesses on the ADBs lending programs and policies as they pertain to the environment sector. Offerors determined to be in the competitive range will be interviewed as a final determining factor for award. However, the government reserves the right to award without discussions. Interested vendors are requested to submit their technical documentation and pricing information that substantiates their ability to meet the stated requirement. No solicitation document exists, requests for such a document will be considered non-responsive. No telephonic requests will be honored, written responses only. Concerns who believe they have such ability to furnish the above are requested to provide their proposals to the procuring office listed in the notice within 15 calendar days from the date of this synopsis and reference document number 7-09201. (0241)

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