Barbara Bradford, USTDA, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22209-2131, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax No.: (703) 875-4009

R -- TDA CONTRACTS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL EXPERTISE POC Barbara Bradford, USTDA, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22209-2131, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax No.: (703) 875-4009 The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) extends an invitation to U.S. small businesses community to attend a day long session to familiarize both firms and individuals with the operations of TDA and the contracts it reserves for small businesses. The session is designed to improve the small businesses community's understanding of TDA's grant and contracting process, alert it to upcoming contracting opportunities, and provide it with an informal setting to meet TDA program staff and to discuss contracting opportunities and contractor qualifications. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is a small, independent agency of the Federal government. It assists in the creation of jobs for Americans by helping U.S. companies pursue overseas business opportunities in infrastructure and industrial projects in developing and middle income countries. TDA funds feasibility studies for projects in a variety of sectors including telecommunications, transportation, energy and environment. The agency does not becomeinvolved in retail or marketing activities. TDA is located in Rosslyn, Virginia, has 40 employees, an annual budget of approximately $42 million, and funds transferred from other agencies of approximately $15 million. The outreach session is targeted for U.S. citizens and small businesses (SBA definition) which have technical expertise in energy, manufacturing, telecommunications, transportation, water/environment, and project financing, or which produce or supply equipment suitable for large infrastructure projects in these sectors. In the process of providing feasibility study grants, TDA contracts with small businesses to provide TDA with technical expertise on a number of aspects of potential projects overseas. Pursuant to these contracts, experts produce either a Desk Study or a Definitional Mission report. A Definitional Mission involves a contract with one or more technical specialists that are dispatched by TDA for a short-term visit to a host country to gather additional information on a project. Definitional Missions give small businesses an opportunity to travel overseas and establish working relationships with foreign officials in the public and private sector. A Desk Study involves a contract for a specialist to analyze technical or financial information about an overseas project when there is already sufficient project information available here in the United States. In these situations, TDA hires a technical specialist to perform a quick review of the project and answer specific questions dealing with the project, but does not require an overseas trip. The outreach session will explain how to compete for these contracts, as well as the host country contracts to conduct the feasibility studies. During the session, senior members of the TDA staff and program officers will present in-depth explanations of TDA's program and how U.S. small businesses can contract with TDA to help carry out its activities. The session will take place on Thursday, February 5, 1998 in Arlington, Virginia from 9:00 a.m. to1:00 p.m. There will be an Open House at TDA's offices from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Advance registration is required. To register, mail a check for $25.00 made out to Challenge America, Inc. to Mr. Richard S. Sloan, Challenge America, Inc., P.O. Box 65085, Washington, D.C. 20035. Include your name; company name; address; telephone number; fax number; and e-mail address. Directions to the session location and information about parking, restaurants, and hotels (for those coming from out of town) will be sent to you with registration confirmation. Registration questions? Call Rick Sloan at 202-362-3601, fax at 202-362-3640, e-mail at rssloan@aol.com. (0009)

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