U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Program Contract Service Center (3803R), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460-0001

R -- MEETING FACILITATION SERVICES SOL RFQ-98-98-00117 DUE 050998 POC Valoree S. Lilley, Contract Specialist WEB: click here to download a copy of the RFQ, http://www.epa.gov/oamhpod1/oppts_grp/dc9800117/index.htm. E-MAIL: download here to contact contract specialist, lilley.valoree@epamail.epa.gov. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the Simpligied Acquisition Procedures of FAR Part 13, intends to issue a purchase order for services to perform meeting facilitation services in accordance with the following statement of work: BACKGROUND: The Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act (FFDCA) to improve the registration of pesticides. FQPA mandates a single health-based standard for pesticides in all food; provides special protection for infants and children; expedites approval of safer pesticides; provides minor crop protection; and, requires period reevaluation of pesticide registrations and tolerances. Descriptions: The contractor shall provide convening, facilitation and management services for four two-day Federal Advisory Committee meetings within the next three months: May 28-29; June 22-23; July 13-14; and July 27-28, 1998. Task 1:Preparation for the Meetings a.In consultation with the EPA PO, the contractor shall assist EPA and the Department of Agriculture coordinate and interface with members of the Advisory Committee as well as with various other stakeholders and affected interest groups to recommend and help set a strategic approach for reassessing organophosphate pesticide tolerances. The contractor shall orchestrate discussions between the government and Advisory Committee members regarding the goals and purpose of the proposed advisory committee process and the technical or substantive issues to be addressed throughout the four meetings, such as: what is the appropriate process for making tolerance decisions under the Food Quality Protection Act and what type of documentation is necessary; what is the proper policy framework for deciding if there is adequate scientific information for making decisions on food tolerance reassessments; how can EPA speed the pace of decision making to make available to crop growers newer and safer pesticide products that meet FQPA safety standards; how should the Agency address potential exposure in children's foods when considering priorities for organophosphate pesticides; etc. b.Working with the program office, the contractor shall provide a draft agenda no later than ten days before each meeting to the PO. Upon receipt and incorporation of the PO comments, the contractor shall distribute the final agenda and background materials to the PO, committee members and other participants.Task 2:Facilitation of the Meetings a.The facilitator shall communicate in person, by phone or in writing with committee members and other participants between meetings to ensure that issues and concerns have been communicated accurately and that committee members are adequately prepared for the next meeting. b.The contractor shall facilitate all plenary and workgroup sessions. As facilitator, the contractor shall assist participants in articulating their interests, identifying areas of agreement, and developing consensus solutions to the problem areas that divide them. As facilitator, he/she shall keep the parties talking, listening, and moving as much as possible -- towards the goal of the process.Task 3:Follow-up to the Meetings a.The contractor shall provide draft meeting summaries to the EPA PO and the committee members and other participants within two weeks following each meeting. Upon receipt and incorporation of comments, the contractor shall distribute final meeting summaries to the EPA PO, Committee members and other participants. b.The facilitator shall provide a process evaluation that analyzes the preparation for and conduct of the meeting(s) and make recommendations on changes that would make the process better for the future. The contractor is reminded that in discussing information with parties outside the EPA, the contractor will identify him/her self as a contractor to EPA -- not an EPA employee.The contractor shall provide input or make recommendations based on the information gathered; however, decisions on all substantive issues will be made by EPA. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL NOT INTERPRET EPA POLICY ON BEHALF OF EPA NOR MAKE DECISIONS ON ITEMS OF POLICY, REGULATION OR STATUTE. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL NOT TAKE A STAND ON THE MERITS OF SUBSTANTIVE ITEMS UNDER DISCUSSION. REPORTS AND DELIVERABLES a.Copies of all reports, meeting notices, agenda, summaries and any other written deliverables shall be sent to the PO. If oral briefings are scheduled for EPA staff, the PO shall be notified in time to attend.b. All reports shall be provided first in draft form per the schedule stated under each task. Upon receipt of comment from the EPA PO, the contractor shall revise the report and distribute final copies as stated in the scope of work. The Sic code for this procurement is 8742. EPA is facnet certified. Award will be based on the best value to the Government, technical and price factors considered. Two copies of all proposals are requested. Complete evaluation criteria will be published at the EPA Website hyper-linked below. The RFQ will be posted on this website and can be downloaded. TELEPHONE REQUESTS FOR THE RFQ WILL NOT BE HONORED. Proposals are due NO LATER THAN 2:00 p.m. EST, May 8, 1998. US MAIL ONLY -- USAEPA, 401 M Street SW, Mail Code: 3803R, Washington, D.C. 20460, ATTN: Valoree S. Lilley. HAND CARRY TO (includes all courier services, e.g. FedEx, UPS, etc.): Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Bid and Proposal Room, 6th floor Room 61107. SEE Note 1. (0119)

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