U -- INTER CULTURAL TRAINING FOR LATIN AMERICA "The Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal Heath and Inspection Service (APHIS), Office of Personnel Development (OPD) has the intent to award a sole source Performanced Based Service Contract to The Gil-Dean Group, 1371 Lake City Way, NE, Seattle, Washington, for two Seminars on Inter cultural Communication and Negotiation for Latin America. The awarded contract will be for one seminar with option for a second session. This is a small business set-aside. The primary objective of this requirement is for each participant to build a framework for understanding their own culture and how their personal styles are similar and/or different to the cultures of the countries represented in Mexico and Latin America. The Contractor must assure cultural general concepts are distributed as follows: (1) 30% in strengthening knowledge in critical concepts of Mexican and Latin Culture; (2) 30% -- skill building in negotiation; and (3) 40% -- Analysis and application of afore mentioned content to Agency-specific cases. The contractor shall (1) Conduct a needs assessment; (2) Conduct formative evaluations, (3) Course designs; (4) Develop methodology and curricula; (5) Develop a training design to include goals and objectives; (6) Employ interactive learning approaches; and (7) Conduct seminars. The contractor must have the following MANDATORY capability requirements for satisfying this requirement: (1) At least 6 years experience with Mexican and Latin American Relations and/or Communication; (2) Personnel proposed on this requirement must have a minimun of six years living experience in Latin America (Travel experience not sufficient); (3) Extensively familiar with cultural and linguistic differences and nuances between Mexico, Central and South America ;(4) At least 6 years experience in the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service or with other Federal Agencies working in the international arena in order to identify Federal Regulations with direct bearings on effective inter cultural interaction (e.g., Ethics). If any other vendor can meet the MANDATORY capability requirements, please submit support in writing along with three (3) references for similiar work performed within the past 18 months of this notice to Estela M. Diaz, Contract Specialist, at USDA, APHIS, ABS R/WBS, 4700 River Road, Unit 45, Riverdale, Md, 20737. Questions must be submitted in writing to the address above; via telefax at (301) 734-7323; or via Internet Mail at Estela.M.Diaz@usda.gov. Telephone inquiries will be not be accepted. Determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the descretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. See notes 1." Posted 12/21/98 (W-SN282102).

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0465 19981223\SP-0015.MSC)