Loren Data Corp.

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COMMERCE BUSINESS DAILY ISSUE OF JANUARY 29,1999 PSA#2272

U.S. Information Agency, Office of Contracts, 301 4TH STREET SW, Room M27, Washington, DC 20547

R -- EVALUATION OF EXCHANGE PROGRAMS SOL IA-209-S923-4925 POC Contracting Officer: Herman Shaw, Tele.: (202) 205-5414 THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN FAR SUBPART 12.6, AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION; PROPOSALS ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED. SOLICITATION NO. IA2209-S9234925 IS ISSUED AS A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) AND A CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED USING THE CONTRACTING BY NEGOTIATION PROCEDURES. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 97-08. The Standard Industrial Classification is 8999. The United States Information Agency (USIA), Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Policy and Evaluation (E/ZE), has an immediate requirement, subject to availability of funding, for a contractor to perform a series of valid and reliable evaluations of exchange programs in Russia, the NIS and Eastern Europe over a two (2) year period. The evaluations will be developed for and administered to program participants in close coordination with USIA and are designed to gauge the impact of selected exchange programs at the individual and/or institutional level. Offeror may identify a subcontractor to assist with the project, subject to approval of the Authorized Representative of the Contracting Office (AR/CO). USIA will identify and define evaluation projects as needs develop. Under this IDIQ contract, a minimum of $5,000 and maximum of $800,000 is anticipated for a two (2) year period from February 1999 to January 2001. The government may make multiple awards. The work at a minimum may include the following: 1) On a periodic basis for the period February 1999 through January 2001, the contractor shall be responsible for conducting evaluations of selected USIA programs in Russia, the Newly Independent States (NIS) and Eastern Europe, while working in close coordination with the Office of Evaluation and Policy, Bureau for Educational and Cultural Affairs, USIA. Activities at a minimum, may include: A. Developing an evaluation plan detailing data collection procedures, schedule of activities, subcontractor (if desired) and project budget; B. Developing data collection procedures, including written questionnaires and focus group questions. The questionnaires should be primarily closed, although a few open-ended questions may be desirable. It is anticipated that questionnaires may include between 50 and 175 questions and will take no longer than 45 minutes to administer; C. Administering written questionnaires either through individual interviews, e-mails or mail. This could include updating participant addresses if necessary. Proposals should include budgets for all forms of data collection noted in these specifications. D. Coding survey questionnaires; E. Entering data from questionnaires; F. Analyzing questionnaire data; G. In consultation with USIA, the Contractor shall determine number and location of focus groups. All focus groups shall be video tapedand transcribed. Copies of tapes and transcriptions shall be made available to USIA. Offerors shall include a budget in the Price Proposal for focus groups. H. Submit a final report(s) of findings to USIA. Note: Final Report(s) shall include: synopsis of findings; detailed explanation and analysis of the data and summary of what they imply for assessment of program impact; data book; codebook; and any other materials necessary for utilization of data. 2. Coded data shall be submitted in English in hard copy and on computer disk in SPSS and Excel format; written report(s) shall be submitted in both hard copy and on disk in a word processing format to be outlined in the evaluation plan. 2) Contractor shall deliver to USIA a draft report(s), including all materials indicated in 1.H), within thirty (30) workdays of the completed data collection phase. 3) Contractor shall deliver to USIA a final report(s) within thirty (30) workdays after receipt of comments on the draft from USIA. 4) Contractor shall be responsible for translating the written questionnaire into all necessary languages. USIA will be responsible for translating focus group transcripts into English, if necessary. 5) USIA will provide the contractor with all background and program information necessary to create and analyze data collection instruments in correct context. 6) USIA and the contractor will note in the evaluation plan how questionnaires and other documentation will be handled upon the completion of the evaluation. 7) The contractor may be requested to give oral presentations to audiences identified by USIA. 8) The authorized representative of contracting officer (AR/CO) will review with the contractor specific requirements for each project. 9) Orders within the threshold for Simplified Acquisition Procedures may be placed by phone to the Contractor by the AR/CO. However, such orders must be negotiated as a FFP within thirty (30) calendar days after date of placed order. Proposals will be evaluated based on criteria cited below and submissionof completed sample project. Proposals shall include budget and work plan for the following sample project. Sample Evaluation Project: Evaluation Goal: Summative evaluation to determine if program achieved goals outlined by USIA; Program: Masters level degree program providing scholarships to candidates from Eastern Europe; Population size: 2,000 returned participants; Project tasks: 1. Evaluation design; 2. Data collection: a. Written survey to be administered by individual interview and/or mail. (Please provide budget for both forms of survey administration). Survey will be given in native language of participant; b. Focus groups in the country of the participants; 3. Data analysis; and 4. Final report, including written and oral presentation of findings. The Evaluation Criteria in the order of importance is as follows: 1. Quality of services offered; 2. Knowledge of Russia; the NIS and/or Eastern Europe; 3. Past Performance; 4. Cost-effectiveness; 5. Ability to travel to sites in Russia, the NIS and Eastern Europe; 6. Ability to travel to Washington, DC on short notice; 7. Ability to travel to sites across the United States; and 8. Ability to provide deliverables to USIA on schedule. Delivery terms and point: Washington, DC. Interested offerors who are capable of performing these services should submit a proposal, which shall include narrative detailing experience, understanding of requirement, references and price. Contract performance period: date of award through September 30, 1999 with option to extend two (2) 1-year periods. The provision at FAR 52.212-1, Instruction to Offerors -- Commercial Items and FAR Provision 52.212-2, Evaluation of Commercial Items applicable to this acquisition. The following clauses apply to this acquisition: FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items, including subparagraphs (b)(3,6,7,8 and 9); and FAR 52.232-18, Availability of Funds. The Government may award multiple contracts. The Government will award a firm-fixed price (FFP) contract resulting from this RFP to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the RFP will be most advantageous to the Government, based on price and past performance. Offerors responding to solicitation shall submit the following items to the contracting office: 1. Technical proposal with narrative of understanding of requirement as noted above. Technical proposal shall be responsive to the criteria outlined above with specifications for evaluation project, including sample unit prices for program design, data collection and analysis listed in a separate price proposal. 2. Technical proposal shall address the offeror's professional qualifications, related experience with detailed information on past performance explaining ability to meet this requirement. 3. Separate Price Proposal for the above. 4. A completed copy of the provisions at FAR 52.212-3, Offer Representatives and Certifications -- Commercial Items. 5. Proposals must also include prompt payment terms and correct remittance address if different from mailing address. Failure to provide any of the above items may result in the rejection of your proposal. A company not in possession of the above referenced clauses in full text, may contact the contracting office for a copy of the clauses which will be faxed to you. Proposals shall be in writing and must be signed by an official authorized to bind your organization. Oral proposals will not be accepted. Proposals may be faxed to (202) 205-5466. Proposals are due at the U.S. Information Agency, Office of Contracts, 301 4th Street, SW., Room M-22, Washington, DC 20547 on February 22, 1999 at 2:00 P.M., Eastern Time. All responsible sources may submit an offer for consideration. Posted 01/27/99 (W-SN291864). (0027)

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