Export-Import Bank of The United States, 811 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1023, Washington, DC 20571

B -- HISTORIAN TO PROVIDE RESEARCH AND WRITING OF A SCHOLARLY HISTORY OF THE EXPORT-IMPORT BANK IN A FORM SUITABLE FOR PUBLICATION. SOL EXIM-99-R-0003 DUE 043099 POC Tobin Gatto, (202)-565-3333 E-MAIL: tobin.gatto@exim.gov, tobin.gatto@exim.gov. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in the notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation WILL NOT be issued. The solicitation number is EXIM-99-R-0003 and is being issued as a request for proposal (RFP). This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-10. This acquisition is 100% set-aside for small business concerns. The Standard Industrial Classification number is 8999 and the business Size Standard is $5 million. Offerors will provide price on CLIN 0001 with the following description: Non-Personal Service to provide all necessary labor, tools, materials, and transportation to provide research and writing of a scholarly history of the Export-Import Bank from its founding to the present time, based on research from primary documents, and to present this history in a form suitable for publication. Statement of Work: Proposal: The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is requesting proposals from qualified parties for the research and writing of a scholarly history of the Bank from its founding to the present time, based on research from primary documents, and to present this history in a form suitable for publication. The history is to be based on research on primary documents drawn from National Archives, temporary storage centers and the offices of the Bank and other government agencies in Washington, including Commerce, State, and Treasury, as well as other relevant sources of primary records such as Presidential Libraries. It is also expected that a number of oral history interviews will be conducted with current and retired Bank personnel. The work with primary documents is to be complemented by research of official publications of Congress and Federal government agencies, as well as the secondary literature that has been produced about the Bank and its history. The Export-Import Bank of Washington was founded in 1934 as a District of Columbia banking corporation. In 1945 the Bank became an independent federal agency under the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945, renewed and amended in succeeding years. In 1968 the Bank's name was changed to the Export-Import Bank of the United States to reflect its federal status and national role. That role is to provide loans, guarantees, and insurance to support the export of U.S. goods and services when the transaction provides reasonable assurance of repayment but the private sector is unwilling or unable to finance the transaction, or the U.S. exporter is facing below market financing from government supported foreign competition. Scope and Audience: The history is to include all aspects of the Ex-Im Bank's domestic and foreign activities, credit programs, law, policy development, finances, business marketing, leadership, and political administration from both the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government. The period to cover includes the inception of Ex-Im Bank up to the present. The history is to be organized chronologically and address preliminarily at least the following themes: a)The interplay among the demands of commerce, domestic politics and diplomacy at the time. (Major periods to be addressed include the 1930's depression, World War II, the Cold War, and the end of the Cold War); b)How the Bank changed its posture and programs as its constituencies and their needs changed; c) How key Bank officials shaped the institution in response to the changes in its economic and political environment. Ex-Im Bank expects this history to be of interest to a wide range of public and private readers concerned with the evolution of export finance and trade policies. Such a history will be useful in connection with general study of current practice of export finance and public policy, as well as ongoing training of analysts and managers in Ex-Im Bank, and others who do business with the Bank. The history will also play an important role in facilitating future legislative and public policy development by providing a credible record that can be cited, illustrating how Ex-Im Bank has done business through the years. This history will also facilitate the work of communicating to the media and law-makers the factual record in clear and simple language. Sources available: In addition to primary records transferred to the National Archives, archival material can be found in the internal central records branch at Ex-Im Bank headquarters and at two temporary storage centers in Washington. Additional material can be found in the Bank's library and several other sites within Ex-Im Bank along with related published and unpublished primary and secondary reference material. The Departments of State, Treasury, and Commerce also have records related to the Bank and its activities. Additional information will need to be obtained from key officers at Ex-Im Bank in the form of interviews and reference files that may be available. Documentation: The history must be fully indexed and annotated with customary footnotes to document facts, sources of data, or other appropriate information. A bibliography or list of references consulted should be provided. Review and Completion: The Bank's History Committee will review and accept the work of the contractor, answer questions, provide logistical assistance, and approve all submissions, drafts, and final text. All reports and drafts, as well as questions will be submitted to the Secretary of the Committee. The following is an approximate time line with the objective of publication by December 31, 2000. 1) September 30: Preliminary outline submitted. 2) January 15, 2000: Submit status report on research and drafting completed. 3) May 1, 2000: Submit status report on research and drafting completed. 4) August 15, 2000: Draft submitted to History Committee. 5) October 31, 2000: Final draft approved by the Committee. 6) December 31, 2000: Publication of the history. Materials: All written materials produced during or associated with the contractor's research, interviewing, note-taking, indexing, and drafting become the property of Ex-Im Bank at the end of the contract period and final payment. Evaluation: The Bank will evaluate submissions from prospective contractors based on the following criteria, Technical, Price, and Past Performance which are listed in descending order of importance: 1)Technical Capability -- experience in professional research and writing of business history; professional recognition in the national historical community; publishing of history in the area of government, finance, business, foreign affairs etc.; proven capability to produce balanced and objective peer-reviewed research and writing; substantial experience with the use of archives, records, and other primary materials; and proven capability to adhere to established standards for style and documentation, quality and reputation of publishing of historical works. 2) Total Price; 3) Past Performance -- record of meeting deadlines and adhering to schedules and academic credentials at least at the Master's degree level with Doctorate level preferred. Evidence that addresses these qualifications should document specific research and writing accomplishments, evidence of project timetables, academic or other awards, published reviews of work, personal references and academic credentials. The offeror shall provide a minimum of 2 government or civilian references to which the same or similar services have been delivered within the last 7 years. References shall include the contract number, type service delivered, when services were required and when services were actually delivered; point of contact; and telephone number(s). Clauses and provisions are incorporated by reference and can be accessed electronically at http://farsite.hill.af.mil/. This solicitation incorporates the following provisions and clauses by reference. FAR 52.212-1, Instruction to Offerors-Commercial Items with the following addenda: Per FAR 12.603(b) the SF 1449 is not used. Paragraph (c), period of acceptance of offers -- Offeror agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm for 60 days after Government receipt of proposals. Paragraph 11, offers must provide a statement specifying the extent of agreement with all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation. Offers that fail to furnish this information may be excluded from consideration. FAR 52.212-3, Offer Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items (a completed copy of this provision shall be submitted with the offer. Offerors who fail to submit a completed Representations and Certification may be considered non-responsive). FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items, to include clauses (1), (5), (12), (13), (14), and (15). FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items. FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items with the above evaluation criteria substituted for paragraph (a). Additional Clauses: FAR 52.216-1, Type of Contract. The Government contemplates award of a firm fixed price contract resulting from this solicitation. Proposals must be submitted in writing, signed and dated to, Export-Import Bank, 811 Vermont Ave. N.W. Washington DC 20571 Attn: Tobin Gatto. Offers are due no later than 4:30 p.m. on April 30, 1999. The point of contact for all information regarding this acquisition is Tobin Gatto at 202-565-3333. Posted 04/06/99 (W-SN316882). (0096)

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