USAID/Guatemala-CAP, Unit 3323, APO AA 34024

R -- LABOR ADVISORY SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE MINISTRIES OF LABOR OF CENTRAL AMERICA, BELIZE AND PANAMA SOL 520-99-P-014 DUE 062399 POC Lilian L. Rodas, Contracts Negotiator, e-mail: Irodas@usaid.gov, and Aracely de Taracena, Supervisory Acquisition Specialist, E-mail: ataraceba@usaid.gov; USAID/G-CAP, Tel: 502-332-0202, Fax: 502-331-1506 WEB: http://www.info.usaid.gov, http://www.info.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/announce/cbd. E-MAIL: http://www.info.usaid.gov, irodas@usaid.gov, ataracena@usaid.gov. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Guatemala/Central American Programs (G-CAP) is interested in contracting Labor Advisory services to support the Ministries of Labor of Central America, Belize, and Panama, for a period of two years in developing and advancing their regional agenda supporting the strengthening of workers rights protection and improving labor-management relations, and, concurrently supporting the implementation of activities financed by the labor component of the Program Supporting Central American Participation in the Free Trade Area of the Americas (PROALCA). USAID/G-CAP will accept proposals from institutions or individuals which/who should have ten years of general experience in areas related to economic development and five years of specialized experience in areas related to labor relations, labor markets and protection of core labor standards. Demonstrated extensive and up-to-date knowledge and familiarity with the hemispheric integration process in areas related to trade and labor relations. Interested institutions or individuals should also demonstrate ability to communicate effectively with high level officials at the national, regional and international level; ability to command the confidence of the region's labor ministers and other key partners, customer representatives and stakeholders. Ability to skillfully deal with complex trade and labor issues in public for and private groupings with Central American policy makers at the highest levels. USAID anticipates awarding a cost-reimbursement contract for a period of two years. It is anticipated that a Request for Proposal (RFP) for this activity will be published on the Internet not sooner than fifteen days subsequent to this announcement. USAID encourages the participation of Small Business in this activity to the maximum extent possible, as prime Contractor or Subcontractor in accordance with Part 19 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. In this respect, it is anticipated that the prime contractor wull make every reasonable effort to identify and make maximum practicable use of such concerns. All selection evaluation criteria being found equal, the participation of such concerns may become a determining factor for selection. To help identify potential subcontractors, a list of all organizations requesting a copy of the solicitation will be published with the solicitation document. Organizations are encouraged to indicate whether they are Small or Small Disadvantage entities when requesting the soliciation and may indicate that they do not wish to be included on the list. By providing the list, USAID does not endorse the listed organizations as being capable of carrying out the activity, nor does USAID verify the claimed status of the organizations. Necessarily, the list will contain the names of only those organizations known prior to the issuance of the solicition document. Proposals shall include Small Business plans reflecting, to the maximum extent possible, subcontracting with the above-defined entities. N telegraphic, fax or e-mail proposals will be accepted Geographic Code is 000, 941 and Central American (including Belize and Panama). To obtain the RFP, send your request to the Regional Contracting Office, USAID/G-CAP, Unit 3323, APO AA 34024, Fax (502) 331-1506 or 331-1151, Attention: Lilian L. Rodas. The preferred method of distribution of USAID procurement information is via the Internet or by request of a solicitation on a 3.5" floppy disk (WordPerfect 5.1/5.2 format). This CBD notice can be viewed and downloaded using the Agency Web Site. The RFP, once issued, can be downloaded from the Agency Web Site. The Worldwide Web address is http://www.info.usaid.gov. Select Business and Procurement Opportunities from the home page, then "USAID Procurements." On the following screen, select "Download Available USAID Soliciations." It is the responsibility of the recipient of this solicitation document to ensure that it has been received from internet in its entirety and USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes. Posted 04/13/99 (W-SN318610). (0103)

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