U.S. Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/OFA/AGFS/AMD -- OFA51, 1305 East West Highway -- Station 7604, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

B -- TRADE ISSUE STUDIES SOL 9-4310 DUE 091099 POC Sandra Souders, (301) 713-0854 B -- The U.S. Dept. of Commerce/BISNIS has a requirement for a contractor to provide BISNIS with trade leads, useful market updates, and practical industry and regional reporting on Nizhny Novgorod and surrounding regions. Trade and business leads will be used in BISNIS Trades & Tenders and Search for Partners publications, and will be collected using BISNIS' company surveys. The contractor is expected to work with the local business community and media to ensure that the community is familiar with BISNIS programs. The contractor will also be expected to assist BISNIS trade specialists while traveling in the region to collect market intelligence and attend conferences, trade shows, etc. The contractor will be required to provide BISNIS with a number of reports and products each month including: three viable Trades and Tenders leads; three viable Search for Partners leads; monthly commercial industry and regional reports; and a monthly synopsis of commercial news. Period of Performance will be from October 1, 1999 through September 30, 2000. Applicants must meet the following criteria: 1) Have extensive experience performing research and preparing reports on commercial issues; 2) Have strong contacts with the Nizhny Novgorod business community and government leaders, as well as with the U.S. business and business related non-government organization community in Nizhny Novgorod. Having similar contacts/experience in surrounding regions is also desirable, but not essential; 3) Have experience working with U.S. government entities, including knowledge of U.S. policies and procedures, and gathering commercial information for the U.S. government or other organizations; 4) Be fluent in Russian and English, and able to write reports using standard business English; 5) Have an office located at a site in the city of Nizhny Novgorod which is easily accessible to both local firms and U.S. companies interested in investment and commercial opportunities in the region; 6) Have the ability to obtain an e-mail account and utilize e-mail in order to facilitate communication between contractor and BISNIS; 7) Be able to work independently; show individual initiative in the workplace (individual should be able to initiate, complete, and submit required deliverables according to the terms of the contract without prompting by contracting agency, and should generate ideas for potential BISNIS reports and projects to facilitate U.S. trade and investment in the region). Qualified applicants are invited to submit a written request for the solicitation package to the address above, to be received no later than seven (7) days from date of this notice. All applicants must submit information as to their capabilities and any other pertinent data. All responses will be evaluated on a "best value basis". Requests/Responses should be faxed to (301) 713-0806. Award will be made using simplified acquisition procedures. (Reference No. 9-4310). Posted 09/02/99 (W-SN375659). (0245)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0009 19990907\B-0003.SOL)