U.S. Information Agency, International Broadcasting Bureau, Contracts and Procurement Division, B/PA/AC, Room 2517, 330 C St, SW, Washington, DC 20547

T -- MEDIA COVERAGE SOL n/a POC Contact Point/Contracting Officer: Technical Point of Contact: Larry James -- Fax (202)401-7341; Contracting Officer: Cynthia Krasinski -- Fax (202) 401-7341. E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Purchasing Agent via e-mail., beserene@VOA.GOV. The Broadcasting Board of Governors, International Broadcasting Bureau, Voice of America, English Programs Division, in accordance with FAR Part 13 (Simplified Acquisition Procedures), intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a non-competitive basis with Maxwell Ruston to provide television and radio coverage of significant issues and events in the west and northwest United States with a focus on the high-technology industry. He will also provide Pacific Rim coverage. Selection of Mr. Ruston as a sole-source bidder is justified by his specialized knowledge of VOA operations and target audiences, his familiarity with hi-technology and Pacific Rim issues and his language skills. His 13 years working for VOA in the United States and abroad as a Foreign Service Officer and VOA Bureau Chief make him uniquely suited for this contract. The contract position will serve to test and develop new, more efficient concepts for regional and issue coverage, and therefore requires a contractor with thorough familiarity with VOA administrative and journalistic operations and existing relationships with all levels of VOA management. Mr. Ruston is also uniquely suited to this position because of his skills in understanding the needs of our main target audiences, having lived and worked extensively in China, India, West Africa and other locations, and his knowledge of technology issues, demonstrated through the installation and improvement of computer systems in New York, Beijing, Hong Kong and Abidjan. Our selection of Mr. Ruston is further strengthened by his fluency in Mandarin Chinese, which allows him to better understand and report more extensively on issues that most concern our largest listening sector. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition that is applicable to this procurement is FAR Subpart 6.302-1(a)(2), 41 U.S.C. 253 (c)(1), Only One Responsible Source. This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive price quotations. However, interested firms or persons may identify their interest and capabilities to provide the above-stated services and/or submit a price quotation. All price quotations received by the Government by January 31, 2000 will be considered. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed purchase order, based upon responses to this public Notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received in response to this Public Notice will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct a competitive procurement. Any questions or requests for additional information regarding this Public Notice shall be in writing and shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer, Cynthia Krasinski, via facsimile at 202-401-7341. This Notice is not a RFQ, RFP, or IFB. Posted 01/12/00 (W-SN415343). (0012)

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