USTDA, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22209-2131

B -- INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR U.S. TELECOM EXPERTS AND FIRMS SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESS DUE 063000 POC Aileen Crowe, TDA, 1621 N. Kent St., Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22209; Fax: (703) 875-4009; acrowe@tda.gov. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) seeks U.S. telecommunications specialists to perform due diligence work on potential investments and to compete for potential feasibility study opportunities. TDA is an independent agency of the U.S. government with a dual mission to promote U.S. exports and the developmental priorities of the host countries. We assist U.S. companies in establishing long-term commercial relationships with foreign project sponsors primarily by funding feasibility studies for large infrastructure projects. Telecommunications is one of our most active sectors. Before TDA provides funding to a proposed project, a thorough evaluation of the project and its technical and financial merits is required. As part of this evaluation, TDA hires a technical/financial expert(s) to review the project and analyze it according to the TDA criteria: The extent to which U.S. firms are facing foreign competition for the project; The extent to which the project is a developmental priority for the host country; The likelihood that the project will be financed; and The dollar value of potential U.S. exports for project implementation and the competitiveness of U.S. firms in this sector. To perform this work, potential consultants should possess substantial knowledge and experience in the telecommunications sector and project-specific implementation and financing experience. In many cases we require that a technical expert partner with a financial specialist to provide an analysis on both technical and financial elements of the project. International and overseas work experience will make your bid for a contract award more competitive, as will relevant foreign language capability. All TDA contractors must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. There are two types of due diligence review performed by contractors for TDA. If only basic information about a potential project is submitted to TDA without a clear terms of reference or budget, we will often require a Definitional Mission (DM), which entails travel to the host country. DMs are competitively bid and typically cost $25,000 or more. If the proposal is detailed with a complete terms of reference and budget, then a Desk Study (DS) is required. A DS is a shorter assignment not involving travel to the region. A DS typically costs between $2500 and $5000. If they are more than $2500, they are competitively bid. Public notice of DM opportunities is posted each Friday evening on the DM hotline at (703) 875-7447. In addition to due diligence work, TDA-funded feasibility study opportunities are announced in the Commerce Business Daily, as well as in TDA's biweekly newsletter, The Pipeline, available at no charge on the web at www.tda.gov. TDA-funded feasibility studies range from $150,000-$800,000. After requesting the Request for Proposals from TDA, U.S. firms then send their proposals directly to the project sponsor for selection. Telecommunications firms are also encouraged to approach TDA for assistance on a sole-source basis for their overseas projects. Anoutline of TDA requirements for such assistance is found on our web site at www.tda.gov in the Model Feasibility Study Format under "TDA Resources." Working with TDA could provide you with foreign travel, close contact with project sponsors, substantial business development opportunities in both the U.S. and abroad and a chance to promote U.S. business interests in middle-income and developing countries. If you are interested in pursuing potential opportunities with TDA, please submit your resume or corporate capability statement, and indicate whether you are a large or small business, to: Aileen Crowe, TDA, 1621 N. Kent St., Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22209; Fax: (703) 875-4009; acrowe@tda.gov.****** Posted 05/10/00 (W-SN453476). (0131)

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