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

R -- BRIEFING BOOK FOR ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS IN SOUTHEAST EUROPE CONFERENCE SOL TDA 00-Q-043 POC POC Della Glenn, U.S. Trade and Development Agency, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22209-2131, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax: (703) 875-4009 The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) wishes to announce an opportunity for small business to bid on a Competitive Total Set-Aside to provide technical research and writing for a briefing book. TDA is funding a conference titled "Energy and Transportation Projects in Southeast Europe," which will take place in Philadelphia, probably in early October. TDA seeks to contract with a U.S. firm (Contractor) to research and write the Briefing Book for the conference. The Contractor will consist of two experts in the energy and transportation sectors with extensive contacts at the World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and European Investment Bank (EIB). This conference will focus on energy and transportation projects in Southeast Europe, defined as Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Romania. We intend to focus solely on IFI-funded projects for presentation at the conference, particularly those emerging from the Stability Pact. A separate contractorwill be hired to organize the logistics and execute the conference. The Contractor will be required to review projects in the pipeline from the World Bank, EBRD, and the EIB. This will entail 20 days of work: five days preparation, five days at the World Bank, five days at the EBRD and EIB, and five days writing. In addition to the work performed in Washington, DC, the Contractor will travel to London and Luxembourg to meet with Bank officials to learn more about the projects in the pipeline. This will be firm fixed price contract not expected to exceed $40,000. TDA, located in Arlington, VA, assists in the creation of jobs for Americans by helping U.S. companies pursue overseas business opportunities. Through the funding of feasibility studies, orientation visits, specialized training grants, business workshops, conferences, and various forms of technical assistance, TDA helps American businesses compete for infrastructure and industrial projects in middle-income and developing countries. The Small BusinessAct, at 15, U.S.C. 644, authorizes procuring agencies to aside procurements or portions of procurements for the exclusive participation of Small Businesses Concerns. The Sic Code for this procurement is 8999. Definition: "Small business concerns" for purposes of TDA award of this total set aside contract means a concern, including its affiliates, that is independently owned and operated, not dominant in the field of operating for which it is bidding. In determining whether dominance exists for TDA's purpose for this contract, consideration is given to annual gross receipts. Any concern that is annual gross receipts above $5 million dollars, averaged over a three year period, is not considered small and is therefore, NOT eligible for award under this contract. All participating organizations involved with supplying professional services must be incorporated or chartered in the United States. Consultants planning teaming arrangements must be U.S. citizens or resident aliens. In accordance with FAR 19.301, offerors will be required to submit self certification relating to business size. The competitive proposals method of solicitation as set forth in Part 15 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) (48 CFR Chapter 1) shall be utilized for this procurement. This solicitation in no way obligates TDA to award a contract, nor does it commit TDA to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the proposal. Any explanation desired by an offeror regarding the meaning or interpretation of this solicitation must be requested in writing and with sufficient time allowed for reply to reach the offerors before submission of their offerors. All oral explanations or instruction, given before award of this contract will not be binding. Any information given to a prospective offeror concerning the solicitation will be furnished promptly to all prospective offerors as an amendment of the solicitation, if such information is necessary to offerors submitting proposals or if lack of such information would be prejudicial to uninformed offerors. The Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued on/about (15) fifteen days after the publication date of this synopsis. The closing date for receipt of proposals will be approximately 21 days thereafter. Only written requests for the RFP that indicate the company's size will be honored. U.S. eligible small businesses interested in receiving the RFP should send a fax requesting it to Della Glenn at (703) 875-4009 or a letter addressed to Ms. Glenn at 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22209-2131. ***** Posted 05/12/00 (W-SN454352). (0133)

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