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

R -- DEFINITIONAL MISSION FOR BALKAN GAS PROJECTS SOL TDA 00-Q044 POC Della Glenn, USTDA, 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) seeks bids from small U.S. businesses (Contractor) to conduct a Definitional Mission (DM) to assess the viability of potential gas-sector project opportunities in the Balkans. TDA is considering the provision of grant funds for feasibility studies for gas sector projects in five Balkan countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Romania. Projects that will be investigated include: Albania: pipeline interconnection; Bosnia: pipeline interconnection from Croatia; underground gas storage facility in Tuzla; Croatia: underground gas storage facility at Okoli; Macedonia: refurbishing and reconstruction of existing pipeline between Skopje and Kosovo; Romania: pipeline rehabilitation and interconnection. Most of these projects were identified as regional infrastructure development priorities through the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe. The Contractor will be required to travel to Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Romania to review the proposed projects. The Contractor must be qualified to evaluate the economic, financial and technical viability of the proposed projects. Specifically, the Contractor shall provide expert analysis on: potential risks of the proposed projects; the financeability of the projects and likely sources of financing; potential exports of U.S. equipment and services that could be utilized in project implementation; and priority of the proposed project to the host country. The Contractor shall provide a report to TDA which includes a thorough analysis of these issues and a recommendation on which projects TDA should fund a feasibility study. For each positive recommendation, the Contractor shall develop a sound budget and Terms of Reference (TOR). The contractor will also determine if there are any other gas sector opportunities for TDA consideration. The total estimated contract cost is shall not exceed $35,000. TDA, located in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, 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 Business Act, 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 contractor must be in the position to present fair and unbiased information pursuant to the statement of work. The Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued on/about (15) fifteen days after the publication date of this synopsis. Because of the urgency of this request, the closing date for receipt of proposals will be approximately twenty-one (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 by U.S. mail to Ms. Glenn at U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA), Contracts Unit, Room 200, 1621 N. Kent Street, Arlington, VA. 22209-2131. ***** Posted 05/12/00 (W-SN454360). (0133)

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