R -- CONFERENCE MANAGEMENT AND RELATED BRIEFING MATERIALS

Notice Date

September 26, 2000

Contracting Office

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

ZIP Code

22209-2131

Response Due

November 15, 2000

Point of Contact

Della Glenn, USTDA, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22209-2131, Tel: 703-875-4311, Fax: 703-875-4009

Description

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) seeks to award approximately thirty one-year indefinite quantity contracts, with 4 additional one-year options, under which task orders will be awarded to U.S. contractors who are capable of arranging for and managing Conferences, Orientation Visits (OVs), Outreach Activities and supporting briefing books, on a quick response, thoroughly professional, and smoothly operational basis. TDA is an export-oriented, U.S. Government foreign assistance agency committed to promoting environmentally sound, sustainable economic development and trade in middle income and developing countries. Among TDA's major program activities are project-specific Conferences. Conferences generally last 2-3 days and typically involve between 100-300 people. Under TDA oversight, organization of a Conference involves identification and invitation of appropriate foreign and U.S. individuals to address or attend the Conference, marketing the event, soliciting participation by U.S. and foreign firms, obtaining corporate sponsorships, arranging the agenda and speakers, handling all logistics at the Conference site and organizing functions related to the Conference such as site visits, social functions, and one-on-one business meetings. Another of TDA's major program activities are Orientation Visits (OVs), in which TDA funds visits to the United States of foreign decision-makers responsible for projects in developing and middle-income countries. OVs give the decision-makers an opportunity to see U.S. technology at work and to meet representatives of U.S. companies that can supply goods and services to their projects. OVs generally are scheduled to coincide with procurement decisions, but can be held at any point in a project's cycle. OVs typically last 7-14 days, and involve the travel of approximately 4-20 foreign delegates from their country(ies), visits to a number of sites within the U.S., attendance at various meetings with U.S. industry, attendance at business briefings and trade fairs, and return travel to the foreign country. Contractors generally will not have more than 60 days notice of a desired OV, and often will have substantially less time. The Conferences and OVs take place throughout the United States and, on occasion, in a foreign country. The ability to market the event and to solicit participation by appropriate U.S. and foreign firms is very important. Outreach Activities are conducted in order to acquaint American business people with the programs and opportunities at TDA and to facilitate other TDA special projects. Supporting documentation includes research and preparation of briefing books, conference books and other material (such as overheads, electronic presentations, and other audiovisual tools) for use at the conferences, OV's, and outreach activities. TDA seeks to have contractors throughout the U.S. compete for this IQC. Contractors will be expected to have the ability to organize Conferences in any location in the United States or throughout the world, although they may demonstrate special expertise in a particular region or location. Contractors will be asked in their bids to give their experience and willingness to organize Conferences overseas in TDA's major regions (Africa, Asia, Central Europe, Latin America, and the NIS). Contractors will also be expected to have, or be able to obtain, special expertise in TDA's main sectors (energy, telecommunications, transportation, and water/environment). When necessary, Contractors may also need to obtain expertise in other fields, such as agribusiness, information technology, emergency preparedness, and others. All individuals performing work in the United States under the contract must be United States citizens or resident aliens. At least ten percent of the awards under this solicitation will be made to U.S. small business firms. Except for questions at the pre-proposal briefing described at the end of this announcement, any explanation desired by an offeror regarding the meaning or interpretation of this solicitation must be requested in writing no later than November 1, 2000. The Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued on/or about fifteen (15) days after the publication date of this announcement. Closing date for proposals will be on November 15,2000. Only written requests for the RFP will be honored. Those interested in receiving RFP No. TDA 00-XXXXXX should send a letter or fax requesting it from TDA, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 200, Arlington, VA. 22209-2131; Fax -- 703-875-4009. A pre-proposal briefing will be held in the Washington, D.C. area regarding this RFP. The briefing is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, October 24, 2000 at 10:00 a.m. in Rosslyn, Virginia. Notification of the actual date, time and location of the briefing will be sent with the RFP. Notes will be taken at the briefing and will be sent to all those who requested the RFP. All responsible sources may submit an offer which will be considered. *****

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20000928/RSOL008.HTM (W-270 SN501045)