MODIFICATION
R -- South Asia Regional: (Briefing Book) for a Technical Symposium for Transportation and Trade Facilitation Conference
- Notice Date
- 5/17/2005
- Notice Type
- Modification
- NAICS
- 541611
— Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- United States Trade and Development Agency, USTDA Contracts Office, USTDA, 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600, Arlington, VA, 22209-3901
- ZIP Code
- 22209-3901
- Solicitation Number
- USTDA-05-Q-21-204
- Response Due
- 6/9/2005
- Archive Date
- 6/24/2005
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- SECTION B ? SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS INTRODUCTION This Contract is for Advisory and Assistance Services by non-governmental sources in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 37 ? Service Contracting and Part 15--Negotiated Contracts. B.l Summary B.1.1 USTDA is funding a Conference for Transportation and Trade Facilitation for South Asian Countries, which will take place in India in Fall 2005 or Winter 2006. USTDA seeks to contract with a U.S. firm (Contractor) to research and write the Briefing Book for the conference. The Contractor will propose a team with technical and business expertise in the Transportation infrastructure sector in South Asia. B.1.2. With the support of several U.S. government agencies, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is planning a conference that will highlight issues and opportunities in Transportation and Trade Facilitation for South Asian countries. The Conference will tentatively be held over two-and-a-half days in either Fall 2005 or Winter 2006, in India. For bid preparation purposes, this timeframe and location should be assumed. In 2004, the World Bank presented empirical data demonstrating the low-levels of intra-regional and inter-regional trade for South Asia. This report proposed the implementation of specific measures to facilitate trade and to lower trade logistics costs. The World Bank report focuses on port efficiency, customs environment, regulatory environment, and service-sector infrastructure as key investment areas that could raise intra-regional trade by $2.6 billion. The area that will produce the greatest gains is service-sector infrastructure, followed by air and maritime ports. Transportation and trade facilitation was a key topic in the World Bank?s Global Economic Prospects 2004 report as well as the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings in the Fall of 2004. Further, transportation and trade facilitation projects are now starting to figure more prominently in developing countries? Country Assistance Strategies and lending operations with the World Bank ? which are key procurement opportunities for U.S. companies. Significant opportunities for U.S. transportation firms exist in South Asia despite differing levels of development throughout the region. The following countries are expected to participate in this regional conference: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. South Asian countries recognize the critical nature of improvements in this sector, and are making concrete steps to obtain appropriate assistance in identifying and meeting their needs. This is also a region where there is significant competition from European countries. Topics which could be addressed during the conference may include, but are not limited to: Transportation linkages Private management of transportation systems Rehabilitation and improvements to systems Port Container Systems Air traffic management Aviation infrastructure development Rail, port, highway improvements Rural roads projects Container Security Initiative (CSI) certifications The agenda will be designed with these objectives in mind. Offerors shall provide a draft agenda reflecting the conference objectives as part of the bid. The conference will bring together public and private sector project sponsors and transportation sector and trade facilitation government leaders from the national, state, and municipal levels in the participating countries, as well as a range of U.S. equipment suppliers and service providers catering to this industry. In preparing the bid for this conference, offerors should consider industry competitiveness and the targeted U.S. company audience for the event. We are targeting approximately 175 U.S. and foreign participants, with at least 50 U.S. company representatives and approximately 30 project delegates from the participating countries. The conference will aim to balance policy and project objectives, and will feature one-on-one meetings, project presentations, and panel/roundtable discussions. B.1.3. As the technical expert responsible for the overall substance of the Conference, the Contractor shall perform the following primary tasks: 1. Prepare a Briefing Book of country and sector overviews and at least 30 detailed project descriptions for projects to be presented at the Conference; 2. Contribution towards development of marketing materials; 3. Identification of U.S. companies to whom the conference should be marketed; 4. Identification of project sponsors, speakers, and other special guests to be invited to the Conference; 5. Assist USTDA and the logistical conference contractor to develop a detailed, substantive agenda for the conference; 6. Assist the host country sponsors in the development of presentations that will be made at the event; 7. Identification of potential topics for discussions; and 8. Attend the Conference to help with the agenda and facilitate the interaction between Conference attendees. B.1.4 A separate logistics contractor will be hired to organize the logistics and execute the conference. The Briefing Book Contractor and the logistical conference contractor will be required to coordinate and cooperate with each other to successfully perform this work. B.2 Payment Terms (Net 30 Days) B.2.1 Payment shall be made in accordance with the following: FAR 52.232-1 ?Payments? (APR 1984); FAR 52.232-16 ?Progress Payments? (DEC 2002); and FAR 52.232-25 ? Prompt Payment? (FEB 2002). B.2.2 Payment shall be made by the payment office designated in Section G.3 of this contract 30 days after receipt of an acceptable Contractor?s Invoice in accordance with Section G.9. B.2.3 The Contractor may invoice for up to 25% of the total contract price upon meeting with USTDA and the logistical contractor for a kickoff meeting and submittal to and acceptance of a workplan for the research and travel. The Contractor may invoice for up to 25% of the total contract price upon submittal to and acceptance by USTDA of: The planned itinerary, purchase of tickets, and required insurance declarations from the insurance agencies, as noted in Sections G.13, G.14 and G.15, respectively; The preliminary list of projects as per paragraph 4 of Section C.1 of the Contract; The draft country by country ?analysis of key issues, trends, and policies in the country for the communications infrastructure sector? as per C.1. The targeted list of 200 U.S. companies as per Section C.1 of the Contract; and A brief (2-3 pages) report on the development of a detailed, substantive agenda for the conference related to the work described under Section C.1 of the Contract. The Contractor may invoice for up to 30% once USTDA has received and accepted the final report (see Section C.4.2.). The balance of 20% will be paid in full once the Contractor has fulfilled all outstanding responsibilities under the Contract, including attendance and work performed at the conference. B.2.4 The Contractor shall be under no obligation to perform any work hereunder, and the Government shall not be obligated to pay the Contractor for any work performed, which exceeds the authorized funding. B.3 Contract Type (Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.216-1 (APR 1984) The Government contemplates award of a Firm-Fixed Price Contract resulting from this Solicitation. END OF SECTION B SECTION C ? DESCRIPTION/SPECS/WORK STATEMENT Conference Briefing Book C.1. The Contractor shall prepare and write the Briefing Book for the Transportation and Trade Facilitation Infrastructure Conference. Contractor shall be responsible for identifying and providing a thorough analysis of no less than 30 transportation infrastructure sector projects from among the target participating countries in South Asia that offer potential export and investment opportunities for U.S. firms. These projects will be profiled at the Conference. The selected projects shall be projects that are likely to be implemented within one to two years of the event and which offer significant potential for U.S. exporters and investors. Projects must be technically, economically, and financially viable and should include projects which may be suitable for USTDA involvement as well as those which do not require USTDA involvement. Contractor shall plan for travel to Washington, D.C. twice prior to the conference for conference planning purposes. Travel to the region for project identification is required. For the preparation of the Briefing Book, the Contractor shall plan on traveling over approximately 20 business days to at least four of the countries to be included in the Conference. Contractor shall establish contact with the relevant Foreign Commercial Service personnel, public and private sector representatives, Chambers of Commerce/industrial associations, and schedule meetings with project sponsors prior to travel. Travel schedule shall be approved by USTDA. For countries not targeted for travel, the Contractor is responsible for working with project sponsors and Foreign Commercial Service or Embassy officers to identify, develop and write up projects for those countries. The Contractor should contact co-sponsoring organizations and industry specialists to assist with the preparation of the Briefing Book Prior to travel, Contractor should prepare a preliminary list of projects for USTDA?s review and approval. This list should be supported by information that indicates whether the projects fulfill the criteria for inclusion in the Briefing Book. Contractor should identify which projects require additional information and validation before they are included in the final list of projects. Upon completion of travel, Contractor shall prepare a list of 10 key projects with brief descriptions that will be highlighted for marketing purposes. The list is subject to the approval of USTDA and the Contractor will deliver to the logistics contractor within 3 business days after completion of travel. The final list of projects included in the briefing book should be no less than 30 and no more than 50 (to be approved by USTDA). Each project description should include a technical description of the project, information on the site, timing, the demand (and procurement opportunities) for equipment and services, identification of what is needed to make the project move forward, information on financing for the projects, and identification of key decision-makers. The Briefing Book must include coverage of each of the participating countries. The report shall be divided by country and include the following: Summary analysis of the economy and business climate; a (politically sensitive) map (the maps used should be approved by the relevant U.S. Embassies); Analysis of key issues, trends, and policies in the country for the transportation and trade facilitation sector; Profiles of the key transportation facilitation sector projects, including a detailed description of the project and information on site, timing, equipment and services demand, the nature of the demand, a financial assessment, identification and contact information for key decision-makers (including appropriate Foreign Commercial Service staff). Each project profile should be at least 2-3 pages in length. The inclusion of additional or different material than that stated here, is subject to USTDA approval. The Briefing Book shall include an executive summary which addresses the overall key issues, trends, and policies in the South Asia region for the transportation sector. This document shall be prepared in coordination with USTDA staff for ample time to request changes and corrections. This book shall be delivered in hard copy and disk to the IQC (logistics) contractor at least 6 weeks prior to the conference. This timeframe gives the IQC contractor time to format and reproduce the CD-ROM and book and mail the CD-ROM to all registered participants 10 working days before the conference. The Contractor will not be responsible for the reproduction of the Briefing Books. The Contractor should deliver a camera-ready copy of the Briefing Book in paper and electronic formats to the logistics contractor for reproduction. The Contractor shall work with the U.S. Commercial Service in each country to assist each of the delegates prepare their presentations. This will include speaker tips, model PowerPoint presentations, and other necessary efforts to ensure the effectiveness of each presentation. Contractor will provide host country presenters with recommended presentation content and format in order to ensure presentations are uniform and have appropriate content. Contractor will produce and distribute to foreign project sponsors a model PowerPoint slide with the name of the conference, appropriate graphics, USTDA logo, and other relevant information. The presentations should be concise and focused on specific project and procurement opportunities. Contractor will work with U.S. Embassy staff and project sponsors to ensure that presentations of appropriate format, size and content are received by IQC logistics contractor prior to conference execution. Contractor will attend the conference and be available to moderate panel discussions. The Contractor shall work with USTDA, co-sponsoring organizations and industry specialists to develop a targeted list of participating country invitees. The Contractor shall work with USTDA, co-sponsoring organizations and industry specialists to develop a targeted list of 200 U.S. transportation goods and services companies and international financial companies to whom the Conference should be marketed. This list will be delivered to USTDA and the logistics contractor within 5 business days after completion of travel. The list should give specific contacts within these companies where possible and should be in a mutually agreed format with the logistics contractor. The list should include 40 U.S. companies for whose attendance at the Conference is considered highly beneficial and appropriate given the projects to be presented at the Conference. The Contractor shall contact each of these 40 companies and determine the interest in attending the Conference. This list, including responses to this initial marketing effort, shall then be turned over to the logistics contractor for further marketing purposes. The Contractor shall work with USTDA and the logistics conference contractor to develop a detailed, substantive agenda for the conference. The Contractor should contact co-sponsoring organizations and industry specialists to assist them with the preparation of the development of the agenda. The Contractor will identify appropriate speakers for the keynote and luncheon speeches and panel discussions at the conference. The Contractor shall attend the Conference and be available to moderate panel discussions and facilitate one-on-one meetings and other interaction between the Conference attendees. In order to perform this matchmaking role properly, the Contractor shall be fully knowledgeable of the projects being presented, project sponsors, speakers, co-sponsoring organizations, host country markets and relevant policy issues. C.2 USTDA Responsibility USTDA will advise the U.S. Embassy in the host country of the Contractor?s proposed travel itinerary prior to departure and request that the Commercial Section of the Embassy provide the Contractor with names and addresses of appropriate host country officials with whom to meet. C.2.1 Contractor?s Host Country Travel The Contractor shall travel to the host countries to meet with relevant project officials and with the U.S. Embassies. The Contractor shall contact the Commercial Section at the U.S. Embassy upon arrival and prior to departure for briefing and debriefing meetings. While the Embassy may be able to assist the Contractor in arranging meetings with host country officials, the Contractor is responsible for arranging the meetings as well as logistics for the visit, i.e., hotel accommodations, transportation, and interpretation services. C.3 Contractor Interim Status Reporting and Deliverables The Contractor shall provide verbal updates to the COTR when necessary. The deliverables may also take the form of information, advice, opinions, alternatives, analyses, evaluations, recommendations, interim and final reports, or other oral or written work products needed for successful performance. C.4 Report Draft--COTR Approval Upon completion of travel, Contractor shall prepare a list of 30 key projects with brief descriptions that will be highlighted for marketing purposes. The list is subject to the approval of USTDA and Contractor will deliver to the logistics contractor within 3 business days after completion of travel. C.4.1 Revised Report Draft ? COTR Approval The final list of projects included in the briefing book should be no less than 30 and no more than 50 (to be approved by USTDA). Each project description should include a technical description of the project, information on the site, timing, the demand (and procurement opportunities) for equipment and services, identification of what is needed to make the project move forward, information on financing for the projects, and identification of key decision-makers. This document shall be prepared in coordination with USTDA staff for ample time to request changes and corrections. This book shall be delivered in hard copy and disk to the IQC (logistics) contractor at least 6 weeks prior to the conference. C.4.2 Final Report ? COTR Approval The final report shall incorporate all mutually agreed upon material and revisions. The report shall include any supporting documentation. It shall be grammatically and factually correct in all respects, internally consistent, and all statements and tables shall be clear and easily understood by a competent reader, and contain no typographical errors. Upon notification from the COTR that the report is considered acceptable, the Contractor shall submit one (1) copy to USTDA and copies as specified above to the logistics contractor. All reports must be paginated and submitted in Microsoft Word on a 3.5 inch disk. The Contractor shall also submit the report to the COTR as an e-mail attachment, and also in Microsoft Word Format. END OF SECTION C SECTION D - PACKAGING AND MARKING D.1 USTDA Mailing Address All documents shall be mailed or delivered to: U.S. Trade and Development Agency 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600 Arlington, VA 22209-3901 D.1.2 Contractor Reporting Requirements The front cover of every report must include USTDA's logo, attribution of USTDA as the funding source, and USTDA's mailing address. The inside front cover of every final report should include USTDA's logo and a shorter version of USTDA?s mission statement. (See attached examples). All reports forwarded to USTDA shall include a project title, USTDA?s activity number, the author's name(s), Contractor's name, and the issuance date of the report. END OF SECTION D SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE E.1 Inspection and Acceptance All services shall be subject to the COTR final approval. All work will be inspected and accepted at USTDA?s Office, located at 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600, Arlington, VA 22209-3901. E.2 Quality Assurance The Contractor?s work performance and required documents shall be complete, timely, internally consistent, and grammatically and factually correct in all respects. E.3 Responsible Official In accordance with the clauses of this contract entitled, "Inspection of Services? (FIXED PRICE --FAR 52.246-4 (AUG 1996)) and "Limitation of Liability - Services" (FAR 52.246-25 (FEB 1997)), inspection and acceptance of services and supplies by the cognizant USTDA Contracting Officer Technical Representative (Section G.2.) shall form the basis for payments to the Contractor. END OF SECTION E SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE F.1 Period of Performance The period of performance of this contract is _____________ through ____________________________. (To be completed by USTDA) F.2 Place of Performance Performance of this contract shall be on-site at USTDA?s Office, 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600, Arlington, VA 22209-3901 as necessary, at other locations in the United States, or in the designated host country. F.3 Contractor Personnel Requirements & Key Personnel The Contractor shall be responsible for staffing as necessary for the performance of this contract. The Contractor shall provide the personnel, listed in its proposal, who can assess the project?s requirements to adequately perform the tasks required in the Scope of Work, as stated in Section C. Those persons are considered to be key personnel. Key personnel changes may only be made with the Contracting Officer's prior written approval. F.4 Deliverables Deliverables are required as described in Section C. F.5 Performance Standard The performance standard required is to meet the objectives of the contract and provide a timely Briefing Book that is grammatically and factually correct, as well as thorough in its analysis and content, in all respects. END OF SECTION F SEE AMENDMENT 2 FOR REMAINDER OF STATEMENT OF WORK
- Place of Performance
- Address: Headquarters, USTDA, 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600, Arlington, Virginia
- Zip Code: 22209-3901
- Country: USA
- Zip Code: 22209-3901
- Record
- SN00809861-W 20050519/050517212809 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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