POC Della Glenn, USTDA, Room 309, SA-16, Washington, D.C. 20523-1602, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax: (703) 875-4009

B -- DEFINITIONAL MISSION ON INDUSTRIAL AND HAZARDOUS WASTE PROJECTS IN POLAND AND ROMANIA POC POC Della Glenn, USTDA, Room 309, SA-16, Washington, D.C. 20523-1602, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax: (703) 875-4009 The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) wishes to announce a Competitive Total Set-Aside for Small Businesses to provide a Definitional Mission to assess TDA grant opportunities for Industrial and Hazardous Waste environmental projects in Poland and Romania. The successful contractor is expected to have two team members travel to Romania and Poland for a minimum of five work days (Monday through Friday) in each country. Before traveling, the contractor shall conduct interviews by telephone, fax and other means to obtain information on potential grant activities which could be funded by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. During a recent visit of TDA regional staff to Poland, we learned about the need for environmental equipment upgrades at the biggest petrochemical facility and refinery (Petrochemia Plock) in Poland. While in Romania, the Ministry of Industry and Trade informed us of critical recycling and hazardous waste projects at the steel mills. In addition to these projects, the DM would also review a proposal from a U.S. company for a feasibility study on a hazardous waste project in Poland. Although its focus will be on industrial and hazardous waste environmental projects, this DM will also be responsible for researching new priority environmental projects. We believe this will help US firms participate in current and future projects. The TDA study will help position U.S. firms to take advantage of an export market which has the capital resources to make implementation of projects a reality. With both Romania and Poland attempting to receive fast-track consideration for membership in the EU, there exists a strong incentive for environmental remediation projects. The environment is one of the highest priorities for both countries-its clean up is critical to their admittance to the European Union. Poland has established special funds with significant capital for implementation of environmental projects. And Romania has recently been committing more resources for environmental projects and hasmade environmental improvements a top priority. Although there are a variety of project opportunities in the sector, U.S. firms have not shown the same aggressive nature as their foreign competitors. The mission will document the best ways TDA can work to maximize the involvement of US firms in the sector. The DM is necessary to clarify and define specific projects. Provided that TDA takes the initiative in helping U.S. companies participate in top priority environmental projects with top Polish and Romanian companies, U.S. companies should reap immediate benefits. Without TDA involvement, European competitors could easily establish a dominant position in both of these markets. Many of these firms are supported or subsidized by their respective governments and have already established a presence in both Poland and Romania. The proposed DM is a critical step in developing a strategy to help US firms penetrate the growing Romanian and Polish environmental market. The Definitional Mission will perform several key tasks. In addition to reviewing the hazardous waste project as proposed by a U.S. firm, the focus of the DM will be to work with major successful industrial companies in both Romania and Poland that have demonstrated a need for environmental remediation and a willingness to commit funds to environmental cleanup. Our DM will work with companies such as Petrochemia Plock and Elektrim (a large conglomerate active in power, electrical equipment, telecommunications and other industries) in Poland, as well as the steel mills in both Poland and Romania. The DM will make an industrial sector review of projects and define an appropriate role for future TDA support. The DM will also work with the environmental funding agencies in country, the IFI's, and the US Ex-Im Bank to determine if there are additional projects or areas for mutual cooperation. The DM will review the pipelines of these organizations to package environmental projects for TDA project planning assistance. The DM consultant must be able to provide TDA with expert analysis on the imports that will be required for project implementation, U.S. export strength and weaknesses by project and service category, and the track record of U.S. industry in competing for projects of this kind overseas. The DM will also provide comments on the nature of foreign competition facing U.S. firms, the likely sources of project financing for these projects, and the implication of such financing on U.S. export success. The consultant will also discuss the technical, economical, and financial feasibility of the projects. The consultant will also meet with U.S. environmental companies in Romania and Poland, and the U.S. to seek their advice on market opportunities and determine any potential cost shares for project implementation. Additional discussion of potential projects will be found in the detailed terms of reference to be provided in the RFP. The contractor shall report to TDA on the anticipated amount of exports associated with each TDA-funded activity and any other information (such as financing, activities of foreign companies, etc.) germane to an understanding of the present status of each proposed TDA funded activity. The contractor shall also provide TDA with a report with a detailed scope of work (terms of reference) for any recommended project along with a justification for each activity. This will be a firm fixed price contract. The contractor is expected to begin travel by the beginning of July, and it is expected that the project will be completed within 45 days from the award of the contract. TDA, located in the Washington, D.C. area, is a commercially-oriented U.S. Government export promotion agency that helps U.S. companies pursue overseas business opportunities. Through the funding of feasibility studies, orientation visits, training grants, and various forms of technical assistance, TDA enables American businesses to become involved in the planning stage of infrastructure and industrial projects in middle-income and developing countries. The Small Business Act, at 15 U.S.C. 644, authorizes procuring agencies to set aside procurements or portions of procurements for the exclusive participation of Small Business Concerns. The Sic Code for this procurement is 8999 -- Services, N.E.C. 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 operation 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 has 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 offers. 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. TDA wishes to respond quickly to Polish and Romanian project sponsor initiatives. The Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued on/about (15) fifteen days after the publication date of this synopsis. Closing date will be fifteen (15) days thereafter. Only written requests for the RFP that indicate the businesses 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 309, SA-16, Washington, D.C. 20523-1602. Delivery by any other means must be addressed to Ms. Glenn at 1621 N. Kent Street, Room 309, Rosslyn, VA 22209. (0128)

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