R -- A PROGRAM AND FINANCIAL AUDIT OF THREE PROJECTS IN THE BALKANS

Notice Date

October 20, 2000

Contracting Office

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

ZIP Code

22209-2131

Solicitation Number

TDA 00-Q-075

Point of Contact

Della Glenn, USTDA, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22209-2131, Tel:(703)875-4357, Fax:(703)875-4009

Description

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) wishes to announce an opportunity for small businesses to provide services for a financial and program audit of the series of studies and pilot projects in the information technology sector. The chosen contractor will perform an audit to determine whether in performing a feasibility study, the U.S. company responsible for the study complied with relevant grant provisions and contract requirements and used contract funds for allowable costs. TDA, located in Arlington, Virginia, 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. TDA funded feasibility studies evaluate the technical, legal, economic, and financial aspects of a development project in the concept stage. Feasibility studies typically include procurement plans, contact information, technical data, financial information, and market studies. These project plans are required by financial institutions to assess the creditworthiness of a project before it can go forward. This work provides American firms the opportunity to get in on the "ground floor" of a project. In order to analyze whether to proceed with a feasibility study, TDA often directs that a desk study and/or definitional mission be completed. Desk studies and definitional missions are conducted by outside contractors to gather information on a project. In 1998, TDA approved three projects in a country in the Balkans. Two of the projects in question were for the development of feasibility studies in separate sectors (manufacturing and hotel development) with separate grantees and U.S. contracting firms performing the work. The third project was done to support a series of studies and pilot projects in the information technology sector. There is no direct connection between these projects other than all three were performed in the same country and all are now being audited. With this solicitation we are grouping them together and seeking proposals to audit all three at the same time for cost considerations. This will be a firm fixed price contract. While we are seeking one contractor team to perform all three audits, each audit is to be performed separately including required reports. Each of the three audits requires a financial review, but only one is a full financial and program audit. The program and financial audit would require a consultant with expertise in information technology (e-commerce and internet); the manufacturing audit requires consultant expertise in brick/concrete block manufacturing to effectively review the final report for that project. The Hotel development project is focused solely on financial concerns. 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 8721. 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 $6 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. TDA will choose a contractor demonstrating proficiency in government grant and contracting procedures and regulations. The contract team shall include an accountant/auditor with an understanding of generally accepted government accounting and auditing standards and a professional editor. 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. The closing date for receipt of proposals will be up to 30 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 the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA), Contracts Unit, 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 200, Arlington, VA. 22209-2131. Delivery by any other means must be addressed to Ms. Glenn at the above address also.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001024/RSOL010.HTM (W-294 SN5048C4)