SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- Sources Sought Notice - Knowledge Management, Communications and Training (KMCT) Program
- Notice Date
- 12/21/2006
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541611
— Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Agency for International Development, Washington D.C., USAID/Washington, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Room 7.10-006, Washington, DC, 20523, UNITED STATES
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-OAA-EGAT-EMD-12-19-2006(Rev)
- Response Due
- 1/22/2007
- Archive Date
- 2/6/2007
- Small Business Set-Aside
- 8a Competitive
- Description
- This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE issued by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Office of Acquisition and Assistance on behalf of the Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade, Office of Microenterprise Development (USAID/EGAT/MD) to determine the availability of potential sources to manage the Knowledge Management, Communications and Training (KMCT) Program. This sources sought notice is soliciting capability statements from Small Businesses 8(a), firms that have the capacity to implement the KMCT program. I. BACKGROUND In 2002, USAID awarded Accelerated Microenterprise Advancement Project (AMAP), which has been a series of Indefinite Quantity Contracts (IQC). The project has been designed to provide USAID Washington and Mission-based operating units with services required to establish, deepen and/or expand their activities in microenterprise development. The AMAP initiative was designed knowing that the success of many development initiatives in part rests on effective collaboration, communication, and sharing of knowledge and experience. Two task orders were awarded under AMAP?s Support Services Contract to separately to manage AMAP related knowledge, as well as to provide office general assistance in training and administrative support. These task orders have supported a number of dynamic learning tools to reach out to our worldwide community of practitioners and provided opportunities to share the latest thinking and research in microenterprise development. For example, the microLINKS.org website hosts a number of innovative, interactive learning tools and thousands of resources to serve a global community of practitioners by helping to link knowledge with practice. Discussion forums, e-conferences, communities of practice and easy access to specialists for problem solving are just some of the resources provided through www.microlinks.org. Further, hundreds of USAID officers and microenterprise development practitioners have benefited from MD sponsored training. II. PURPOSE The purpose of the KMCT activity is to strengthen microenterprise development practice through capturing, sharing and generating microenterprise development knowledge. The implementer of the program will manage a broad set of global knowledge management and training activities for the Office of Microenterprise Development (MD), including being responsible for stewarding the internet website www.microlinks.org. III. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this new program are three fold: first, to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing among USAID and microenterprise development practitioners; second, to manage a communications strategy to promote microenterprise development; and third, to provide training and logistical services that advances practice in microenterprise development. This program will not be limited to AMAP activities, but rather will identify, document and disseminate the learning from all of the USAID microenterprise activities. Specifically, this scope of services will carry out the following activities: Knowledge Management and Communications: 1. Host and manage all aspects of the microLINKS website; 2. Design and implement a unique range of knowledge sharing activities that will continue to build upon the existing knowledge management and training activities; 3. Develop and implement a communications strategy to promote microenterprise adoption and best practices by strategically distributing products and messages tailored to missions, practitioners, donors, other USG Agencies, Congress, and the public, and to explain to general audiences why microenterprise development is important; 4. Organize periodic microenterprise development workshops, meetings and seminars to discuss promising interventions, program achievements, shortfalls, required adjustments, changes in focus and adjustments in resource allocations; 5. Convene seminars for practitioners and USAID operating units (therefore prospective offerors must have sufficient physical space to hold these events and be reasonably close to the Washington, DC, USAID/MD offices); 6. Encourage a dialogue between microenterprise implementers and USAID operating units that moves USAID toward identifying improved approaches to enterprise development; and 7. Provide administrative support services that enhance the implementation of the existing microenterprise grant programs including the maintenance of databases, and maintaining of extensive grant and contract files. Training Support: 1. Implementation of high quality, timely and pertinent training and training tools to improve the skills and knowledge of key stakeholders, including USAID staff, concerning best practices and key emerging issues which leads to improved microenterprise best practices in the field; 2. Financially manage use of Scholarship and Invitational Travel Funds in accordance with USAID rules and regulations; 3. Design and manage Scholarship Fund application and selection process; advertise application process to USAID staff and partners; 4. Manage relationship with Scholarship Fund recipient training institutions and work to identify additional training institutes offering relevant courses; and 5. Administer Trainers and J1 visa application process for recipients of USAID training funds. IV. SERVICES REQUIRED This SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE is seeking 8a businesses that possess in depth knowledge of knowledge management and communications, microenterprise development technical experience, and experience developing participatory training curricula. Capacity statements should demonstrate that the organization is specifically capable of carrying out the above tasks, specifically: 1. Maintenance of the microLINKS website that requires technical support of web programmers and systems managers with specific expertise in the following: Simplify software experience, Dreamweaver (web design) expertise and taxonomy development expertise, HTML experience and StreamSend software skills. Prospective offerors must also have graphic design software expertise. 2. Offerors must have external web compliance knowledge, as microLINKS management requires an understanding of XWEB requirements as mandated by USAID. 3. Offerors must have staff with technical expertise in microenterprise, microfinance, and enabling environment approaches. 4. Offerors must have designed and implemented training strategies relevant to the subject matters. 5. Offerors must have skills in applying adult learning methodologies and techniques. Previous experience in developing course curricula and conducting training of trainers on topics relevant to enterprise development and microfinance trainings targeted to partners, practitioners, and USAID staff. 6. Offerors must have a positive track record of designing the technical content and logistics for workshops, seminars, conferences, and training events with evidence of satisfaction of clients and participants. 7. Offerors should have positive track record in designing and implementing application and selection processes for competitive training and knowledge sharing opportunities. 8. Contractor has evaluated programs, trainings and events; and incorporated results and findings into future activities. 9. Contractor has performed similar support services functions and has the capacity to respond rapidly to USAID/MD technical and administrative requests. V. CAPABILITY STATEMENT REQUIREMENTS Interested parties must be able to demonstrate in the capability statement the related experience and ability to perform the kind of work described in this notice. This documentation may include examples of contracts, references, and any other relevant information. Responses to this Sources Sought Notice shall include: 1) Two page capability statement including the firm?s relevant work and prior work experience; 2) one page for corporate qualifications; and 3) statement identifying if the offeror is an 8(a) firm. Any organization responding to this SOURCES SOUGHT notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the government to determine the organization?s qualifications to perform this work. This is not a Request for Proposals and this notice in no way commits the Government to award a contract. The Government does not intend to award a contract based solely on this submission to this Sources Sought Notice nor does it intend to pay for any costs incurred in response to this announcement. Written capability statements must be received no later than January 22, 2007 by 12:00 noon (EST time). These submissions must be submitted by E-mail (ONLY) to Linda Reed at lireed@usaid.govmailto:. In the Subject line Reference: EGAT/PR/MD Sources Sought Notice ?Small Businesses KMCT Program. Facsimile and Hand Carried submissions will not be accepted. All inquiries concerning this announcement shall be directed to Ms. Linda Reed. Please no phone calls regarding this notice. THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE SUPERSEDES PRESOLICITATION NOTICE POSTED 12/19/06.
- Place of Performance
- Address: 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC
- Zip Code: 20523
- Country: UNITED STATES
- Zip Code: 20523
- Record
- SN01200888-W 20061223/061221220054 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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