Della Glenn, USTDA, Room 309, SA-16, Washington, D.C. 20523-1602, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax No.: (703) 875-4009

C -- AFRICA PORTS DEFINITIONAL MISSION DUE 070296 POC Della Glenn, USTDA, Room 309, SA-16, Washington, D.C. 20523-1602, Tel: (703) 875-4357, Fax No.: (703) 875-4009 The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) wishes to announce a Competitive Total Set-Aside for Small Businesses to conduct a definitional mission to analyze prospective port development and expansion projects in Egypt, Ghana, Morocco and Senegal. This will be a firm fixed priced contract. The project is expected to be completed within 2 months and the findings of the mission will be used at a TDA conference on transportation projects in Africa, tentatively scheduled for September 1996. The consultant chosen for the DM should provide, via a mission report to the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, a thorough analysis of upcoming port projects in Egypt, Ghana, Morocco and Senegal. The consultant should direct his/her attention towards the following: Gaining a clearer understanding of the projects and completing an evaluation of the concept of the projects; Undertaking an evaluation and cost estimate of the scope of work for any feasibility studies recommended by the consultant; Identifying the planned project implementation and procurement procedures (i.e., how will the project sponsor award procurements); Discussing with relevant financial institutions and U.S. firms with experience in the port development sector in order to determine the interest of the U.S. financial and maritime transportation industry in the development of any of these projects; Evaluating the impact a U.S. feasibility study consultant, as opposed to a European, Japanese or other non-U.S. consultant, would have on equipment, construction and service contracts; Providing expert analysis on the imports that will be required for project implementation, U.S. export strengths and weaknesses, the track record of U.S. industry competing in this industry, the nature of the foreign and U.S. competition, and likely sources of project financing; Identifying and providing recommendations to TDA for any projects which the consultant discovers during the course of the DM that may be suitable for TDA programs, including the scope of work related to the TDA program and recommended budget; Given the above analysis, making a recommendation as to whether TDA should fund the studies and what level of funding TDA should be prepared to commit; and Identify appropriate Tunisian candidates for an OV that would take advantage of procurement opportunities arising from the TDA-funded Port of Bizerte feasibility study. The contractor must be qualified to develop a sound budget and Scope of Work (SOW) for all recommended projects to determine if such projects are technically, economically and financially feasible. Equally important, the consultant must be able to provide TDA with expert analysis on the imports that will be required for project implementation, U.S. export strengths and weaknesses by project and service category, track record of U.S. industry in competing for these kinds of projects overseas, the nature of foreign competition, and likely sources of project financing. The contractor should use a life-cycle approach in developing the SOW to achieve the maximum possible success for project implementation. The contractor shall provide a thorough analysis via a technical report to TDA regarding all investigated projects. TDA, located in the Washington, D.C. area, is a commercially-oriented U.S. Government foreign assistance 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 the field of operation for which it is bidding. In determining whether dominance exists for TDAs purpose for this contract, consideration is give to annual gross receipts. Any concern that has annual gross receipts above $5 million, 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. Offerors technical proposal will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria: (1) Brief presentation of work plan describing how the consultant would conduct the definitional mission, determine realistic U.S. export potential, determine U.S. competitiveness by category of goods and services, and determine the financeability of prospective projects; (2) Description of how prior technical experience addresses the requirements of the desk study SOW; (3) Description of how prior financial experience addresses the requirements of the desk study SOW; (4) Degree of prior experience in port projects in Africa; and (5) Degree of written and oral command of French in order to correspond and conduct technical/business meetings in French with host country project sponsors. The Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued on/about (15) fifteen days after the publication date of this synopsis. Because of the urgency of this request, the closing date for receipt of proposals will be fifteen (15) days thereafter. Only written requests for the RFP that indicate the companys 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. (0138)

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