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

L -- SOUTHERN AFRICA AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS DEFINITIONAL MISSION POC Della Glenn, USTDA, Room 309, SA-16, Washington, DC 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 undertake a definitional mission to Southern Africa. The purpose of the four-week travel will be to work in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to evaluate priorities in the development of adequate air traffic control systems in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and assist TDA and the FAA in planning future activities. Such activities may include feasibility studies or technical assistance programs which will promote the implementation of such systems and the use of U.S. goods and services. TDA has conducted similar activities in West Africa and the Middle East. This will be a firm fixed priced contract. The consultant chosen for the contract will travel with two representatives of the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) for four weeks to visit with airport, civil aviation, and air traffic control authorities in SADC countries. The consultant's efforts will focus on five principal areas: 1) working with TDA and the FAA to develop an appropriate itinerary; 2) evaluating existing sites and facilities in terms of development and/or procurement needs; 3) assisting TDA in the formulation of a strategy for future involvement; 4) working with the FAA to determine how its future support may promote U.S. exports; and 5) writing a final definitional mission report. TDA, located in the Washington, D.C. area, is an export promotion 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 TDA's 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 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. Offeror's technical proposal will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria: 1) The offeror's degree of (a) technical experience in this sector, (b) public, private and multilateral lending institution financing experience relating to this sector (and preferably for projects in developing and middle income countries), and (c) experience working on other infrastructure projects within the geographic region in question; and 2) the offeror's strategy for analyzing (a) the proposed budget and scope of work for this project, (b) U.S. export potential and competitiveness for this project, (c) the economic and financial viability of the project, (d) any unique aspects of the proposed project, as identified by the offeror, that warrant special consideration. 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 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 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. (0066)

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