U.S. Agency for Interntional Development, USAID/Egypt, Directorate of Procurement, (D/PROC), 6th Floor, Unit 64902, APO AE 09839-4902

R -- TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING SERVICES TO THE ALEXANDRIA WATER GENERAL AUTHORITY, UNDER THE EGYPT UTILITIES MANAGEMENT/ALEXANDRIA, RP NO. 263-0270 SOL RFP No.263-98-P-019 POC Contact Point: Mr. William Reynolds, Contracting Officer, USAID/Egypt, Tel: 011-20-2-357-327/58, Fax: 011-20-2-356-2932 The U.S. Agency for International Development Mission to Egypt (USAID/Cairo) has a requirement for technical assistance to provide Institutional Strengthening services to AWGA. The overall objective of this assistance activity is to increase access to sustainable water service for the people living in Alexandria, Egypt. The September 1997 grant agreement between USAID/Cairo and the Government of Egypt (GOE) defined three expected results of the new program: (1) improved recovery of operation and maintenance costs, (2) improved decentralization of utility management, and (3) improved capacity of the utility to deliver services. The contractor shall provide technical assistance services required to assist AWGA achieve these results. The Contractor will be required to: a) conduct an assessment of AWGA s current institutional capacity and weaknesses, including administrative, personnel, financial, management, technical, and operation and maintenance capabilities; b) identify a long-term program for overcoming AWGA s institutional weaknesses; and recommend specific activities required to achieve this goal; c) identify and implement specific activities to be undertaken over a five-year period to remedy deficiencies in the areas of: organization, management, planning, personnel, financial, and customer relations. The contractor will be required to discuss his recommendations for institutional strengthening with USAID and AWGA, and modify scope of work as approved by USAID; d) provide assistance to AWGA in the development and implementation of conflict resolution programs in areas related to disputes over water resources, interpretation of different laws and decrees, and relationship with other GOE ministries; and e) assist AWGA in the procurement of water meters, development of a meter management program, and contracting for meter installation and maintenance. Monitoring plans will be developed by the contractor to supplement performance targets and establish schedules for their achievement. The monitoring plan will guide both the contractor's work plan and "Memoranda of Understanding" to be entered into by USAID and AWGA. A cost reimbursable plus award fee type of contract is contemplated to be awarded. The contract will be for five years with an option of additional period not to exceed two years. It is a requirement that firms must comply with USAID geographic code 000 (USA) for nationality and source regulations. The Request For Proposals (RFP No. 263-98-P-019) is expected to be issued fifteen days after publication of this notice. Interested U.S. firms must submit written requests for the RFP to Mr. William Reynolds, Contracting Officer, Office of Procurement, United States Agency for International Development, USAID/Egypt, Cairo Center Building, Sixth Floor, 106 Kasr El Aini Street, Cairo, Egypt. Address for U.S. mail: Office of Procurement, Unit 64902, APO AE 09839-4902. Telefaxed requests to 011-20-2-356-2932 will be accepted. Telephone requests will not be considered. Offerors will be given 45 days from the date of issuance of the RFP to prepare and submit their proposals. "The preferred method of distribution of USAID procurement information is via the Internet or by request of a solicitation on a 3.5" floppy disk (WordPerfect 5.1/5.2 format). This CBD notice can be viewed and downloaded using the Agency Web Site. The RFP, once issued, can be downloaded from the Agency website. The Worldwide Web address is http://www.info.usaid.gov. Select Business and Procurement Opportunities from the home page, then "USAID Procurements." On the following screen, select "Download Available USAID Solicitations." Receipt of this RFP through INTERNET must be confirmed by written notification to the contact person noted above. It is the responsibility of the recipient of this solicitation document to ensure that it has been received from INTERNET in its entirety and USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes." The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) encourages the participation to the maximum extent possible of small business concerns, small disadvantaged business concerns and women-owned small business concerns in this activity as prime contractors or subcontractors in accordance with Part 19 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. In this respect, it is anticipated that the prime contractor will make every reasonable effort to identify and make maximum practicable use of such concerns. All other evaluation criteria being found equal, the participation of such concerns may become a determining factor for selection. (0049)

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