B -- URUGUAYAN CUSTOMS EQUIPMENT IMPLEMENTATION

Notice Date

October 11, 2001

Contracting Office

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

ZIP Code

22209-2131

Response Due

November 12, 2001

Point of Contact

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

Description

The Grantee invites submission of qualifications and proposal data (collectively referred to as the "Proposal") from interested U.S. firms which are qualified on the basis of experience and capability to provide technical assistance for the Uruguayan Customs Authority to conduct an equipment survey and recommend a list of essential tools for use by Uruguayan Customs officers for inspection of cargo and detection of contraband. The Government of Uruguay (GOU) is in the preliminary stages of evaluating and identifying the appropriate equipment to improve the collection of taxes and duties and reduce fraud. One such initiative is the cooperation between the Port of Montevideo and Uruguayan Customs to share data. The Port is implementing a sophisticated system that controls the movement of cargo within the facility and Customs has built an impressive database of broker-provided information. The joint program is an efficient approach to managing the complex task of monitoring and controlling incoming cargo. The objective of the proposed Technical Assistance is to assess the current needs and determine how to better outfit and equip Uruguayan Customs officers so as to enhance their effectiveness and efficiency. The Technical Assistance will perform on-site visits at Uruguay's key ports of entry in order to develop basic equipment recommendations for Uruguayan officials for minor equipment procurements, what have been termed "Customs Toolkits" for the officers working in Uruguay's customs agency. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $30,844 grant to the Grantee from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA). A detailed Request for Proposals (RFP), which includes requirements for the Proposal, the Terms of Reference, and a background definitional mission report are available from TDA, at 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22209-2131. Requests for the RFP should be faxed to the IRC, TDA at 703-875-4009. In the fax, please include your firm's name, contact person, address, and telephone number. Some firms have found that RFP materials sent by U.S. mail do not reach them in time for preparation of an adequate response. Firms that want TDA to use an overnight delivery service should include the name of the delivery service and your firm's account number in the request for the RFP. Firms that want to send a courier to TDA to retrieve the RFP should allow one hour after faxing the request to TDA before scheduling a pick-up. Please note that no telephone requests for the RFP will be honored. Please check your internal fax verification receipt. Because of the large number of RFP requests, TDA cannot respond to requests for fax verification. Requests for RFPs received before 4:00 PM will be mailed the same day. Requests received after 4:00 PM will be mailed the following day. Please check with your courier and/or mail room before calling TDA. Only U.S. firms and individuals may bid on this TDA financed activity. Interested firms, their subcontractors and employees of all participants must qualify under TDA's nationality requirements as of the due date for submission of qualifications and proposals and, if selected to carry out the TDA-financed activity, must continue to meet such requirements throughout the duration of the TDA-financed activity. All goods and services to be provided by the selected firm shall have their nationality, source and origin in the U.S. or host country. The U.S. firm may use subcontractors from the host country for up to 20 percent of the TDA grant amount. Details of TDA's nationality requirements and mandatory contract clauses are also included in the RFP. Interested U.S. firms should submit their Proposal in English and Spanish directly to the Grantee by 5:00 p.m., November 12, 2001 at the above address. Evaluation criteria for the Proposal are included in the RFP. Price will not be a factor in contractor selection, and therefore, cost proposals should NOT be submitted. The Grantee reserves the right to reject any and/or all Proposals. The Grantee also reserves the right to contract with the selected firm for subsequent work related to the project. The Grantee is not bound to pay for any costs associated with the preparation and submission of Proposals.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20011015/BSOL001.HTM (W-284 SN5104K3)