Technical assistance, training, and policy advice in support of human rights in Colombia

USAID/Colombia intends to award a Sole Source Contract modification to Management Sciences for Development, Inc (MSD) under Contract No. 514-C-00-06-00304-00. The estimated amount of this modification is USD$2,517,000. The above Contract was awarded to MSD, Inc. on a full and open competition basis on August 29, 2006, and the estimated completion date is August 29, 2009. The current total estimated contract amount is USD$26,419,765. The purpose of the above contract is to provide technical assistance, training, and policy advice in support of human rights in Colombia. The purpose of this modification is to provide additional resources that will be applied to prevent, protect against, and improve responses to human rights violations. Activities will strengthen the capacity of key independent oversight entities, including the Government of Colombia’s Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office and the Office of the Inspector-General. USAID will undertake various new initiatives to strengthen the capacity of both of these entities. Illustrative activities include: training in human rights policy and international humanitarian law for staff of the Inspector-General’s Office; establishing official archives to document and preserve the truth and historical memory of human rights victims in Colombia; establishing a forensics laboratory within the Inspector General’s office to allow staff to better oversee investigations of human rights abuses and violations; and training and equipping staff in forensics investigation. Activities will also support civil society organizations to promote dialogue between civil society and the Ministry of Defense on human rights. USAID intends to negotiate this modification with only one source under the authority of AIDAR 706.302-70 (b)(5), where an award is for the continued provision of highly specialized services and award to another source would result in substantial additional costs to the Government or would result in unacceptable project delays. The required services include continuation and expansion of services of the same nature as described in the original statement of work of the original contract. This notice is not a request for proposals and no solicitation is available. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to satisfy the Government’s requirement in accordance with numbered note 22. Any information received will be considered for the purpose of conducting a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competition is solely within the discretion of the Government.