Request for Information ? Establishing International Commercial Arbitration Moot Program at the University of Bahrain 1. Background The U.S. Department of Commerce?s Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) provides assistance to a number of universities in the Arabian Gulf region to enhance their commercial law curriculum and instruction. As part of its work with the University of Bahrain College of Law (UB), CLDP is helping to establish a commercial arbitration oriented moot court program that will equip students with the skills to represent clients in commercial arbitrations. The focal point of organization for the program will be participation in the Wilhelm C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna in the spring of 2008. CLDP seeks to augment its in-house expertise as it assists the University of Bahrain in this initiative. Specifically, CLDP seeks collaboration with a partner that will provide expertise and help implement a multi-stage assistance plan. 2. Purpose The purpose of this request for information (RFI) is to gather information to assist the Department of Commerce Commercial Law Development Program in formulating its requirements and identify small businesses that have the ability to fulfill all of the U.S. Department of Commerce Commercial Law Development Program commercial arbitration services 3. Information Request and Work All vendors that are registered with Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and are an educational institution are invited to submit a capability statement in response to the following information request and questions related to commercial arbitration services. During the Contract period, the Contractor would assist CLDP in refining and implementing a multi-stage assistance plan over the course of the 2007/2008 academic year to the University of Bahrain. The plan will include working with the University of Bahrain to develop the structure of their moot court program, train the responsible faculty in management of the program and instruction techniques, equip responsible faculty and student participants with fundamental understanding of international arbitration principles, and facilitate linkages between the University of Bahrain program and other programs from the Arabic speaking world and beyond at the Vis Competition. This program also supports the longer term goal of establishing a regional international arbitration moot at the University of Bahrain and, therefore, the work will include advising UB to this end. 4. Deliverables If you or your company has provided the following deliverables to the federal government or an outside agency, please describe how these have been provided. In addition, please provide the agency?s name relevant to the deliverables that were provided; a point of contact and phone number at the agency that has the knowledge of these deliverables; the contract, purchase or task order number; and the dollar value. The deliverables that would be required under this contract include: a) Initial report developed in concert with CLDP and UB recommending action items and a corresponding time frame for UB in the establishment of their moot court program. Report will include recommendations based on the Contractor?s experience regarding a. Selection and preparation of faculty advisors b. Selection and preparation of student participants c. Selection and access to legal/academic resources d. Techniques for developing necessary research, writing and oral advocacy skills e. Design and implementation of a program that ultimately prepares UB for establishing a regional moot court competition b) Introductory course/consultations in Bahrain, comprising 1-2 weeks, providing relevant faculty and participants with a fundamental grasp of international commercial arbitration concepts, legal research and writing. c) 2 programs at strategic intervals throughout the academic year, lasting 4-5 days, in Bahrain providing assistance with coaching techniques and drilling. d) Networking activity for the UB delegation at the Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot facilitating linkages with at least 3 other participating law schools. e) Conclusive report noting obstacles encountered, practical recommendations for enhancement of the UB program in future years and commentary on the feasibility of creating a regional moot competition in Bahrain including next steps for achievement. 5. Qualifications Background and Expertise / Capabilities Are you or your company able to provide the government the following qualifications? If so, please describe how you meet these qualifications and how the required experience was acquired. If you worked with a government agency, please provide the agency name relevant to the background and expertise/capabilities that were provided/acquired; a point of contact and phone number at the agency or educational facility that has the knowledge of these qualifications; the contract, purchase or task order number; and the dollar value. a) The Contractor must be an ABA accredited law school, or a unit thereof that has partnered with at least 3 foreign law schools for commercial law instruction through moot court programs. b) The Contractor?s program team should include: a. A project leader who is a Professor of Law with administrative responsibilities for international students and/or international legal studies; b. Individual(s) with a graduate degree in Teaching English as a Second Language and professional membership in TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages); c. Individual(s) with administrative responsibility for a legal writing and research program within the university. c) The Contractor must have the capability for digital video conferencing. d) The Contractor must have 5 years of experience participating in the Wilhelm C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, during the last 7 years. e) The Contractor?s project leader must have a. 10 + years teaching international commercial law courses; b. 10 + years working directly with foreign legal students; c. Experience teaching commercial law to foreign students abroad, spanning over at least 5 years; d. Publications on International Business Transactions and International Commercial Arbitration. f) The Contractor?s project team must include: a. Individual(s) with 10+ years experience teaching foreign students; b. Individual(s) with 10+ years experience teaching legal writing (including research and analysis); c. Individual(s) with 5+ years experience teaching English for Lawyers; d. Individual(s) with experience working with the private sector on commercial legal issues abroad; e. Individual(s) with experience working with the US Government or an international organization on legal issues. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION As a educational institution can you provide these services to the federal government? If so, do you foresee or anticipate any service problems?" DISCLAIMER This RFI is issued solely for the information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. Responses to this RFI will not be returned. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this request. How To Respond Please submit your response to this RFI via email to Wendy Clare at
[email protected], phone (202) 482-5338, by 12:00 PM (Local Time), May 23, 2007.