Description.NAICS code 541199. In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 13 "Simplified Acquisition Procedures" (48 CFR Part 13), the United States Department of Commerce is providing widespread notice of this acquisition opportunity and is requesting proposals to provide technical assistance to the Government of Egypt (GOE) to supplement training provided to Egyptian diplomats at the Institute of Diplomatic Studies (IDS) in Cairo, Egypt. The successful offeror will work with United States Department of Commerce Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP), IDS and the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to teach diplomatic attaches how to use electronic commerce (E-commerce) to promote foreign trade and investment in Egypt. Housed in the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), IDS serves as the main mechanism for training both MOFA diplomatic attaches and the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Trade (MOFT) commercial attaches. The attaches are assigned to Egyptian embassies worldwide and represent Egypt at high profile events, negotiations, and trade missions, relating to foreign and commercial affairs. Thus, the training offered to newly appointed attaches at IDS offers critical expertise in negotiation skills, business communication skills, inter-agency coordination, E-commerce, and trade mission’s strategies. In coordination with the IDS, a CLDP advisor with expertise in the use of E-commerce and information technology will travel to Cairo, Egypt, for two weeks to prepare for and train IDS attaches on how to use these tools to promote foreign investment and trade in Egypt. The goal of this program is to promote the use of E-commerce and information technology to facilitate trade between foreign and Egyptian companies. This program will include both lectures and simulation exercises. This contract is for up to fifteen (15) days of work. The successful offeror will be required to work with U.S. Government and GOE officials for two weeks in Cairo, Egypt. It is anticipated that work in the Country will commence on or about November 28, 2003. Evaluation Criteria. The offerors should have the following technical capabilities: 1. Significant experience (at least 10 years) training public and private sector representatives on the use of E-commerce and information technology for trade and investment; and 2. Significant experience (at least 10 years) working in emerging markets or developing countries. Response Requirements. Interested offerors are requested to submit a brief capability statement (not to exceed five (5) pages) which comprehensively addresses each criterion set forth above. Cost and technical proposals are not required and will not be considered at this time. The Government will review and evaluate timely received capability statements and those offerors who meet the Evaluation Criteria will be deemed "qualified". The Government will then furnish each qualified offeror with a draft copy of the Statement of Work, source selection criteria and proposal instructions. The Government may enter into discussions with qualified offeror after receipt of capability statements and after receipt of proposals. If the Contracting Officer determines that such discussions are necessary, the Government will notify qualified offeror of the date/time for such discussions. For the sake of clarity, the Government may communicate with qualified offeror at any point during evaluation of the capability statements and proposal evaluation process. The Government also reserves the right to award without discussions at the Contracting Officer’s discretion. Contract Type and Period of Performance. The Government anticipates issuing a Purchase Order for a firm-fixed price that will require the contractor to complete the required work within 30days of Purchase Order award. Additional Information. Compliance with protocol between the governments of the Country and the United States of America in connection with performance of the Contract will be required. Qualified offerors will be briefed on the protocols and security requirements. The protocols and security requirements are not available for public dissemination. Qualified offerors who have been provided with the protocol and security information will be forbidden from disclosing the terms, content and procedures of the protocol and security. Furthermore, while in the County, the selected contractor will be representing the Commercial Law Development Program, the U.S. Department of Commerce and, by extension, the United States Government. The contractor will therefore be required to adhere to all applicable ethics codes in effect in their respective jurisdictions and professions and contractors also must adhere to applicable federal conflict of interest statutes and standards of conduct. Response Requirements. Interested offerors must submit two (2) copies of capability statements on or before 09/16/03. The capability statements must specifically and comprehensively address the Evaluation Criteria and be submitted in writing. The address to which Capability Statements must be addressed and sent is: Cherita Toulson, Contract Specialist, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 6521, 1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230. Electronic (e-mail) versions of the Capability Statements must be in Microsoft Word format and sent to
[email protected]. All Capability Statements must be sent to assure receipt by the Government on or before 3:00 p.m. EST, September 16, 2003.