This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; offers are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

Send your offer by email to contractproposals@ustda.gov which is due no later than 12:00 noon., EDT on Thursday, September 20, 2012. Late offers will not be accepted.

Please submit questions to contracts@ustda.gov no later than 12:00 noon EDT, Friday, September 14, 2012.

This procurement is a small business set-aside with a small business size standard of less than $14M annual sales under NAICS code 541611. Award is limited to U. S. firms or U.S. individuals. Contractor and U.S. subcontractor employees used shall be either U.S. citizens or non-U.S. citizens lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States. Contractor use of subcontractors is limited to less than fifty percent of the proposed price. International transportation and insurance must have their nationality, source and origin in the U.S. local lodging; food and transportation in the host country are not subject to this restriction.

The Government's estimate for this procurement is $60,000.00. The Government contemplates award of a firm fixed-price contract. Proposals submitted by facsimile will NOT be accepted. All contractors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) and On-Line Representation and Certification (ORCA) System via https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/ in order to receive a contract award. For additional information regarding this solicitation, please email contracts@ustda.gov or awilliams@ustda.gov. Telephone calls are NOT acceptable.

SERVICES AND PRICES: Line Item 1 is a Planned Itinerary, Purchase of Tickets and Required Insurance Declarations (not-to-exceed 30% of the proposed contract price). Line Item 2 is the Final Report.

DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK: Please see the FEDBIZOPS attachment to this solicitation. Vendors are reminded that failure to properly enroll in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) System, On-Line Representation and Certification (ORCA) System, and provide accurate Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)/Tax Identification Number (TIN) information shall be excluded from award.

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE: All services are subject to the Contracting Officer's Representative‘s (COR) final approval. All work will be inspected and accepted at USTDA's Office, Arlington, VA.

DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE: The performance of this contract shall start immediately after the effective date of award. The Contractor shall submit all deliverables under this Contract to the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) on or about December 31, 2012. The Period of Performance for this Contract shall be one year from the date of the Contracting Officer's signature on the Contract. Performance of this contract shall be at USTDA's Office, Arlington, VA, at other locations in the U.S., and/or the designated host country.

SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS: This solicitation includes the following additional contract requirements and terms and conditions:

• CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS AND KEY PERSONNEL: The contractor shall provide the key personnel listed in its proposal to perform the work. Changes in key personnel may only be made with the Contracting Officer's prior written approval.

• CONTRACTOR FOLLOW-ON (INELIGIBILITY): The Contractor and its subcontractors shall be ineligible to compete for, as a prime or subcontractor or otherwise, USTDA funded activities that result from this contract. USTDA reserves the right to grant a waiver, based upon FAR 9.503, if preclusion of the contractor or its subcontractors from the follow-on activity would not be in the Government's interest. This restriction shall remain in effect for three years from the completion of this contract. The contractor agrees to include this provision in all subcontracts to this contract.

• DEFENSE BASE ACT INSURANCE: Prior to departure to the host country, the contractor shall obtain Defense Base Act and Medical Evacuation insurance. Proof of such insurance shall be submitted with the initial invoice. Pursuant to FAR 52.228-3, the contractor is required to have DBA coverage for its employees performing work overseas. The contractor agrees to insert the defense base act insurance requirements in all subcontracts under this contract.

• MEDICAL EVACUATION INSURANCE: In addition, all Contractor personnel working outside the United States shall have medical evacuation insurance for the days spent outside the U. S. The contractor agrees to insert the defense base and medical evacuation insurance requirements in all subcontracts under the contract.

• CONTRACT CLAUSES: The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through FAC 2005-60. The clauses at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions--Commercial Items and 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items, apply to this acquisition. The following additional clauses are included: FAR 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting; FAR 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities; FAR 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity; FAR 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans; FAR 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities; FAR 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans; and FAR 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer- Central Contractor Registration.

INSTRUCTIONS/CONDITIONS AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS OR RESPONDENTS: The Provision at FAR52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial, applies to this acquisition with the following addition:

• The contractor shall submit a Technical Proposal, not exceeding 25 pages, that documents their Technical/Financial Expertise and Definitional Mission experience.

• In addition, the contractor shall provide a separate Business/Cost proposal on the SF-1449; a completed Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheets for proposed key personnel; and a completed Contractor Price Quotation Breakdown via http://www.ustda.gov/businessopps/dmdocuments.asp. Resumes may be submitted in lieu of the Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet if the resume is inclusive of all pertinent information.

EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD: Pursuant to FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items; the following factors, in descending order of importance, will be used to evaluate all offers. All evaluation factors, other than cost or price, when combined, are significantly more important that cost or price:

1. Relevant technical experience, knowledge of industry and sector contracts;
2. Work plan, including strategy for evaluating risks, financial viability, and U.S. export potential (including U.S. sector competitiveness) of projects;
3. Relevant experience in evaluating and developing international projects, including experience drafting Terms of Reference/budgets for studies and experience with relevant financing mechanisms;
4. Knowledge of country and/or region, including relevant foreign language skills;
5. Past Performance; and
6. Quality of Proposal, including quality of writing and organization