Engineering, Quality Assurance and Logistical Support (EQUALS) Program to provide USAID/Afghanistan OIEE with an Afghanistan-based team to provide independent quality assurance for construction, design and maintenance projects in all infrastructure areas.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) intends to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) in anticipation of a time and materials contract in to implement the Engineering, Quality Assurance and Logistical Support (EQUALS) Program. The period of performance will be one base year with four (4) one-year options. The objective of the EQUALS Program is to provide USAID's Afghanistan Office of Infrastructure, Engineering and Energy (OIEE) with an Afghanistan-based team to provide independent quality assurance for ongoing and planned construction, design and maintenance projects in all infrastructure areas. The program will provide a full range of long-term and quick response professional architect and engineering services, quality assurance services, and other logistical and technical support across all sectors (transport, vertical structures, energy, and water and sanitation) for USAID/Afghanistan infrastructure programs. The program will also provide technical assistance to ministries within the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIROA) and provide logistical support to implement the program. Rehabilitating Afghanistan's infrastructure is a priority across several development sectors including transportation, agriculture, energy, health, and education. Afghanistan's limited human capacity across all components of engineering and construction fields, combined with a development incentive to maximize the utilization of local subcontractors, requires that explicit quality assurance, capacity building, and logistical support measures be in place. USAID/Afghanistan has a commitment to capacity development of Afghan organizations and individuals through their participation in USAID awards. Offerors are strongly encouraged to take local capacity building into consideration in the creation of their proposals. The EQUALS Program is a follow-on to the Human Resources and Logistical Services (HRLS) Contract. The NAICS Code for this procurement is 541330. The solicitation will be posted on the FEDBIZOPPS web page (i.e. www.fedbizopps.gov) not less than fifteen days after this notice is issued. In accordance with FAR 5.102(d), availability of the solicitation is limited to this electronic medium only. Award of the contract shall be made subject to the availability of funds. Issuance of this solicitation does not in anyway obligate the U.S. Government to award a contract nor does it commit the U.S. Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal. Furthermore, the U.S. Government reserves the right to reject any and all offers, if such action is considered to be in the best interests of the U.S. Government. It is the responsibility of the recipient of this solicitation to ensure that it has been received in its entirety and USAID bears no responsibility for data error resulting from this transmission. Contracting Office Address: Agency for International Development, Overseas Missions, Afghanistan USAIDKabul, 6180 Kabul Place, Dulles VA, 20189-6180, UNITED STATES