Managing Contracts with the Former Soviet Union Scientists

The European Office of Aerospace Research and Development (EOARD), London, United Kingdom, anticipates the release of a Sole Source Acquisition/Request for Proposal (RFP) to acquire services that will enhance the EOARD mission of encouraging fundamental research and development (R&D) collaborations between scientists in the Former Soviet Union (FSU) and the US Air Force Research Laboratory. The entity will be required to establish and administratively manage EOARD-selected fundamental research and development projects with FSU partners. The contractor shall be capable of demonstrating the following: (1) exempt from taxation or any taxable incident thereof by Russian and Ukrainian decree, order, law or other concrete evidence clearly demonstrating the legality of such exemption from Russian or Ukrainian taxation, (2) ongoing and documented linkages to the many weapons institutes within the cited countries and to the scientists, engineers, and support staff employed in these institutes, (3) experience in processing payments to such institutes and their employees without having such disbursements taxed on federal, state, or local levels in the countries cited, (4) ability to verify payments, without taxation, to such institutes and to individual scientists, engineers, and staff bank accounts and performing other directly-related administrative matters in support of EOARD, (5) firmly established banking relationships and equipment delivery services to transfer and monitor project funds and equipment into the countries of the FSU, (6) extensive experience in project execution evidenced by substantial administrative and financial infrastructure - including in-country offices, an extensive network of banking relationships, and enabling agreements with FSU government agencies, (7) secure, fast, efficient, and reliable means of funds transfer in place, (8) highly effective financial controls and a rigorous financial reporting process that will stand up to both FSU and US Government audits, and (9) flexibility to anticipate and respond to project needs and program participant requirements with experienced and knowledgeable professional staff. This acquisition is expected to contain unclassified information only. All materials submitted will become the property of the Government, and will be reviewed by the Government and support contractors; therefore, any restrictions on submissions should be clearly identified, explained and properly marked. Proprietary information is not being solicited, but if provided, proprietary information or trade secrets should be clearly identified. The government will not pay for information provided, and is not liable for any costs incurred by the entity in response to this synopsis. The government will not reimburse contractors or responders to this notice for any costs incurred in responding, or in subsequent exchanges of information. All responses shall include company size status under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code: 54199. Any capabilities information received is solely for the purpose of this market research and will not be used in the final RFP evaluation and award. Submit responses to this synopsis either electronically or to EOARD, Attn: Susan Fuller, Unit 4515 Box 14, APO AE, 09421. Only written responses will be accepted. The contract is anticipated to be cost plus fixed fee with a 60 month period of performance. Award of any resultant contract is anticipated by July 31, 2009. Firms responding should indicate their business size and ownership status. Foreign-owned firms are advised to contact the contracting officer before submitting a proposal to determine whether there are restrictions on receiving an award. This does not constitute an RFP and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. Interested persons may identify to the contracting officer their interest and capability to satisfy the Government's requirement within 30 calendar days of this notice.