Notice of Intent for Other than Full and Open Competition for Contract Modification of USAID Avansa Activity

Notice of Intent for Other than Full and Open Competition Solicitation Number: 472-2020-AVANSA Notice Type: Special Notice Agency: US Agency for International Development (USAID) Office: Overseas Missions Location: USAID/ Timor-Leste USAID/Timor-Leste intends to negotiate a non-competitive modification of contract number AID-472-C-15-00001 (USAID Avansa Agrukultura) with Cardno Emerging Markets USA, Ltd, 2107 Wilson Boulevard Suite 800, Arlington VA, 22201-3096. The above contract was awarded to Cardno Emerging Markets USA, Ltd., based on full and open competition, on April 1, 2015. USAID's Avansa Agrikultura Project has been supporting over 8,695 households to participate in the horticulture value chain in six municipalities. In five years, the activity has increased average annual incomes for beneficiary farmers by a factor of ten (10) from $235 to $2,454 and has stimulated a similar expansion of sales of agricultural inputs from $200,000 to over $2.0 million. With increased incomes and improved knowledge about nutrition, participant farmers are consuming more nutritious food, and reported hunger has declined significantly from 15 percent of households in 2015 to only 1.4 percent now in the Zone of Influence (ZOI). The non-competitive extension modification will continue the key interventions, introduce innovative and appropriate financial packages for farmers and input dealers and move forward in implementing activities to ensure sustainability of investments already made which will allow USAID to continue strengthening the horticulture value chain as contemplated under the activity. In addition, the 12-month extension will enable the project to strengthen the private sector production and marketing system as well as expand the growing season towards year-round production. USAID/Timor-Leste intends to negotiate non-competitively with only one source (Cardno Emerging Markets USA, Ltd) under the authority of USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR) 706.302-70(b)(5) which states that - An award for the continued provision of highly specialized services when award to another resource would result in substantial additional costs to the government or would result in unacceptable delays. The modification of the award will extend the period of performance of the contract by approximately one year from September 30, 2020 to September 29, 2021 and the estimated cost of this extension is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. This is not a request for proposals. However, the Government may consider all expressions of interest received within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date of publication of this notice. A determination not to compete this proposed contract modification based upon responses to this notice, if any, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information or responses received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Therefore, any responses to this notice must demonstrate clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to USAID and would not hinder USAID/Timor-Leste's objectives. Please direct any responses to this notice to Mr. Gregory Wang, Contracting Officer, at gwang@usaid.gov with a copy to Suthicha Chussananalin at schussananalin@usaid.gov.