R -- 514-04-022 sole source modification

USAID/Colombia intends to award a Sole Source modification to ARD, Inc. under Contract No. 514-C-00-02-00213-00. The estimated amount of this modification is US$4,750,000.00. The above Contract was awarded to ARD Inc., on a sole source basis using notwithstanding authority, on March 1, 2002 and the estimated completion date is February 28, 2006. The total estimated contract amount is US$27,400,948.00.The purpose of the above contract is to provide technical assistance, training and small infrastructure grant support to municipal governments in Colombia in USAID-identified strategic regions. This should be based on work done to date under a USAID/Colombia contract with Associates in Rural Development (ARD). The purpose of this modification is to provide additional resources that will expand the LOE in the existing program from 126 to 213 person months in order to (a) continue activities in geographic areas that were initially scheduled for close-out in 2004 (e.g., departments of Putumayo, Caquet, Cauca, Huila, Bol'var, Tolima, Antioquia) and (b) add activities in other priority geographic areas, pursuant to a shift in emphasis of USAID/Colombia's current democracy and governance strategy. At the request of the United States Congress, activities under the existing Legislative Strengthening Program will be expanded to focus on Afro-Colombian groups, and to initiate new limited activities in the Valle de Cauca. Additionally, the modification will include a Land Registry Component under the existing contract. USAID intends to negotiate this modification with only one source under the authority of AIDAR 706.302-70(b)(5), where an award is for the continued provision of highly specialized services and award to another source would result in substantial additional costs to the Government or would result in unacceptable project delays. The required services include continuation and expansion of services of the same nature as described in the original statement of work of the original contract. This notice is not a request for proposals and no solicitation is available. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to satisfy the Government's requirement in accordance with numbered note 22. Any information received will be considered for the purpose of conducting a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competition is solely within the discretion of the Government.