R -- HIV Counselling, Testing and Palliative Care services

USAID/Uganda intends to award a one year contract to JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), 44 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA 02210-1211 under the authority of FAR 6.302 and as supplemented by AIDAR 706.302-70(b)(5), where an award is for provision of highly specialized services and award to another source would result in substantial costs to the Government or would result in unacceptable project delays. JSI has served as a key USAID implementing partner supporting PEPFAR as well as the Government of Uganda (GOU) in meeting national HIV counseling and testing (HCT) and palliative care (PC) targets since 2002. For the past five years, JSI has done this through direct support to the local governments and civil society organizations in the districts they support as well as through subawards to national NGOs. JSI and its partners has contributed 40% of USG PEPFAR HCT targets and at least 25% of palliative care targets since 2003. USAID has the need for a new mechanism that grants USAID more direct control of the implementation process to help USAID/Uganda achieve targets approved in the FY07 country operating plan (COP) by the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, which are expected no later than September 2008. JSI?s current relationships with various local governments and key HCT and PC implementing partners and civil society organizations (CSOs) is essential to meet the above FY07 targets within the acceptable implementation framework. It would not be feasible for USAID to competitively source a new partner, who would require at least six months start-up, would not have data to report in the semi-annual report and would not be able to meet the targets for the annual report for the period ending September 30, 2008. USAID and the USG PEPFAR team are currently in the planning phase prior to a process of a full and open competition for PEPFAR II activities. This notice is not a request for competitive proposals. However, any firm may submit capability information to demonstrate the ability to satisfy the Government?s requirement in the timeframe required. Responses from firms received will be evaluated: however, USAID will not reimburse the respondent for any costs connected with providing such information. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competition is solely within the discretion of the Government.