R -- Notice of Intent to Award a Sole-Source contract to International Resources Group

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission to Guatemala/Central American Programs (G-CAP) intends to award a sole-source contract for approximately 3 months beginning on or about October 1, 2002 at an estimated amount of US$250,000 to International Resources Group (IRG). The contract would allow the environmental program to continue activities through the end of calendar year 2002 without disruption. The Mission expects to have in place a new acquisition and/or assistance instrument to implement activities for the period January 2003 to September 2004. IRG has been providing highly specialized services in the areas of environmental policies and management of natural resources through EPIQ I. The in-country staff have developed and exhibited unique implementation capability and have demonstrated that they possess and can transfer very specialized technical assistance for the achievement of the Environment Strategic Objective Results. There are some processes that have been initiated and can be completed with a high degree of success only with the technical capacity provided by IRG. USAID/G-CAP Environment Strategic Objective team believe that no other contractor can provide the support necessary to avoid serious interruption in critical support of the environmental activities. The contract is being sole-sourced under AIDAR 706.302-70(b)(5) for the continued provision of specialized services. In accordance with FAR 5.207(d)(xv), all responsible sources may submit to the Supervisory Contract Officer, a bid, proposal or quotation which will be considered by the agency. However, this notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed action is solely within the discretion of the Government. This is a sole source requirement and we will proceed with the award on that basis. No solicitation is available.