R--PRIVATE SECTOR-LED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR INSULAR AREAS

This is a concurrent Announcement/Request for Quotation (RFQ) #: NBCQ05488, SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE US DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF INSULAR AFFAIRS seeks professional services to assist with Private Sector-led Economic Development in Insular Areas of Guam, American Samoa, The Northern Mariana Islands, Siapan, US Virgin Islands and the Freely Associated States of Micronesia. Technical Offer instructions and Technical Evaluation Criteria are listed below. After technical evaluation of Offers, DOI anticipates entering into a contract with the successful offeror. The closing date of this concurrent Announcement/RFQ is: Friday, 22 Jul 05, at 1630. Please send questions by e-mail to the Contracting Officer at: contact@example.gov. This concurrent Announcement/RFQ incorporates by reference FAR Clauses 52.212-1, 52.212-2, 52.212-3, 52.212-4, and 52.212-5. The assoicated Statement of Work has been included below. ___________________________ BACKGROUND On behalf of the Secretary of the Interior, the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) is responsible for the general administration of the Federal Government's relationship with the U.S. insular areas of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and for the administration of financial assistance to the freely associated states (FAS), the Marshall Islands, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia. OIA provides and manages a number of grants in these locations. In addition, OIA is responsible for certain aspects of the Secretary of the Interior's civil administration of Midway, Palmyra and Wake Atolls. Over the past two years, at the request of the Secretary of the Interior, OIA has organized two large conferences designed to introduce the mainland business community to the insular areas and FAS with the aim of stimulating private sector-led economic development. Both of these events were highly successful, the second attracting over 1,000 attendees, and follow-up efforts are currently under way. One such initiative will be Business Opportunities Missions, modeled on trade missions commonly led by the Department of Commerce and investment missions managed by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. The first of these missions occurred in May 2005; fifteen businesses participated, and it included stops in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Palau over a nine-day period. OIA would like to lead business opportunities missions to other insular areas as well. OIA's third Island Business Fellows program is under way, and another large-scale conference is likely in calendar year 2006. The purpose of these initiatives is to follow up on the work of the initial conferences-to further develop the links between investors from Hawaii and the mainland United States and business and government leaders in the insular areas and FAS, with the ultimate aim of stimulating private sector-led economic development. Further and continuing follow-up efforts are also required throughout the year, beyond these large-scale events, to ensure that the links remain strong between, on the one hand, the insular areas and the FAS, and, on the other, Hawaii and the mainland United States. A sustained effort and consistent outreach to the private sectors of both the islands and the mainland are required to ensure the success of this task. OBJECTIVES The Contractor will assist OIA in pursuing our general goal of improving the level of private sector-led economic development in the insular areas and FAS, providing market research expertise, outreach assistance, and business development experience in support of this initiative. TASKS The Contractor shall provide the following consulting and development assistance tasks in support of OIA's economic development initiatives: Follow up on linkages between insular/FAS and Hawaii/mainland businesses created over the last two years and work towards the development of new linkages, with the ultimate aim of allowing all jurisdictions to benefit from win-win business opportunities. These opportunities include: o Development and promotion of insular/FAS exports to the U.S. customs territory and to other, foreign markets; o Promotion of partnerships and new investment in the insular areas/FAS; and o Development and promotion of new markets for U.S. goods and services in the insular areas and FAS. Assist OIA in its outreach efforts aimed at increasing awareness within the Hawaii/mainland business communities of opportunities that exist in the insular areas and FAS. Assist OIA in its efforts to increase and to support local capacity and to increase local awareness of available government and non-profit business assistance options. Assist and support specific OIA events, including future business opportunities missions and conferences. DELIVERABLES AND TIME FRAME The Contractor's services will be provided for an overall period of one year, from the date of award. Close contact should be maintained at all times with representatives of OIA, as some deliverables will require close coordination with them. Exact OIA contact information will be provided at time of award. DELIVERY SCHEDULE Work to increase awareness of opportunities in the insular areas and FAS in the American business community by completing the following: o Beginning in August 2005, produce and deliver, along with a distribution list, a monthly newsletter focusing on trade and investment development in the insular areas and FAS for distribution to the U.S. and international business communities. o Beginning in August 2005, arrange at least five events, numbering between seventy and one hundred participants, for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Affairs, and other representatives of OIA, including at least one each in the Southwest or Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest and the eastern United States, aimed at building relationships with potential multiplier organizations and recruiting for future missions and conferences. Agendas other speakers, attendees, and venue shall be established well in advance and submitted for approval to representatives of OIA. o Assist OIA, with input from insular and FAS visitors' authorities, in the development and implementation of a regional tourism promotion program. This will include development of strategy, target markets, and development of any necessary supplementary materials (brochures, press releases, etc). The plan should be delivered no later than the beginning of October 2005, and in the implementation phase by the beginning of December 2005. Promote investment, export, distribution, and partnership opportunities in the insular areas and FAS to the Hawaii and mainland United States business communities, leading to at least eight new investment agreements (or other commitments of resources to do business in the insular areas or FAS), partnerships, distribution networks in the insular areas and FAS, insular/FAS government contract awards, and/or distribution deals for insular/FAS products in the mainland United States and elsewhere around the world, at a rate of at least two every three months. Assist representatives of OIA with the production of DOI Business Opportunities Missions and Conferences by: o Providing representatives of OIA with comprehensive market research and direct marketing assistance during the lead-up to future trade missions and conferences, over a period of a month during the application window prior to a business opportunities mission and the three months leading up to a conference. This assistance will include: --Outreach to designated trade groups, chambers of commerce, and other multiplier organizations as requested by representatives of OIA. --Access to mailing lists as requested by representatives of OIA for the purposes of marketing the events to large-scale audiences. --Targeted outreach to companies in specific industry areas, e.g. tourism, E-commerce, agriculture, to be designated by representatives of OIA. --Follow-up efforts after the conferences/missions to track new investment and other developments on the part of participants. The next Business Opportunities Mission is tentatively set for early 2006; subsequent missions to American Samoa, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia will follow later that year; the Conference (if exercised) would also take place later. o Supporting design of conference and mission agenda. This will include: --Provide suggestions for conference/mission themes and content. --Support development of program components, including arranging panelists and developing other content as requested and subject to prior approval by representatives of OIA. REPORTING o Reporting should be on a monthly basis, by email or fax, to representatives of OIA, enumerating progress on all major deliverables in progress and next steps. All other materials enumerated for delivery (including promotional materials and mailing lists) must be submitted to OIA for approval before use or dispatch. o A Final Report should be delivered no later than thirteen months from the start of the contract. This report should include the following: --Description of new investment, licensing, real estate development/construction, contracting, distribution, or other business opportunities developed in the course of this effort. --"After-action" summaries on each major outreach event enumerated in this statement of work (including any optional events exercised), including attendee rosters (with full contact information and industry sector or line of business), and follow-up contacts generated as a result of the event. Listing of organizations recruited for participation in each Business Opportunities Mission and Conference, both successfully and unsuccessfully. Summary of results for regional tourism initiative, including all materials, distribution lists, and any new projects undertaken. Full circulation results from the monthly news letter, including the final distribution list and monthly totals. OPTIONAL ITEMS/TASKS o Arrange, at the request of representatives of OIA, at least one seminar in Japan, the People's Republic of China, or the Republic of Korea aimed at promoting tourism to and investment in the insular areas and FAS. This item will be exercised by OIA no earlier than six months after the start of the contract. Agenda, speakers, and venue shall be established at least four weeks in advance; attendees by one week in advance of any projected event; all are subject to approval by representatives of OIA. Attendees will be from industry sectors to be designated in advance by OIA; total expected attendees would be no fewer than fifty corporations and other private sector entities from Japan, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, and other nations on the Pacific Rim, as well as representatives from multilateral lending institutions and government trade and business development agencies from each of the countries represented.. o Provide assistance and recommendations to insular and FAS governments, at the request of representatives of OIA, on the best practices to encourage and to stimulate private-sector growth. This will take the form of a seminar or seminars to be executed at the request of representatives of OIA. The Contractor will be responsible for securing speakers from U.S. companies and business schools and arranging the agenda and venue, subject to approval by representatives of OIA. This item will be exercised only upon request by representatives of OIA and no earlier than September 2005. Tentative agenda topics should be submitted no earlier than five weeks in advance of each seminar; speakers should be secured no later than two weeks in advance. EVALUATION CRITERIA The Government will award a contract resulting from this RFQ to the organization whose proposal will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The proposals shall not exceed 30 single spaced pages (not including Attachments for key personnel resumes and past performance references, as applicable). The following elements will be evaluated: 1. Organizational Background & Statement of Capability. 2. Understanding of project and tasks, including proposed numbers for recruitment for Missions and Conferences (based on the Statement of Work), likely multipliers for major outreach events, and an outline for the regional tourism marketing initiative. 3. Past Performance Citations (provide a minimum of 3, no more than 2 years old) References must include relevant experience in projects similar to those listed in the SOW. 4. Experience of each Team Member 5. Cost Proposal Proposals should clearly and concisely show the vendors: 1. Knowledge of and demonstrated experience in working with businesses to build capacity in small and developing economies. (50 points available) 2. Knowledge of and demonstrated experience in working with businesses in small and developing economies to build partnerships with public and private sector partners in the United States (50 points available) 3. Knowledge of and experience in project development in a wide range of industry areas (50 points available) 4. Knowledge of and demonstrated experience in outreach to and through a broad range of multiplier organizations in a diverse set of industry areas. (50 points available) 5. Knowledge of and demonstrated experience in projects directly related to tourism development in underdeveloped island markets. (50 points available) Value Award Decision DOI will make an award decision on the basis of best overall value to the Government, all things considered. Breakdown within criteria: 1. Outstanding = 45 to 50 points 2. Excellent = 38 to 44 points 3. Acceptable = 30 to 37 points 4. Poor = 20 to 29 points 5. Did not adequately address the criteria = 0 to 19 points Characterization of assigned weights: Outstanding = proposal reflects an extraordinary understanding of the initiative (mastery of subject), extensive experience in the application of the required skills, demonstrated experience is superb and confirmed by recent Federal and/or commercial customers, outstanding demonstration of knowledge and understanding of how the five scored elements integrate together, skill and experience of the proposed staffing mix that is clearly head and shoulders above that expected for an acceptable score. Excellent = proposal reflects a competent understanding of the initiative (clear understanding of the subject), solid experience in the application of the required skills, demonstrated experience is competent and confirmed by recent Federal and/or commercial customers, excellent demonstration of necessary knowledge and understanding of how the five scored elements integrate together, skill and experience of the proposed staffing mix clearly beyond that expected for an acceptable score. Acceptable = proposal reflects a general understanding of the initiative (a working knowledge of the subject), some experience in the application of the skills required, demonstrated experience is best described as adequate and confirmed by recent Federal and/or commercial customers, acceptable demonstration of necessary knowledge and understanding of how the five scored elements integrate together, skill and experience of the proposed staffing mix clearly represents that expected for an acceptable score. Poor = proposal reflects only a rudimentary understanding of the initiative (understanding of the subject unclear), only general experience in the application of the discipline in the Federal environment and/or private sector, demonstrated experience is only minimal as confirmed by recent Federal and commercial customers, little demonstration of necessary knowledge and understanding of how the five scored elements integrate together, skill and experience of the proposed staffing mix is not demonstrated to be that expected for an acceptable score. Did not adequately address the criteria = Self explanatory. OPTIONAL ITEMS The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all optional items to the total price for the basic requirement. Evaluation of optional items shall not obligate the Government to exercise these optional items. At its discretion, the Government may award the optional items listed at any time during the life of the contract. ATTENTION OFFERORS: Submit a signed and dated offer to the office specified in this concurrent Announcement/RFQ on or before the specified date and time. Offers may be submitted electronically (see e-mail address provided below) or via fax at +1 (555) 000-0000. All offers received from responsible Offerors, which are timely, will be considered. Questions in regards to this RFQ must be submitted in writing via e-mail to the Contracting Officer, Ms. Heidi Muller, at the following address: contact@example.gov Response to submitted questions will be provided within 1 business day. Period of acceptance--the Offeror agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm for 90 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers.