R -- SOUTH AFRICAN COORDINATOR

This is a COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation: Proposals are being requested and a WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED. This solicitation includes the provisions and clauses of the FAR in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-23, 12/26/07. The FAR is accessible at http://www.arnet.gov/far. This solicitation is set-aside for 100% small business. The NAICS Code is 541990, with a size standard of $6.5 million dollars. This request is being issued as a Request For Proposals (RFP) for technical support services for a period of twelve months. These services are in support of key objectives of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the African Global Commpetitive Initiative (AGCI), a partnership between USDA and USAID assists African countries in diversifying their economies and increasing their exports of agricultureal products. This program places significant emphasis on building the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) capacity of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries to expand local, regional, and international trade of agricultural commodities. STATEMENT OF WORK ? South African Coordinator (SPS Advisor). The SPS Advisor will provide leadership for the design and implementation of plant and animal health, and food safety programs and activities managed by USDA and the USAID, including activities under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Africa Global Competitiveness Initiative (AGCI), U.S. government efforts to promote economic growth and development in Africa. These efforts will focus on bringing African agricultural legislation and production methods into compliance with international standards, which in turn will enable agricultural commodities produced in sub-Saharan Africa eligible for export to new markets, including the United States. The SPS Coordinator will serve as activity manager for SPS activities implemented by USDA and USAID in Southern Africa under the AGOA SPS Capacity Building Program. This position includes responsibility for implementation, financial and programmatic management, evaluation, and reporting the achievement of program objectives. In addition, the contractor will provide expert technical leadership, policy, and program guidance to the Missions, and partners working in the plant, animal and food safety sectors in identifying SPS program directions and objectives, establishing priorities and providing budget and resource recommendations. The contractor will also provide leadership in strategic planning for sub-Saharan African regional initiatives which enhance SPS infrastructure, promote increased exports of African agricultural products, and increase investment in the private sector. The SPS Coordinator will provide expert advice to southern Africa countries public and private sector,bilateral and regional missions on matters related to SPS policies, practices and trends in sub-Saharan Africa. These matters will include, inter alia, the formulation of a technical agenda for SPS programs in sub-Saharan Africa; developing new and innovative approaches in planning, designing, evaluating, and providing leadership for SPS programs; recommending activities and approaches to achieve a broad range of objectives to further USG development goals and Foreign Policy objectives; and participating in donor coordination groups on SPS issues. The SPS Coordinator will work closely with USDA Agencies, USAID regional and bilateral missions, USAID implementing partners, U.S. institutions of higher learning, NGOs, other USG departments or agencies, trade associations and host governments, as appropriate, to identify and analyze SPS policies that will impact the ability of African agricultural producers to sell their products on the world market. The SPS Coordinator must have advanced degree(s) in entomology, plant pathology, veterinary science, food safety or related field, a minimum of 10 years of professional experience in the field of study, professional knowledge of development analysis tools, and a working knowledge of USG positions and approaches to SPS infrastructure and regulatory frameworks, agriculture, trade, capacity building, and economic development. The contractor must have professional experience in the region of duty and understand existing country regulatory policy and existing trade capacity building programs. The contractor must also have a demonstrated knowledge of the complex linkages in SPS policy and programs; the ability to effectively and quickly identify, articulate, and present positions favorable to USG SPS interests; the ability to communicate technical issues to a broad range of audiences, including speaking authoritatively at technical levels with a wide range of decision-makers; demonstrated capacity to contribute to a team management structure; and a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a range of professional counterparts at all levels. Strong interpersonal skills and superior written and oral communication skills are essential. Fluency in one or more foreign languages is preferred. The SPS coordinator will be based in Southern Africa and no relocation funds will be provided. Under the contract, the long-term coordinator(s) will work cooperatively with Regional USAID Mission/Hub staff and USDA?s regional representatives. The coordinator(s) will report to USDA/FAS/OCBD/Washington, DC. The activities that will be conducted under this contract are derived from the work plans of USAID?s and USDA?s work plan for Africa to meet the policy and programs objectives in the AGOA legislation and the Presidential Initiative called the AGCI. Specifically, the Objectives for this acquisition include the following: a) Strengthen institutional regulatory framework and policies to complete SPS work plans required for trade with the United States.b) Strengthen technical capacity to manage pests and inefficiencies throughout the value chain and certify pest management efforts. c) Strengthen public-private sector networks to facilitate pest management and certification. d) Strengthen food safety management systems through public and private sector training. e) Strengthen technical capacities within veterinary services to improve livestock surveillance systems. The Government will retain rights to all intellectual property produced in the course of this task order. If violated, the Government reserves the right to require dismissal of the contractor. EVALUATION: (a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, technical, price and other factors considered. The following factors will be used to evaluate offers. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: A. TECHNICAL. Technical factors in descending order of importance: 1) The quality and extent of staff and their knowledge and ability to address SPS issues; 2) The qualifications of the staff proposed in terms of advanced degrees in a relevant field, and 3) Extensive Southern African experience; 4) Expertise on trade and commercial knowledge; 5) The ability to demonstrate innovation related to their approach; 6) The ability to clearly state the problem and propose solutions to addressing agricultural trade impediments and opportunities for South Africa;7) In-depth working knowledge of U.S. regulations governing the importation of agricultural products; 8) The ability to work and coordinate closely with USDA Foreign Agriculture Services SPS program implementation team and Agricultural Counselor, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service?s Attache?, USAID, and local public and private sector stakeholders in Southern Africa. 9) The ability to communicate in writing and verbally and the basis for that ability. B. PAST PERFORMANCE. Technical, Past Performance, when combined are more important when compared to Price. The following provisions are applicable: FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial, FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions ?Commercial Items. C. PRICE. Offerors must provide the price response separate from the technical response. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS: I. Provide information addressing each of the technical evaluation factors listed above under EVALUATION. II. Offerors are to provide the price information separate from the technical, and past performance information. III. Completed 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items. (Available at http://www.arnet.gov/far). IV. Proposals must include company name, contact person, telephone, fax number, and email address. V. PROPOSALS ARE DUE by 2:00 pm, EST time on February 15, 2008. Proposals will be accepted by email to yvonne.howerton@wdc.usda.gov or by mail to Yvonne Howerton, AMD/COB, 1280 Maryland Avenue, Room 580-A, SW, Washington, DC 20024. All offerors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database. The associated website is http://www.ccr.gov.