R--US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs, Trust Fund Executive Administrator

The National Business Center, Office of the Secretary, US Department of the Interior, on behalf of the Office of Insular Affairs, a directorate within the Office of the Secretary, intends to award a contract on a sole source basis to Richard W. Miller to serve in the capacity of Executive Administrator on a temporary basis for two trust funds. Please refer to the below Statement of Work for a complete description of the duties of this position. The named contractor will perform these duties for a period not to exceed six months, after which a permamnent and full time Executive Administrator is planned to have been hired. Any individual who believes that he possesses the requisite qualifications to perform this function is instructed to contact the Contracting Officer via e-mail only by 5:00 PM Washington, DC time on Thursday March 22, 2007 with the following: 1) A written proposal identifying all skills and experience required in the Statement of Work. Proposals must include relevant work experience, references and a detailed narrative of the individual's knowledge of and experience with the Insular Areas of the United States. 2) Verification of at least a Master's Degree in Economics from an accredited institution 3) A price proposal identifying the hourly rate charged for the performance of these duties. While the period of performance is up to six months, the Government estimates that a total of 800 hours of work will be utilized which, if 40 hours per week is worked, amounts to twenty weeks or 100 days of work. The Government will consider qualified respondents only if they meet all minimum requirements as articulated in the Statement of Work. Award will be made to the most qualified respondent, including the named proposed sole source awardee, based upon the following evaluation criteria: 1) Technical Capabilities: i.e. understanding of the task requirements, education, experience. 2) Past Performance: experience in similar duties, references. 3) Price A "best value" determination will be made wherein when combined, technical capabilities and past performance are more important than price alone. Therefore, award could be made to other than the lowest price offeror. Unsuccessful respondents are not entitled to a debriefing. The Government will not pay any relocation, housing or travel costs whatsoever. The contractor must be registered in Central Contractor Registration, have a DUNs number, and possess the appropriate security clearance as required under HSPD-12 (Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12). The Government will not delay or postpone award of contract pending an individual's CCR registration or HSPD-12 security clearances. Questions about this Notice must be directed to the Contracting Officer via e-mail only. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. The Contracting Officer's e-mail address is: contact@example.gov. The anticipated sole source award is made under the provisions of FAR 6.302-1. STATEMENT OF WORK Background: The Amended Compacts of Free Association between the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia, respectively (Public Law 108-188), provided for annual assistance from the United States to these freely associated states over a 20 year period from fiscal year 2004 through fiscal year 2023. As part of the financial assistance provided under the Compacts, two trust finds were set up to receive contributions, primarily from the United States, in the amounts of approximately $260 million for the Marshall Islands and $ 430 million in 2003 dollars for Micronesia, with the objective of investing its funds in order to build up a corpus which will be begin paying out funds to the two states in 2024 in lieu of further direct support from the United States. These two trust funds are administered by two Trust Fund Committees, of which the Chairman is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs of Department of the Interior. The Committees are responsible for administration of the Trust Funds; most administrative duties are assigned to the Chairman. The Trust Funds are authorized by the Trust Fund Agreement to contract with service providers and to pay administration expenses. Each Trust Fund has hired a Trustee, an Investment Advisor and a Legal Counsel. However, neither has hired an administrative staff to manage the activities of the Trust Funds, including directing the investment of funds, managing activities of the Trust Fund Committees and coordinating the activities of the contractors. The Trust Fund Committees have not yet taken action to employ an Executive Administrator. Since the incorporation of the Trust Funds in 2004, their administrative functions have been performed by the Chairman (David Cohen) and the staff of the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA). As the number and complexity of the administrative functions has increased, the management of the affairs of the Trust Funds requires the full time attention of one OIA staff member whose time has been diverted from other important activities of OIA. As a result there is an urgent need to contract for the services of an Executive Administrator in the Office of Insular Affairs to administer the Trust Funds until they are prepared to employ an Executive Administrator on their own. Objective: It is proposed to contract with an experienced and competent individual on approximately a full-time basis for a period of up to six months. Minimum Requirements: The contractor must have a minimum of a master's degree in economics, with a strong background in economic theory and finance, and at least 10 years of demonstrated experience in finances of insular areas and freely associated states. The contractor must be skilled in writing financial reports and communicating with financial institutions. The contractor must have worked with and be familiar with the Compacts of Free Association and subsidiary documents relating to the Trust Fund for the People of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Trust Fund for the People of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Security Clearance Requirements: The Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 (Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors) requires all contractors that have access to an IT system to have security clearance. This directive, signed by the President in August 2004, requires all Federal departments and agencies to implement a mandatory, Government-wide standard for secure and reliable forms of identification for all Federal employees and contractors. The primary goals of this initiative are to enhance security, increase government efficiency, to reduce identity fraud and to protect personal privacy. The contractor will have to pay for any necessary background investigation. The Human Resources Office will provide the necessary forms to be completed by the contractor depending on the security risk level of the position. The contractor will be fingerprinted and must complete a verification of identity form. Contractor Performance Dates and Reporting Contract performance will commence on date of the award, subject to Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 (HSPD-12) requirements. The contract's period of performance is expected to take approximately six (6) months. The Contractor will report to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs in his capacities as (1) Chairman, Trust Fund Committee: Trust Fund for the People of the Federated States of Micronesia and (2) Chairman, Trust Fund Committee: Trust Fund for the People of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Tasks and Deliverables: The following duties of the Executive Administrator will be deliverables under the Contract: Documentation: Upon direction of the Chairman of the respective trust fund, draft and transmit all official and unofficial documents of the trust funds, including: -resolutions, -letters for signature of the Chairman in response to inquiries from members, governments, agencies, the press and public, -annual reports and other periodic reports to members -Written Directions to the Trustee, , properly signed by trust fund officials, to transfer funds in accordance with Trust Fund Committee decisions, meet capital calls from money managers hired by the Trust Funds and pay obligations of the Trust Funds for service of contractors hired by them. Coordination with contractors: Manage regular communication with Trustees, Investment Advisors, Money Managers and legal counsel to assure that funds are managed as directed by the Trust fund Committees, including for example: -drafting or supervising drafting or reviewing of contracts, letters of engagement and RFPs -making certain that contracts of the Trust Funds are legally sound, -verifying that sufficient funds are available in working accounts to pay bills and meet capital calls, -reminding trustees and investment advisors of periodic reports required by their contracts. -being available at all times to confirm transactions of Money Managers and make sure that transactions have been properly executed. Meetings: schedule and coordinate meetings of the Trust Fund Committees on a quarterly or more frequent basis, including: -drafting and transmitting resolutions implementing Trust Fund policy, -reporting on meetings and resolutions passed, -arranging for meeting places in Washington and other locations, -drafting the agendas and transmitting them to participants -inviting members, contractors and other participants, -arranging for teleconference and transcription facilities Coordination with Trust Fund Committee members and staff: Maintain regular communication with seven members and staff of the RMI Trust Fund Committee and five members and staff of the FSM Trust Fund Committee to: -keep the advised of meetings, investment activities, performance reports -obtain their comments and suggestions on implementation of Trust Fund policies and suggested changes. Place of Performance: Main Interior Building, Washington, DC Government Equipment Provided: Office, Desk, Chair, Telephone, Computer, Printer, Monitor, Internet and Office Supplies. Period of Performance: Up to six months from date of award The Government will not reimburse the contractor for any travel, living or relocation expenses whatsoever. Contractor must possess or possess the ability to receive immediately the required security clearances under HSPD-12. Contractor will report to Assistant Deputy Secretary David Cohen, US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs.