Technical assistance, training and policy advice in support of the justice reform in Colombia

USAID/Colombia intends to award a Sole Source Contract modification to FIU under Contract No. 514-C-00-06-00302-00. The estimated amount of this modification is USD$ 3,632,856. The above Contract was awarded to FIU on a full and open competition basis on May 16, 2006, and the estimated completion date is May 16, 2009. The completion date of this contract will be extended by 1.5 months. The current total estimated contract amount is USD$14,107,144.00. The purpose of the above contract is to provide technical assistance, training and policy advice in support of justice reform in Colombia. The purpose of this modification is to provide additional resources that will be applied to foster a more transparent, democratic, and effective Colombian justice sector. Activities will improve national implementation of the new Criminal Procedures Code (Accusatory system reform); strengthen court administration, enhanced access to justice (especially for indigenous, Afro-Colombians and the disenfranchised); and improve civil society capacity to mobilize support for justice reform and monitor, assess, advocate for and assist in national justice reform processes. Illustrative activities include: the creation of regional justice houses (Casas de Justicia); the construction and/or refurbishment of judicial service centers and virtual court rooms; support for the creation of a training school in the Public Defender Directorate, the provision of training to public defenders, and the construction of public defender offices; the modernization of court administrative systems; and promotion of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. USAID intends to negotiate this modification with only one source under the authority of AIDAR 706.302-70 (b)(5), where an award is for the continued provision of highly specialized services and award to another source would result in substantial additional costs to the Government or would result in unacceptable project delays. The required services include continuation and expansion of services of the same nature as described in the original statement of work of the original contract. This notice is not a request for proposals and no solicitation is available. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to satisfy the Government's requirement in accordance with numbered note 22. Any information received will be considered for the purpose of conducting a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competition is solely within the discretion of the Government.