U--Notice of Intent to Award a Sole Source Contract to the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)

GovWorks, Procurement Operations Branch, U. S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, in support of the U. S. Department of State, Office of Public Liaison (PA/PL), is the contracting office for this procurement. This action is being processed in accordance with FAR 6.302-1, only one responsible source, and solicited in accordance with FAR 13.5, Test Program for Certain Commercial Items. The Department of State recognizes the need for international awareness, understanding, and cross-cultural sensitivity in the wake of September 11th. Institutions of higher education must foster greater dialogue about global issues and international affairs if American college graduates are to be well-informed citizens. College graduates must be able to compete effectively in a global economy. New partnerships between Government and higher education must initiate new strategies to create a cadre of American college graduates who can work in international affairs/public diplomacy, both within the Government, in various public agencies, and in the private sector. The Department of State requires the cooperation of a nation-wide organization that represents an association of public colleges and universities across the country, which can provide the interface between the Department and the academic community. Therefore, the U. S. Department of State will create a new project, entitled the Global Access Project (GAP). The GAP will provide increased access to international content by making available the resources and staff of the U. S. Department of State. The goal of the GAP is (1) to increase American students' understanding of international affairs and the work of the Department of State, and (2) stimulate interest in careers in the field of international relations and Public Diplomacy. A variety of formats to accomplish project goals will be used, including in-person presentations by Department speakers on participating campuses, town-meetings for students and the wider community, week-long Washington foreign policy seminars for students, and digital video conferencing (DVC) and/or satellite technology. The Faculty GAP Committee and Department of State staff, with coordination from AASCU, will develop programs to provide greater access for more American students to the Department and its wealth of resources on international relations. The project offers the opportunity to create a series of modules and elements on a range of topics such as the craft of diplomacy, negotiating treaties, political, economic, regional and consular issues. The program will be used to reach out of the broad range of interested persons on campus and from the greater community. GAP campus coordinators will schedule smaller briefings for interested faculty, administrators, and the surrounding community. The period of performance will be 24 months from award. This requirement is being issued by GovWorks under the franchise authority of the Department of the Interior on behalf of the U. S. Department of State. The Government intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities for this procurement. Firms that believe they can provide the required services described above should provide their qualifications, in writing, to the Contracting Officer. Such firms must submit supporting evidence in sufficient detail to demonstrate their ability to meet the stated requirements. This is not a request for competitive quotes. However, the Government will consider all quotes received no later than December 10, 2002, at 2:00 p.m. POC: Jane M. Carlson, Contracting Officer, MMS, Procurement Operations Branch, 381 Elden St., MS 2510, Herndon, VA 20170. Questions must be emailed to Jane M. Carlson at the following email address: contact@example.gov. Telephonic questions or requests will not be accepted.