W -- Meeting Facility Rental and Audio Visual Services for the 2007 National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week Conference

The government intends to issue a sole source purchase order for the items set forth below. The Office of the Secretary intends to contract for meeting facilities and audio/video services to support the 2007 National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week Conference: Fulfilling the Covenant in Our Nation's Higher Education Community. Approximately 600 attendees are registered to attend the event. A schedule of events and proposed audio visual requirements is attached for reference. This purchase order is intended as a sole source award to be issued to the Hyatt Regency Washington, 400 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001. This vendor was the only venue in the metropolitan area which had sufficient space available to accommodate an audience of 600 for the various sessions scheduled for September 9-12, 2007. This venue does permit outside contractors to provide audio visual services for events. Should an outside audio-visual company be utilized, the Hyatt Regency Washington imposes a $5,000 facility usage fee and requires a one million dollar liability insurance from the audio visual company. Proposals should include travel and lodging expenses for 6-8 technicians to be on site. Contracted vendor will be responsible for transportation, setup, on-site technical assistance during events and break down of equipment and staging materials. The proposed contract action is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b). Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement on or before the Response Date state in this notice. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. All responsible vendors may submit a quote, which, if received by the closing date, will be considered by ED. Proposals will be evaluated based on price, capabilities, and past performance. The Response Date is September 6, 2007, 12:00 p.m. Local Time. Point of Contact: Cindy Dixon, +1 (555) 000-0000/contact@example.gov.