X -- Convention Center Use, Philadelphia PA

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Citizenship & Immigration Services (CIS), intends to award a sole-source contract to the Philadelphia Convention Center for the use of its facilities to host approximately five ceremonies during fiscal year 2005. The contract will secure a venue capable of accommodating around 3,050 attendees, providing essential amenities such as tables, chairs, staging, setup and breakdown labor, handicapped access, parking, and convenient access via nearby highways and public transportation within the Greater Philadelphia area. This acquisition will follow FAR Part 12 procedures for commercial items but will be awarded without a formal solicitation, as this notice serves as the only announcement, reflecting the government’s intent to negotiate exclusively with the Philadelphia Convention Center under authority allowing sole-source procurement. The contract, titled "Convention Center Use, Philadelphia PA," was announced on October 28, 2004, under solicitation number PHI-05-0015 and falls within the NAICS code 711310, indicating event and convention center services. The award is governed by the Department of Homeland Security’s USCIS Contracting Office located in Williston, Vermont. This arrangement ensures that the government receives the required facility services without competing bids, consistent with the justification for sole-source contracting. The specific event dates remain undetermined, and the contract emphasizes the importance of a centrally located facility capable of meeting logistical and accessibility requirements for the ceremonies.