Y -- AFGHANISTAN URBAN DEVELOPMENT/WATER AND SANITATION

The United States Agency for International Development, Afghanistan Procurement Support Office located in Bangkok, Thailand in conjunction with the USAID Mission in Kabul, Afghanistan intends to issue a solicitation for infrastructure programs in Urban Development/Water & Sanitation Program. The program supports the rebuilding, expansion, management and other key aspects of Afghanistan's urban infrastructure including urban transport, fire protection, public potable water supply, and waste disposal. Activities will likely include new construction and the rehabilitation of existing urban infrastructure that has deteriorated and been damaged as a result of armed conflicts during the past thirty years. Equally important activities will include support of the reform and strengthening of urban policy and governance; urban planning; finance; human resource development; supply of selected equipment and furnishings; and municipal assets management, operation and maintenance. This is a full and open competition, under which any type of organization (large or small commercial [for profit] firms, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations) from the US and USAID Geographic Code of 935 countries is eligible to compete. The procedures set forth in FAR Part 15 shall apply. USAID anticipates awarding a single Indefinite Quantity Contract and all work to be undertaken under the contract will be authorized in the form of Task Orders. The period of performance is anticipated to be 5 years with a total estimated cost of $0.5 billion. USAID encourages the participation to the maximum extent possible of small business concerns, small disadvantaged business concerns and women-owned small business concerns in this activity as the prime contractor or as subcontractors in accordance with Part 19 of the FAR. Offeror is encouraged to register and use the Interested Vendor List (IVL) on the FedbizOpps page, so that firms can contact one another for consideration of teaming arrangements and/or small business subcontracting opportunities in response to this solicitation The draft of Statement of Work (SOW) is provided for comments from industry and other interested parties. Interested parties should submit their comments via email to the Afghanistan Procurement Support Office in Bangkok (APSO/Bangkok) at apsobangkok@usaid.gov no later than April 22, 2005, to have considered for any potential revisions to the SOW. USAID does not intend on replying to industry comments received, but may revise the final solicitation based on a review of responses received. Please do not contact USAID/Afghanistan in Kabul directly, since all communication must be through this office. It is anticipated that RFP for this procurement will be issued approximately mid of May 2005. The release of the draft SOW in no way obligates USAID or the US Government to release an RFP or make an award of any type.