Point Of Contact Not Available

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission to Guatemala/Central American Programs (G-CAP) proposes to modify existing contract 520-C-00-00-00035-00 with Abt Associates Inc.(Abt), under the Mission's Increased Rural Household Income and Food Security Strategic Objective (SO4). The Mission requirement is a 11 month extension of the Abt contract without a change in the Scope of Work, the total estimated cost will be increased over $250,000. The primary effort under the Mission's (SO4) is currently being carried out under above mentioned contract which was awarded under full and open competition on 2/3/2000 for $6,821,921 and a three-year period. The requirement was not anticipated at the time of the original award. After the contract was awarded, the overall bilateral strategy for Guatemala was extended to September 30, 2004. This extension will allow FY04 to serve as a transition between the old and new strategy periods. Abt Associates has been providing highly specialized services in the areas of (1) private agricultural technology transfer systems, (2) 2nd. tier micro credit systems, (3) subgrant administration, and (4) Performance monitoring systems. In each of these diverse and highly specialized areas, Abt Associates has provided key experts that have achieved significant and impressive results. Issuing a new instrument during FY03 for such a small time period is not practical because of the additional costs and time required to get a new mechanism established and fully functioning for a relatively short-term, and also because current implementation momentum would be disrupted. The Mission intends to have in place a new acquisition and/or assistance instrument to implement activities for the new FY04-08 strategy period by early to mid FY04. This modification to contract 520-C-00-00-00035-00 is being proposed under the authority of AIDAR 706.302-70(b)(5) for the continued provision of highly specialized services when award to another resource would result in substantial additional costs to the government or unacceptable delays. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement within 15 days of publication of this notice. In accordance with FAR 5.207(d)(xv), all responsible sources may submit to the Point of Contact a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. However, this notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed action is solely within the discretion of the Government. This is a sole source requirement and we will proceed with the award on that basis. No solicitation is available.

Bid Protests Not Available