WHA/EPSC Support Services

The U.S. Department of State, Office of Acquisition Management (AQM) intends to award a firm-fixed price purchase order for professional support services to facilitate U.S. Government engagement in the Summit of the Americas process on behalf of the for the Office of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Office of Regional Economic Policy and Summit Coordination (WHA/EPSC) from the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS).

The proposed award is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302-1. The period of performance is anticipated to be twelve months. OAS requirement is to provide technical expertise, advice, and recommendations through engagement with Western Hemisphere governments, coordinating with the Summit institutions and stakeholders, and facilitating implementation of economic, development and political initiatives stemming from the Summit. The services to be provided include:

Facilitate the processes of the Summit of the Americas' managing body, the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG), and associated meetings; including: advising and applying their subject matter expertise on Summits of the Americas and the Organization of American States, with their authority and convening power for the partner governments, institutions and stakeholders, as well as advising and applying their historical and protocolary knowledge of the Summits process, rules and procedures.

Additional meeting logistics, and conference liaison services; document management and performance of administrative tasks and procedures related to Summit Secretariat functions; translations of Summit and SIRG documents and meeting interpretation for SIRG will also be necessary.

Coordinate the participation of the Joint Summit Working Group (JSWG) in the Summit process; convocation of JSWG technical and high-level meetings virtually or at facilities of partner institutions; design and publication of reports on JSWG activities to implement Summit initiatives in the Summit process; and ensure timely and reliable access to information and reporting pertaining to the Summit.

Facilitate engagement between civil society, social actors, the private sector, and governments in the Summit process; meeting logistics and conference services associated with the convocation of meetings with non-government stakeholders; maintenance of on-line tools to facilitate interaction between civil society, social actors, the private sector, and governments.

Ensure timely and reliable access to information and reporting pertaining to the Summit process; maintenance of electronic resources, historical documents, and formal reports; production and maintenance of public information including the Summit website and fact sheets. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available.

However, firms that believe they can fully meet the government's requirements may submit substantiating documentation in writing to the identified point of contact within 15 days after publication of this synopsis. Such documentation will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the government not to conduct a competitive procurement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.