SOW_Mexico_Northwest_Wines_Final.docx

U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service

Statement of Work Cochran Program for Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras – Northwest Wines Merchandising Latin America and the Caribbean

Background Since 1984, the U.S. Congress has made funds available to the Cochran Fellowship Program for training agriculturalists from middle-income countries, emerging markets, and emerging democracies. Training opportunities are for senior and mid-level specialists and administrators working in agricultural trade and policy, agribusiness development, management, animal, plant, and food sciences, extension services, agricultural marketing, and many other areas. Individuals selected for Cochran trainings come from both the public and private sectors. All training occurs in the United States. Training programs are designed and organized in conjunction with U.S. universities, USDA and other government agencies, agribusinesses, and consultants. The Cochran Fellowship Program is part of the United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service. Since its start in 1984, the Cochran Fellowship Program has provided U.S.-based training for over 16,800 international participants from 124 countries worldwide.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Cochran Fellowship Program’s Latin America and Caribbean Region is requesting the design and delivery of a training program for a total of ten Fellows; (1) Fellow from Honduras, (1) Fellow and one Agricultural Specialist from FAS/Guatemala, (2) Fellows from El Salvador, and (6) Fellows and one Agricultural Specialist from FAS/Mexico:

Honduras -(1) Marketing and Sales Representative for Distribuidora Istmania, Guatemala -(1) Wine Department Sales Manager from Marcas Mundiales, El Salvador -(1) Finance Manager of Grupo Prieto, -(1) Liquors Brand Manager from Distribuidora Zablah, Mexico -(1) Owner of Entre_Vinos, -(1) Treasurer from the Association of Mexico Sommeliers, -(1) President of the Association of Mexico Sommelier, -(1) Sommelier from the Manzara Restaurant -(1) Wine Consultant and Writer, and -(1) Importer of the Los Cabos area for Wine Co. Plant Health Inspector from the Ministry of Agriculture

The training program on Northwest wines merchandising should focus on exposing the Fellows to products and strategies that will help spread the culture of Pacific Northwest wines in the region. The program should be applicable to products that have export potential and are in line with market access opportunities conferred by the CAFTA-DR. The program should include visits to small-to-medium vineyards and wine suppliers, aging and bottling plants, wine stores, supermarkets that sell wine, and publications that work with wines and identify trends and make recommendations. The goal of this training program is to showcase another region of the U.S. wine industry and promote the sale and culture of U.S. wines in CAFTA-DR countries.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The trainer will ensure that the Fellows increase their knowledge in the following areas:

· Characteristics of wines from the Northwest region of the U.S. based on climate, terrain, varieties, types of grapes, and processes used to harvest the grapes

· Access and exposure to wine suppliers associations, sommelliers in the Pacific Northwest

· Process of aging and wood casks along with increased knowledge related to wine and food pairings, specifically marketed in hotels and restaurants

· Strategies for local promotion techniques of U.S. wines to restaurants, hotels and events in Mexico and the Central American region, through brand management, global wine operations, e-commerce, consumer psychology and social networking

· Business operations related to wine production in the U.S. such as marketing, budgeting, financial statement analysis, quality standards, productivity and talent management

· Compliance and government relations, specifically in regards to import/export regulations and requirements of determining and proving wine origin

· Technical knowledge of American wine production and trends related to the average wine consumer

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

This consecutive 2 week training program should begin before November 1, 2016.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

· The host institution shall propose the place(s) of performance in their Technical Proposal.

· The host institution will be reimbursed for travel and subsistence expenses based on GSA’s Joint Travel Regulation.

DELIVERABLES:

· Provide a thumb drive of the training highlights to each Fellow and the Cochran Fellowship Program;

· Ensure that each Fellow completes the Cochran Training Program Evaluation; and

· Development of an Action Plan by each Fellow, in accordance with the Action Plan template. The Action Plan identifies goals and outlines specific steps or activities which each Fellow will perform upon return to their respective countries. An Action Plan generally includes steps, milestones, measures of progress, responsibilities, assignments, and timeline. The contractor shall provide a copy of each fellow’s Action Plan to the Cochran Fellowship Program.

· A brief final report (format at the discretion of the offeror).

· A pre-training questionnaire to determine Fellows baseline knowledge of the learning objectives. (Template and examples will be provided)

· A post-training questionnaire to determine the knowledge gained in each of the learning objectives. (Template and examples will be provided)

· Analysis of the pre and post training questionnaire. (Template and examples will be provided)

· Deliverables are due two weeks after the completion of the training.

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED ITEMS:

· Emergency Medical Insurance

· Certificates of Eligibility for J-1 visas

· Domestic airline tickets

· The Fellows’ subsistence expenses [per diem (all meals) and lodging]

HOST INSTITUTION SHALL PROVIDE:

· Secure and guarantee lodging during the entire program (individual rooms must be held on the training providers credit card which is some cases will include incidentals and/or miscellaneous charges) Fellows hotel debit card should only be presented during check out). Under no circumstances should Fellows hotel debit cards be presented during check in.

· Ground transportation in applicable cities; except Washington, DC