SOL-486-13-000005_ACTI_Synopsis_FINAL.pdf

Pre-solicitation Notice:

Technical Assistance to Support ASEAN Economic Integration

SOLICITATION NO.: SOL-486-13-000005

ACTION CODE: P = Pre-solicitation Notice

DATE: October 26, 2012

CLASSIFICATION: R

CONTRACTING OFFICE: USAID, Regional Development Mission Asia (USAID/RDMA), Box 47, APO AP 96546 or Athenee Tower, 25th Floor, Bangkok, 10330 Thailand

PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT: Ms. Maria Rosario M. Arenas, Senior Acquisition Specialist, USAID/RDMA, Bangkok, Thailand

TITLE: ASEAN Connectivity through Trade and Investment (ACTI)

PLACE OF CONTRACT PERFORMANCE: Indonesia (and other ASEAN Member States as needed)

COUNTRY: ASEAN Member States are Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. No assistance will be provided to Brunei or Singapore due to their relative wealth, but participation in activities is welcome through self-funding or other non-USG sources.

ESTIMATED PROPOSAL RESPONSE DATE: January 3, 2013

ESTIMATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: May 2013-April 2018

ESTIMATED AMOUNT: USAID plans to award a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) Term, Level of Effort contract requiring an estimated 11,000-13,000 workdays.

SMALL BUSINESS CONSIDERATIONS: This solicitation is not restricted to small businesses.

SOURCE AND NATIONALITY: The authorized geographic code for this activity is 937 which are defined as the United States, the cooperating country, and developing countries other than advanced developing countries, and excluding prohibited sources. The cooperating country for purposes of this solicitation is defined as all ASEAN member states.

DESCRIPTION:

The United States Agency for International Development, USAID/RDMA intends to release a solicitation for the ASEAN Connectivity through Trade and Investment (ACTI) activity to provide technical assistance, training, materials, and other resources as needed to accelerate the implementation of select components of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Community Blueprint.

ASEAN is advancing economic integration among its Member States through a harmonized system of protocols and implementation regimes governing intra- and extra-regional investment flows, trade, and the production and movement of goods and services within ASEAN member states and beyond. The activity will focus on assisting ASEAN’s regional economic-related working bodies as well as national level assistance in several ASEAN member states to implement their commitments under the ASEAN Economic Community so that the whole of ASEAN will derive the benefits of an integrated and harmonized customs, trading, and investment regime by 2015. The activity will also support overall United States Government economic cooperation with ASEAN, which occurs through various economic agencies in support of the ASEAN-U.S. Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA) and other relevant agreements.

The overall development goal of the activity is to strengthen ASEAN integration by expanding capacity in trade, investment and human capital to enable ASEAN to drive its realization of ASEAN Economic Community and integration into the global economy. It will contribute to the overall ASEAN-U.S. Partnership Program effort.

The component objectives of the activity are: (a) strengthened regional integration utilizing an operational ASEAN Single Window architecture, improved terms of trade in the ASEAN region, greater ASEAN member country capacity to implement Single Window systems, and continuation of trade enhancing reforms and standards harmonization in priority industry sectors in collaboration with the private sector; (b) improved capacity of ASEAN Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), particularly in less-developed Members States, to bridge the development gap allowing for effective and leveled participation in the ASEAN Economic Community; (c) strengthen ASEAN capacity to implement its ICT Master Plan; and,

(d) increased capacity of ASEAN Member States to facilitate delivery of clean energy and energy efficient technologies to their citizens. Reflecting the demand-driven nature of U.S. assistance to ASEAN and to take advantage of “windows of opportunity” that were not present or accounted for at the design/award stage, the activity will provide flexibility to address relevant elements of the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint and the ASEAN-U.S. Enhanced Partnership Plan of Action (2011-2015).

USAID/RDMA envisions a combination of technical assistance, training and grants (for either U.S. or ASEAN Member State-based organizations) to ensure rapid response to emerging opportunities to achieve activity objectives. USAID also places emphasis on the utilization of regional expertise and partnerships in the provision of technical assistance.

All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency.

This notice does not obligate USAID to release a solicitation or award a contract nor does it commit the Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal. In addition, final award cannot be made until funds have been fully appropriated, allocated, and committed and internal USAID procedures have been completed. This notice satisfies the synopsis requirement in FAR 5.201.