Notice of Intent - Energy Investment Activity

The United States Agency for International Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina (USAID/BiH) intends to award a contract modification to Advanced Engineering Associates International, Inc. (AEAI) for a cost and time extension to an existing contract (AID-168-C-14-00002). Launching a competition at this stage of the activity would result in a duplication of costs and efforts, and unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements.  
The Energy Investment Activity is a five-year activity to enhance opportunities for generating investment in BiH’s energy sector. The objectives of the contract are to achieve better coordination, management and transparency at all levels of BiH’s regulatory framework, simplify the energy investment environment, and integrate BiH’s energy sector into regional and EU markets.  

This extension for continued services under the present contract will supplement the activity with resources needed to further the progress achieved to date. It will allow USAID/BiH to conclude a number of on-going initiatives, building on the political trust engendered under the current award.  It will also expand the existing electricity-focused efforts to incorporate gas.  Gas independence is seen as critical to BiH stability and independence.

The statutory authority permitting the award without providing full and open competition is AIDAR 706.302-70(a)(2), which says that “full and open competition need not be obtained when it would impair or otherwise have an adverse effect on programs conducted for the purpose of foreign aid, relief and rehabilitation.”  It further states in AIDAR 706.302-70(b)(5) that this authority may be used for an award for the continued provision of highly specialized services when award to another resource would result in substantial additional costs to the Government or would result in unacceptable delays.  

No solicitation package will be issued.  This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals.