Support Which Implements Fast Transition IV (SWIFT IV)

Added: May 30, 2012 3:44 pm This is a Sources Sought Notice only. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. It shall not be construed as an obligation on the part of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of qualified small business sources in the following socio-economic categories; small businesses, small disadvantaged small business (SDB); 8(a) program small business participants; woman owned small businesses (WOSB); economically disadvantaged woman owned small businesses (EDWOSB); veteran owned small businesses (VOSB); service disabled veteran owned small business (SDVOSB); and small businesses in Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones). Your responses to the information requested will be used by the Government to determine whether the acquisition may be set aside for small businesses. Organizations not considered a small business under the applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) should not submit a response to this notice.

DCHA/OTI is conducting market research for the fourth iteration of its Support Which Implements Fast Transitions (SWIFT IV) Indefinite Quantity Contract (IQC). The purpose of this synopsis is to gain knowledge of industry interest. The SWIFT IV IQC will be divided into two sub-IQCs under a shared IQC ceiling and shall be divided as follows:

• Sub-IQC A - Latin America and the Caribbean and Africa
• Sub-IQC B - Middle East, Asia, and Europe and Eurasia

The anticipated IQC contract will have a five (5) year ordering period with an additional three (3) year performance period. The estimated ceiling for the SWIFT IV IQC will be $2.5 billion dollars for the entire period of performance. The Government intends to make multiple awards.

Objectives

The objective of this IQC is to provide the Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) with the means to support U.S. foreign policy objectives by helping local partners advance peace and democracy in priority countries in transition. OTI's program team comprised of OTI and contractor personnel will work on the ground to provide fast, flexible, short-term assistance targeted at key political transition and stabilization needs in countries undergoing transition. OTI will specify the countries or regions where SWIFT IV will be utilized; the nature of the transition; the specific services anticipated; the initial objectives of each country or regional program; and illustrative program activities under individual task orders.

Contractors selected under each sub-IQC must possess the staff and resources to facilitate rapid, programmatic start-ups in the geographic scope of the sub-IQC. Through specific task orders, the SWIFT IV contractor will establish, staff, manage, operate, and support a flexible, quick-response mechanism capable of administering and implementing targeted activities and/or providing logistical and administrative support to non direct-hire USAID personnel in situations where USAID Mission or US Embassy support cannot provide the requisite support for OTI personnel.

Companies expressing an interest in executing this work should document significant and relevant experience in the following:

• Rapidly fielding staff and establishing program and operational processes in countries undergoing political or post-conflict transitions;
• Implementing small, quick impact activities;
• Managing grants under contract activities - particularly small, in-kind grants under contract;
• Capacity to undertake timely local procurement of goods and services;
• Liquidity of funds of at least $1.8 million;
• Working in unsecure or unstable programming environments and developing systems to provide project and physical security, including information security.

Submittal Information

Companies interested in competing for this work should submit a statement of capabilities (no more than three (3) pages) detailing their relevant experience to perform the work described. At a minimum, this statement of capabilities must include:

1. Proof of prior experience (Federal and Non-Federal) performing the services detailed in this sources sought notice in the past five (5) years;
2. Business size and socio-economic status (e.g. small business, 8(a), HUBZone, etc.)

The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this notice and will not reimburse the costs incurred by interested offerors in providing the information requested herein. Companies expressing an interest in this work are encouraged to submit a statement of capabilities as detailed above. Telephone inquiries regarding this notice will not be entertained. Only written capability statements will be accepted. All capability statements must be submitted by e-mail to: Ms. Sharon Wharton-Smith at swharton-smith@usaid.gov no later than June 13, 2012, 12:00 p.m. EST. Please reference SOL-OAA-12-000081 in the subject line of the email.