SOLICITATION NOTICE
U -- Africa Education Initiative - 4.5 Million Textbooks
- Notice Date
- 11/14/2002
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Interior, MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE, Procurement Operations Branch, 381 ELDEN ST, MS2510, HERNDON, VA 20170
- ZIP Code
- 20170
- Solicitation Number
- 1435-01-02-RP-70684
- Archive Date
- 12/15/2002
- Point of Contact
- SUSAN BENIK, CONTRACTING OFFICER, FAX 703-787-1836
- Description
- PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE NOTICE CAREFULLY AS IT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY NOTICE THAT WILL BE ISSUED. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation Number 1435-01-02-RP-70684; the solicitation is issued as a request for proposals (RFP). GovWorks, on behalf of USAID, intends to competitively award a contract to implement a portion of the Africa Education Initiative. President George W. Bush announced this initiative on June 20, 2002. The initiative stated, "Partner with historically black colleges and universities (HBCU's) in America to provide more textbooks and other learning tools for children in Africa." This contract will provide 4.5 million textbooks and other learning tools such as teachers' manuals, CD ROM's, workbooks, etc. for children throughout sub-Saharan Africa in their national languages. Currently there are major education programs operating in Benin, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, and Zambia. Summarily, the Africa Education Initiative addresses the current state of education in Africa. Literacy and numeracy make a population more economically productive, allowing them to play an active role in governance and the emerging global economy. In sub-Saharan Africa, almost half of the primary school-aged children are not enrolled in school at all, and, of those who enter the first grade, fewer than 50 percent will complete the primary school cycle. Many of these primary school graduates, and their schoolmates who drop out, will not acquire the minimal levels of literacy and numeracy needed to progress to higher level of education or to benefit from the families' investments in their education. The overall weakness of the education sector threatens the economic growth rates and development Africa has been able to achieve. Through the textbook and learning materials program, USAID seeks to increase access to quality basic education for children, especially girls. A significant part of quality education includes having classroom materials available so teachers may reach students in effective and innovative ways. Textbook and learning materials will cater to various learning styles to help students learn. Some of the African countries such as South Africa, Nigeria, and Botswana (which has a regional focus) already have updated curricula in place. What these countries need is more copies of the textbooks made available. It is important that the colleges and universities have in-house printing capability for production of textbooks and learning materials. There are some countries, such at Benin, Guinea and Mali, in which textbooks will need to be developed based on what is already in use. Colleges and universities need to address how Departments of Education, Foreign Languages, Political Science, Sociology, Mathematics, etc. will work together to produce textbooks and learning materials that are culturally and socially acceptable within the African context. A goal of this program is to build lasting relationships between American HBCU's and African universities so that the activities will be able to be carried own once USAID financial assistance is no longer available (sustainability). The total estimated value of this effort is $6,000,000.00. Contract Type: Time and materials. Period of Performance: Base Period - Two years, with three, one-year options. TECHNICAL PROPOSAL should address: the breakdown, by year, of the number of textbooks they will be able to print and/or write and print to achieve the 4.5 million target within a five year period. Address what pre-existing relationships they have with African institutions and governments, and federal sources from which they have previously received contracts/cooperative agreements/grants. Consortia developed at the time of the proposal or to be developed shortly after the award of the contract are acceptable. Working with faculty at designated Africa universities (to be named by USAID after award) is an important part of the program. Proposals should address how they will work with the universities to achieve the goal of the textbook and learning material activity, including whether centers of excellence will be established. The technical should also include a monitoring and evaluation plan should be included. The total length of the technical proposal should not exceed 25 pages (this includes all information from resumes to plans, etc.). COST PROPOSAL: shall include all cost information for this effort to include all rates, other direct costs (ODC's), labor, etc. The length is unlimited. EVALUATION CRITERIA - Each Offeror's proposal is evaluated according to the factors shown below. Factors A, B, C, and D are in descending order of importance. Sub-factors listed under each factor are of equal importance to each other. Note: Special consideration will be given to offerors that propose a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's). A. Technical Approach 1. Understanding of the work, including creativity and thoroughness shown in planned execution of the project. 2. Discussion of specific methods and techniques for completing each discrete task. 3. Anticipation of potential problem areas, and creativity and feasibility of solutions to problems and future integration of new processes and technology enhancements. 4. Discussion of schedule (project timeline), proposed deliverables, and any other issues the Government should be aware of. B. Past Performance The organization's history of successful completion of projects with federal agencies and similar scope/magnitude; history of producing high-quality deliverables; history of staying on schedule and within budget, and effectiveness of cost control. C. Key Personnel Qualifications The currency, quality and depth of experience of individual personnel in working on similar projects. Similar projects are meant to convey similarity in topic, dollar value, duration, and complexity. D. Organizational Experience The degree of comparability of past projects to the current project, including number of projects, complexity, and dollar amount. Supporting subcontractors, consultants and partners will be considered. Appropriate mix and balance of education and training of team members. CONTRACT AWARD - Contract award shall be made to the responsible Offeror whose offer, in conforming to this RFQ, provides an overall best value to the Government, technical evaluation factors, and cost considered. The Government's objective is to obtain the highest technical quality considered necessary to achieve the project objectives, with a realistic and reasonable cost. Technical evaluation factors are more important than cost; however, between proposals that are evaluated as technically equal in quality, cost will become a major consideration in selecting the successful Offeror. Cost sharing for this program is encouraged. HOW TO RESPOND: An original plus four (4) copies of both your technical and cost proposals are due November 21, 2002 by 3 PM ET to Procurement Operations, Mail Stop 2510, Second Floor, 381 Elden Street, Herndon, VA, 20170. In addition, one electronic copy on CD should be provided. If delivery is made in person or by courier, the building has a security check in at the rear of the building, which may delay timely receipt of proposals. Allow extra time for security check in when hand delivering documents. An electronic copy of the proposed shall also be e-mailed to Susan.Benik@mms.gov . FAXed copies are not acceptable. Questions should be sent via fax or Email as soon as possible to: Susan Benik, Fax (703) 787-1836 or email to Susan.Benik@mms.gov. Please include with your question(s) your full name, the RFP number & title, your organization, complete address with telephone and fax numbers. Telephonic questions or requests will not be accepted. Address for receipt of offers: Minerals Management Service, Procurement Operations Branch, Attention: Susan Benik, 381 Elden Street - MS 2510; Herndon, VA 20170. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-20. The following provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition: 1) 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial (OCT 2000); 2) 52.212-3, Offeror, Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items; 3) 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items (APR 1998), with an addendum; and 4) 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial Items (AUG 2000).
- Record
- SN00205068-W 20021116/021114213407 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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