Strengthening Election Administration and Civic Participation Program

SUBJECT: Notice of Intent to Award a Contract Using Other Than Full and Open Competition - Strengthening Election Administration and Civic Participation (SEAP) Program SOLICITATION NUMBER: SOL-613-15-000002 NOTICE TYPE: Presolicitation SYNOPSIS: The United States Agency for International Development's Mission in Zimbabwe (USAID/Zimbabwe) wishes to award a contract to the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) for the Strengthening Election Administration and Civic Participation (SEAP) Program. USAID plans to award, due to unique capabilities of the proposed recipient, a sole source two-year, $1.5 million contract, with two option years budgeted at $1.5 million for the first option year and $1.75 million for the second option year, for a total estimated cost of $4.75 million. Under this action, IFES will provide technical assistance aimed at increasing the ability of civil society organizations to be more effective advocates for electoral reform and strengthening the electoral commission. The purpose of the Strengthening Election Administration and Civic Participation (SEAP) Program, hereafter referred to as "the program", is to enable citizens to participate in a more credible electoral process. USAID/Zimbabwe intends to award a contract in support of the following objectives: Increasing technical capacity of targeted Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to design effective civic and voter education campaigns Strengthening technical capacity of targeted CSOs to conduct effective oversight of the electoral process Improving the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) capacity to effectively administer elections in keeping with international best practices for enabling free and fair elections IFES is the only organization with extensive experience providing direct support to electoral management bodies to sign an MOU with the ZEC, establishing their unique capability to carry out this program. FAR 6.302-1(a)(2) specifies that when the supplies or services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source, or, for DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard, from only one or a limited number of responsible sources, and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, full and open competition need not be provided for. FAR 6.302-1(b) further states that the statutory authority is applicable when there is a reasonable basis to conclude that the agency's minimum needs can only be satisfied by Unique supplies or services available from only one source or only one supplier with unique capabilities. Award of the contract is planned for August 25, 2015 Interested organizations may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Contracting Office Address: USAID/Zimbabwe No. 1 Pascoe Avenue Belgravia Harare, Zimbabwe Place of Performance: Zimbabwe Primary Point of Contact: Debra Nengomasha Contract Specialist [email protected] Phone : +263-4-250992 Secondary Point of Contact: Leona Sasinkova Contract Officer [email protected] Phone: +263-4-250992