International Symposium on AgroTerrorism

This is not a request for quotations or proposals. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intends to negotiate and award a purchase order to the City of Overland Park, Shawnee Mission, KS on a sole source basis for outreach support services at the 2008 International Symposium on AgroTerrorism (ISA). The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation FAR 6.302-1, Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The objective of the ISA is to protect the food supply worldwide while illustrating the importance of coordinated efforts. The ISA brings together public and private sectors including government and law enforcement agencies at the Federal, state and local levels; academia; the scientific community; health, medical and veterinary professions and private industry to identify the most significant issues relevant to terrorism incidents/threats involving food and agricultural sectors. The ISA provides the opportunities for attendees to hear world renowned experts and interact one-on-one with industry professionals. Over the last three years, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in conjunction with the Heart of America Joint Terrorism Task Force, has initiated the ISA twice. The inaugural ISA was held May 2-5, 2005 in Kansas City, Missouri. The conference brought together more than 800 individuals from all 50 states and eight countries. The second ISA, held September 25-29, 2006, built upon the success of the inaugural event, assembling nearly 1000 attendees from 21 countries. DHS intends to participate in the ISA scheduled for 2008. Through its participation DHS will engage in outreach activities with the health, medical and veterinary professions and private industry, and be able to identify significant issues relevant to terrorism incidents/threats involving food and agricultural sectors. No other forum is known to exist which provides comparable opportunities to engage in similar outreach activities. No solicitation document exists and requests for such will not be considered. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government.