COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION 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; quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will  not be issued. This solicitation, number AG-3151-S-08-0015 is issued as a  Request for Proposal (RFP). The solicitation document and incorporated  provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition  Circular 2001-14. This is a 100% small business set-aside, NAICS Code 541690;  size standard is not to exceed $6,500,000.00 The Government intends to award a  Firm-Fixed Price Contract.  Description: Through this solicitation, the Foreign Agricultural Service of  the USDA is seeking provide expert consultation in review of Malaysias food  safety system from the point of view of developing effective interagency tools  for managing a new and revised food safety system with respect to sound  science, international standards, and private sector needs. The team of  consultants will make an in-country visit to Malaysia to meet with Ministry  officials and private industry at operational and technical levels. These  officials will likely include representatives from the Ministries of  Agriculture and Rural Development; Directorate for Standards and Quality  (STAMEQ); and the Ministries of Health; Science and Technology; and Trade.  The consultants will work with the team to review current interagency  structure and to develop effective interagency institutions and regulatory  practices.  1. The contractor shall: o Review and recommend which Malaysian government ministries are best  to include in the evaluation based on the above description of the activity o Propose agenda for activity specifying the time and topic for each  meeting  o Recommend a team of food safety experts to USDA/FAS to travel to  Malaysia to perform the following tasks listed below o Coordinate all travel for the team according to USG regulations o Submit comprehensive reports to USDA/FAS upon competition of activity 2. The contractor will meet with Malaysias regulatory experts to discuss  the following: o Food Safety responsibilities and government involvement  o Coordination and integration of food safety policies o Structures for effective: i. Risk management, including food inspection services, monitoring and  research, standard setting, laboratory services, industry education and  consumer education ii. Risk assessment and analysis iii. Risk communication  o System for monitoring and verifying domestic and import control in  enforcement o Technological advances, emerging problems and genetically modified  foods o Management of Codex work 3. The contractor will make recommendations on both short and long-term  training and technical assistance needs, including identification of  responsible organizations within Malaysia. 4. The contractor will submit a written activity report no later than ten  (10) working days following the activity to FAS/Washington, including the  results of the activity and proposed recommendations for future short and long- term training and technical assistance needs  DESCRIPTION OF TEAM:   The team will most likely consist of four to five members and be  specialties in the following: 1. Team Leader 2. Food Laws and Regulations 3. Laboratories and Diagnostics 4. Food Processing and Food Establishments 5. Inspection Regulations TEAM LEADER: Responsible for planning and organizing activity.  Skills and Qualifications * Advanced degree -- MS or PhD * Experience working in developing countries * Demonstrate leadership skills as well as written and oral presentation  skills * Knowledge of the Malaysian Government  * Must have a working knowledge of food safety systems (public and  private). * Preferred that the team leader is also a specialist in one of the  technical areas specified above  FOOD LAWS AND REGULATIONS SPECIALIST: Responsible for evaluating the food laws  and regulations which the Malaysian government follows as they compare to the  accepted food safety norms in the US, ASEAN, EU, and Codex.  Skills and Qualifications * Degree in international food law or equivalent experience * Experience conducting evaluations of food safety regulations and laws  in developing countries versus international norms  * Will be required to prepare written summaries and proposed suggestions  upon activity conclusion * Must be able to work with the team leader to prepare key parameters  for the program  LABORATORIES AND DIAGNOSTICS SPECIALIST: Responsible for completing an in- depth evaluation of the government, private sector, academic, and research  food safety diagnostic capacity and capabilities.  Skills and Qualifications * An advanced degree, PhD, in analytical chemistry or equivalent work  experience * Experience leading a laboratory and conducting evaluations of  laboratories * Must have an excellent knowledge of the requirements for laboratories  as outlined by the OIE, IPPC, and Codex * Will be required to prepare written summaries and proposed suggestions  upon activity conclusion * Must be able to work with the team leader to prepare key parameters  for the program  FOOD PROCESSING AND FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS SPECIALIST: Responsible for completing  an in-depth evaluation of the Malaysian private sector to meet US and EU food  safety requirements and the level to which the MOH standards are being met.  Skills and Qualifications * An advanced degree, in food science or related field (biology,  chemistry, micro biology), or equivalent work experience * Experience leading a food safety program at a food processor or for  food establishments * Excellent knowledge of the requirements for food safety as outlined by  Codex, Global Food Safety Alliance, EurepGAP, ISO-22,000, and others * Experience conducting evaluations of food safety programs in a  variety of food establishments and processors * Will be required to prepare written summaries and proposed suggestions  upon activity conclusion * Must be able to work with the team leader to prepare key parameters  for the program  INSPECTION SPECIALIST: Responsible for completing an in-depth evaluation of  the MOH?s ability to conduct inspections and surveillance at the borders,  ports, markets, slaughter houses, retail establishments, and processors to  determine if the inspections/surveillance would meet US and EU regulatory and  CAC requirements.  Skills and Qualifications * An advanced degree, in food science or related field (biology,  chemistry, micro biology), or equivalent work experience * Experience conducting a variety of inspections and managing  inspection/surveillance programs * Excellent knowledge of the requirements of the US., EU, and CAC * Will be required to prepare written summaries and proposed suggestions  upon activity conclusion * Must be able to work with the team leader to prepare key parameters  for the program EVALUATION: (a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this  solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the  solicitation will be the most advantageous to the Government, technical, price  and other factors considered.  The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: A. TECHNICAL: 1.  Knowledge of International and US food safety inspection practices; 2. Ability  to conduct practical inspection demonstrations; 3. Broad experience with  various processing inspections; 4. Experience in meeting US and international  agricultural trade regulations; 5. Flexibility to design and adapt training to  meet needs of FAS and audience B) PAST PERFORMANCE. C) PRICE: Offerors must  provide the price response separate from the technical response. Technical  and Past Performance, when combined are more important when compared to Price. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS: Proposals must include 1-2 page resume of all team  members. Technical proposals shall be no longer than four (4) pages. Price  proposal may be 1-2 pages. Offerors must provide three (3) references. The Government will retain rights to all intellectual property produced in the  course of this task order.  The provisions at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial apply to  this acquisition. The provision at 52.212-2, Evaluation, Commercial Items,  will be used. A completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror  Representations and Certifications, Commercial Items must be included with all  offers (online registration at http://orca.bpn.gov). The following clauses  also apply to this acquisition: 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions,  Commercial Items; 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to  Implement Statutes and Executive Orders, Commercial Items, which includes  52.203-6, 52.219-8, 52.222-26, 52.222-35, 52.222-36, 52.222-37, 52.225-13,  52.232-33, 52.222-41, and 52.222-43. All offerors must be registered in the  Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database. The associated website is  http://www.ccr.gov. Provide DUNS number and TAX ID with proposal. Proposals must be received by 3:00 PM Eastern on April 10, 2008 by regular  mail at USDA/FSA/AMD/SAB, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Stop 0567, Washington,  DC 20250, or by overnight mail at 1280 Maryland Avenue, SW, Suite 580 A,  Washington, DC 20250 to the attention of Jerald Greenwood. E-Mail proposals  will be accepted with a signed original due prior to award. Address questions and E-mail proposals to Jerald.Greenwood@wdc.usda.gov.