The Inter-American Foundation (IAF), through the Department of Treasury, Bureau of the Public Debt, intends to issue a purchase order to Synergos on a sole-source basis. Synergos will study the feasibility of establishing a community-based institution to support grassroots development in the Gulf of Paria. The feasibility study will be co-financed with Conoco-Phillips Venezuela S.A. (Conoco) pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding between the IAF and Conoco on jointly financing grassroots development initiatives on the east coast of Venezuela. The feasibility assessment will be undertaken in four phases. Phase One will include planning and relationship-building. Synergos will specifically map socio-economic variables key to the Gulf of Paria area and, more broadly, the status of civil society in Venezuela. Phase Two will survey community leadership and organizational capacity in the area. Depending on the outcome of Phase Two, Phase Three will either identify models for the local development institution or assess alternatives (e.g., a long-term analysis of the community development potential in the region). Phase Four will include specific recommendations, including a resource mobilization strategy among other U.S. and multinational corporations with oil and gas concessions in the Gulf of Paria, and an implementation plan. Synergos staff and Senior Fellows will provide a framework for assessing, evaluating and recommending the best strategy for any future co-funding by IAF and Conoco in the Gulf of Paria area. Synergos will contract local consultants as needed, including for the survey in Phase Two. The IAF will work closely with Synergos and Conoco to ensure an objective, practical assessment. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE. Public Debt will consider all affirmative responses received no later than September 9, 2004. Affirmative responses shall reference RFQ-04-112 and shall be accompanied by sufficient documentation to clearly show the ability to provide the required services or functional equivalent at terms more advantageous to the Government. Requests for more information or a copy of the solicitation will not be considered affirmative responses. If no affirmative response is received that clearly demonstrates the ability to meet all requirements and that it is more advantageous to the Government, a sole-source award will be made to the Synergos.

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