Logistics Support for Implementation of Mekong River Commission SVP Webtool

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS) LOGISTICS SUPPORT FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF MRC SVP WEB TOOL BACKGROUND Institute for Water Resources (IWR) is a United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Field Operating Activity (FOA) located within the Washington, DC National Capital Region (NCR), in Alexandria, VA and with satellite centers in New Orleans, LA, Davis, CA, Golden, CO, and Pittsburgh, PA. IWR was created in 1969 to analyze and anticipate changing water resources management conditions, and to develop planning methods and analytical tools to address economic, social, institutional, and environmental needs in water resources planning and policy. IWR is currently responsible for a number water resources activities or programs, including evaluation of Civil Works (CW) strategic plans, CW policies and programs, investment and financial analysis, performance measurements and evaluations, infrastructure analysis, and other water related activities. IWR provides technical assistance to USACE divisions, districts, laboratories, Federal agencies, international organizations, financial institutions and other countries, in encompassing a broad range of topic areas related to levee and dam safety, risk assessment, dredging requirements, port/waterway transport, aquatic ecosystem restoration, environmental stewardship, flood and drought risk management, emergency preparedness, watershed planning, regulatory, multipurpose water resources including hydroelectric power, water supply and reallocation, recreation, and other water and related land resources issues. IWR is supporting the Mekong River Commission (MRC) in the development of a Shared Vision Planning (SVP) webtool. This effort is being funded by the U.S. Department of State as a means for diplomacy through technical and scientific exchange. The MRC is an intergovernmental organization for regional dialogue and cooperation in the Lower Mekong River Basin, established in 1995 based on the Mekong Agreement between member countries - Cambodia, Laos, PDR, Thailand and Vietnam. The organization serves as a regional platform for water diplomacy and a knowledge hub of water resources management for the sustainable development of the region. USACE currently has a formalized agreement with the MRC to collaborate on a wide range of water resources management efforts. The MRC Secretariat (MRCS) is headquartered in Laos, and each member country has their own committee office within their countries’ borders (NMCs). IWR seeks services to facilitate logistics for a 1-day regional meeting with the four member countries and a 2-day training on the use of SVP tool in Laos. The contractor is expected to support logistics in executing these workshops SCOPE The contractor shall coordinate with the Mekong River Commission Secretariat (MRCS) planning division team. IWR will make connections to establish a working relationship between the contractor and the MRCS. This will involve 2-3 calls at around 09:00 pm Eastern Standard Time with the MRCS. Specific duties will include the following: Coordinate with the MRCS and IWR for the execution of a 1-day ‘regional workshop’ for 30 participants to be held in Vientiane, Laos. Five participants representing National Mekong Committees (NMC) will travel each from Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam for a total of 15. Five participants representing the Laos NMC will attend that do not require travel. Nine participants from the MRCS will attend. One participant from IWR will attend. Coordinate with the MRCS and IWR for the execution of a ‘two-day training’ course for 16 participants to be held in Vientiane, Laos. Two participants representing NMCs will travel each from Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam for a total of six. Two participants representing the Lao NMC will attend that do not require travel. Five participants from the MRCS will attend. Three participants from IWR and Arizona State University will attend who do not need travel arrangements under this contract. Coordinate with the MRCS to fund a formal ‘meeting package’ that includes meeting space with food and drinks for coffee breaks and lunch. The conference rooms will be coordinated with the MRCS. It is preferable to utilize MRCS conference rooms if cost effective. The workshops will be held in Vientiane. The total meeting package for both events should be negotiated under $3,100 unless otherwise approved by IWR. Provide Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) based on UN rates to National Mekong Committee participants travelling from Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam as described below. The Contractor will coordinate with MRCS on attendees receiving DSA allowance during the events. Participants travelling to the regional workshop representing Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand NMCs will receive allowance as follows: one day at 100% of DSA for the workshop, and two days at 88% of DSA for travel days. Participants traveling from Laos, NMC receive $15 for the day of their participation. Participants travelling to the two-day training representing the Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand NMCs will receive allowance as follows: two days at 100% of DSA for the training, and two days at 88% of DSA for travel days. Participants traveling from Laos NMC will receive $30 total for the two days of their participation. The total DSA allowance for both events is $12,189 unless otherwise approved by IWR. Coordinate with MRCS to support transportation costs of participants to include a possible van, airfare and reimburse taxis. The contractor shall purchase airfare for Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand participants into Wattay international (VTE) airport. Taxis shall be reimbursed for participants to go to their country airport and home. Maximum taxi reimbursed (roundtrip) for Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam are $36, $68, and $60 unless otherwise approved by IWR. A van can be coordinated to transport participants in Vientiane from Wattay airpo…