[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 13 (Thursday, January 20, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3691-3694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1185]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 7305]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Request for Proposals: 
The Design, Development, Installation, Operation, and Final Disposition 
of a U.S. Pavilion at the International Exposition Yeosu Korea 2012

    Announcement Type: New.

Key Dates

    Application Deadline: Tuesday, March 15, 2011.

Executive Summary

    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the 
Department of State (Department) requests proposals from private U.S. 
individuals, firms, associations and organizations (for-profit or non-
profit) for the design, development, installation, operation (including 
managing sponsorship donations and sponsorship fulfillment), and final 
disposition of a U.S. Pavilion at the International Exposition Yeosu 
Korea 2012, whose theme is ``The Living Ocean and Coast.'' The U.S. 
Pavilion will be situated in an approximately 1,183-square-meter module 
within the International Pavilions building. The Department intends to 
sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the proposer submitting the 
proposal most advantageous to the U.S. Government, authorizing that 
project manager to proceed with the design, development, installation, 
and operation of the U.S. Pavilion, and the Department would 
subsequently sign a Participation Contract with the Korea Expo 
Organizing Committee.
    The Department is not authorized to provide funding for the U.S. 
Pavilion at Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea. The Department is authorized, 
however, to raise funds for the U.S. Pavilion at Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea 
from the private sector and will secure pledges from prospective donors 
(Sponsors) that have been vetted within the Department for potential 
conflict of interest. The Department is seeking proposals, with 
detailed budget estimates based on $10 (ten) million in sponsorship, 
and a second alternate proposal showing the project scaled back to $7 
(seven) million. Sponsors have agreed to follow through on pledges by 
donating pledged amounts to the successful proposer, who will manage 
sponsorship engagement (including sponsorship donations and sponsorship 
fulfillment).
    The successful proposer will need to have secured IRS recognition 
as a tax exempt organization, as well as an IRS declaration that 
contributions are deductible--and to have provided documentation to 
this effect to the Department--before the Department will sign an MOA.
    Total cost for a U.S. presence at Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea is 
estimated to be $10 million. This will include all costs associated 
with the design, fabrication, installation, operation (including 
staffing), and final disposition of the U.S. Pavilion, as well as all 
support for a U.S. Commissioner General. The successful proposer will 
consult closely with and follow the direction of State Department 
officials and the Commissioner General with respect to Pavilion content 
and programming. The successful proposer should also consult with a 
design proposal review team that includes non-USG Pavilion experts plus 
non-USG Korea experts, such as the Korea-America Foundation or U.S. 
academics in Korea studies. The U.S. Pavilion shall be considered on 
loan to the U.S. Government for the duration of the Expo (May 12-August 
12, 2012). The loan shall be treated as a gift to the U.S. Government.
    Proposals from non-U.S. citizens or non-U.S.-owned firms or 
organizations shall be deemed ineligible for consideration.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Authority

    Overall authority for Department support for U.S. participation in 
international expositions is contained in Section 102(a)(3) of the 
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended (22 
U.S.C. 2452(a)(3)), also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. The purpose 
of the Act is ``to enable the Government of the United States to 
increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States 
and the people of other countries * * *; to strengthen the ties which 
unite us with other nations by demonstrating the educational and 
cultural interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the 
United States and other nations * * * and thus to assist in the 
development of friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations between the 
United States and the other countries of the world.'' Pursuant to this 
authority, and internal delegations of authority, ECA is the Department 
bureau responsible for coordinating U.S. participation in Expo 2012 
Yeosu Korea. Consequently, ECA will take the lead, with the assistance 
of U.S. Mission to Korea, to represent the U.S. Government in dealings 
with the Organizing Committee of Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea.

Purpose

    The Government of the Republic of Korea has invited the United 
States to participate in the International Exposition Yeosu Korea 2012 
and the U.S. Government has advised the Korean Government of its 
intention to participate with an official U.S. Pavilion, subject to our 
ability to raise sufficient private sector funds. Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea 
will be held on specially constructed exhibition grounds. The Expo 
opens on May 12, 2012 and closes on August 12, 2012.
    Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea is a small-scale international exposition or 
``world's fair'' recognized by the International Expositions Bureau 
(BIE), an international treaty organization established to sanction and 
monitor international exhibitions of long duration (over three weeks) 
and significant scale. Invitations to world's fairs are extended from 
the host government to other governments. The United States is not a 
member of the BIE, and the U.S. Commissioner General--selected by the 
Department of State--will therefore not be a formal member of the 
Steering Committee of the College of Commissioners General for Expo 
2012 Yeosu Korea.
    With a projected eight million visitors, Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea 
offers

[[Page 3692]]

an excellent opportunity to educate and inform foreign audiences about 
the United States and its scientific and technological innovations 
relating to the theme of the Yeosu Expo--oceans and coasts--as well as 
to promote broad U.S. commercial interests around the world. U.S. 
participation in Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea will confirm the strength and 
importance of U.S.-Korean bilateral ties and promote mutual 
understanding between the people of Korea and the United States.
    The Organizing Committee for Expo 2012 Yeosu explains the overall 
theme of the Expo ``The Living Ocean and Coast.'' as follows: 
``Diversity of Resources and Sustainable Activities defines the guiding 
principle that should inform all future actions regarding our oceans. 
Only with sustainable use, in other words finding the balance between 
production and consumption, while preserving diversity of resources, 
species and culture, can the oceans and coasts continue to live.''
    The theme for the U.S. Pavilion should be directly linked to the 
overall theme of the Expo. ECA welcomes proposals for a Pavilion to 
showcase American expertise and innovation in some or all of the 
following areas: preservation of marine ecosystems; protection of the 
marine environment and marine biodiversity; bio- and nanotechnology; 
impacts of climate change on the oceans, including ocean acidification; 
education in sound environmental practices in the marine environment; 
new resources technology in energy, marine mineral resource management, 
sustainable aquaculture and fisheries; and the cultural, artistic and 
scientific interaction between the sea and people. Other Pavilion 
themes related to the overall Expo theme may also be proposed. The 
design concept for the U.S. Pavilion should appeal to a general, non-
expert audience; proposals should therefore include entertaining 
elements for all ages as well as academic/expository aspects.

U.S. Direction

    The U.S. Pavilion at Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea will be an official 
representation of the Government of the United States of America; the 
Department of State must therefore ensure that the U.S. Pavilion is 
nonpolitical in nature, of the highest possible quality, and balanced 
and representative of the diversity of American political, social and 
cultural life. The Pavilion must maintain the highest level of 
scholarly integrity and meet the highest standards of artistic 
achievement and academic excellence. It should also be entertaining and 
interactive. The project manager, working for the selected proposer, 
must submit both early concept plans and final detailed ex plans, blue 
prints, schematics graphics, and audio-visual productions for review 
and prior approval by ECA. Any work undertaken by the project manager 
without prior ECA approval will be done at the sole risk of the 
proposer and may require remedial work at the proposer's sole expense. 
The project manager is strongly encouraged to seek outside experts to 
review potential Pavilion content and to review early concepts with 
local audiences to make sure that the proposed elements will resonate 
with the target Korean audience.
    The U.S. Pavilion will be used to promote U.S. commercial interests 
as well as to highlight outstanding U.S. scientific and technological 
achievements. The proposed design for the U.S. Pavilion should include 
functional space for three purposes: An exhibit area, an administrative 
area, and hospitality facilities. The Pavilion layout should also 
include provisions for sponsorship recognition. Firms or companies 
subcontracted for design and other content creation must be U.S.-owned.
    Further information on Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea can be found at the 
official Expo Web site: http://www.expo2012.or.kr/eng/ain.asp.

Funding Limitations

    Section 204 of Public Law 106-113 (22 U.S.C. 2452b) limits the 
support the Department may provide for U.S. participation in 
international expositions such as Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea. This Request 
for Proposals is intended to help identify a private U.S. individual, 
firm, association or organization interested in and capable of 
providing a complete Pavilion at Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea as a gift to the 
United States Government. Under section 204, the Department is not 
authorized to provide funding for the U.S. Pavilion at Expo 2012 Yeosu 
Korea. The Department is authorized, however, to raise funds for the 
U.S. Pavilion at Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea from the private sector. All 
such donations will be collected by the successful proposer once a 
Memorandum of Agreement has been signed.

Costs

    The U.S. Pavilion will be situated in an approximate 1,183-square-
meter module provided at no-cost by the Expo Organizing Committee. A 
mezzanine floor may be installed within the 7.2-meter height of the 
module. It is estimated that a representative U.S. presence in that 
space will cost $10 (ten) million. Costs would include, but not be 
limited to:
     Design and construction of the Pavilion space; 
incorporation of appropriate internal and external crowd control 
features;
     Design of the Pavilion; development of the story line;
     Managing sponsorship engagement by defining Sponsor 
packages based on pledge factors, accepting sponsor pledges solicited 
by the Department, and managing sponsorship fulfillment;
     Production of exhibits, audio-visual materials, films, 
DVDs, videos, posters, and other promotional materials needed for the 
exhibit;
     Managing all administrative, personnel, operations, and 
Pavilion costs, including salaries, benefits, staff housing expenses, 
contracting and supplier costs, and consulting fees, as well as funding 
associated with student guides, escorts, and representational gifts;
     Protocol team for the creation and staffing of hospitality 
facilities devoted to hosting all dignitaries visiting the U.S. 
Pavilion;
     Promotion and advertisement of the U.S. Pavilion;
     Media engagement and planning of communication strategy of 
the U.S. Pavilion, including the development of a Web site;
     Transport, travel, insurance, postage and shipping fees;
     Security, namely, development and implementation of a 
security program for the U.S. Pavilion in consultation with the 
Department of State and appropriate Korean authorities;
     Cultural and informational programs associated with the 
Pavilion, including, but not limited to, production of U.S. National 
Day activities as well as other cultural programs;
     Funding for all expenses associated with the U.S. 
Commissioner General; and
     Tear-down, including removal of exhibits and return of the 
module space in the condition required by the Expo Organizing 
Committee. Final disposition plan must be approved by ECA.

Design/Fabrication

    The successful proposer will need to design and fabricate the 
Pavilion, administrative area, and hospitality facilities of the U.S. 
Pavilion. The space provided by the Yeosu Organizing Committee is 
approximately 1,183 square meters in size. A floor plan showing the 
space provided by the organizers can be sent to proposers by the 
Department upon request. The

[[Page 3693]]

Pavilion should follow the theme of ``The Living Ocean and Coast'' and 
should be highly interactive and engaging. Proposals should show how 
the proposer would intend to portray this storyline. A written 
description should be augmented by artist renderings. Proposals will be 
reviewed and evaluated by Department officials.

Operations

    The successful proposer will be responsible for full operation of 
the U.S. Pavilion. This would include, but not be limited to, such 
areas as protocol, public affairs, sponsorship fulfillment, cultural 
programming, student guide services, communications, operations, 
security, cleaning, and maintenance. Office space must be adequate for 
the proposed number of staff. A proposed staffing plan should be 
provided in the response to this RFP.

Student Guides

    Proposals must include a plan for managing student guides at the 
U.S. Pavilion. All student guides must be U.S. citizens, from a diverse 
set of backgrounds and U.S. States, and fluent in Korean with two or 
more years of college-level language training or equivalent ability 
gained through family or residence in Korea. It would be advantageous 
if the student guide (also called Student Ambassador) program were run 
in conjunction with a U.S.-based college or university.

Expo Guidelines

    Interested parties may obtain copies of the General Regulations and 
Participation Guide from the Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea offices in Korea at:
    The Organizing Committee for Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea, 75 Yulgok-no 
Jongno-Gu Seoul 110-793, Korea. Tel: +82-1577-2012/+82-2-740-4500. 
http://www.expo2012.or.kr/eng//main.asp.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: MOA. The Department's level of involvement in this 
program is listed under number I above.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by individuals, firms, associations, 
and public and private organizations (non-profit or for-profit). Non-
profit organizations must meet the provisions described in Internal 
Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3). For-profit organizations must 
be prepared to establish a non-profit entity, which also meets these 
provisions, to manage the project if it is the successful proposer. The 
successful proposer will need to have secured IRS recognition as a tax 
exempt organization, as well as an IRS declaration that contributions 
are deductible--and to have provided documentation to this effect to 
the Department--before the Department will sign an MOA.

IV. Application and Submission Information

IV.1 Contact Information To Request an Application Package

    Please contact the Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C, U.S. 
Department of State, SA-5, 2200 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522; 
fax: 202-632-9355; or e-mail [email protected] for assistance. Please 
refer to Citizen Exchanges Yeosu Expo when making your request.

IV.2 Proposals

    Proposals should be provided in a narrative of no more than twenty 
(20) pages 8\1/2\'' x 11'' in size, no smaller than 12-point font, 
single-spaced, plus a detailed budget, with necessary attachments and/
or exhibits. The narrative and additional documents should outline in 
as much detail as possible the plans for providing a U.S. Pavilion at 
Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea. Proposals should address the following:
     Willingness to adhere to the General Regulations of Expo 
2012 Yeosu Korea as stipulated by the Expo Organizing Committee, 
including restrictions and limitations related to construction;
     Track record of working with Pavilions and on the proposed 
theme;
     Experienced staff with language facility;
     Clear concept for the exhibit plan and storyline, 
including designs;
     Detailed budget showing breakdown of budget items required 
for each aspect of the project development and implementation;
     Detailed organizational chart indicating all necessary 
positions and start dates, including but not limited to operations, 
communications, protocol, Sponsor fulfillment, and student guides;
     Timeline detailing each step in the design, construction, 
and breakdown of the U.S. Pavilion as well as the development of the 
U.S. Pavilion content; and
     Agreement to consult closely with and follow the direction 
of State Department officials and the Commissioner General.
    Proposals should state clearly that all materials developed 
specifically for the project will be subject to prior review and 
approval by ECA. In addition, proposals should state that all contracts 
or sub-contracts contemplated to be awarded by the proposer to further 
the purposes of the U.S. Pavilion which are in excess of $50,000 will 
be reviewed and approved by ECA prior to their award.

IV.3 Application Deadline and Methods of Submission

    Application Deadline Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2011.
    Reference: Citizen Exchanges Yeosu Expo.
Submitting Applications
    Due to heightened security measures, proposal submissions must be 
sent via a nationally recognized overnight delivery service (i.e., DHL, 
Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal Service Express 
Overnight Mail, etc.) and be shipped no later than the above deadline. 
The delivery services used by applicants must have in-place, 
centralized shipping identification and tracking systems that may be 
accessed via the Internet and delivery people who are identifiable by 
commonly recognized uniforms and delivery vehicles. Proposals shipped 
on or before the above deadline but received at ECA more than seven 
calendar days after the deadline will be ineligible for further 
consideration under this competition. Proposals shipped after the 
established deadlines are ineligible for consideration under this 
competition. It is each applicant's responsibility to ensure that each 
package is marked with a legible tracking number and to monitor/confirm 
delivery to ECA via the Internet. ECA will not notify you upon receipt 
of application. Delivery of proposal packages may not be made via local 
courier service or in person for this competition. Faxed documents will 
not be accepted at any time. Only proposals submitted as stated above 
will be considered. Applications may not be submitted electronically.
    The original and ten copies of the application should be sent to:
U.S. Department of State, SA-5, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: Citizen Exchanges Yeosu Expo, ECA/PE/C, 2200 C Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20522.
    Applicants must also submit the ``Executive Summary'' and 
``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the proposal in text (.txt) format 
on a PC-formatted CD-ROM.

[[Page 3694]]

V. Application Review Information

V.1 Review Process

    ECA will review all proposals for technical eligibility. Proposals 
will be deemed ineligible if they are not submitted by a U.S. citizen, 
U.S.-owned corporation or U.S.-based organization, and do not fully 
adhere to the General Regulations of Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea and the 
guidelines stated herein. Eligible proposals will be subject to 
compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and guidelines.
    The ECA program office will review all eligible proposals, as will 
relevant elements of the U.S. Mission in the Republic of Korea and a 
panel of senior U.S. Government employees. Proposals may also be 
reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by other Department 
elements, including but not limited to the State Department Bureaus of 
East Asian and Pacific Affairs and Oceans and International 
Environmental and Scientific Affairs, as well as U.S. diplomatic 
officers in Korea, and private sector experts. The final decision on 
which proposal is most advantageous to the U.S. Government will be at 
the sole discretion of the Department's Assistant Secretary for 
Educational and Cultural Affairs.

V.2 Review Criteria

    Technically eligible proposals will be reviewed according to the 
criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank-ordered and all 
carry equal weight in the evaluation.
    1. Program planning to achieve Pavilion objectives: Proposals 
should clearly demonstrate how the planned Pavilion will: Educate and 
inform foreign audiences about the United States and its scientific and 
technological innovations relating to the oceans and coasts; promote 
broad U.S. commercial interests around the world, and specifically 
address the theme and General Regulations of the Expo. The proposal 
should also include a clearly articulated media engagement plan and 
communications strategy for the Pavilion. Pavilion objectives should be 
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. The proposal should contain a 
detailed timeline and budget that demonstrate substantive undertakings 
and logistical capacity.
    2. Institutional Capacity/Record/Ability: Proposals should describe 
personnel and institutional resources, which should be adequate and 
appropriate to achieve the Pavilion's goals. Proposals should 
demonstrate an institutional record of successful Pavilion activities, 
including responsible fiscal management and governance practices, and 
full compliance with all applicable BIE Expo requirements.
    3. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposals should clearly state how 
Pavilion content and related activities will strengthen long-term 
mutual understanding between the United States and Korea.
    4. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate involvement 
of participants from traditionally underrepresented groups including, 
but not limited to, women, racial and ethnic minorities, and people 
with disabilities.
    5. Monitoring and Project Evaluation Plan: Proposals should include 
a plan to measure the impact of the proposed U.S. Pavilion, cultural 
programs, and information programs.
    6. Sponsorship Management: Proposals should include a plan to 
manage sponsor engagement and sponsorship fulfillment.
    7. Cost-effectiveness: Proposals should include a proposed action 
plan and timeline for all aspects of the project with associated, 
detailed budget estimates based on a $10 (ten) million budget, as well 
as a second alternate plan showing the ability for the project to be 
scaled back to $7 (seven) million.

VI. Award Administration Information

Award Notices

    The successful proposer will sign an MOA with the Department. 
Unsuccessful proposers will receive notification of the results of the 
application review from the ECA program office coordinating this 
competition.

Reporting Requirements

    The project manager must provide ECA with a hard copy original plus 
two copies of the following reports:
    1. Program and financial reports every 90 (ninety) calendar days 
after the signature of the MOA.
    2. Program and financial reports no more than 90 (ninety) calendar 
days after the expiration of the award.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: The Office of 
Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C, Yeosu Expo, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State, SA-5, 2200 C Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20522; Fax: 202-632-9355; E-mail: [email protected].
    Correspondence with ECA concerning this Request for Proposals (RFP) 
should reference Citizen Exchanges Yeosu Expo.
    Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or 
submitting proposals. Once the RFP deadline for submission of proposals 
has passed, ECA staff may not discuss this competition with applicants 
until the proposal review process has been completed.

VIII. Other Information

Notice

    The terms and conditions published in this Request for Proposals 
are binding and may not be modified orally by any ECA representative. 
Amendments to this RFP, if any, will be issued in writing. Explanatory 
information provided by ECA that contradicts published language will 
not be binding. Issuance of this RFP does not constitute an intention 
to agree to work with any private sector project manager at Expo 2012 
Yeosu Korea. ECA reserves the right to select the successful proposer 
for Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea and to approve all elements of the Pavilion 
and project. All decisions made based on indications of interest 
submitted in response to this RFP will be made solely by ECA and are 
final.

    Dated: January 14, 2011.
Ann Stock,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 2011-1185 Filed 1-19-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P