[United States Government Manual]
[May 31, 1996]
[Pages 678-681]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Room 309, State Annex 16, Washington, DC 20523-1602
Phone, 703-875-4357. E-mail, info@tda.gov. Internet, http://www.tda.gov/
Director J. Joseph GrandMaison
Deputy Director Nancy D. Frame
General Counsel Kenneth Fries
Assistant Director for Management Operations Deirdre E. Curley
Special Assistant for Policy/Public Affairs Steven Mavigilio
Congressional Liaison Officer Erika M. Gaspar
Export Promotion Director Edward Cabot
Regional Directors:
Africa and Middle East John Richter
Central, Eastern, and Southern Geoffrey Jackson
Europe
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New Independent States, South Daniel D. Stein
Asia, Mongolia, and India
East Asia and Pacific Islands Frederick Eberhart
Latin America and Caribbean Albert W. Angulo
Special Projects Barbara R. Bradford
Economist/Evaluation Officer David Denny
Financial Manager Noreen St. Louis
Contracting Officer Della Glenn
Administrative Officer (vacancy)
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The Trade and Development Agency's mission is to promote economic
development in, and simultaneously export U.S. goods and services to,
developing and middle-income nations in the following regions of the
world: Africa/Middle East, Asia/Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe,
Latin America and the Caribbean, and the New Independent States.
The Trade and Development Agency (TDA) was established on July 1, 1980,
as a component organization of the International Development Cooperation
Agency. Section 2204 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of
1988 (22 U.S.C. 2421) made it a separate component agency. The
organization was renamed and made an independent agency within the
executive branch of the Federal Government on October 28, 1992, by the
Jobs Through Exports Act of 1992 (22 U.S.C. 2421).
The Trade and Development Agency assists in the creation of jobs for
Americans by helping U.S. companies pursue exports and other overseas
business opportunities. It funds feasibility studies, orientation
visits, training grants, business briefings, symposia, and various forms
of technical assistance in support of specific projects, enabling
American businesses to become involved in the planning of infrastructure
and industrial projects in middle-income and developing nations. Working
closely with a foreign nation sponsor, TDA makes its funds available on
the condition that the foreign entity contracts with a U.S. firm to
perform the actual work on the project. This affords American firms
market entry, exposure, and information, thus helping them to establish
a position in markets that are otherwise difficult to penetrate.
The Agency's focus is the planning and design engineering phase of
major infrastructure and industrial projects. It is involved in several
sectors, including: agriculture, aviation, energy, environment, health
care, manufacturing, mining and minerals development,
telecommunications, transportation, and water resources.
Activities
The Agency funds feasibility studies (or project plans) which evaluate
the technical, economic, and financial aspects of a development project.
These studies advise the host nation about the availability of U.S.
goods and services and are required by financial institutions in
assessing the creditworthiness of the undertaking. Funding activities
are based upon an official request for assistance made by the sponsoring
government or private sector organization of a developing or middle-
income nation, and costs for a study typically are shared between TDA
and the U.S. firm developing the project.
The Agency makes decisions on funding requests for feasibility
studies based on the recommendations contained in the definitional
mission or desk study report, the advice of the U.S. Embassy, and its
internal analysis.
Sources of Information
Requests for proposals (RFP's) to conduct feasibility studies funded by
TDA are listed in the Commerce Business Daily. Information on
definitional mission opportunities can be obtained by calling TDA's ``DM
Hotline'' at 703-875-7447. Small and minority U.S. firms that wish to be
included in TDA's consultant
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database and considered for future solicitations should contact TDA's
Contracts Office at 703-875-4357.
In an effort to provide timely information on Agency-supported
projects, TDA publishes the Biweekly and a calendar of events which are
available together on a paid subscription basis by calling 703-875-4246.
A quarterly publication, TDA Update, contains current items of interest
on a variety of program activities. Region- or sector-specific fact
sheets and case studies also are available. An annual report summarizes
the Agency's activities.
Agency news, reports, and lists of upcoming orientation visits and
business briefings are available on the Internet at http://www.tda.gov/.
Regional program inquiries should be directed to the assigned
Country Manager. Phone, 703-875-4357. Fax, 703-875-4009.
TDA's library maintains final reports on all TDA activities. These
are available for public review Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. Copies of completed feasibility studies must be purchased
through the Department of Commerce's National Technical Information
Service (NTIS).
For further information, contact the Trade and Development Agency, Room
309, State Annex 16, Washington, DC 20523-1602. Phone, 703-875-4357. E-
mail, info@tda.gov. Internet, http://www.tda.gov/.
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