Posted on 10/20/2008 5:10:49 PM PDT by SandRat
BASRAH — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is working closely with Iraqi businessmen to teach them how to bid on contracts for work with the U.S. government.
At a workshop in Basrah Oct. 9, USACE contract specialist, Karen Johnson, and project manager, Sheila Hyde, provided information on a variety of topics.
The businessmen were shown how to read and understand government solicitation requirements; the key steps in the USACE contracting process, from initial scope of work to contract award; adhering to the Defense Base Act insurance requirements; other important documents (i.e. past performance evaluations, letters of recommendation, security plan); the need for accurate Electronic Fund Transfer information for payment purposes and accessing solicitation web sites such as www.baghdadbusinesscenter.org.
“It was great to see this kind of turnout,” said Johnson. “They were very interested in learning about the fundamental requirements of a ‘winning’ proposal for new construction projects. I enjoyed interacting and networking with them.”
Ammar Fadhel, a civil engineer and a representative of Al-Minnen Company for General Construction said, “This was a very helpful session. Through this meeting we have learned how to avoid mistakes that we made in our old proposals. It’s a positive step as those of us in Basrah Province continue to move forward.”
Sabah Khaduim, an executive manager for Alghasag Iraqi Engineering Company said, “We all have the qualifications to do business and we don’t have any problems with the English language. The issue that we have faced is understanding what’s specifically required to make a good proposal. Now we know. This is exactly what we needed.”
The workshop is part of a major USACE effort to develop Iraq’s ability to build and manage all the new infrastructure on its own.
The businessmen were provided an information packet with copies of the discussed material translated into Arabic and a compact disc with electronic copies of regulations and other information.
During the last year, Gulf Region Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s South District has oversaw work in Iraq’s nine southern provinces, awarded 95 new projects valued at $400 million and completed 174 projects in a variety of areas including new hospitals, schools, water treatment plants, courthouses, roads and bridges.
They mentioned all the phases of, say, how to bid a contract to build levees to keep out waters. Did they mention how to blow those levees so as to flood a few carefully selected Wards? Even though he may be long out of office at the time, any resultant flooding will be Bush’s fault!
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