The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), Global Programs (GP) Trade Missions and Shows (TMS) Division coordinates the implementation of USDA Agribusiness Trade Missions (ATMs) to countries around the world. These missions enable U.S. agricultural producers to access new or expand existing international markets by establishing partnerships through sales in agri-food production, processing, inputs, and value-added products. ATMs comprise a critical USDA program for the promotion of U.S. agricultural exports by providing opportunities for U.S. exporters to build relationships with potential customers overseas, gather market intelligence, and generate sales of U.S. agricultural and food products.
The TMS Division, seeks support from a local Contractor in Vancouver, Canada, or within close proximity to provide Implementation Services for the USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission to Vancouver, Canada. These Services will include the following:
- Business Recruitment and Matchmaking
- Business-to-Business Meeting Coordination and Facilitation
- Logistics Management, including Transportation
- Development of Informational Materials
- Interpretation and Materials Translation, as necessary
- Securing Hotel Subcontract and Meeting Space
- Assistance to facilitate U.S. samples into the country
- Photography/Videography Services
- Follow-up Activities
2.0 Scope or Mission
The Contractor shall provide support in the planning and implementation of activities associated with an ATM to Canada during the week of June 17 – 20, 2024. The Contractor shall provide: 1) strong ties with the public and private sector agricultural and agribusiness communities in Canada; 2) a resume reflecting a history of facilitating high visibility international and local events; and 3) adequate staffing to accomplish the tasks set forth in this document. The Contractor shall demonstrate clear capabilities related to the following:
- Host-Country/Regional Business Recruitment and Matchmaking with U.S. Companies
- Business-to-Business Meeting Coordination and Facilitation between U.S. participants and local agribusiness and industry officials
- Logistics Management (Including venue and ground transportation management)
- Translation of materials, as needed
- Development of Informational Materials (including Welcome packet and market background, ATM Graphic Design, Plenary Backdrop, Table Tents, Name Tags, and U.S. Company Brochures. See language below regarding the TMS mobile platform/application)
- Follow-on activities associated with the ATM
ATMs consist of two critical components that are implemented simultaneously. The U.S. Government Delegation is the first component and includes the Head of Delegation (a senior-level USDA official) who holds meetings with appropriate host country government counterparts and conducts site visits to learn more about the local environment for agribusiness. Other USDA stakeholders who may also be engaged in this first component include representatives from U.S. state departments of agriculture, U.S. state and regional trade group partners, and U.S. Cooperators. The second component includes the U.S. Business Delegation and focuses on the development of commercial opportunities for U.S. companies, including one-on-one business-to-business meetings. The second component also includes the provision of educational programming that improves participants’ understanding of the host country market conditions – for example, a plenary session, planned in large part by the FAS Canada office, to kick off the ATM. The Contractor’s responsibilities will focus primarily on the U.S. Business Delegation, though its work will also provide support to the U.S. Government Delegation. The USDA Head of Delegation (HOD) will not be announced until closer to the Trade Mission. The HOD may require a separate vehicle, additional meeting space, or other accommodations that necessitate extra planning on the part of the Contractor. Since HOD accommodations often cannot be anticipated in advance, funding for these accommodations will come from the HOD’s office and not from the Trade Mission budget, though an amendment to the contract may be necessary to allow the Contractor to procure any additional accommodations that are needed.
