FTC ICN Conference Sources Sought

NOTE CHANGE IN EMAIL ADDRESS to acqsubmission@ftc.govObjectiveThe Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is conducting this sources sought to identify facilities possessing the availability, services, and accommodations as specified below.As permitted by FAR Part 10, this sources sought notice is a market research tool used for information and planning purposes only. This notice shall not be construed as a request for proposal (RFP) or obligate the government to issue a solicitation.The government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this request, therefore proposal will not be considered.  As this is a sources sought notice for market research, the government will not entertain questions.BackgroundThe U.S. Department of Justice's and the FTC (sponsoring agencies) will host an International Competition Network's Annual Conference in 2020 (ICN 2020). ICN 2020 is a unique opportunity for the US Antitrust Agencies to

underscore their worldwide leadership in competition policy and enforcement, and to provide a powerful example of best practices for the international antitrust community.The ICN annual conferences typically attract 500 to 600 delegates (including representatives from the host agency) from 60 to 80 different countries. The sponsoring agencies anticipate that a U.S.-located conference would draw up to at least 650 delegates, with a majority of the delegates coming from outside of the United States.Conference DatesICN annual conferences typically take place in the spring (April or May) and span approximately three days, generally beginning on a Monday or Tuesday evening and concluding on a Thursday or Friday afternoon. The 2020 conference is to be held in any April or May week (we might consider June) except not during the American Bar Association Section of Antitrust Law Spring Meeting (April 22-24, 2020) or the OECD Competition Committee meetings (June 8-12, 2020).Location RequirementsThe optimal location for ICN 2020 is a major city with a large, international airport that operates as a gateway for international flights (i.e., has many direct international flights) and the FTC wants to specifically explore sites near Washington, D. C. The DOJ requires that the location not be a resort or other vacation-like settings.For the FTC's purposes, the conference site location must be east of but no further than 30 miles east of Dulles international airport or within a 15 miles radius of Reagan International Airport. The conference site, if it is not a hotel or facility that has its own overnight accommodation infrastructure, must then be in close proximity to sufficient hotels to host all conference attendees. The assembly of hotels near the conference must be of varying classes from high to low, so that lower cost overnighting options will be available for booking by attendees with limited resources.Overall Meeting Space RequirementsGenerally, ICN 2020 requires a venue consisting of eight and up to ten rooms for smaller group breakout and side sessions with a mix of seating configurations (classroom, theater, banquet, and square/donut) and a capacity of approximately 50 to 100 delegates each (depending on the set up). Breakout session rooms must be equipped with audiovisual equipment (e.g., at minimum a projector and a single projection screen and microphones). The event space will need to include separate areas for lunch and space close to the meeting rooms adequate for breaks.In detail, to handle the above, the conference facility must provide:(a) a large meeting area for plenary meetings, seating at least 650 delegates as specified below; (b) minimum of eight to a maximum ten rooms for breakout sessions that can accommodate a variety of seating configurations, with a capacity ranging between approximately 50 and 100 delegates each; and,(c) a minimum of four to a maximum of six smaller meeting rooms with capacity for at about 10 delegates each.All event facilities must be handicapped accessible, in accordance with section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1974.If there is an additional charge for rooms in excess of the quantities above, price quotes may list them as separate options.Plenary Room (capacity and set up)The main conference sessions (approximately 10 hour long days) will take place in a large plenary room that can accommodate approximately 650 delegates, with a mix of classroom style (tables with chairs) for approximately 300 to 400 delegates and theatre style (chairs) for the remainder, set up on the sides (and possibly in the back) of the room.Ancillary Elements to be in an eventual price quotation: It is required that the conference site be equipped with WiFi access to the internet included within the package price for the facility use. Availability of power outlets for attendees to recharge their electronic devices is highly desirable, and will be an evaluation factor the government will consider when evaluating competing quotes. Cleaning services are to be provided and included in the package price quote and is to occur at each significant plenary break and included in the facility use quotation.Ancillary Elements Required, but that shall be separately priced: The plenary room must have audiovisual equipment and screens to project video of the speakers and other multimedia (e.g. videos, slides), microphones (for speakers and audience Q&A), an elevated stage with a podium and configured to accommodate various plenary discussion formats.Ancillary Requirements to be Separately Priced as Optional: While the single required podium is typically needed for opening and closing sessions and should be included in the room rental package price quote, keynotes speeches, awards ceremonies and similar programs will require that the venue operator be prepared to provide other furnishings. These may potentially including armchairs for less formal discussions, speaker tables for panel discussions, and additional podiums for debate style programs. The government will engage a contract planning firm and needs to reserve the right to have a conference planning contractor arrange for specific furniture (either government owned or furniture rented elsewhere and moved to the conference rooms) if the FTC chooses to not have the venue operating company provide such.Water will be provided in breakout rooms, and cleaning services will be provided between sessions.Bilateral/Multilateral Meeting RoomsICN 2020 will require a minimum of four and up to six additional rooms for bilateral and multilateral meetings and for the administration of the conference, with conference tables that seat approximately 10 to 25 delegates. If there is an additional charge for rooms in excess of four, the charge for each shall be listed as an option. Audiovisual equipment is not needed for these rooms.Registration DeskICN 2020 will require a space and tables for registration the evening before the conference begins and throughout the conference. The Contractor shall set-up a registration desk the evening before the first day of the conference to allow attendees to register/check in. The registration desk shall remain open throughout the duration of the conference. Government employees will staff the registration desk.AccommodationsThe conference site should either have accommodations on site or should be located in close proximity to hotels with adequate accommodations. Lower cost options should be available. If the conference site has accommodations, the site should be prepared to offer a block of rooms until a time reasonably close to ICN 2020. If it does not, a factor in selection will be whether nearby hotels will offer similar blocks of rooms. ATR will not pay for accommodations as part ofSubmission InstructionsPlease provide responses via email no later than 12:00 PM (ET) on Friday, May 10, 2019 to acqsubmission@ftc.gov with "ICN Conference" in the email subject line.Responses exceeding five pages will not be considered; all responses shall include the following:1) Availability2) Published price or internet link to pricing