RFI - 7200AA24RFI00022 - Partnering Across the Atlantic.pdf

NOTICE TYPE: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

RFI NUMBER: 7200AA24RFI00022

PROGRAM NAME: PARTNERSHIP FOR ATLANTIC COOPERATION SUPPORT

RFI ISSUANCE DATE: July 8, 2024

SUBMISSION CLOSING DATE AND TIME: August 2, 2024, by 5:30 pm EST

Pursuant to FAR 52.215-3 “Request for Information (RFI),” the United States Government, represented by the United States Agency for International Development is seeking information for a potential activity to support the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation (further referenced as the Atlantic Partnership).

The Atlantic Partnership Declaration on Atlantic Cooperation states: “We, as States bordering the Atlantic Ocean, share a commitment to a peaceful, stable, prosperous, open, safe, cooperative

Atlantic region and to conserve a healthy, sustainable, and resilient resource for generations to come.” 1 As of July 2024, the following countries have joined the partnership: Angola, Argentina, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Canada, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Iceland, Ireland, Liberia, Mauritania, Morocco, the

Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Republic of the Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, Suriname, Togo, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay.

Through this RFI, USAID aims to identify opportunities to support the Atlantic Partnership through advancing pan-Atlantic collaboration on the themes identified in Section II of this document. USAID envisions partnerships that foster collaboration between African, Latin

American, and Caribbean countries. Partnerships could include North American and/or European

1 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/09/18/declaration-on-atlantic-cooperation/

RFI No. 7200AA24RFI00022 organizations; however, the development impact should be in USAID partner countries that are also members of the Atlantic Partnership.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, USAID partner Atlantic Partnership countries include:

Brazil; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Guatemala; Guyana; and Suriname. Antigua and

Barbuda; Barbados; Colombia; Grenada; Haiti; Honduras; Jamaica; Mexico; Panama; St. Kitts and Nevis; St. Lucia; St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and Trinidad and Tobago are also USAID recipient countries but have yet to join the Atlantic Partnership.

In Africa, USAID partner Atlantic Partnership countries include: Angola; Benin; Cabo Verde;

Côte d’Ivoire; Equatorial Guinea; Gabon; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Liberia; Mauritania;

Morocco; Nigeria; Republic of the Congo; Sao Tome and Principe; Senegal; Sierra Leone; The

Gambia, and Togo. Cameroon; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Namibia; and South Africa are also USAID recipient countries but have yet to join the Atlantic Partnership.

USAID strongly supports localization, an effort to “ensure our work puts local actors in the lead, strengthens local systems, and is responsive to local communities.” 2 Respondents should clearly articulate how their approach advances localization.

If a future solicitation is released, USAID could enter a co-creation process with multiple awardees, thus organizations can focus on their particular area of expertise and need not attempt to fully satisfy all of the objectives in this RFI.

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes, and so it does not constitute a

Request for Proposal (RFP), a Request for Quotation (RFQ), an Invitation for Bids (IFB), or a solicitation. Responses to this RFI are not proposals and will in no way be deemed to form any binding agreement with the RFI issuing authority. Not responding to this request does not preclude participation in future solicitation, if such is issued.

2 https://www.usaid.gov/localization https://www.usaid.gov/where-we-work

Responses to this RFI will not be returned, and respondents will not be notified of the result of the review. There will be no debrief or evaluation letter to responders. It should be noted that responding to this RFI will not give any advantage to any organization in any subsequent procurement.

This RFI does not restrict the Government’s approach on a future solicitation. Information from this RFI may lead to one-on-one market research discussions and other recommended approaches to industry engagement. USAID posts its competitive business opportunities on www.sam.gov or www.grants.gov. It is the potential contractor’s responsibility to monitor the sites for the release of any further information.

Interested parties wishing to respond to this request must submit their response via email, and both Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat formats are acceptable. Please email responses to Mr.

Daniel Moore, danmoore@usaid.gov, and Masood Khan, maskhan@usaid.gov, no later than the closing date as referenced above. Please reference the subject title “[Respondent’s Name], Response to [RFI No.]"

Thank you for your interest in partnering with USAID to deliver development technical assistance.

Sincerely, Daniel Moore

Contracting-Agreement Officer

USAID Bureau for Management /Office of Acquisition & Assistance

Regional & Management Division (M/OAA/RM/A) http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:maskhan@usaid.gov

I. RESPONSE GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENT

Cover page, not to exceed three (3) pages, that includes:

1. Organization name and address.

2. Size and type of organization, including if applicable U.S. business or other socioeconomic status.

3. Geographic Scope: Where does your organization have geographic experience and expertise?

4. A brief statement of interest that indicates the organization’s interest in advancing

USAID’s support of the Atlantic partnership.

5. Optional: If a team or consortium is envisioned, please provide the names of other potential partner organizations.

6. Point of contact name, phone number, and email address.

7. If you have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued by the U. S. government, please enter it here. THIS IS NOT REQUIRED TO RESPOND TO THIS RFI.

II. BACKGROUND

Launched on September 18, 2023, the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation is a multilateral forum bringing together the Atlantic community to uphold a set of shared principles and advance shared interests across the Atlantic Ocean. Each member of the Atlantic Partnership is committed to the interconnected goals of advancing a peaceful, stable, prosperous, open, safe, and cooperative Atlantic region—north to south, east to west—and conserving a healthy, sustainable, and resilient resource for generations to come.

Recognizing the Atlantic’s importance to our lives and our collective future, the coastal Atlantic

States from Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, and Europe that make up the Atlantic

Partnership are collaborating on a variety of issues important to sustainable economic development, scientific capacity building, and environmental protection across the ocean.

III. VISION

USAID seeks to advance these objectives by partnering to connect African, Latin

American, and Caribbean institutions and organizations and other members of the

Atlantic Partnership on shared themes. Particularly, USAID aims to catalyze collaboration between Atlantic Partnership countries to develop sustainable blue economies that conserve biodiversity and increase food security by creating and networking pan-Atlantic, university-based regional knowledge and outreach hubs. The hubs will connect scientific learning and exchange to best practices. Potential partners are:

● Local and/or regional civil society organizations specializing in any of the following themes:

○ Coastal conservation

○ Sustainable coastal food systems

○ Community-based natural resource management

○ Ocean and coastal science

○ Gender-sensitive approaches to conservation, food security, and spatial management

● Universities and institutions of higher learning with relevant programming on:

○ Marine spatial planning

○ Food security

○ Natural resource management

○ Oceanography and related marine resource sciences

○ Technological solutions to counter the effects of climate change

USAID is seeking solutions that allow efficient, culturally appropriate, and practical knowledge sharing among transatlantic partners. Solutions should incorporate multi-lingual and diverse educational backgrounds as part of their approach. Technology-based solutions that facilitate interactions, knowledge sharing, and cultural exchanges are encouraged.

IV. TARGET SCOPE

USAID envisions three priority coastal and/or near-shore biomes for intervention:

1. Mangroves

2. Seagrass beds

3. Estuarine shellfish stocks

4. Coral reefs

USAID welcomes suggestions on other significant biomes that transcend all three target

Atlantic regions.

V. PROJECTED BUDGET

USAID anticipates a 5-year activity with a Total Estimated Cost (TEC) of $5 million.

One award is anticipated, but multiple smaller awards could be considered.

VI. PROPOSED STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES (SO)

1. SO1: Increased technical cooperation among conservation practitioners and scientists in USAID partner countries/regions that are included in the Atlantic

Partnership and other Atlantic Partnership members

2. SO2: Improved biological and physical conditions of selected shellfish, seagrass, coral reef, and mangrove biomes.

3. SO3: Increased participation of private sector partners in the conservation of selected biomes.

VII. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION QUESTIONS

Respondents can choose to address all or selected questions. Please reference/provide links to any studies, publications, or organizational experiences which are used to support the responses where possible. Please indicate which question(s) are being responded to when providing responses.

1. How is your organization well-placed to bridge communities and institutions in the target countries/regions referenced on page one (Atlantic Partnership countries that are also USAID partner countries).

2. Please articulate how the three proposed target biomes can be addressed holistically from a technical approach.

3. Please identify any existing data sets or research pieces you would use to develop baseline data, targets, and metrics.

4. What are the top threats and their associated drivers to mangrove, seagrass, and shellfish biomes? Please specify by region and/or target biome.

5. Please provide feedback on the proposed Strategic Objectives, including if more should be added.

6. To your knowledge, are there existing efforts/organizations already contributing to these strategic objectives?

7. How can your organization advance localization while achieving results toward the three Strategic Objectives?

8. What specific gender and youth aspects related to the strategic objectives can your organization incorporate?

9. How can you incorporate the private sector into your technical approach?

10. Please provide up to four notional learning questions that would inform your technical approach and adaptive management.

[END OF RFI No. 7200AA24RFI00022]