USAID Responses on Quetions Received under the RFI.pdf

USAID responses on questions received under the Request for Information (RFI) Number:

72038823RFI00002 for the activity title: "Host and Impacted Community Response Activity"

1. Does USAID intend to issue the NOFO as limited to local organizations only, or will locally established partners also be eligible to respond to the NOFO?

USAID Response: USAID has not determined yet whether any NOFO will be issued based on this RFI.

However, USAID anticipates a NOFO will be issued as unrestricted eligibility.

2. The RFI mentions the districts Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban as the focus of this activity. Will the activity cover all the sub-districts (upazillas/unions) under these districts? If not, could it be specified which subdistricts (upazillas/unions) will be covered by the activity?

USAID Response: Respondents should make a case for which sub districts should be included as part of the programming based on the impact of the Rohingya crisis. All the sub districts under these two districts are eligible to be part of the interventions and can be covered.

3. Can USAID further explain what it means by “economic growth”? For example, does USAID consider economic growth to involve creating entrepreneurship or enterprise-related opportunities for the host communities to enhance their livelihoods and incomes?

USAID Response: Economic growth can be interpreted broadly as any activities designed with the goal of increasing incomes and/or employment.

4. Will the Market System Development (MSD) approach to private sector engagement be prioritized here, or will USAID utilize another approach?

USAID Response: Offerors should determine and propose the best and most effective method of engaging the private sector based on background information and analysis.

5. By the term “multi-sectoral integrated development projects,” does it mean that the respondent needs to highlight past experiences of implementing holistic solutions spanning the key areas mentioned in the RFI, or can the respondent highlight specific need-based solutions to each area?

USAID Response: USAID envisions an activity that addresses the multi sectoral needs created by the

Rohingya crisis. As such, respondents should highlight their ability to implement a multisectoral project.

Respondents may also highlight specific need-based solutions in each area, but the goal of this question is to understand which organizations would have the capacity to implement a multisectoral activity.

6. Does USAID intend to target any specific age groups in this program?

USAID Response: No. However, special attention should be given to youth between the ages of 10 to 29.

7. Does USAID intend to target any specific marginalized groups (i.e., gender, ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities) in this program?

USAID Response: Yes USAID intends to target specific marginalized groups. Special attention should be given to the needs of women, youth, as well as ethnic minorities and indigenous populations.

8. Does USAID plan for this solicitation to be a multi-stage process beginning with a concept note?

USAID Response: This is still to be determined.

9. Does USAID plan to make multiple awards for this program, or just one?

USAID Response: USAID plans to make one award, as a result of any NOFO, if issued