Request for Info No. 72052723RFI00004 Amendment No. 2 - Conference Readout Final AGsigned.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION – AMENDMENT TWO

ISSUANCE DATE: February 24, 2023

REF: Request for Information (RFI) No. 72052723RFI00004

Institutional Strengthening of DEVIDA Activity

SUBJECT: February 21, 2023, Virtual Conference – Summary of Key Takeaways

The purpose to this Amendment Two RFI No. 72052723RFI00004 is to provide a full read out of the virtual Conference held on February 21, 2023.

Sincerely, Andre-Guy Soh, Contracting/Agreement Officer USAID/Peru

72052723RFI00004, Amendment No. 2 Page 2 of 6 pages

Summary

USAID/Peru held a virtual conference on February 21, 2023 at 2 PM Local time. Mr. Andre-Guy Soh, Contracting and Agreement Officer led the conference, seconded by an Acquisition and Assistance Specialist, and Alternative Development technical design team members. The conference aimed at (1) communicating high level goals that USAID/Peru hopes to achieve through the “Institutional Strengthening of DEVIDA” new activity; (2) presenting the envisioned solicitation process and approach; (3) outlining important technical considerations that will guide the procurement of the new activity, and (4) creating a forum for an exchange of ideas with the business community at large.

This conference followed the publication of RFI No. 72052723RFI00004 on January 30, 2023 and was attended by thirty people.

Disclaimer

Participants were reminded that (1) information shared in the conference represented the Mission’s thinking at this moment in the design process; (2) the objectives, approaches, key considerations, and any other idea presented in the conference may change or evolve as the Mission continues its internal deliberations and external engagements with key stakeholders;

and (3) the publication of RFI No. 72052723RFI00004 and holding of this conference may or may not result in an actual solicitation.

Detailed Read Out

I. USAID/Peru’s New Approach to Design and Procurement

The RFI published on January 30, 2023, and the conference represent the Mission’s renewed commitment to engage and consult with as many actors as possible and actively incorporate their suggestions, recommendations, and feedback in the design and development of new activities.

II. Envisioned Solicitation Approach

USAID/Peru intends to use a “Phased Solicitation Approach.”

During the first phase, applicants/offerors will be required to submit a 5-page application/proposal that focus on high-level ideas, strategies, approaches. In the first phase, the applicant may offer a brief description of the Problem Statement, its proposed partnership structure, recommended geographic areas, its technical and management approach etc.

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It is expected that 2 to 3 applications/proposals will move to the second phase through a formal request for revised and more detailed proposal/application.

USAID is looking for creative and innovative ways to achieve impact. This is going to be a key feature of this procurement process. As such, instead of telling the business community what the USG is trying to achieve and how it wants it achieved, this solicitation will likely only present the US Government’s problem diagnosis, highest level objectives, and key considerations the respondents should take into account i.e., localization, and leave the respondents the space to propose how they would approach achieving those high-level objectives.

Successful respondents will present approaches that build on past and present interventions, lessons learned, mistakes made etc.

USAID may mandate a few geographies, but it is very likely that the respondents will be asked to propose their own geographies and justify why they think those geographies make sense politically, culturally, technically etc.

III. Key Considerations

a. Eligible Applicants/Offerors

USAID has not yet decided if this procurement will be restricted to a specific category of entities. Similarly, USAID has not yet decided whether this procurement will fall under Acquisition or Assistance. USAID will accept recommendations from the business community. To be taken into consideration such recommendations must be accompanied with a solid justification covering the reason(s) why acquisition or assistance, or the proposed restriction to eligibility would be instrumental in meeting the Government’s objectives.

b. Partnering with local actors

Traditionally, USAID has funded activities that had an approach where only one entity (i.e., the implementing partner) brought to bear all the technical and operational knowledge and implemented the activity with very little transfer of knowledge to local actors. USAID/Peru is trying to do away with this approach by effectively and meaningfully making partnering with local actors a key component of all its procurements. As such, USAID will be evaluating the applicants’/offerors’ approach to partnering, mentoring, training, and equipping local actors with the skills necessary to contribute meaningfully to the activity, but most importantly to continue implementation when the activity ends.

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c. Cost Share and Leverage

USAID is seriously considering making cost share and leverage important requirements under a future solicitation. Nevertheless, no firm decision has been made as of this date.

d. Management Approach

USAID’s partnership requirements may result in a prime haphazardly putting together a large number of disparate entities with wildly different cultures, institutional capacities and technical know-how, thus increasing implementation risk. Therefore, applicants/offerors will be required to clearly articulate their management plan and approach i.e., communication, coordination, conflict resolution etc. of the partnership structure they propose.

e. Evaluation Criteria/Evaluation Factors

Below is the list of elements that may constitute evaluation factors/criteria in a future solicitation:

• Problem statement

• Technical approach

• Partnership plan and approach

• Management plan and approach

IV. Questions and Answers

Q1. Are we talking about the WHOLE policy including interdiction, alternative development, drug consumption, or only the “post-eradication AD” part of the policy?

A1. USAID: The focus of this project would be on Objective 1 of the Policy. The proposed activity should focus on priority objective 1 of the policy (including possibly strengthening the capacities of other Government of Peru (GOP) entities responsible for contributing to the achievement of that objective), as well as strengthening DEVIDA's capacity to improve coordination with all GOP entities involved in implementing the policy.

Q2. Is the phased approach in different stages applicable to this RFI?

A.2 USAID: No. The RFI is NOT a solicitation. The phased approach is for the actual solicitation that may come after this RFI.

Q3. Are RFI responses confidential and competitive in nature?

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A3. USAID: No, USAID reserves the right to use some or all elements of a response in current or future solicitations. Respondents to the RFI must clearly state if their responses contain proprietary information.

Q4. About the primary focus on PNCD’s Objective 1, while strengthening DEVIDA ‘s coordination capacity: To what extent do you see assistance provided to government entities in the direct combat of the crime, including financial intelligence, prosecutors, police, etc.?

A4. USAID: No direct financial support to law enforcement is contemplated in the resulting award. Support for effective communication and coordination amongst all actors is.

Q5. Is USAID considering multiple awards?

A.5. USAID: USAID was thinking of one award, but we are open to suggestions and RFI respondents are welcome to propose ideas about this.

Q6. The RFI refers to technical assistance to improve procurement of goods and services.

How has USAID supported this so far, has it included embedded specialists? At what scale? What is the significance of this component?

A6. USAID: RFI respondents will propose the best approach. Procurement improvement has been positively acknowledged by DEVIDA and may be something to extend to procurement of services in addition to goods.

Q7. Please clarify the RFI reference to spending and accountability

A7. USAID: The idea is related to the capability of DEVIDA to articulate with other GOP entities. How can DEVIDA show results based on this coordination? Usually activities are entity-focused to address the needs of this entity (i.e., DEVIDA). But if we look at implementing a national policy, RFI respondents need to find creative ways to move all the related entities to get to that goal. Presupuesto por resultados must be addressed.

Q8. I understand the purpose of the RFI is to add some ideas to your future solicitation about the issue of articulation with all other GOP agencies involved in the PNCD. Do you expect that the main issue is to strengthen the articulation capacity of all other offices, including health, attorneys, etc.?

A8. USAID: USAID expects alternative ways to secure coordination capacity within DEVIDA and other relevant agencies. The focus of this project would be on Objective 1 of the Policy. The proposed activity should focus on priority objective 1 of the policy (including possibly strengthening the capacities of other Government of Peru (GOP) entities

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Q9. About the RFI reference to a “window of opportunity” because of the price of coca, is

USAID asking to make comments? The political context is complicated. I am not sure if it is a window of opportunity.

A.9. USAID: Well – this depends on how you view the current political problems or the increase in the price of coca. Maybe this is a window of opportunity to launch a massive communications campaign to showcase the destructive impact that illegal coca growing has on Peruvian society and economy in the long term.

Q10. Given that USAID is contemplating expanding the scope beyond DEVIDA, is USAID still anticipating a ceiling of up to $10 million or would the ceiling be higher if the scope is broader?

A10. USAID: USAID is only contemplating an award of US$10 million or less. That's what we know and want as of today. Could this change? Of course.

Q11. Thank you for the opportunity to have this conversation. Could USAID confirm whether you anticipate having this solicitation be an assistance or acquisition award?

A11. USAID has not yet decided.

Note:

An internal debate has started within USAID regarding the focus of the activity. The title “Institutional Strengthening of DEVIDA Activity” gives the impression that USAID is solely focused on this one governmental entity, and this could not be further from the reality. USAID is interested in supporting the whole counternarcotics policy, focusing on Priority Objective 1 of the policy, not only DEVIDA, which is only one actor amongst a plethora of many others. The approach should be holistic and support coordination and effectiveness of key interventions to have an impact on the “Politica Nacional Contra las Drogas (PNCD)”.

[END OF AMENDMENT TWO]