72052723RFI00005 - Strategic Messaging to Combat Xenophobia AGsigned.pdf

72052723RFI00005

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

ISSUANCE DATE: September 19, 2023

CLOSING DATE: October 3, 2023, 4:00 pm (Lima Local Time)

SUBJECT: Request for Information (RFI) - New activity: “Strategic Messaging to Combat Xenophobia”

The United States Government, represented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the Republic of Peru is assessing the existence of capable private/local communication firms with an interest in responding to a future Request for Proposal (RFP) to combat dis/misinformation and promote positive narratives about migrants and their contribution to Peruvian society and economy.

This Request for Information (RFI) is RESTRICTED to local entities, and most specifically to private Peruvian companies and firms specializing in communication for social change.

[A “local entity” is an individual, company or organization that (1) is legally organized under the laws of Peru; (2) has its principal place of business or operations in Peru; (3) is majority owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of Peru; and (4) is managed by a governing body the majority of whom are citizens or lawful permanent residents of Peru.]

The purpose of this RFI is to solicit Capability Statements from capable local, private, for-profit communications firms capable of performing the work described in Section III - Statement of Objectives.

For the purpose of this RFI, a capable local company is a Peruvian firm with proven knowledge and experience in designing, planning, and implementing public relations campaigns across all types of media.

Sincerely, Andre-Guy Soh Contracting Officer USAID/Peru

RFI 72052723RFI00005

SECTION I. INSTRUCTIONS

Responses to this RFI are due to limasolicitations@usaid.gov by October 3, 2023, 4:00 pm (Lima Local Time).

Electronic submissions must have the subject: "Response to RFI No. 72052723RFI00005 - Strategic Messaging to Combat Xenophobia".

All submissions must be in Microsoft Word, using Calibri font, size 12, Responses may be submitted in Spanish or English.

Respondents must:

I. Submit a 3 page narrative demonstrating that they have the capacity and experience to develop and carry out the types of interventions contained in Section III - the Statement of Objectives.

II. Submit a Capability Statements must be succinct, not exceed 2 pages covering the following:

a. Contact Name, Title and email address

b. Description of the company’s capacity to receive and manage bilateral/multilateral or other donor funding and the amounts (if any);

c. Presentation of past, present and future activities/projects managed in strategic communications.

d. Brief financial presentation of your organization. This section should cover the last 5 years and include overall budget, independently conducted financial audits, and any other information

e. Describe your overall management capability and leadership i.e., operations, procurement, personnel, certifications etc.

f. Describe your organization's overall implementation capacity i.e., technical know-how, relationships, certifications, presence, or capacity to deploy or establish operations in targeted geographies.

g. Confirmation of your organization’s registration in the System for Awards Management (SAM) and registration in the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI) system is desirable, but not required to respond to this RFI.

An active SAM registration is required to respond to any future solicitation resulting from this RFI.

h. Confirm that your organization satisfies the definition of “local entity” provided in the cover letter to these instructions.

i. References mailto:limasolicitations@usaid.gov https://sam.gov/content/home https://sam.gov/content/home

SECTION II. NEW ACTIVITY INFORMATION

If a solicitation is issued, USAID/Peru intends to award a Firm Fixed Price Contract with an estimated duration of eighteen (18) months in length, and a Total Estimated Cost not to exceed $2.25 million.

Mechanism Number To be Determined Activity Name: "Strategic Messaging to Combat

Xenophobia" Prime Partner: Local (Peru) Communications Company Award Number: To be Determined Implementing Mechanism Type:

Firm Fixed Price Contract

Source Agency: U.S. Agency for International Development Implementing Agency: U.S. Agency for International Development

Planned Funding: Up to $2,250,000

Period of Performance: 18 months from award date

SECTION III. STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

Purpose. The purpose of this activity is to combat dis/misinformation and promote positive narratives about migrants and their contribution to Peruvian society and economy.

Background. There are more than 1.5 million Venezuelan migrants residing in Peru are part of one of the largest displacement crises in the world today. Xenophobia in Peru against migrants is on the rise due to recent changes in the political and economic environment, increased competition over limited resources (including food, jobs, and social services), and public frustration with the prolonged nature of the crisis. These factors have created tension and conflict between host communities and Venezuelan migrants. Venezuelans are increasingly reporting discrimination, loss of employment, rampant school bullying, sexual harassment and abuse. This rising xenophobia, discrimination and abuse is further fueled by prevalent negative media coverage of Venezuelans, which often attributes violent crimes and other societal problems to migrants. Mitigating tensions between local populations and Venezuelan migrants is essential to their sustainable integration, as well as their equitable access to employment, social services, and other resources.

Theory of Change: IF concerted strategic messaging focused on shared values, experiences, and accurate information are paired with opportunities for migrant and host community integration, focusing on trust and empathy, THEN host communities will be more open to the value and contributions of migrants in Peru, social cohesion will be increased, xenophobia will be reduced and integration of migrants in host communities will be facilitated, with risks of subsequent conflict reduced.

Objectives. The selected contractor will, through the performance of this contract, help mitigate xenophobia, discrimination, and violence against migrants by countering the pervasive anti-migrant messaging in Peru. This contract will, in select geographies:

1. Provide analysis on the elements of Peruvian values and identity which are promotable against this xenophobia - shared values, shared interests, shared history, etc.

2. Mitigate the influence of misinformation and negative stereotyping about migration, raise awareness, and promote social cohesion of migrants and local populations through strategic communications campaigns and collaborative alliances with the traditional, social and alternative media, and the public and private sectors.

3. Combat xenophobia by promoting and raising awareness of social cohesion events and engagement opportunities (Peruvians together with Venezuelans) that advance their mutual prioritized interest.

4. Support and advance public communications, and promote the advocacy work of organizations seeking to shift Peruvian public policy on issues of migrant integration.

Illustrative Activities

● Analysis of resonate key messages.

● Implementation of a strategic communications campaign, to include resonate messages, audience, and key geographies.

● Multimedia production and implementation that includes: the production of audiovisual and graphic pieces, dissemination channels that will be used, both online and in traditional media, budget for the dissemination of the campaign and exposure time.

DISCLAIMER:

This RFI is issued solely for gathering information and market research for design planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Proposals.

This RFI must not be construed as the U.S. Government commitment to issue a solicitation.

Respondents are directly and fully responsible for bearing all incurred expenses associated with preparation and submission of their RFI responses.

USAID reserves the right to use any, all, or none of the information submitted in response to this RFI in a future solicitation/funding opportunity. Thus, respondents must clearly mark or label all proprietary information contained in their submission. USAID will not disclose proprietary information unless required by law. Failure to properly mark or label proprietary information may result in an inappropriate use of such information.

If a solicitation is issued, it will be announced on www.sam.gov at a later date, and all interested parties must respond to that Solicitation separately from any response to this announcement.

[END OF RFI No. 72052723RFI00005] http://www.sam.gov