PFM Maldives- RFI.pdf

Request for Information USAID/Maldives Public Financial Management Activity

Reference Number: 72038325RFI001 Release Date: October 10, 2024 Response Due Date: October 25, 2024 at 5:00 PM (Sri Lankan Time)

USAID/Maldives is in the process of designing a new 5-year activity to strengthen Maldivian public financial management capacity. Key activity themes may include:

(a) improving revenue generation and expenditure controls;

(b) supporting decentralization;

(c) assisting deployment of e-government systems; and

(d) building the capacity of civil service training institutions.

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to provide public information to all interested parties of USAID’s intent to support public financial management in Maldives and to collect ideas and suggestions on how to address perceived programming needs. The information contained within this RFI is intended solely as a thought-piece. Themes and direction may change significantly during the Mission’s program design, consultation, and approval process. In addition, any information collected through this RFI may or may not be used to help guide thinking about future programming.

In particular, USAID seeks feedback on the following key questions as they pertain to Maldives.

Respondents are not required to provide feedback on all of the questions, but USAID encourages respondents to answer any question within their areas of expertise. To facilitate compilation of responses, please number each response corresponding to the questions below.

Revenue Generation and Expenditure Control

1. Maldives is heavily dependent on tourism for revenue. What policies should be enacted to encourage economic diversification and growth?

2. Maldivian state-owned enterprises tend to be unprofitable. What is needed to reform their management practices or encourage foreign investment to improve their operations?

3. Subsidies consume a large amount of government resources. How can the share of public finance dedicated to subsidies be reduced?

4. What interventions can be undertaken in the absence of political will to fiscally consolidate?

5. Should USAID make PFM a priority over other potential sectors or interventions?

U.S. Agency for International Development 210 Galle Road Colombo 03 Sri Lanka

Tel: 94112028000 https://www.usaid.gov/sri-lanka

Department of State / USAID 6100 Colombo Place Washington D.C. 20521-6100 https://www.usaid.gov/sri-lanka

Sub-National Government

6. How can USAID support fiscal decentralization for island councils and other local government units?

7. What opportunities exist for island councils / local governments to increase revenue?

Gender and Inclusive Development

8. What processes and structural changes would you recommend in the PFM reform space that would lead to a more gender-responsive, equitable, and inclusive development1 of Maldives, particularly for women, youth, persons with disabilities, and ethnic and religious minorities?

9. How can future Maldives PFM reforms meet the needs of all Maldivians including those marginalized and/or underrepresented such as women, youth, persons with disabilities, ethnic and religious minorities, among others?

10. How can the central budget and local governments / island councils revenue streams meet the needs of women, youth and other marginalized groups, such as persons with disabilities and ethnic and religious minorities in local islands?

Digitalization

11. Which government services are best suited to being provided via electronic or internet-based tools?

12. What data or key indicators demonstrate that Maldivians are ready to transition to internet-based access for government services?

Civil and Foreign Service Training

13. What support can USAID provide to strengthen civil/foreign service to build the capacity of government officials?

Background

14. Please describe your organization’s experience working on public financial management issues that informs your responses to the above questions.

1A key pillar of USAID’s approach is inclusive development. Every person, regardless of identity, is instrumental in the transformation of their own societies and their inclusion throughout the development process leads to better outcomes. USAID promotes a nondiscriminatory, inclusive, and integrated development approach that ensures that all people including those who face discrimination and thus may have limited access to a country’s benefits, legal protections, or social participation are fully included and can actively participate in and benefit from development processes and activities. Consistent with this focus, USAID has issued policy documents detailing our commitment to inclusive development, including but not limited to the Disability Policy Paper, the Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policy, the USAID Youth Policy, the Democracy Rights and Governance Strategy.

DISCLAIMER

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. It is not a Request for Proposal, a Request for Quotation, a Request for Application, an Invitation for Bids, a Solicitation, or an indication USAID will contract for the items contained in this RFI. This RFI is an attempt to reach out in an effort to determine industry capabilities and interests and will be treated as information only. In accordance with U.S. Federal Acquisition Regulations FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.

Responses to this RFI are strictly voluntary. Issuance of this notice does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. Government, nor does it commit the U.S. Government to pay for any costs incurred in the preparation of responses. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. Responses to this RFI may not be returned and respondents may not be notified of the result of the review.

If a solicitation is issued, it will be announced on www.sam.gov or www.grants.gov at a later date, and all interested parties must respond to that solicitation announcement separately from any response to this announcement. This RFI does not restrict the Government's acquisition approach on a future solicitation.

Businesses should identify any proprietary information in their responses. Proprietary materials will neither be distributed, nor discussed with, any other organization. Information submitted in response to this notice will be used at the discretion of the Government. Further, the information submitted will remain confidential insofar as permitted by law, including the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts.

Standard Clauses and Provisions. The standard clauses or provisions for awards are generally prescribed by law and regulation and will vary considerably by award type. Information regarding clauses and provisions will be provided when the award type is identified if proposals/applications are sought in the future.

FAR 52.215-3 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION OR SOLICITATION FOR PLANNING PURPOSES

(OCT 1997)

(a) The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this solicitation or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

http://www.sam.gov http://www.grants.gov

(b) Although “proposal” and “offeror” are used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It will not be used as a proposal.

(c) This solicitation is issued for the purpose of: receiving recommendations on approaches for designing a USAID/Maldives Public Financial Management Activity.

Instructions for Submitting Responses/Comments

Responses (comments, suggestions, and opinions) to this RFI are due no later than October 25, 2024 at 5:00 PM (Sri Lankan Time).

Respondents may also include organization information including past experiences working in this subject area, experience working with other stakeholders, including implementing partners on the ground or host country government officials, or capacity information.

Send comments related to this RFI via email to the attention of Mr. Hirantha Heenatigala, Acquisition and Assistance Specialist at srilankaprocurement@usaid.gov and CC hheenatigala@usaid.gov with the subject title “Request for Information (RFI): “USAID/Maldives Public Financial Management Activity”, no later than the date/time stated above.

You may receive an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of your response but will not receive individualized feedback on any suggestions.

This Notice can be viewed and downloaded from the internet at www.sam.gov or www.grants.gov.

Thank you for your assistance and interest in USAID programs.

Sincerely, Admir Serifovic Director, Office of Acquisition & Assistance(OAA) Supervisory Contracting Officer USAID/Sri Lanka and Maldives http://www.sam.gov http://www.grants.gov