PFM Sri Lanka RFI.pdf

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

Request for Information USAID/Sri Lanka Public Financial Management Activity

Reference Number: 72038325RFI002 Release Date: October 11, 2024 Response Due Date: October 28, 2024 at 5:00 PM (Sri Lankan Time)

USAID/Sri Lanka is in the process of designing a new activity to strengthen Sri Lanka public financial management (PFM) capacity. Key activity themes may include: improving revenue generation and expenditure controls; supporting participatory PFM capabilities at subnational tiers of government, including gender responsive/equitable budgeting; assisting deployment of e-government systems for fiscal transparency; strengthening oversight and accountability mechanisms and updating competencies of public services.

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is 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 from locally registered development and technical organizations on the following key questions as they pertain to Sri Lanka. 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. Sri Lanka is heavily burdened by a high debt to GDP ratio and economic governance weaknesses affecting revenue generating capabilities and expenditure control systems. What measures (policies, reforms, partnerships) would strengthen domestic resource mobilization and drive inclusive economic growth?

2. Foreign Direct Investments have been low. What policies and initiatives are needed to expand investments to diverse sectors?

3. How can welfare programs be planned effectively to reduce the burden on public funds and better address vulnerabilities?

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

Decentralization

4. How can USAID support subnational tiers of governments to catalyze economic growth and inclusive national development? What types of assistance are most needed?

5. What are key demographic, geographic, gendered and socio-economic considerations to be factored?

6. What opportunities exist for local governments to increase revenue?

Digitalization

7. Which government services are best suited to being provided via electronic or online tools?

8. How ready are Sri Lankan citizens to move to internet-based access to government services?

Gender and Inclusive Development

1. What processes and structural changes would you recommend in the PFM reform space that would lead to a more gender-responsive, equitable, and inclusive development of Sri Lanka?

2. How can future Sri Lanka PFM practices meet the needs of all Sri Lankans including those marginalized and/or underrepresented such as women, youth, persons with disabilities, ethnic and religious minorities, among others?

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

Public Service Training

9. Are current public administration training programs able to prepare graduates for work in the public sector? If not, what is needed to improve their ability to do so?

10. Do public service training institutions and programs provide sufficiently broad and deep curricula to build the skills of government officials for modern times? If not, what is needed to improve their ability to do so?

PFM projects and experience

11. What are current and previous projects that have supported PFM systems in national and decentralized government in Sri Lanka?

12. Please describe your organization’s experience and capability of working on public financial management issues in Sri Lanka and/or comparable environments that informs your responses to the above questions.

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.

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

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.

(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/Sri Lanka Public Financial Management Activity.

Instructions for Submitting Responses/Comments

Responses (comments, suggestions, and opinions) to this RFI are due no later than date October 28, 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/Sri Lanka 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 mailto:mailtomailtosrilankaprocurement@usaid http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/