Request for Information (RFI) 52322RFI02 SURGES.pdf

Date Issued: December 7, 2021

Questions/Comments Due: December 21, 2021, 12 PM Mexico City Time

Subject: Request for Information (RFI) No. 52322RFI02 - Southern Mexico

- Generating Employment and Sustainability (SURGES)

Dear Interested Parties:

The U.S Agency for International Development Mission in Mexico (USAID/Mexico) is seeking information, comments, suggestions, and recommendations in the attached design document (Attachment 1 - Design Paper) for a new USAID/Mexico activity.

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 shall not be used as a proposal.

(c) This solicitation is issued for the purpose of obtaining information from interested parties on the level of capacity of potential contractors relative to the objectives and expected results described in the activity Design Paper titled “Southern Mexico - Generating Employment and Sustainability (SURGES)” (see details below).

[End of Provision]

This RFI serves as notice that USAID/Mexico intends to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) in the near future to implement the subject activity.

USAID requests all interested parties to review and comment on this RFI. All responses or questions to this RFI must be submitted in writing by the due date via email to the addresses noted below. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted.

This Design Paper will be adapted into a final SOO/SOW which will be incorporated under Section C of the contemplated RFP. This RFI is solely issued to gather information for planning purposes as an attempt to identify capabilities of potential contractors. Therefore, respondents are advised that any information submitted may be used to inform the development of the anticipated SOO/SOW. This RFI is NOT a Request for Proposal (RFP), a solicitation, or an indication that

USAID will contract for the requirement contained in this RFI.

General Instructions:

Please include the title SURGES RFI Response in the subject line of your e-mail and provide the following details:

1. Level of Interest - Indicate your organization type (e.g. U.S, Non-U.S, small business, large business) and whether your organization would be interested in applying to this upcoming opportunity or partnering with another organization to participate? The information collected from this RFI will be used to help make planning decisions and will not be released publicly.

2. Technical feedback on the draft concept - Include strengths, weaknesses, inputs, suggestions or questions related to the attached Design Paper. In particular, USAID requests comments related to the following questions:

1. Based on the constraints and opportunities in Mexico, what objectives should be prioritized in order to achieve the proposed activity’s objectives?

2. What additional areas of intervention should USAID consider that have the potential to achieve the expected results?

3. What other strategies would allow us to achieve or increase the results and targets indicated below, or is the value chain approach sufficient?

4. What opportunities for collaboration have you identified?

5. How can USAID minimize unintended cultural and environmental harm in the communities and states where this activity will operate?

6. What considerations should USAID consider regarding how the activity can more effectively engage the private sector?

7. What type of approaches would your organization recommend for improving sustainability and scalability of private sector led interventions?

8. How can USAID incentivize existing funding sources (financial institutions, impact investment funds, etc.) to invest in southern Mexico?

9. What de-risking mechanisms have the highest potential to increase finance in southern Mexico?

10. Are the criteria to select value chains and states clear and realistic?

Submission Instructions/Response Format:

Please provide one electronic copy of your response in Microsoft Word format as a single email attachment to USAID/Mexico’s Office of Acquisition and Assistance at mexicoaa@usaid.gov.

Response format guidelines: Responses should not exceed seven pages (not including cover page) total typed, 12-point Times New Roman font, single-spaced with one-inch margins on the electronic equivalent of 8.5 x 11 inch paper.

DISCLAIMER

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. It is not a Request for Proposal, a Request for Quotation, an Invitation for Bids, a Solicitation, nor is it an indication that USAID/Mexico will mailto:mexicoaa@usaid.gov contract for the items contained in this Notice. This RFI is an opportunity for USAID/Mexico to obtain information from interested parties regarding the anticipated activities. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are NOT considered offers and CANNOT be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Therefore, USAID is not seeking technical or cost proposals at this time. Please do not submit a full proposal as these will not be reviewed and will be discarded.

Responses to this RFI are strictly voluntary and USAID will NOT reimburse respondents for the preparation of information submitted in response to this RFI. Submissions in response to this RFI will NOT be returned and respondents will NOT be notified of the results of the review.

Respondents may however receive a confirmation of receipt of the response.

This RFI does NOT restrict the Government's acquisition approach on a future solicitation, nor does it obligate USAID to issue a solicitation.

Thank you for your interest in USAID’s activities.

Sincerely, Elizabeth Colarik Contracting/Agreement Officer

Attachment 1: Activity Design Paper