RFI 720-696-22-RFI-00001-USAIDRwanda Feed-the-Future Employment and Entrepreneurship Activity.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Request for Information Number: 720-696-22-RFI-00001

Issuance Date: October 13, 2021

Response Due Date: Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 11:59 PM (US EST)

Subject: USAID/Rwanda Feed-the-Future Employment and Entrepreneurship (“E&E”)

Activity

USAID’s Mission to Rwanda (USAID/Rwanda) will solicit for technical services to implement a five-year activity with a total estimated amount that ranges from $16 - 18 million that employs a market systems development approach to support agriculture and complementary market segments (i.e. agri-businesses as well as finance, business development services, restaurant industry, training institutes, etc.)

to add greater value to the economy through increased employment opportunities, and increased off-farm employment opportunities, in Rwanda.

This Request for Information (RFI) intends to provide public information to parties interested in

USAID/Rwanda’s support for increasing employment in Rwanda, as well as to collect any information and suggestions about the USAID/Rwanda’s planned programming in this sector. Information collected is intended to help in the Mission’s activity design and development for an intended future solicitation which is anticipated to be issued on October 29, 2021 - the draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for the

USAID/Rwanda Feed-the-Future Employment and Entrepreneurship (“E&E”) Activity is attached to this

RFI.

Requested Action: At this time, USAID/Rwanda is seeking:

● Any feedback/comments on the draft RFP for the USAID/Rwanda Feed-the-Future Employment and Entrepreneurship (“E&E”) Activity, specifically Section C. USAID/Rwanda will not entertain changes to the contract type, price range, or source selection methodology (i.e., highest technically rated with reasonable price).

● IMPORTANT: Please select one of the below expressions of interest that best represents your organization’s feeling about this opportunity:

(a) Our organization is strongly interested in providing a quotation and will very likely submit a quotation.

(b) Our organization is moderately interested in providing a quotation, but uncertain as to whether it will submit a quotation.

(c) Our organization is not interested in providing a quotation and will not submit a quotation.

For ease of processing, please note the following requirements:

1. Limit responses to three (3) pages. USAID/Rwanda will not read any information after Page 3.

2. Send responses in Microsoft Word, other formats will not be entertained.

3. Do not include corporate capability information or statements.

4. Do not include a cover letter or annexes.

5. Send responses by email to Galina Ponkratova at gponkratova@usaid.gov with a copy to

Benjamin Lawrence at blawrence@usaid.gov by the date and time indicated above with the title

“720-696-22-RFI-00001 E&E Activity”.

Please note USAID/Rwanda is not seeking technical or cost proposals at this time, and in accordance with

FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the US Government to form a binding contract. Responses to this RFI are voluntary and USAID/Rwanda will not pay respondents for any information provided in response to this RFI. The information received by USAID/Rwanda will inform the development of this requirement and the acquisition process. USAID/Rwanda has the discretion to cancel the request for proposals or pursue an alternative acquisition strategy. This RFI does not obligate

USAID/Rwanda to reimburse contractors for their time developing responses, or to answer any questions or respond to comments submitted.

On behalf of USAID/Rwanda I sincerely appreciate your feedback and interest in partnering with our team.

Sincerely, Benjamin Lawrence

Contracting Officer

USAID/Rwanda

Benjamin Lawrence

Digitally signed by Benjamin Lawrence Date: 2021.10.13 16:46:28 +02'00'