RFI 72011524RFA00004 English.pdf

Document Type: Request for Information (RFI)

Reference Number: RFI № 72011524RFA00004

Issuance Date: April 01, 2024

Closing time: May 29, 2024, 09:00 Almaty time

Subject: Collecting Information on Organizations with Experience in

Turkmenistan, Grant Administration, and/or the Livestock Sector

I. OVERVIEW

The United States Agency for International Development in Central Asia (USAID/CA) is exploring the landscape of actors with capacity and experience in Turkmenistan, in the areas of grant and contract administration, and/or in the livestock sector. This effort will inform planning and partnerships for a potential upcoming USAID activity in Turkmenistan.

Please note: This is NOT a request for applications. Only expressions of interest should be submitted at this stage. However, USAID will use responses to inform which organizations it will work with in this activity.

This Request for Information (RFI) seeks information on the availability, interest, and diverse capacities of entities to support a prospective USAID livestock activity in Turkmenistan.

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes. It is NOT a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and in no way obligates the US Government to issue an award or pay for any information submitted as a result of this request. If a NOFO is issued, all necessary information will be supplied in that document. Interested parties are advised to periodically monitor the www.grants.gov and www.sam.gov websites for updates concerning a potential procurement.

Additionally, USAID is planning to host one or more industry days to share further details on this Request for Information.

● At American Center in Ashgabat for NGO Round Table (Russian) – May 10, 2024, 15:00- 17:00

● Online (Russian/Turkmen) – April 23, 2024 15:00-16:00

● Online (English) – April 24, 2024 15:00-16:00

Please email Jahan Allaberdiyeva (jallaberdiyeva@usaid.gov) to RSVP for any of these sessions.

The English language version of this RFI shall be controlling in all respects and shall prevail in case of any inconsistencies with translated versions, if any.

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ mailto:jallaberdiyeva@usaid.gov

II. BACKGROUND

USAID/CA envisions an upcoming activity in the area of cattle productivity and meat and dairy value chain strengthening in Turkmenistan. This activity will be part of USAID's global Local Works Program, which is designed to advance locally led development and enhance the Agency’s ability to empower local individuals and entities to take the lead in addressing their development challenges.

In Turkmenistan, the upcoming activity will focus on improving cattle productivity through one or more of the following approaches: (1) improving small and medium-size farms’ access to genetic material for more productive cattle breeds; (2) improving small and medium farms’ access to quality feed; (3) improving farmers’ knowledge and skills in proper cattle care; and (4) other activities to strengthen the local dairy and meat value chains. Activity objectives include improving production volume in the dairy and meat sectors and increasing farmer incomes.

III. SUBMISSION CRITERIA

USAID/CA is interested in submissions from non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, private sector organizations, research institutions, educational organizations, or other organizations with experience relevant to the planned livestock activity described in this RFI. Organizations legally organized under the laws of the following countries and regions, and which have the following countries and regions as their principal place of business or operations are especially encouraged to submit responses: Turkmenistan, the Caucuses, Turkey, and other countries in Eastern Europe and Eurasia.

Additionally, USAID/CA is only interested in responses from organizations that have NOT received more than USD $5 million directly from USAID (i.e. as the prime awardee) in the last five years.

USAID/CA welcomes responses to this RFI from organizations defined above that possess ANY of the capacity or experience listed below. Organizations DO NOT need to respond to all questions and should submit responses only in the areas in which they possess capacity or experience.

1. Experience with grant and/or contract administration, including:

a. Administering sub-grants or sub-contracts;

b. Managing procurement processes, including procurement of goods across international borders;

c. Managing recruitment processes;

d. Developing and adhering to human resources or personnel policies;

e. Managing monitoring, evaluation, and reporting processes; and/or

f. Developing and adhering to financial management policies.

2. Experience in Turkmenistan, including detail on working within the Turkmenistan operating environment. This may include but is not limited to:

a. Working with Turkmenistan government bodies (including national level and local governments);

b. Overseeing or facilitating import and export of goods to or from Turkmenistan;

c. Experience working with agriculture and livestock-related bodies in Turkmenistan (e.g. Agricultural University, Veterinary College, Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, etc.); and/or

d. Any other work in Turkmenistan; please specify regions of work within Turkmenistan.

3. Experience in the livestock sector, including:

a. Experience with the dairy or beef value chains;

b. Experience conducting market assessments or market systems analyses in the livestock sector;

c. Experience working with livestock farmers in any capacity, including providing training, providing veterinary services, or other types of engagements with livestock farmers; and/or

d. Experience importing or producing supplies and equipment for the livestock sector.

Organizations DO NOT need to have all the capabilities and experience listed above to respond.

IV. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

USAID/CA asks that interested respondents submit short written responses to the questions outlined in the survey in one of the following forms: Microsoft Word document; PDF document, or email text. The information provided must be in one file per email submission, not exceed seven (7) pages, including annexes/attachments. Respondents are encouraged to review the questions and respond to ONLY those that are relevant to their experience and capabilities.

Responses to all questions are not required but encouraged as applicable. Please also provide your name, title, organization, and contact information in your response. The responses can be submitted in any of three languages: English, Turkmen or Russian. Please choose ONLY ONE submission option (either English, or Turkmen, or Russian).

Please do not include in your responses any information of a confidential nature, such as sensitive personal information or proprietary information. Information obtained as a result of this notice may be used by the Federal Government for program planning on a non-attribution basis.

Please submit responses to this RFI via email to AlmatyAASolicitations@usaid.gov with a copy to Acquisition and Assistance Specialists, Dauren Akhmetov at dakhmetov@usaid.gov, Aliya Baioralova at abaioralova@usaid.gov with the title: “RFI № 72011524RFA00004 USAID’s Local Works Activity” no later than May 29, 2024 by 09:00 am, Almaty Time. Responses received after this deadline will not be read or considered. Responding to this RFI will not give any advantage to any organization in any subsequent procurement. USAID/CA will not provide any feedback or responses to questions submitted in response to this RFI and no applications or resumes will be accepted or evaluated.

mailto:AlmatyAASolicitations@usaid.gov mailto:dakhmetov@usaid.gov mailto:abaioralova@usaid.gov

Questions are provided below.

USAID/CA values input from our potential partners, and we thank you for your interest and assistance in developing potential future programs.

Sincerely, Kinsy Hood Contracting/ Agreement Officer Regional Office of Acquisition & Assistance

Please respond to the following as relevant. Questions with an asterisk (*) are required:

1. *Official full name of organization according to the government registration:

2. *Name and title of point of contact:

3. *Email address of point of contact:

4. *Under which country is your organization legally organized?

5. *In which country is your organization’s principal place of business or operations?

6. *What best describes your organization?

a. Non-governmental organization/civil society organization

b. Academic institution or research institution

c. Private sector organization

d. Other [please describe]

7. *Has your organization received more than USD $5M (five million) in funding directly from

USAID (i.e. as a prime recipient and not as a sub-award recipient) in the past five years?

a. Yes, we have received more than USD $5M in funding directly from USAID in the past five years.

b. No, we have not received more than USD $5M in funding directly from USAID in the past five years.

8. *Has your organization ever received funding from the US Government (USG) (either as a Prime awardee or sub-awardee)? (Select all that apply).

a. Yes, we have received funding from the USG before as a Prime awardee;

b. Yes, we have received funding from the USG before as a sub-awardee;

c. No, we have not received any funding from the USG before.

9. *In what language does your organization regularly operate? Select all that apply:

a. Turkmen

b. Russian

c. English

d. Other (please specify)

10. Please describe your organization's past experience, if any, related to grant and/or contract administration, including administering sub-grants or sub-contracts; managing procurement processes, including procurement of goods across international borders;

managing recruitment processes; developing and adhering to human resources or personnel policies; managing monitoring, evaluation, and reporting processes; and/or developing and adhering to financial management policies. Maximum 1 page.

11. Please describe your organization's past experience, if any, in Turkmenistan, including working with Turkmenistan government bodies (including national level and local governments); overseeing or facilitating import and export of goods to or from Turkmenistan; experience working with agriculture and livestock-related bodies in Turkmenistan (e.g. Agricultural University, Veterinary College, Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, etc.); and/or any other work in Turkmenistan. Please specify regions of any work within Turkmenistan. Maximum 1 page.

12. Please describe your organization’s past experience, if any, in the livestock sector, including experience with the dairy or beef value chains; experience conducting market assessments or market systems analyses in the livestock sector; experience working with livestock farmers in any capacity, including providing training, providing veterinary services, or other types of engagements with livestock farmers; and/or experience importing or producing supplies and equipment for the livestock sector. Maximum 1 page.

13. *What type of resources does your organization receive? (Select all that apply).

a. Funds from the government of Turkmenistan

b. Funds from international organizations/donors (for example: USAID, GiZ, the

World Bank, Embassies, international foundations, international NGOs, etc)

c. Funds from the private sector, including local and international companies

d. Funds raised by providing commercial services/goods

e. None

f. Other (please describe)