RFI 72011524RFI00005 USAID Trade and Economic Activity in Turkmenistan.pdf

Document Type: Request for Information (RFI) Reference Number: RFI № 72011524RFI00005 Issuance Date: July 30, 2024 Closing time: September 12, 2024, 17:00 Ashgabat time Subject: USAID Trade and Economic Growth Activity in Turkmenistan

The United States Agency for International Development, Regional Mission for Central Asia (USAID/RMCA) is seeking input from interested organizations, individuals and potential offerors who may provide comments, input, opinions and recommendations in response to the proposed questions outlined in this Request for Information (RFI). This RFI seeks information on the availability, interest, and diverse capacities of entities to support a prospective USAID Trade and Economic Growth Activity in Turkmenistan.

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

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 U.S. 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/RMCA is planning to host industry days to share further details on this RFI.

• In-person, at Berkarar Business Center (English/Russian/Turkmen) – Tuesday, September 03, 2024 at 15:00-17:00

• Online (English/Russian/Turkmen) – Wednesday, September 04, 2024 at 16:00-17:00

Please email Nargiza Oczko (noczko@usaid.gov) to RSVP for any of these sessions.

Sincerely, Kinsy Hood Contracting/Agreement Officer http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ mailto:noczko@usaid.gov

I. BACKGROUND

USAID/RMCA is in the process of designing its new Trade and Economic Growth activity that will aim at diversifying the country's economy, enhancing trade opportunities, and improving the investment climate to foster sustainable, resilient, and inclusive economic growth in Turkmenistan, in partnership with the Government of Turkmenistan. This Request for Information (RFI) is a preliminary call for information offered by interested organizations and individuals to provide information, opinions, strategies and recommendations to achieve the objectives and results stated below. Interested parties should provide a short submission addressing the questions discussed in Section III below.

This five-year bilateral program will address key opportunities for economic development in Turkmenistan, including enhancing trade routes, streamlining border crossings, and improving business transparency and regulatory clarity. USAID/RMCA will utilize its expertise and resources to support Turkmenistan in transitioning to a more diversified and dynamic economy, in line with Turkmenistan’s National Action Plan for Socioeconomic Development and United States Government priorities in the region and in Turkmenistan.

Given Turkmenistan's strategic geographic location and its potential to become a hub for cross-border trade, the activity will focus on identifying opportunities aimed at policy reforms, enhancing trade routes, fostering an investment-friendly climate, and improving the business environment. These initiatives aim to strengthen Turkmenistan's capacity to facilitate and expand cross-border trade, thereby bolstering economic ties with neighboring countries, Europe, and beyond. Through comprehensive assessments and consultations with stakeholders including the Government of Turkmenistan, local businesses, international financial institutions, and donor organizations, USAID/RMCA will pinpoint strategic opportunities to leverage its expertise in fostering economic growth and trade development.

II. RELATED USAID ACTIVITIES

USAID’s Trade Central Asia: The goal of USAID’s Trade Central Asia (TCA) Activity is to improve region-wide trade connectivity to accelerate economic growth and increase economic opportunity in Central Asia through harmonization of customs and border procedures, increasing public-private dialogue on trade and investment, improving cross-border firm-to-firm connectivity, strengthening resilience of Central Asian economies through trade, and addressing gender-relevant trade issues. TCA activity supports women traders and businesses in the region by reviewing current trade policies and practices for bias against women and designing activities to help women overcome these challenges.

USAID’s Future Growth Initiative: USAID's Future Growth Initiative (FGI) works to increase the competitiveness of high-growth industries in Central Asia through a market systems approach that incentivizes private and public sector behavior change. The activity facilitates the regionalization of business advisory and enabling environment ecosystems, harmonizes policies and regulations, fosters trade, and market linkages, and aligns the skills of women, youth, and vulnerable populations with private sector needs. From September 2023, the second phase of https://www.usaid.gov/central-asia-regional/fact-sheets/usaid-trade-central-asia-activity https://www.usaid.gov/central-asia-regional/fact-sheets/usaid-central-asia-future-growth-initiative the initiative, FGI 2.0, launched and will additionally support the growth and competitiveness of digital and green economies, increase the participation and competitiveness of women entrepreneurs, promote greater involvement of youth in entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem development, and strengthen inclusion of vulnerable populations in national economies.

III. QUESTIONS

USAID/RMCA would like to gather information on the following questions. These questions may serve as a guidance for your input. USAID/RMCA does not expect answers to all questions.

Regarding the Scope of the Activity:

1. From the perspective of the private sector, what are the primary challenges to expanding business in Turkmenistan, including increasing export of goods or services from Turkmenistan?

2. What are the challenges of transporting goods through Turkmenistan, and what are possible remedies?

3. What are some concrete short-term and long-term results that USAID/RMCA could support to advance the issues raised in section I?

4. Where are opportunities to align efforts, or partner with financial institutions, donors, or the private sector, to maximize resources?

Regarding Potential Implementing Partners:

5. How does your organization collaborate with local governments, businesses, and international stakeholders to achieve sustainable economic growth?

6. What partnerships does your organization have with local organizations/donors in Turkmenistan or similar contexts, and how would you leverage these relationships for program success?

7. How does your organization ensure sustainability of interventions beyond the program duration, particularly in building local capacity and fostering economic resilience?

8. Can your organization provide examples of past projects or initiatives similar in scope to the proposed USAID Trade and Economic Growth Activity in Turkmenistan?

9. What is your organization's experience in implementing economic growth programs, particularly in transition economies or countries with similar challenges to Turkmenistan?

10. How would your organization approach enhancing trade routes, improving regulatory frameworks, and fostering a transparent investment climate in Turkmenistan?

Please do not copy information from publicly available reports, but you are free to include citations or references.

IV. SUBMISSION CRITERIA

USAID/RMCA is interested in submissions from private sector companies, non-governmental organizations, and other organizations with experience relevant to the planned USAID Trade and Economic Growth Activity in Turkmenistan 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, Central Asia, and other countries in Eastern Europe and Eurasia.

USAID/RMCA 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 in Turkmenistan’s economic sector, including detail on working within the Turkmenistan operating environment. This may include but is not limited to:

1. Working with Turkmenistan Government (including national level and local governments);

2. Experience in implementing economic growth programs, especially in transition economies or countries with challenges similar to Turkmenistan;

3. Experience in enhancing trade and investment climate, may include approaches to improving trade routes and infrastructure, enhancing regulatory frameworks to support economic activities, and fostering a transparent and investor-friendly environment;

4. Experience in collaborating with local governments, businesses, and international stakeholders to achieve sustainable economic growth, including effective strategies for engaging with and gaining buy-in from local entities.

5. Any other work in Turkmenistan’s trade and economic growth sectors; please specify.

2. Experience in project management, including:

1. Strong project management capabilities to ensure effective implementation and adaptation;

2. Experience in compliance and reporting, which encompasses adherence to all relevant local and international regulations;

3. Availability of robust systems for reporting, accountability, and transparency in program implementation.

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

V. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

USAID/RMCA asks that interested respondents submit short written responses to the questions outlined in Section III 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 to exceed five (5) 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.

Responses must be submitted electronically to AlmatyAASolicitations@usaid.gov with a copy to Jeffrey Skarin, USAID Country Representative to Turkmenistan, at jskarin@usaid.gov, Dauren Akhmetov, A&A Specialist, at dakhmetov@usaid.gov and Kinsy Hood, Contracting/Agreement Officer at khood@usaid.gov under the title: RFI No 72011524RFI00005 for USAID Trade and Economic Growth Activity in Turkmenistan, no later than September 12, 2024 by 17:00, Ashgabat time. Submissions will receive an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt.

USAID will not provide feedback or responses to questions submitted in response to this RFI and no applications or resumes will be accepted or considered. Your responses will not be made public. Thank you for your interest in this Request for Information.

mailto:AlmatyAASolicitations@usaid.gov mailto:jskarin@usaid.gov mailto:dakhmetov@usaid.gov mailto:khood@usaid.gov