RFI no 72038824RFI00002 FTF Bangladesh Water Management Activity.pdf

Request for Information (RFI)

RFI Number: 72038824RFI00002

Posting Date: Jul 11, 2024

Submission Due Date from Interested Partners: August 10, 2024, 8:00 am (Dhaka time)

The United States Agency for International Development in Bangladesh is in the process of gathering information to support the anticipated design of a new activity in the water sector.

Through this RFI, USAID is soliciting information from external organizations to aid in the design of the new USAID/Bangladesh Feed the Future Water Management Activity. This initiative aims to promote the sustainable management and utilization of water resources to address the diverse needs of communities, ecosystems, and economic activities in the Khulna, Barisal, and

Sylhet Divisions.

USAID is seeking responses to the questions of this RFI outlined below, USAID is not seeking technical or cost applications / proposals at this time. Responses to this RFI are voluntary.

Respondents are free to address any or all items below, as well as provide additional information that they think is relevant to issues related to drinking and irrigation water, water resource management, water governance in Bangladesh especially for Khulna, Barisal, and

Sylhet Divisions. USAID will not pay respondents for any information provided in response to this RFI. Any future solicitations of funding opportunities related to the Feed the Future

Bangladesh Water Management Project will be announced on the Federal Business

Opportunities website at www.sam.gov or at www.grants.gov at a later date.

Please note that issuance of this RFI does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. Government, nor does it commit the Government to pay for any costs incurred in the preparation of comments.

Thank you for your assistance and interest in USAID programs.

Sincerely, Jerome Robinson, Jr., Contracting / Agreement Officer

USAID/Bangladesh

USAID/Bangladesh Feed the Future Water Management Activity

1. BACKGROUND

USAID's Feed the Future (FTF) program accelerates the agricultural sector growth to support the Government of Bangladesh’s initiatives for food security and economic development. The

FTF program in Bangladesh targets agricultural research, extension services, value chain development, climate-resilient agriculture, mechanization, agricultural infrastructure, trade, private sector competitiveness, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, water, sanitation, and hygiene

(WASH). Since inception in 2010, FTF Bangladesh has concentrated efforts in 21 districts in the southwest. Over the past fifteen years, the program has achieved significant progress by developing nutrition-sensitive value chains in horticulture, dairy, and fish production; equipping millions of farmers with new skills and knowledge; empowering women; and improving nutrition and WASH practices through partnerships with both the private and public sectors.

Water scarcity, especially during the dry season, salinity and waterlogging is constraining the improvement in agriculture productivity. This threatens the country’s food security as most of the rice production relies on irrigation. Compounding these issues, a substantial portion of the population still lacks access to safe drinking water. Bangladesh, with its extensive river network and the world’s largest river delta, historically enjoyed water abundance. However, erratic rainfall, intensive irrigation, and upstream water use have altered this landscape. Declining river flows and mismanagement of water resources (such as excessive groundwater extraction, inefficient industrial and irrigation practices, lack of adequate regulation and implementation) have led to the current state of water related issues in the country. This is further exacerbated by climate induced impacts such as higher intensity of drought in different areas, and sea level rise in the coastal region of Bangladesh. Water quality and supply issues now

The Government of Bangladesh has taken significant steps in policy reforms and institutional transitions to promote integrated water management. However, addressing these interconnected water-related problems will require a comprehensive, integrated approach to water governance, including efficient irrigation systems, water-saving agricultural practices, water conservation, and improved access to clean water. Under the new Global Food Security

Strategy (GFSS) Bangladesh Country Plan, USAID’s FTF program will tackle water management challenges to meet the diverse needs of communities, ecosystems, and economic activities, addressing the region’s vulnerability to climate change.

2. INFORMATION REQUESTED

All organizations and firms (large and small businesses) are strongly encouraged to provide information and comments by the closing date and time noted in the cover page. Responses should not be no more than a 10-page limitation. USAID is interested to gain insights from relevant stakeholders on the challenges and opportunities for water resource management in

Khulna, Barisal, and Sylhet Divisions, with a special focus on the following questions:

1. What are the major challenges facing communities (particularly around clean and safe drinking water access, irrigation, or broader management, conservation of water, watershed management, and water sector governance)?

USAID/Bangladesh Feed the Future Water Management Activity

2. What are the current gaps in water resources management programming (in the WASH and agriculture sectors, and more broadly)? What geographic areas are most vulnerable?

3. What opportunities are there for further investment to make a difference towards more sustainable water resources management?

4. What innovative approaches to water resources management (that support data-driven and context-specific solutions) are promising? How might current work be complemented, leveraged, or built upon for greatest impact?

3. RESPONSE SUBMISSION GUIDELINE

All comments and recommendations must be submitted electronically with the title, “USAID/Bangladesh Water Management Project” to the Contracting/Agreement Officer, Mr.

Jerome Robinson, Jr., (jerrobinson@usaid.gov), with a copy to Acquisition and Assistance Specialist, Mr. Ahsan Rahman (marahman@usaid.gov), Responses to this RFI will be accepted through the date and time indicated above.

You will receive only an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of your response, but will not receive individualized feedback on any suggestions. No basis for the claims against the U.S.

Government shall arise as a result of a response to his request for information or from the Government’s use of such information.

The submitted response should include:

Reference number: RFI No. TBD USAID’s Feed the Future Bangladesh Water Management Project [Date] Name/Email Affiliation/Organization Address Attachments: Please attach any documents that support your comments to the above questions. Respondents may also include self/organization information including past experiences working on this subject area, experience working with other stakeholders, or capacity information. Any supporting attachments must be included in a single file. Multiple files will be discarded and will not be accepted.

[END OF RFI: 72038824RFI00002]

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