RFI_-_GIS_Services.pdf

Date: October 4, 2018

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Subject: GIS Mapping / Spatial Analysis Organizations

Issuance Date: October 4,, 2018 Closing Date: October 19, 2018 Closing Time: 12:00 PM Local Time (Kigali)

I. Purpose

The purpose of this RFI is to solicit input from companies, organizations, or institutions with expertise in the use and development of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and derivative tools and products (ie: maps, analytic products, etc) for the purposes of informing policy and decision making for delivering international assistance (ie: assisting developing countries to improve their outcomes in health, education, etc). This RFI will be used by USAID/Rwanda to conduct market research and solicit feedback to determine if and how to best source GIS capabilities to support strategic planning, activity evaluation, and visualization needs, and if it is possible for USAID/Rwanda to build or support an in-house GIS capability while not possessing dedicated staff for GIS activities.

II. Background

USAID/Rwanda is in the process of determining how to access and/or build its own capability to utilize GIS to develop maps and conduct analysis of its development activities in Rwanda, and associated development challenges and progress in Rwanda that may leverage other data available through the government of Rwanda or open sources. USAID/Rwanda does not anticipate maintaining GIS experts on staff, and is seeking innovative solutions to build this capability.

In U.S. Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, USAID/Rwanda managed a portfolio of $440 million supporting programs in health, education, agriculture, food security, and democracy and governance. These activities vary in geographic scope and size, including in terms of the points of delivery, and geographic areas of impact. Additionally, while USAID’s geographic footprint and impact is of interest, understanding broader development challenges, progress, and geographic information that can inform analysis and policy is also important. As we continue to implement programs in Rwanda beyond the current FY 2018, USAID/Rwanda is keen to apply geographic analysis to better understand how to make effective and valuable investments in Rwanda’s future that will help Rwanda become a self reliant middle income country. USAID/Rwanda must also consider how to make the most effective and cost efficient use of its limited resources.

Building on these points, USAID Rwanda anticipates a need to apply countrywide and sector geographic analyses (health, education, economic growth, democracy and governance) to the development of a new five year plan, known as a Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS), and is interested in learning of the variety of techniques and tools available that may be helpful.

III. Requirements and Solutions

USAID/Rwanda seeks to develop and utilize GIS to monitor and track its activities, conduct analysis on a wide range of development topics (see current CDCS to better understand scope of activities--refer to the following link https://www.usaid.gov/rwanda/cdcs), conduct analysis of USAID investments in Rwanda’s development, create visually informative and appealing products, etc.

The challenge in doing this is that USAID/Rwanda will not maintain a GIS staff to manage this capability. Given this challenge, USAID/Rwanda is interested in determining the extent to which this goal is feasible, and the extent to which external capabilities and even resources can be leveraged to enable USAID/Rwanda to build and maintain a GIS mapping and analysis capability; or to build a partial capability that can be supplemented on an adhoc basis through short term contractors or assistance. While USAID/Rwanda will not maintain a GIS staffing capability, its program office will be responsible for overall management and coordination to include initiating and managing USAID’s engagement with external partners to develop it’s GIS capability, maintaining standards and systems, enforcing the usage of templates and systems, etc.

Illustrative solutions include for example developing a GIS database that USAID/Rwanda’s implementing partners can update and that USAID/Rwanda can use to develop GIS products (maps, etc); templates for data management and map planning; base maps or master maps that can be easily manipulated by USAID staff who are not expert in GIS; creation of unique maps that respond to specific needs; creation of interactive maps; assistance and/or training in maintaining GIS databases, determining data requirements to build a map, building maps, conducting analysis using geographic information, etc.

As described above, USAID cannot support a long term contracting or staffing presence dedicated to GIS. Therefore, solutions and capabilities need to be user friendly and tailored to the needs of USAID/Rwanda. Capabilities, solutions and ideas may be comprehensive or limited; may include off the shelf or tailored solutions; be delivered in country or virtually; include long term access to helpdesk functions or customer service support; etc.

USAID/Rwanda is also interested in seeking feedback on the feasibility and challenges that USAID/Rwanda may face in trying to build and/or utilize GIS capabilities given the context described above.

IV. Submittal Instructions

Interested organizations should submit a response of no more than 10 pages in length, excluding the cover page and table of contents, that describe its GIS capabilities and how those may be helpful to USAID/Rwanda to address its needs as described in the preceding paragraphs. Organizations may suggest specific solutions, and/or describe how they could develop solutions that respond to USAID/Rwanda’s needs. If organizations have a process by which they work with clients, they should describe these processes as well and why they are helpful in terms of providing GIS solutions.

Organizations are also encouraged to provide clear and unambiguous feedback to USAID/Rwanda on what we are seeking to do through external assistance (ie: is USAID Rwanda’s goal to build a GIS capability as described feasible; are there important hurdles and challenges to consider; minimal requirements and inputs necessary to make this work, etc). Organizations are also encouraged to https://www.usaid.gov/rwanda/cdcs highlight existing or potential partnerships with other businesses or academic institutions that could be leveraged.

Responses to this RFI should include the following:

1) A Cover Page with the following information:

a. Organization name and address

b. Organization point of contact name, telephone number and email address

c. Organization business size and status (e.g. small business, 8(a), HUBZone, etc.), the number of years in business, and affiliate information

d. The organization’s GSA Schedule contract number, if applicable

2) A Statement of Capabilities / Qualifications containing responses to the following:

a. Outline the GIS services your firm could provide and solutions that address the requirements and capabilities sought by USAID/Rwanda (described in section III of this

RFI);

b. Describe how GIS services may be provided and how your organization works with clients.

c. List and describe available expertise or partnerships;

d. Provide feedback and note challenges your organization believes is important

USAID/Rwanda address to enable it to succeed in applying GIS capabilities to its work.

V. Additional Notes / Instructions

Submit responses for this RFI via email to Dieudonnee Kalinganire (dkalinganire@usaid.gov) no later than October 19, 2018 12:00 PM Kigali local time.

This announcement is a Request for Information (RFI), not a Request for Proposals (RFP) and is not to be construed as a commitment by the U. S. Government to issue any solicitation or ultimately award a contract on the basis of this RFI, or to pay for any information submitted as a result of this request. It should be noted that responding to this RFI will not give any advantage to any organization. The U. S. Government will not provide answers to any question submitted in response to this request. Responses will be held confidential. Proprietary information should not be sent.

Issuance of this Notice does not constitute a binding commitment on the part of the Government to issue a Solicitation, nor does it commit the Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of any responses to this RFI. Further, the Government reserves the right to reject any or all comments received.

mailto:dkalinganire@usaid.gov