RFQ-19NP4026Q0018 Tourism Tech Innovation Statement of Work- Tourism Tech with Ascent Summit -M2 -SF-30 for Modification.pdf

SBU - CONTRACTING AND ACQUISITIONS

Statement of Work (SOW)

Title: Tourism Tech Innovation Program – U.S. Technology Showcase

Overview

The Public Affairs Section (PAS) of U.S. Embassy Nepal seeks a qualified vendor to design, manage, and implement the Tourism Tech Innovation Program.

Building on the relationships, visibility, and outcomes generated through U.S.

Embassy’s Ascent Summit 2026 project, this program will transition from dialogue to implementation by advancing commercial collaboration between U.S. and Nepali technology companies in the tourism sector.

The program will showcase American innovation and create tangible pathways for U.S. technology adoption in Nepal, particularly in high-traffic tourism regions such as Everest and other high-altitude mountains. It will emphasize practical applications of U.S. commercial technologies, including but not limited to commercial unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), to support mapping, environmental management, and disaster response.

This initiative reinforces U.S. economic leadership by positioning American companies as the preferred providers of advanced tourism and environmental technologies.

Scope of Work

The selected vendor shall build on the Ascent Summit project outcomes and provide full program design, coordination, execution, and reporting across the following components:

1. Program Continuity and Design

• Review Summit Ascent outputs, including identified partnerships, innovation tracks, and stakeholder networks.

• Design a targeted follow-on program that advances at least three priority collaboration areas identified during Summit Ascent.

• Develop a multi-day program in Kathmandu with optional field-based demonstration components in tourism regions.

2. U.S. Technology Deployment

• Utilize commercial U.S. technologies for:

o Terrain mapping in high-altitude regions o Environmental monitoring and waste management o Disaster preparedness and response

• Conduct live or simulated demonstrations that move beyond awareness to pilot implementation.

3. Commercial Pathways

• Facilitate structured engagements between U.S. companies and Nepali tourism operators to move from concept to pilot.

• Support the development of at least three pilot projects or commercial agreements using U.S. technology.

• Provide technical and business advisory support on regulatory approvals, deployment logistics, and sustainability.

4. Stakeholder Engagement

• Re-engage key participants from the Ascent Summit Project, including U.S.

companies, Nepali tourism leaders, and Sherpa community representatives.

• Coordinate with the Government of Nepal to ensure alignment with national tourism priorities.

• Prepare briefing materials that clearly define roles, expectations, and outcomes.

5. Program Management and Communications

• Assign a project manager to coordinate all activities with PAS and ensure continuity with prior efforts.

• Develop communications products that highlight American excellence in technology and reinforce U.S. leadership.

• Capture success stories that demonstrate how U.S. innovation improves safety, sustainability, and economic growth in Nepal’s tourism sector.

6. Sponsorship Coordination

• Identify, solicit, and secure private sector sponsors whose participation strengthens the program’s technology, tourism, and commercial objectives

• Target sponsors such as U.S. and Nepali technology companies, telecom firms, commercial UAV and mapping service providers, outdoor brands, travel operators, and other businesses with a direct stake in tourism modernization and environmental management.

• Develop and manage sponsorship packages, benefits, and visibility opportunities in line with U.S. Embassy branding and approval requirements.

• Coordinate sponsor contributions to support technology showcases, pilot projects, field demonstrations, and broader commercial engagement outcomes.

Proposed Implementation Timeline

Phase Timeline Key Activities

Mobilization & Planning 15–31 July 2026

Kickoff with PAS, review Ascent Summit outcomes, finalize workplan and stakeholder mapping

Stakeholder Engagement & Program Preparation

August– September 2026

Re-engage U.S. and Nepali partners, identify pilot opportunities, secure sponsors, and finalize logistics and agenda

Program Implementation & Demonstrations

October– November 2026

Conduct Kathmandu program, B2B meetings, technology showcases, and field demonstrations

Pilot & Commercial Follow-Up

November– December 2026

Support pilot projects, partnership development, and commercial pathway discussions

Reporting & Closeout Jan-27 Final reporting, success stories, lessons learned, and PAS debrief

The proposal submission should be based on the outcomes of PAS earlier event of Ascent Summit.

Ascent Summit Outputs, Partnerships, Innovation Tracks, and Networks

Ascent Summit 2026 established a new platform for collaboration among Nepal's tourism sector, U.S. technology providers, expedition operators, rescue professionals, aviation companies, government representatives, outdoor brands, environmental organizations, and international climbers. The Summit convened more than 1,600 participants and generated widespread national and international media attention, demonstrating significant interest in practical technology solutions for mountain tourism, safety, and environmental stewardship.

The Summit identified several priority collaboration areas:

1. Mountain Safety and Rescue Innovation o Application of advanced technologies to improve expedition safety, route management, emergency communications, and search-and-rescue capabilities.

2. Environmental Monitoring and Sustainable Tourism o Deployment of technologies supporting waste management, environmental monitoring, visitor management, and sustainable mountain operations.

3. Tourism Technology and Digital Transformation o Use of mapping technologies, commercial UAV systems, data analytics, digital platforms, and communications tools to modernize tourism management and enhance visitor experiences.

Proposed Follow-On Program

The proposed Tourism Technology Innovation Program will advance three priority collaboration areas identified during Ascent Summit:

1. Mountain Safety Technology Initiative Support demonstrations and pilot projects showcasing U.S. technologies that improve route planning, climber tracking, emergency communications, weather monitoring, and rescue coordination.

2. Sustainable Mountain Tourism Initiative Support deployment and testing of technologies that address waste management, environmental monitoring, visitor management, and conservation challenges in high-altitude tourism destinations.

3. Digital Tourism and Mapping Initiative Promote adoption of mapping, commercial UAV, and digital tourism management technologies that improve operational efficiency, visitor services, and destination planning.

The program will connect Nepali tourism operators and government agencies with U.S. companies, researchers, and technology providers to identify commercially viable solutions and opportunities for future collaboration.

One-Day Program Design

Ascent Summit 2027: Tourism Technology Innovation Forum (Kathmandu)

The program will be delivered as a one-day intensive forum that combines expert presentations, technology demonstrations, stakeholder engagement, and pilot project planning.

Opening Sessions: Keynote remarks by U.S. government officials and Nepal Government officials.

Morning Session: Strategic Perspectives and Technology Showcase

• Opening session on the future of technology-enabled tourism

• Presentations by U.S. and Nepali technology experts

• Case studies highlighting successful tourism technology applications

• Showcase of U.S. technologies relevant to mountain safety, environmental monitoring, mapping, and tourism management

Midday Session: Thematic Innovation Tracks

Participants will engage in focused discussions across three priority collaboration areas:

• Mountain Safety and Rescue Technologies

• Environmental Monitoring and Sustainability Technologies

• Digital Tourism, Mapping, and Data Solutions

Activities will include:

• Technology demonstrations

• Interactive solution-design discussions

• Identification of implementation challenges and opportunities

Afternoon Session: Business Engagement and Pilot Development

• Business-to-business networking between U.S. technology providers and Nepali tourism stakeholders

• Partnership development discussions

• Identification of implementation partners and potential demonstration sites

• Roadmap development for future technology adoption and collaboration

Closing Session

• Presentation of key recommendations from each thematic track

• Summary of partnership opportunities and next steps

• Closing remarks highlighting pathways for future U.S.-Nepal cooperation in tourism innovation, safety, and sustainability

Field Demonstration Component

Following the Kathmandu program, potential vendor will organize field-based demonstrations in tourism destinations such as Everest Region, Annapurna Region, Pokhara, or other priority adventure tourism sites.

Potential demonstration activities include:

• Commercial UAV mapping. Waste cleaning, and surveying demonstrations

• Environmental monitoring technology deployment

• Search-and-rescue technology exercises

• Digital visitor management systems

• Data collection and route management technologies

Strategic Outcome

The program will convert relationships and ideas generated during Ascent Summit 2026 into practical implementation opportunities that advance mountain safety, environmental stewardship, tourism competitiveness, and commercial engagement with U.S. technology providers. The program will strengthen U.S. technological leadership and create opportunities for American companies to compete in Nepal's growing tourism sector.

Evaluation Criteria

• Demonstrated ability to source, deploy, or facilitate access to relevant U.S.

commercial technologies suitable for tourism, environmental monitoring, mapping, or disaster response applications in Nepal. Provide completed projects details in the past.

• Proven experience designing and implementing follow-on programs that convert prior stakeholder engagement into concrete pilots, partnerships, or commercial outcomes. Provide your technical approach and methodology for meeting these requirements.

• Strong track record facilitating commercial partnerships, pilot projects, or business-to-business collaboration involving technology adoption or service deployment. Demonstrated role as lead implementer, coordinator or facilitator.

• Demonstrated experience working in one or more relevant sectors minimum of 5 years, including tourism, environmental management, disaster preparedness, remote operations, or high-altitude logistics in Nepal. Provide your project details completed in the past.

• Capacity to manage end-to-end program execution, including stakeholder coordination, technical demonstrations, field-based activities, communications, and reporting. Provide the details of organizational structure and staffing plan to execute this level of events.

• Demonstrated ability to engage U.S. and Nepali private sector partners and secure commercial participation that supports program objectives.

• Ability to produce measurable results, including pilot projects launched, partnership agreements advanced, technologies demonstrated, or commercial pathways established. Provide measurable indicators and references for claimed outcomes in the past.