Request for Information - LLS.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Subject: Request for Information (RFI)

Issued Date: Monday, January 13, 2020

Comments Due Date: Friday, January 31, 2020, 5:00pm, Nairobi Time

Title: Locally Legitimate Stabilization (LLS)

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development

Somalia (USAID/Somalia), is issuing this RFI for interested organizations to provide responses, comments, opinions, and recommendations on the approaches for the information in the document below.

Please note this is an RFI and is not a Request for Proposals (RFP) or Request for Applications

(RFA). It is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government or USAID to issue any solicitation or Notice of Funding opportunity, or ultimately award a contract or assistance agreement on the basis of this RFI, or to pay for any information voluntarily submitted as a result of this request. USAID is not seeking technical or cost proposals at this time. Do not submit any proposal/application at this time in response to this RFI. Responding to this RFI does not give any advantage to any firm or organization in any subsequent competition. Responses will be held confidential. USAID reserves the right to respond to any, all, or none of the comments and questions submitted. USAID’s responses (if any) will be posted on http://beta.sam.gov please continue to monitor the site for any postings.

Please submit your comments to this RFI via email to Sam Kraegel, at skraegel@usaid.gov with a copy to Aziz Alibhai aalibhai@usaid.gov with the subject entitled: “Request for Information (RFI):

Locally Legitimate Stabilization (LLS)”, no later than the date and time stated above.

This Notice can be viewed and downloaded from the Internet at http://beta.sam.gov Thank you for your interest in the subject request for information.

Sincerely, / S /

Sam Kraegel, Contracting Officer

USAID / KEA

http://beta.sam.gov/ mailto:skraegel@usaid.gov mailto:aalibhai@usaid.gov http://beta.sam.gov/

Locally Legitimate Stabilization (LLS) Request for Information

USAID/Somalia intends to award a new Stabilization activity in January 2021. The acquisition will be the third iteration of mission-managed stabilization programming, following Transition Initiatives for Stabilization (TIS, 2010-2015) and Transition Initiatives for Stabilization Plus (TIS+, 2015-2021).

The new activity, tentatively entitled Locally Legitimate Stabilization (LLS) will be a five-year contract with a total estimated cost (TEC) of up to $50 million.

LLS will follow in the tradition of TIS and TIS+ of being USAID/Somalia’s flagship stabilization program. Managed by USAID/Somalia’s Democracy, Stabilization, and Governance team, it will comprise a mix of early recovery interventions to immediately stabilize areas recently liberated from Al-Shabaab (AS) or other non-state negative actors. LLS will work with varying levels of local governance to increase confidence in government in areas deemed strategic by the United States.

These interventions will be informed by a rigorous research component in LLS.

The LLS theory of change is: If confidence in legitimate local governance exceeds that of Violent

Extremist Organizations (VEOs), Somalis will side with and support local civilian institutions, thus reducing political space for VEOs to operate in Somalia.

Please note that the actual amount obligated to the award will be determined by: 1) the intensity

(or lack thereof) of opportunities for stabilization activities in strategic areas in Somalia, and 2) availability of funding in relation to other Democracy and Governance priorities.

In reference to “areas deemed strategic to the US,” it should be noted that while all of Somalia is strategic, USAID/Somalia will choose its areas of intervention on a number of factors, including:

● Areas that are of strategic interest for the USG, including around key Department of Defense operating areas and key economic hubs/corridors,

● Areas of intervention from previous USAID (or other partner donor) programs. Evidence shows that continued engagement over years can solidify gains, thus building on previous stabilization interventions protects previous investments and provides new programs with a foothold to build on,

● Areas where other USAID or USG programs have significant investment. In keeping the tenets of resilience and sound development practice, marshalling resources around key areas of influence ensures a coherent USG response and allows for programmatic complementarity.

● Areas that have sufficient security and access to conduct meaningful programming;

At this time, areas projected are Mogadishu, Lower Shabelle, Upper Southwest State, Hirshabelle.

Request for Information:

This Request for Information seeks to inform USAID on a number of variables in order to more accurately design an award that incorporates practical considerations from industry.

USAID/Somalia is considering locating the project only in Mogadishu, but seeks industry feedback on feasibility. Previous programs have had offices in both Mogadishu and Nairobi, Kenya.

● Given the austere conditions of Mogadishu and it being an unaccompanied assignment, how can your organization ensure longevity of expatriate key personnel and staff members in order to reduce turnover?

● There are two options for offices and residences in Mogadishu: 1) based on the Mogadishu

International Airport (MIA) complex, or 2) outside the MIA complex. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Which location does your organization prefer and for what reasons

(security, access to partners, cost, etc.)?

● Somalia ranks in the bottom tier globally for corruption. What steps can your organization take to mitigate the risks associated with having all of the accounting and finance operations based in Mogadishu?

● What are the financial ramifications of a solely-Mogadishu office vice offices in Mogadishu and Nairobi?

● Are there any political ramifications or constraints of being based only in Mogadishu?

As referenced above, the amount allocated for LLS will fluctuate based on the operating environment and funding available. Please respond to:

● How can your organization incorporate the flexibility to adjust to fluctuating workloads based on periods of high intensity and low intensity of stabilization opportunities?

● What is your organization’s estimated minimum monthly budget to remain functional in periods of low intensity?

● How can your organization ensure that it has qualified staff deployed rapidly in periods of high intensity?

As referenced above, LLS interventions will be based on sound research in order to determine locations, opportunities, scope, and risk. Please respond to:

● How does your organization intend to incorporate this capability into the program?