Central Asia Competitiveness, Trade, and Jobs Project

The purpose of this Amendment 1 is to incorporate changes in RFP and answer questions from potential offerors.

Answers are attached as a separate file.

The United States Government, represented by the United States Agency for International Development Regional Mission to Central Asia (USAID/CA), is seeking proposals from qualified organizations to implement a project entitled "Competitiveness, Trade and Jobs (CTJ)" as detailed in Section C. The applicable geographic codes for this procurement are 937 and 110.

USAID anticipates awarding a Hybrid Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) Completion/Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) type contract as a result of this solicitation, covering an estimated period of five years, subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance. The total estimated value of the award is $20 million - $24 million. Offerors must propose costs that they believe are realistic and reasonable for the work described herein.

This procurement will be conducted under full and open competition procedures, pursuant to Part 15 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) (48 CFR Chapter 1). All types of organizations are eligible to compete. If your organization decides to submit a proposal in response to this solicitation, it must be submitted in accordance with Section L of this RFP. Offerors must also carefully review Section M - Evaluation Factors for Award. Sections B through I of the solicitation will become a substantive part of the anticipated contract with blanks to be completed by the Contracting Officer upon award. Section K - Representations, Certifications and Acknowledgements must be filled out in full.

USAID Central Asia is preparing a five-year $20 - $24 million contract to promote competitiveness, trade and jobs in Central Asia. The goal of the contract will be to increase exports within Central Asia, between Central Asia and South Asia and to markets beyond. Additionally, the contractor will apply a market based approach by working with the private sector to increase trade and competitiveness in a way that creates and maintains jobs when possible. The activities will be implemented in the five Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan with outreach to businesses and trade authorities in foreign markets including Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The contract will work with private sector actors to increase exports in sub sectors of the horticulture and transport/logistics sectors that have high growth potential and the potential to create a large number of jobs. It will assist private sector firms in those industries to: understand the opportunities and requirements of markets; adopt technologies and techniques and develop the skills needed to produce to international standards; establish relationships with potential buyers and suppliers for long term growth; demonstrate new practices, technologies, or approaches that have potential to benefit the industry as a whole. Additionally, the contractor will leverage $4 million worth of project funds in private sector partnerships to increase exports and create jobs. Each partnership will have a minimum 50% private sector match.

The implementer will work in targeted geographic areas in each of the five Central Asian countries to link youth vulnerable to extremism to private sector led skills training, job readiness training, and entrepreneurship in the horticulture and transport/logistics subsectors. The contractor will work with community leaders, local governments, and NGOs to identify which youth likely to migrate for employment or recently returned from working abroad will benefit most from this training. The project will measure the impact of its investment on this target population in terms of increased incomes and demonstrated prosocial attitudes and behaviors.

Finally, the implementer will also respond on a demand driven basis to discrete tasks identified by country office, local governments, and other donors that promote competitiveness, trade, and jobs specifically in their country.

This is NOT an Invitation for Bid (IFB) or a Request for Proposal (RFP) and in no way obligates the US Government to issue an RFP/IFB and/or award a contract.

Anticipated Solicitation Release Date: on or about November 20 - 30, 2015.