Protective Education for Girls in Mali

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Mali is seeking a contractor to implement the Protective Education for Girls in Mali program, focusing on improving educational access and outcomes for vulnerable learners, particularly girls in the Kayes and Bougouni regions. The program aims to establish accelerated learning centers, enhance teacher capacity, and provide targeted support services to increase girls' school enrollment and retention. Technical concepts will be evaluated based on understanding of local context, innovative approaches, evidence-based strategies, measurable outcomes, organizational capacity, and risk management. Potential offerors must submit a 5-page Technical Concept by January 28, 2025, with questions due by January 13, 2025. The solicitation requires offerors to be registered in SAM.gov and have authorization to operate in Mali, with candidates needing to fulfill at least 4 of 6 evaluation factors to be considered.

The contract is not set aside for any specific group and will be a Firm Fixed Price Contract with a 3-year period of performance starting in September 2025. The total estimated contract value is up to $12 million, which includes a $1 million "Windows of Opportunity" fund for crisis response. The program targets girls aged 6-19 and marginalized learners, with objectives including establishing accelerated learning centers, providing conditional cash transfers, implementing teacher professional development, and building capacity of local organizations. While no specific incumbent is mentioned, the opportunity builds upon previous USAID initiatives like the Girls Leadership and Empowerment through Education (GLEE) project. The contract will be administered through USAID's Mali Mission, with implementation primarily focused in Bamako and Bougouni, with potential expansion to the Kayes region.