Request for Information (RFI)/ Sources Sought Notice (SSN): USAID Small Grants for Biodiversity

Dear Interested Parties:  

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International  Development in Nepal (USAID/Nepal), is designing a new stand-alone small grants activity to support biodiversity conservation, natural resources management and climate change adaptation and resilience in Nepal, as described in Attachment A. USAID/Nepal seeks to set this opportunity aside to local organizations in Nepal (see blue font in Attachment C for a definition of local organizations). 

A. Request for Information (RFI) 

USAID/Nepal is posting this RFI to provide information to organizations interested in USAID’s conservation-focused programs and partnerships  in Nepal, as well as to collect information and suggestions about needs for implementing a small grant activity to support local actors around conservation and climate change programming in Nepal.  The RFI strives to obtain broad stakeholder and market feedback as to the soundness and robustness of the conceptual design for USAID Small Grants for Biodiversity from interested organizations with relevant experience and capabilities. Information provided will assist USAID/Nepal to make planning decisions.  

The information contained within this RFI is intended solely as a thought-piece; ideas may  change significantly during USAID/Nepal’s activity design, consultation, and approval  process. In addition, any information collected through this RFI may or may not be used to help guide thinking about biodiversity programming.

Attachment B includes guiding questions, not all of which need to be answered in respondents' feedback. Incorporation of any feedback by RFI respondents is subject to internal USAID  discussions and approval. Respondents will not be invited to elaborate upon them after  submission.  

No other documents or information are requested at this time. USAID/Nepal asks  respondents to not send any additional information other than what is requested in  Attachment B and to adhere to the page limits mentioned below.  

To expedite our review and be considerate of your time, please keep the response to Attachment B to no  more than five (5) pages in length. Responses to the notice must be written in English and respondents are encouraged to use Calibri font size 12 and number pages consecutively in the bottom margin.  

Responses to Attachment B of this RFI must be submitted by email only to Tejendra Paudel at tpaudel@usaid.gov and Robyn Bertholon at rbertholon@usaid.govby the date and time indicated on page 1.

The email subject line and file name should be as follows: “Responses to RFI: USAID Small Grants for Biodiversity”. Responses received after this deadline will not be read or considered. You may receive an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of your response. 

B. Sources Sought Notice (SSN) 

Additionally, this is an SSN to identify qualified local organizations that are interested in and capable of performing the type of work described in Attachment A. See definitions of local organizations in blue font in Attachment C. Through USAID Small Grants for Biodiversity, USAID/Nepal seeks to partner with local actors, including  civil society, NGOs, and other private sector companies. While we value the  capabilities of international organizations, at this time, we ask solely for capability  statements from local organizations registered in Nepal. This will help USAID/Nepal understand the capabilities of local organizations and inform our strategy for locally-led development and climate action in Nepal. 

Submission instructions for this SSN are provided in Attachment C.  To expedite our review and be considerate of your time, please keep the response to no  more than five (5) pages in length.

All interested organizations are encouraged to submit the responses and information  requested in Attachment C of this SSN by email only to Tejendra Paudel at tpaudel@usaid.gov and Robyn Bertholon at rbertholon@usaid.govby the date and time indicated on page 1.Responses received  after this deadline will not be read or considered. You may receive an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of your response. 

DISCLAIMERS 

This RFI/SSN is issued solely for information and planning purposes; it does NOT constitute a  solicitation or a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and in no way obligates the US  Government to issue a solicitation or a NOFO and/or award or pay for costs incurred by  organizations in the preparation and submission of responses on this RFI/SSN. 

If a Solicitation/NOFO is issued, all necessary information will be supplied at the time it is posted on SAM.gov and/or Grants.gov. 

Interested parties are advised to periodically monitor the above website for updates  concerning this procurement, as well as the USAID Business Forecast:  https://www.usaid.gov/business-forecast. 

USAID/Nepal will not provide answers to any questions or inquiries submitted in response to this request and respondents will not be notified of the result of the review.  USAID/Nepal reserves the right, but is not obligated to, incorporate any, some, or none  of the comments received into any subsequent Solicitation or NOFO. Responding to this  RFI/SSN does not give any advantage to any firm or organization in any subsequent  competition. This RFI/SSN does NOT restrict the USAID's procurement approach on future  solicitations or NOFO. No phone calls related to this RFI/SSN will be accepted. All  correspondence shall be via email.  

Individual responses to this RFI/SSN will be held confidential. However, respondents must refrain from sending proprietary information or other protected information in response to this RFI/SSN. Please do notsubmit applications or resumes as they will be discarded.  RFI/SSN responses will only be used by USAID internally but are not anonymous.  Responses to this RFI/SSN are strictly voluntary. 

RESOURCES 

We encourage all potential partners to visit WorkwithUSAID.orgbefore responding to this RFI/SSN. WorkwithUSAID.gov is a resource hub designed for new, current, and future local and  international partners to navigate how to work with USAID. This website is a free resource hub that empowers partners with the knowledge and networks to navigate how to work 

The link also has the most common questions organizations frequently ask about engaging  with USAID. All potential partners are advised to complete this local organization profile form so USAID/Nepal can better capture profiles of local organizations operating in Nepal. Listing your organization does not result in a commitment for funding or represent a solicitation for proposals or offers. Please see Attachment D for additional resources. 

This notice can be viewed and downloaded from the internet at SAM.gov, and Grants.gov.  See Attachment D for more information.  

USAID/Nepal values input from our potential partners, and we thank you for your  interest and assistance in developing potential future programs.