The Restoring Efficiency to Agriculture Production Activity (REAP) in Georgia

The purposes of the Amendment 000001 to the SOL-114-13-000003 are to provide:
a) revisions to the RFTOP SOL-114-13-000003, shown in the attached revised Solicitation document with highlights (see Attachment 2 to the Amendment 000001 to the Solicitation SOL-114-13-000003); 
b) the resource document - "The Summary of the Evaluation of the Access to Mechanization Project (AMP)" (see Attachment 3 to the Amendment 000001 to the Solicitation SOL-114-13-000003), and
c) answers to questions from the prospective offerors (see attachment 1 to the Amendment 000001 to the SOL-114-13-000003). 

The purpose of this amendment is to post the RFP SOL-114-13-000003 - The Restoring Efficiency to Agriculture Production Activity (REAP) in Georgia

The United States Government, represented by The Agency for International Development (USAID/Caucasus Georgia) through the Regional Contracting Office intends to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) on or about April 5, 2013. It is anticipated to be a multi-year Cost Plus Fixed-Fee Contract to implement The Restoring Efficiency to Agriculture Production activity (REAP) in Georgia.

The objective of REAP is to increase employment and incomes in rural areas. This will be achieved by providing assistance to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in order to support improved agricultural productivity, marketing, and processing. REAP will expand the number, quality, competitiveness, and profitability of agribusinesses serving small-holder and emerging commercial farmers in Georgia by providing demand-driven TA and grants to qualified enterprises.

Facilitating the entry of new agribusinesses to the Georgian market and expanding the operations of existing enterprises will create new jobs in the agriculture sector, improve the availability of high-quality inputs and machinery services for farmers, and strengthen markets for agricultural goods and services in the country.

Sub-awards, including grants, will be utilized to facilitate the achievement of activity objectives, with a particular focus on working through Georgian institutions and ensuring sustainability. The Contractor will use clear, simple, and transparent procedures for all sub-awards. REAP will provide a mechanism for "grants-under-contract" consistent with ADS 302.3.4.8, all other relevant regulations, and guidance from USAID's Office of Acquisition and Assistance (OAA). At the direction of USAID/Caucasus, up to 5% of contract resources may be reprogrammed to assist primary producers in response to natural or man-made disasters occurring over the life of the contract.

More specifically, REAP will make grants and technical assistance (TA) available to existing and newly-formed (start-up) private enterprises in the agriculture sector, including input suppliers, machinery service providers, storage facilities, sorting/grading centers, and small- and medium-scale processors. Grants and TA may also be provided to primary production businesses, cooperatives, or associations. Grant applicants meeting certain criteria will be provided with TA to develop viable business plans, and selected applicants will receive matching grants and additional TA to implement their business plans. The Contractor will also provide additional TA to farmers and non-grantee SMEs to improve technical and business skills and facilitate improved linkages between input suppliers, farmers, value-adding enterprises, and end markets (both domestic and international).

Through these activities, it is expected that the Contractor will achieve the following objectives:

• Sustainably increase the availability and utilization of agricultural inputs, services, and technical information among small-holder and emerging commercial farmers;
• Improve the business operations, quality, and profitability of beneficiary agribusinesses;
• Increase skills, yields, and incomes of farmers linked to assisted businesses;
• Increase employment opportunities in rural areas.

Except for the above, no additional information regarding this planned RFP is available at this time. All necessary information will be supplied at the time the RFP is posted at www.fbo.gov . Questions/requests for information will not be responded to until RFP issuance. Interested parties are advised to periodically monitor the above website for updates concerning this procurement. No proposals for funding should be submitted until after the RFP is issued.

Prospective Offerors are advised that this procurement is subject to internal USAID approvals and the availability of funds. This pre-solicitation notice in no way obligates USAID to release a solicitation or award a contract. This notice satisfies the synopsis requirement in FAR 5.201.