To notify interested parties that the USAID Mission to Nepal intends to award a five-year Contract through a full and open competition for the implementation of local governance and community development activities in Nepal.

Pre-solicitation Notice - Partnership for Local Development Program

 The purpose of this pre-solicitation notice is to notify interested parties that the U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) Mission to Nepal intends to award a five-year Contract through a full and open competition for the implementation of local governance and community development activities in Nepal. This activity will concentrate efforts in at least six districts (likely to be districts located in the Eastern Terai) and must focus on at least 50% of Village Development Committees (VDCs) areas within those target districts.

 USAID/Nepal has developed a local governance and community development activity which aims to strengthen the ability of targeted communities to direct their own development. In order to establish the foundations for inclusive community development and good governance, this activity will support activities which address key drivers of conflict at the local level, and constructively engage youth and non-traditional actors in development and democratic process. This activity will improve the ability of communities to undertake inclusive planning processes, and to prioritize, fund and implement community development activities.

 Additionally, USAID/Nepal expects that during the life of this project Nepal will move forward with the adoption of federalism and reach agreement on the reintegration of former combatants. This activity anticipates support in these areas giving that these events are likely to have significant implications on community stability, development, and governance at the local level.

 First and foremost, the Contractor will be required to provide the capacity for flexible, timely, and responsive provision of assistance.  The Contractor will be required to utilize sub-contracts and grants under contracts (a combination of in-kind grants and cash grants) primarily to local organizations, associations or other civil society entities. The Contractor will be required to provide technical assistance on an as-needed basis through grants or consultants to support a range of community stability, governance and development activities.

 The RFP for technical assistance is projected to be issued in November 2010 on www.fedbizopps.gov. USAID will not entertain questions until after the RFP is issued. When the RFP is issued, any amendments thereof will be posted at www.fedbizopps.gov. Interested parties are advised to periodically monitor this website for updates concerning this procurement.

 Prospective Offerors are advised that this procurement is subject to the availability of funds. This pre-solicitation notice in no way obligates USAID to award a Contract nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal.