Central Asia Competitiveness, Trade, and Jobs Project

Solicitation Number:
SOL-176-16-000001

Notice Type:
Presolicitation

Synopsis:
Added: Oct 06, 2015 6:22 am
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.
Contracting Office Address:
Dept. of State
Washington, District of Columbia 20521-7030
Primary Point of Contact.:
Olga Ekkert,
Acquisition Specialist
oekkert@usaid.gov
Phone: 011-7-7272-50-76-17 ext. 6292
Fax: 011-7-7272-50-76-35/5
Secondary Point of Contact:
Natalia V. Portnyagina,
Acquisition Specialist
nportnyagina@usaid.gov
Phone: 011-7-7272-50-76-17 ext. 6290
Fax: 011-7-7272-507635/5