SOLICITATION NOTICE
U -- Public-Private Alliances in USAID Education Strategic Objective: Increased Access to Quality Education and Livelihood Skills in Selected Areas
- Notice Date
- 12/23/2003
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Agency for International Development, Overseas Missions, Philippines USAID-Manila, Amer Emb/Manila USAID #8115, APO, AP, 96440
- ZIP Code
- 96440
- Solicitation Number
- 492-GDA-04-001
- Response Due
- 3/15/2004
- Archive Date
- 3/30/2004
- Point of Contact
- William Reynolds, Supervisory Contract Officer, Phone 9-011-632-552-9921, Fax 9-011-632-552-9900, - Ma. Rosario Arenas, Acquisition Specialist, Phone 011-632-552-9926, Fax 011-632-552-9900,
- E-Mail Address
-
wireynolds@usaid.gov, MArenas@usaid.gov
- Description
- PUBLIC PRIVATE ALLIANCES IN USAID EDUCATION STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE: INCREASED ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION AND LIVELIHOOD SKILLS IN SELECTED AREAS Ladies/Gentlemen: USAID/Philippines invites interest from prospective partner organizations to form public-private alliances to carry out activities in support of USAID/Philippines? Education Strategic Objective: Increased Access to Quality Education and Livelihood Skills in Selected Areas. In October 2003, the U.S. Government (USG) launched a new education program in the Philippines, to be implemented principally through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), to foster ?Increased Access to Quality Education and Livelihood Skills in Selected Areas.? The USG has committed to make available up to $33 million over six years (FY 2004 ? FY 2009), subject to the availability of funds, to improve the quality of education on the conflict-affected southern island of Mindanao, focused particularly on the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). USAID plans a comprehensive but targeted program, with a specific focus on the ARMM but also with selected policy reform components at national and regional levels. Alliance partners are expected to bring significant new resources, ideas, technologies, and/or partners to address Education problems in the Philippines. Partners may include a wide range of organizations such as: foundations, U.S. and non-U.S. non-governmental organizations (NGOs), U.S. and non-U.S. private businesses, business and trade associations, international organizations, U.S. and non-U.S. colleges and universities, U.S. cities and states, other U.S. Government agencies, civic groups, other donor governments, host country governments, regional organizations, host country parastatals, philanthropic leaders including venture capitalists, public figures, advocacy groups, pension funds and employee-welfare plans, etc. Successful proposals bringing at least a 1:1 resource matching to focus on Education will be considered but a 3:1 resource matching is highly desirable. The full APS is posted at http://www.usaid-ph.gov/. All concept papers must be in English and submitted directly to William E. Reynolds, USAID/Philippines, 8/F PNB Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City 1308. An original and one copy are required. Issuance of this APS does not constitute an award or commitment on the part of the U.S. Government, nor does it commit the U.S. Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a concept paper. Please submit all questions concerning this request via e-mail to William E. Reynolds (wireynolds@usaid.gov) or by facsimile at (632) 552-9899 ext 5404. Sincerely, William E. Reynolds Regional Contracting Officer USAID/Philippines EDUCATION STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE: INCREASED ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION AND LIVELIHOOD SKILLS IN SELECTED AREAS I. Background USAID is committed to improving the way we implement our foreign assistance mandate through broader collaboration with others. No longer are governments, international organizations, and multilateral development banks the only assistance donors. Rather, over the past 30 years, non-governmental organizations (NGOs)/private voluntary organizations (PVOs), cooperatives, foundations, corporations, the higher education community, and even individuals (including remittances from immigrants), now provide resources that contribute to development. As a result, the U.S. Government sees an exciting opportunity to enhance the impact of development assistance by improving and extending its collaboration with other partners. USAID has successfully developed strategic alliances in the past in its extensive range of partnerships with, notably, PVOs, NGOs, US universities and colleges, and bilateral and multilateral donor agencies. In 2001, USAID launched the Global Development Alliance (GDA) which extends this concept further by, first, increasing the number of prospective partners to include private business, foundations, and other private-sector organizations, and, second, seeking alliances with partners that leverage significant resources and technologies, to address international development issues. USAID is reorienting how it sees itself in the context of international development assistance, how it relates to traditional partners, and how it seeks out alliances with new partners. USAID uses its resources and expertise to assist strategic partners in their investment decisions, and stimulates new investments by bringing new actors and ideas to the overseas development arena. While the Agency will continue to deploy resources where private funding is not available and where the governmental role is clear and pre-eminent (as in promoting institutional and policy change), it hopes, through the use of public-private alliances where appropriate, to stimulate new investment and new practices by bringing new actors and new ideas into the international development arena. USAID has much to offer the international community with its unique mandate within the U.S. Government and long-term experience with, and access to, host-country governments. The Agency is able to capitalize on its extensive field presence, network of local development partners and technical expertise to catalyze, integrates, coordinate, and facilitate public-private alliances among development assistance actors. USAID recognizes that effective alliances will marry common interests and will require time and careful planning. However, such alliances have the potential for not only mobilizing additional resources for development assistance programs worldwide, but also promoting greater effectiveness of those programs, and hence greater impact on the problems of poverty, disease, inadequate education, depletion of natural resources, and limited economic opportunity throughout the developing world. Leadership within USAID in promoting alliance building under the GDA business model rests with the Global Development Alliance (GDA) Secretariat. In developing these alliances, USAID is using the following precepts: ? Alliances are expected to bring significant new resources, new ideas, new technologies and/or new partners to work with existing partners in new ways, to address development problems in countries where USAID works. ? It is very important to exercise due diligence before entering into alliance arrangements. To ensure that the interests of all alliance partners are protected, the track record, the objectives, and reputations of all alliance partners need to be examined. ? There is no pre-defined minimum or maximum number of partners; each alliance will be different. There are many categories of potential alliance partners. ? Fairness and transparency are overarching principles in forming alliances. Exploration of possible alliances should take place in a transparent manner and should involve wide consultation with possible partners. ? Alliances must clearly establish up front how the interests and objectives of each party converge. This expression of interests and objectives should then lead to an operational plan that, if successfully implemented, will produce clearly defined development results. ? Alliances should not simply be grants to organizations that have expressed an intention to seek third party partnerships that are not yet formed. ? Like all investments in development, alliance activities at the country level that actively involve local leadership and local beneficiaries in design and implementation are the ones most likely to be successful and sustainable. Local ownership, leadership and beneficiary participation are still keys to success. ? Alliances seek a minimum of a one-to-one leverage ratio of resources with three-to-one highly desirable. Leveraged resources will not always be money; different partners can contribute different assets. In addition to monetary contributions, in-kind resources, intellectual property, implementation know-how, and technical assistance are also valuable contributions. Alliance proposals must clearly specify what each party is contributing and indicate cash value of in-kind support. ? While alliance proposals must specify what each party is contributing at the outset, it is also recognized that lasting alliances are living, changing entities. Some alliances will start small and expand over time as the alliance matures and succeeds, trust is built, and the benefits to the partners and beneficiaries become clearer. Please refer to the GDA website at www.usaid.gov/gda for more information about the history and objectives of this important initiative. In addition, the website has ?Tools for Alliance Builders? (http://www.usaid.gov/gda/tab.html) which contains in-depth information to assist in the due diligence process, as well as mechanisms and approaches to alliance formation. Sector and Program Objectives This Annual Program Statement (APS) seeks to support activities that will be quick to start and responsive to the Education Strategic Objective. Please see Annex A for a full discussion of the programmatic activities where USAID/Philippines seeks to develop public-private alliances in education. II. Purpose of APS and Qualifying Criteria for Prospective Alliances This APS seeks public-private alliance proposals only for funding in Fiscal Year (FY) 2004, although proposals should contemplate an alliance that continues beyond FY 2004. Under this APS, USAID/Philippines solicits proposals from organizations that are interested in entering into public-private alliances with others, including USAID, to carry out activities that will be responsive to the Education Strategic Objective. USAID will review alliance proposals using a two-stage process more fully described in Sections III and IV. The minimum grant threshold will be $25,000.00. Consideration of Grants above that amount will be subject to availability of funds and program requirements. The actual number of awards under this APS is subject to the availability of funds and viability of proposals received. USAID reserves the right to make multiple grants or no awards at all through this APS. To be considered for an award under this APS, each applicant must meet the following qualifying criteria: Partner Eligibility Criteria This Annual Program Statement focuses on establishing public-private alliances to define a need and its solution, and to combine resources to achieve far-reaching, mutually upon results.. It is important to note that NGOs do not need to be registered Private Voluntary Organizations to participate. Potential for-profit applicants should note that USAID policy prohibits the payment of fee/profit to the prime recipient under grants and cooperative agreements. Forgone profit does not qualify as cost-sharing or leveraging. In addition, all prospective partners must be organizations with a reputation for integrity and the highest standard of conduct, and a proven track record in their particular areas of expertise. They should be able to demonstrate a respect for human rights, decent work conditions, environmental protection, and community involvement in their operational practices. They should also be able to provide evidence of a strong commitment to the proposed alliance and, ideally, experience in working in partnership with others. Program Eligibility Criteria To be considered for funding under this APS, proposed programs must meet the following requirements: 1. Alliance proposals must have clearly-defined objectives that have been agreed to by the partners. 2. Alliance proposals are expected to demonstrate significant new, non-federal resources ? whether money, ideas, technologies, experience and expertise ? to address education development problems (see Leverage criteria). 3. Alliance proposals must address the development needs of the Philippines 4. Alliance proposals must contribute to the USAID/Philippines Education Strategic Objective (see Annex A). 5. Alliance proposals must offer promise of significant development impact, as measured, for example, by the number of direct and indirect beneficiaries of the program, and/or by the potential for replication or scaling-up over time. 6. Alliance proposals must appear feasible from a technical, economic, financial, and social perspective. 7. It is expected that programs may last from 12 to 36 months. Priority will be given to proposals that can be launched rapidly. Leverage GDA alliances are expected to bring significant new, non-federal resources ? whether money, ideas, technologies, experience and expertise ? to address education development problems in the Philippines. To qualify for USAID funding under this APS, an alliance must demonstrate that partners are able and willing to collectively contribute significant resources to the proposed program that are preferably more than but at least equal to the level of resources sought from USAID. Further, it must be shown that these resources, in combination with the support sought from USAID, will provide the alliance with a comparative advantage in meeting the goals and objectives of the proposed program. It is this expectation of significant leverage of non-federal resources in combination with joint planning and sharing risks and benefits, that defines the public-private alliances under the GDA as distinct and different from those activities USAID has previously supported. This APS is not intended to yield additional traditional grant relationships III. Proposal Instructions, Review Process, and Evaluation Criteria A two-tiered proposal process will be utilized. Tier one consists of the submission and review of concept papers. Tier two consists of the submission and evaluation of full proposals. Tier one consists of USAID review of concept papers to determine: 1) whether the proposed alliance meets the intent of the GDA business model and is eligible for further consideration and 2) the degree of interest in the proposed alliance by the USAID/Philippines Mission. At the conclusion of this stage, applicants with promising proposals will be invited to develop a full proposal for USAID funding, requiring detailed planning with alliance partners on program implementation and resource commitments. An invitation to develop a proposal does not automatically imply USAID funding. Tier two will consist of the evaluation of full proposals submitted at the invitation of USAID. At the conclusion of the tier two reviews, USAID will select alliance proposals that it intends to fund and will proceed to negotiate an award with each successful applicant subject to availability of funding. Tier One: Concept papers must be strictly limited to no more than five pages in length and should address the following: ? eyobjectives of the alliance; ? Leveraging, such that the value of non-federal resources provided by alliance partners is equal to or exceeds levels of resources sought from USAID; description of resources to be provided by partners and approximate value; ? The number and types of beneficiaries that will benefit from the alliance activity; ? Program strategy to achieve those results; ? The role of all alliance partners, and demonstration of commitment or interest by prospective alliance partners; and ? Budget that identifies the total estimated cost of the program with a breakout of major expense categories (up to half a page; no proprietary cost information such as indirect cost rates should be submitted at this stage). Concept papers in response to this APS will be due no later than March 15, 2004. The concept paper review process is anticipated to take two months. At the end of this two month review, prospective alliances with an eligible concept paper and a potential USAID partner will be asked to submit a full proposal for the second-tier review. Concept papers will be evaluated using the following criteria: 1. Leverage 2. Proposed Education Strategic Objective Alliance Program 3. Prospective Alliance Partners All concept papers that qualify for GDA funding according to these threshold criteria will be reviewed by USAID/Philippines. Those proposals 1) that offer the greatest promise of contributing to the goals and objectives of the Mission and 2) to which USAID may be willing to contribute its own managerial and financial resources will be accepted for further consideration. Those proposed alliances will be invited to further develop the program plan and to submit a full proposal as a basis for a potential USAID award. Tier Two: If the applicant receives a favorable evaluation of the concept paper in the tier one, the applicant will be asked to then submit a more detailed submission or a full proposal limited to 25 pages. Full proposals will undergo a comprehensive evaluation using the factors described in Section IV below, including the submission of the following information, as well as any additional requirements specifically requested by the USAID/Philippines. The alliance will be notified of specific requirements, in addition to those listed below in the invitation to submit a full application. Invitations for full proposals will be sent approximately 60 days after the deadline for receiving concept papers. IV. Awarding Alliances Due Diligence Concerns Due diligence requires that the U.S. Government enter into alliance with organizations and individuals who exhibit fiscal responsibility, character, and integrity. Annex C sets forth a number of questions, which, if applicable to the organization and program, will be factored into the evaluation and selection process governing an award. Not all the questions are appropriate for all situations. For example, a prospective alliance with a locally-owned private company in a developing country is likely to be quite different from a headquarters-based alliance with major multinational corporations, and a number of these questions would likely not apply. USAID will conduct an independent review of these issues as they relate to potential alliance partners. However, potential partners are welcome to provide any information deemed useful. Potential partners may be requested to respond to any potential issues that arise as part of the due diligence research, and failure to resolve serious concerns will be cause for non-award. Additional information on USAID?s approach to due diligence may be found in the ?Tools for Alliance Builders? guide available on the GDA website at www.usaid.gov/gda. Letter of Intent/Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Upon favorable review of the full proposal, partners including USAID will draft a letter of intent/memorandum of understanding (MOU), which will be used to clarify roles and responsibilities of each alliance partner. Role of Partners/Substantial Involvement Partners to the alliance effort (including USAID) bring strengths to the table. The actual division of responsibilities and risks will be covered under the Letter of Intent/Memorandum of Understanding prior to finalizing the Agreement. Therefore, the following illustrative list of examples of allocation of responsibility will be adjusted based on the successful alliance proposal, the best use of contributions from multiple partners, and the appropriate assignment of management and implementation responsibilities. USAID?s role under some alliances may differ from the traditional role of provider of funds or source of oversight. Budget Negotiations Following a favorable tier two proposal review, Applicants will be advised if negotiations are to be initiated, additional information is required, or if a decision has been reached not to fund the proposal. Award Following favorable negotiations, a grant or cooperative agreement will be awarded either to the institution proposing the alliance or to a third entity that was proposed to implement the jointly-funded alliance.
- Record
- SN00494812-W 20031225/031223211523 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |