R -- 2001 DIARY ENTERPRISE INITIATIVE

Notice Date

June 18, 2001

Contracting Office

U.S. Agency for International Development, Office of Agriculture and Food Security, Economic Growth and Agricultural Development Center, Bureau For Global Affairs (G/EGAD/AFS), RRB 2.11-082, Washington, DC 20523-2110

ZIP Code

20523-2110

Solicitation Number

M/OP-01-1099

Point of Contact

Joyce M. Turk, Tel: 202-712-1424; Fax: 202-216-3010; E-mail: jturk@usaid.gov

E-Mail Address

http://www.usaid.gov (jturk@usaid.gov)

Description

Pursuant to USAID Automated Directives System (ADS) Series 303.5.5, this announcement contains information on the 2001 Dairy Directive which is managed by G/EGAD/AFS. Application Deadline is July 30, 2001. NOTE: NO SEPARATE REQUEST FOR APPLICATION (RFA) WILL BE ISSUED -- ALL INFORMATION NECESSARY TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR CONSIDERATION IS CONTAINED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. The demand for livestock products in developing countries is projected to increase steadily over the next 20 years, and there are many opportunities for dairy industry development. The development of a viable dairy industry contributes to an improved economy and better nutrition for the citizens of developing and transitional countries. In particular, milk and milk products play a vital role in children's physical and cognitive development. Over the past six years, USAID has managed $34.5 million of development assistance provided by Congress under the Dairy Directive. Examples of the use of these funds have been the development of national and international dairy cooperatives, which have improved milk production, standards for processing and marketing, and expansion of the U.S. dairy industry and technology abroad. In 2000 the Dairy Directive was succeeded by the Dairy Enterprise Initiative. The House Committee Report 106-720; HR 4811 on the 2001 Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and related Programs Appropriations Bill, recommends USAID to continue support for Dairy Development. The Committee recommends USAID funding of $8 million for Dairy Development in fiscal year 2001. USAID sees this as an opportunity to help the U.S. dairy industry become more competitive in an increasingly global trade environment and as domestic and international subsidies decline, to develop and modernize commercial dairy industries in developing countries, and to continue support for some ongoing successful programs. In the obligation of the 2001 Dairy Development funds, USAID has allocated $5 million for a competitive grants program as part of the Dairy Enterprise Initiative. Funds will be available as follows: $1.5 million for projects in Africa, $1.0 million for projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, and $2.5 million in for projects in Africa and/or Latin American and the Caribbean. In each region preference will be given to proposals in countries with existing Missions. Proposals should integrate into a country's Mission strategic framework, and must bear the Mission's endorsement. The maximum grant period for an award is three years. Proposals may be new projects or those that build on current activities. Proposals will be evaluated and scored based on impact, project management, and innovation. 2001 PROPOSAL FORMAT. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (space limit one page): Title; primary applicant; target country(ies); quantitative statement of developmental needs of the dairy industry and to what extent proposed activities will address these needs; statement of how proposed activities meet the two requirements of the House Committee Report 106-720; HR 4811 "Dairy Development"; statement how proposed activities integrate with Mission's Strategic Objectives; time frame; budget, including total amount, percent cost sharing and amount of additional funding. NARRATIVE (space limit 20 pages, excluding budget and letter(s) from Mission(s)): Title; primary applicant; other applicants; contact person. Verification of the need for dairy development in country(ies) where activities are planned; description of methods of how proposed activity will address developmental needs of the dairy industry, ensure dairy food product safety, and improve nutrition for young and growing children in country(ies) where activities are planned; quantitative description of the extent to which the proposed activities will have an impact; quantitative criteria by which to measure impacts of the activities throughout the grant funded period; business plan to make the project economically viable after the end of the grant funded period; statement of how proposed activity meets the two requirements of the House Committee Report 106-720; HR 4811 "Dairy Development"; description of how proposed activity is integrated with Mission's Strategic Objectives; validation of management expertise necessary for effective project implementation; sources and level of funding; budget, using standard form SF424 (can be downloaded from http://www.info.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/forms/SF-424/), with budget narrative providing detail, support and links to the proposed program. SELECTION: Applications will be selected based on their eligibility and criteria used to rank proposal merits. A Technical Review Committee will score and rank all applications. Priority for funding will be given in order of highest mean score. ELIGIBILITY: No points will be awarded for the following, however, for an application to be eligible the primary applicant must represent U.S. Dairy-related enterprise; the application must have letter from the Mission(s) of the country(ies) in which the proposed work will be conducted, endorsing the submitted application and demonstrating how proposed work supports the Mission's Strategic Objectives; the implementing contractor must contribute a minimum of 25% cost sharing, as defined in "22 CFR 226.23: Cost sharing or matching"; the application should be type written in English on 8.5 X 11 inch paper using one inch text margins and a font of at least 12 pt; applications should not be ring bound; basic research proposals are not supported. CRITERIA FOR RANKING: Points will be awarded for the following criteria. IMPACT (Total of max. 60 points): Statement verifying the need for dairy development and to what extent proposed activity addresses developmental needs of country's dairy industry (max. 10 Points). Statement of how proposed activity meets the requirements of the House Committee Report 106-720; HR 4811 "Dairy Development". These requirements are: "to assist small dairy producers, cooperatives and small and medium enterprise dairy plants in developing and market transition countries to meet the nutritional needs of their consumers by increasing the availability of higher-quality and value added dairy products in their local markets" (max. 10 Points); and to "direct engagement of the U.S. dairy industry by helping it access new markets, promote American technology and expose dairy industry leaders to the international marketplace through participation in technical assistance and training overseas and in the United States" (max. 10 Points). Action plan to ensure diary food product safety in country(ies) where activity is planned (max. 10 points); statement quantifying how proposed activity will improve nutrition for young and growing children in country(ies) where activity is planned (max. 10 points); business plan to make the activity economically viable after the end of the grant funded period (max. 10 points). PROJECT MANAGEMENT (total max. of 30 points): Demonstrated experience of applicant's company and field personnel in international dairy development to complete proposed work (max. 10 points); level of funding, including leveraged funding, above the obligatory 25% cost sharing (max. 10 points); other: the following three items can earn a combined total of up to 10 Points: Time line for completion of activity, including performance monitoring and reporting, indicators by which the impact of proposed activity can be quantified, and level of Mission financial support. (The latter does not apply to proposals based in Latin America and the Caribbean). INNOVATION (Total of max. 10 points): Description of how proposed activity will apply innovative solutions to address common development needs of the dairy industry in country(ies) where project is planned. TOTAL: 100 Points. Please send ten copies of application to: Joyce M. Turk, G/EGAD/AFS, USAID/W, RRB 2.11-082, Washington, DC 20523-2110.

Web Link

http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/announce/cbd (http://www.usaid.gov)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010620/RSOL003.HTM (W-169 SN50P1Y4)