Sources Sought Notice-New Alternative Development Partnership Opportunity | 72052720RFI00002

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this opportunity?

This is a USAID/Peru Sources Sought Notice titled "New Alternative Development Partnership Opportunity" (Funding Opportunity Number 72052720RFI00002). It is designed to gather information from organizations that may be suitable partners for future alternative development programming in Peru.

2) Is this a grant competition?

No. This notice is an information-gathering request rather than a traditional grant or cooperative agreement competition. It is intended to help USAID understand what capable organizations exist and to shape a possible later solicitation or partnership approach.

3) Why does the listing show an award ceiling of $0 and expected awards of 0?

Because it is a Sources Sought/Request for Information style action, not an active funding competition. The $0 ceiling and 0 expected awards reflect that USAID is not making awards under this notice.

4) What is USAID trying to learn through this Sources Sought Notice?

USAID/Peru is using the notice to map the market, identify potential partners, learn about their capabilities and relevance to alternative development objectives, and inform the design of future programming and partnership mechanisms.

5) Who is the issuing agency and where is it based?

The issuing agency is the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), specifically USAID/Peru (USAID-Lima).

6) What is the main goal of the potential future programming described in the notice?

The notice focuses on sustaining reductions in coca cultivation in priority post-eradication regions of Peru. The overall intent is to support community development and alternative development strategies that reduce the likelihood of communities returning to coca cultivation.

7) What are the main result areas USAID highlights?

USAID frames the opportunity around two main result areas: (1) reducing gaps in key public goods and services in targeted areas (including strengthening the enabling environment and community resilience after eradication), and (2) strengthening licit (legal) economies in targeted zones by supporting viable economic alternatives.

8) What kinds of activities or approaches fit the "public goods and services" result area?

Based on the notice, this result area can include approaches that reduce gaps in key public goods and services and strengthen the enabling environment that helps communities remain resilient in the post-eradication context.

9) What does "strengthening licit economies" mean in this context?

It refers to supporting legal economic opportunities in targeted zones so that households and communities have viable alternatives that make returning to coca cultivation less attractive.

10) What types of partners is USAID especially interested in identifying?

USAID is specifically seeking new, underutilized partners that are local entities or locally established in Peru, with an emphasis on increasing local leadership in USAID-funded work.

11) Is local presence in Peru important?

Yes. The notice emphasizes interest in organizations that are local or locally established in Peru and can credibly operate in targeted post-eradication regions.

12) What is USAID looking for related to the private sector?

USAID signals interest in partners that can bring stronger private sector engagement to development investments, including collaboration with businesses and leveraging private sector participation.

13) What does USAID mean by "innovation" in this notice?

The notice indicates USAID is interested in partners that can innovate in delivery models and approaches. The specific innovations are not enumerated in the provided information, but innovation is listed as a desired capability.

14) What is co-financing and why is it emphasized?

Co-financing means partners, businesses, or other stakeholders contribute resources alongside USAID funds. USAID emphasizes co-financing to improve long-term impact and sustainability beyond the life of a single project.

15) Does this notice require co-financing to respond?

The provided information does not state a requirement, but it clearly signals a strong preference for models that include co-financing and mobilization of additional resources.

16) What organization types are eligible to respond?

The eligible respondent types listed include: nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions), nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions), and for-profit organizations other than small businesses.

17) Are higher education institutions included as eligible respondents?

No. The eligibility list explicitly excludes higher education institutions in both nonprofit categories provided.

18) Are small businesses eligible under the for-profit category?

No. The for-profit eligibility category listed is "for-profit organizations other than small businesses," which indicates small businesses are not included in that category for this notice.

19) What is the funding instrument type?

The funding instrument type is listed as "Other," which aligns with a sources sought or request for information style notice rather than a standard grant or cooperative agreement competition.

20) What is meant by the opportunity being categorized as "discretionary"?

The opportunity is labeled discretionary in the listing. In practical terms (based on the provided description), USAID is using the notice to gather information and shape potential future actions rather than to make immediate awards.

21) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is 72052720RFI00002.

22) What is the title of the notice?

The title is "New Alternative Development Partnership Opportunity."

23) When was the notice created and when did it close?

The notice was created on February 12, 2020, and had an original closing date of March 12, 2020.

24) What would an interested organization have been expected to provide?

Interested organizations were invited to signal interest and demonstrate relevance and capability, particularly around operating in targeted post-eradication regions, supporting alternative development objectives, collaborating with the private sector, innovating in delivery models, and mobilizing additional resources through co-financing.

25) What geographic or thematic focus areas does the notice emphasize?

The thematic focus is alternative development tied to sustaining reductions in coca cultivation. The geographic focus is priority post-eradication regions in Peru, specifically targeted zones where USAID seeks to improve services and expand legal economic opportunities.

26) Does responding to this notice guarantee future funding?

No. The notice is intended to inform USAID planning and potential future solicitations or partnership approaches. The provided information does not indicate that a response results in funding or an award.

27) What is the main "bottom line" purpose of the notice?

USAID/Peru is trying to broaden and localize its partner base for alternative development efforts aimed at maintaining coca reductions by improving public services and expanding legal economic opportunities in specific post-eradication areas.