Business Literacy-Component C will integrate vulnerable groups through literacy, life skills, and entrepreneurial training that will enable women, youth, lower castes, and ethnic minorities to take full advantage of agricultural and nutrition intervention

Sollicitation Number: SOL-367-12-000006 Solicitation Type: Pre-Solicitation Notice Project Title: Feed the Future (FTF) Component C-Business Literacy - Nepal Agency: United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Office: USAID/Nepal Location: Kathmandu Place of Performance: Nepal Estimated price: $2,500,000 to $3,100,000 Tentative Solicitation Date: June 2012 Tentative Proposal Due Date: August 2012 Estimated Period of Performance: December 31, 2012 - June 30, 2016 Small Business Considerations: Not Applicable Source/Nationality: This procurement will be limited to local Nepali organizations. Pursuant to Section 7077 of Public Law 112-74, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (P.L. 112-74), titled "Local Competition Authority", which specifically authorizes limiting competition for contracts valued at $5 million or less to local entities, if doing so would result in cost savings, develop local capacity, or enable the Agency to initiate a program or activity in appreciably less time than if competition were not so limited. The authorized geographic code for the procurement of goods and services under this award is 937, which is defined as the United States, the cooperating/recipient country, and developing countries other than advanced developing countries, and excluding prohibited sources. USAID maintains a list of developing countries, advanced developing countries, and prohibited sources, which is available in USAID's Automated Directives System, ADS 310. Description of Proposed Work: USAID/Nepal has developed a food security project that responds to the objectives of USAID's Feed the Future (FTF) Presidential Initiative as well as the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) country plan led by the Government of Nepal. The overall goal of this FTF project is to reduce hunger and poverty while improving nutrition in Nepal. FTF has three primary and integrated components which focus on: A) Agricultural productivity, B) Nutrition, and C) Business literacy (literacy, numeracy, and entrepreneurial skills). The purpose of this pre-solicitation notice is to notify that the U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) Mission to Nepal intends to award a three and half year contract through a full and open competition among Nepali organizations for implementation of the FTF Component C-Business Literacy Program in Nepal. The main goal of the Business Literacy intervention is to increase the resilience of vulnerable communities and households through skills development. The three key areas of this program are 1) literacy trainings which include basic literacy and numeracy, life skills, entrepreneurial literacy, and nutrition education; 2) business and marketing skills development; and 3) capacity building of implementing organizations to deliver literacy training and business skill development. The first year of this activity will concentrate efforts on curriculum development, training of trainers, and training of literacy facilitators. Activities for the second and third years will concentrate on literacy training in 16-20 FTF districts located in the Far-Western, Mid-Western, and Western Regions (ten districts during the second year and another 6-10 in the third year). The business literacy program will integrate vulnerable groups (women, youth, lower castes, and ethnic minorities), through literacy, life skills, and entrepreneurial trainings, and will enable them to take full advantage of agricultural and nutritional interventions of FTF Component A and B. It is expected that these interventions will fully complement Components A and B in contributing to improved food security and nutrition in the targeted population. The implementer of this program requires close consultation with USAID/Nepal and the Contractor of Component A and B while selecting the beneficiaries. It is estimated that the RFP for FTF Component C will be issued in June 2012 on www.fedbizopps.gov barring any unforeseeable delays. 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 the above website for updates concerning this procurement. To view a brief power point presentation on FTF, please go to USAID/Nepal's public website http://nepal.usaid.gov/. The power point presentation should be listed in the "In the Spotlight" section of the homepage. Interested parties are advised to periodically monitor USAID/Nepal's public website for possible updates or new information. 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.