R -- The service to be provided by IRG will focus on protection of Sundarbans, a worl Heritage site, the largest Mangrove Forest

USAID/Bangladesh plans to extend an existing contract with IRG for six months, through November 30, 2008, increasing the total contract cost by $650,000. This non-competitive extension supports the NISHORGO project focused on environmental protection efforts specifically aimed at the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest and a designated World Heritage site that suffered significant damage from Cyclone Sidr. The contractor, IRG, will leverage its current resources and personnel already stationed in Bangladesh to continue its community-based sustainable management approach previously applied to six other protected areas within the country. This extension responds directly to an urgent request from the Government of Bangladesh to address the environmental restoration and protection needs of the region. The work under this contract falls within the NAICS code 541990 and is managed by USAID/Bangladesh’s Agency for International Development office located in Dhaka. The focus remains on conservation and sustainable management, highlighting the importance of protecting a critical ecological area damaged by a natural disaster. Key points of contact for this contract are Acquisition & Assistance Specialists Shafique Nazim and Rafiqul Islam, who oversee procurement and assistance processes. This extension underscores the urgency and commitment by USAID and government partners to rehabilitate the Sundarbans and ensure its long-term preservation.