Request for Information - Iraq Democracy Activity Input

The notice is updated on June 13, 2022 with DG Gender Analysis - Design Draft document. Please see in the attachments. Dear Interested Parties: The United States Government, represented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission in Iraq, hereby issues a Request for Information (RFI) in regard to planned programming to support Iraqi democratic transition, governance and civil society. This RFI intends to: Allow stakeholders and interested organizations to provide information and suggestions for upcoming programming ; and Explore innovative approaches to better partner with international and local actors to respond to Iraq's needs and meet the USAID/Iraq's development objectives. Responses are due no later than 6:00 pm AST on July 1, 2022. This RFI is issued solely for information, research, and planning purposes. It does not constitute a Request For Proposal/Application, an invitation for bids, or solicitation. This RFI does not commit the U.S. Government to issue a solicitation. Furthermore, USAID/Iraq is not at this time seeking proposals or applications and will not accept unsolicited proposals or applications. If a solicitation is issued, it will be announced on https://www.grants.gov or https://beta.sam.gov in the coming months. It should be noted that responding to this RFI will not give any advantage to any organizations in any subsequent procurement. Proprietary information should not be sent. You will receive an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of your response but you will not receive any feedback regarding your submission. Consider the following when preparing your suggestions/comments to the questions outlined below: Please identify your organization and provide organizational contact information (i.e., telephone, website, and address) and the primary point of contact (name, title, phone number, and email address) Responses do not need to be long or extensive to be useful. Please provide feedback, including comments, recommendations in written format in one page or less. Issues to think about or consider related to the topic/question are welcome. Please suggest any innovative approaches, particularly to evaluating the results of work in a particular area or fostering a learning approach to programming. Iraqi and regional organizations are encouraged to provide responses. Previous experience working with USAID or receiving funds from USAID are not required. Responses in Arabic are acceptable. Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI by email attachment on the closing date and time shown at the top of this announcement to BaghdadOAADropbox@usaid.gov. The subject line of the email must read, - Iraq Democracy Activity Input. Please ensure your comments are concise and specific. USAID/Iraq is in no way obligated to utilize submitted information or issue a solicitation as a result of this RFI. USAID/Iraq is not obligated to procure any activity related to this RFI, nor should the release of this request be construed as such a commitment on the part of USAID/Iraq. In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 15.209(c), the following clause is incorporated into this RFI: - FAR 52.215-3 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION OR SOLICITATION FOR PLANNING PURPOSES (OCT 1997) (a) The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this solicitation or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. (b) Although - proposal and - offeror are used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal. (c) This solicitation is issued for the purpose of conducting market research and requesting comments and recommendations from stakeholders and to identify ways to strengthen good governance and accountability and improve government responsiveness to citizens needs and key priorities over the next 5 years. Thank you for your interest in USAID/Iraq's projects. Sincerely, Zachary Clarke Regional Contracting/Agreement Officer USAID/Iraq REQUEST for INFORMATION Questions and Response Considerations for RFI Submission Eligible interested parties are encouraged to submit information and recommendations for the design of new civil society support activity by the closing date and time noted on page one. Only email submission is eligible; telephone calls and hard copy submissions are unacceptable. Through this RFI, USAID/Iraq seeks to understand the challenges and opportunities to support civil society organizations in Iraq. In particular, USAID/Iraq is interested in engaging organizations that promote good governance and accountability within the public sector; protect and promote the interests of citizens in areas such as (but not limited to) environment, community development, waste management, freedom of expression, inclusive governance, minority interests, youth leadership development and engagement, and women's leadership development and engagement. USAID/Iraq welcomes information on these topics and any relevant general feedback and comments that partners may wish to share. Any RFI submission should be no longer than five pages total. Respondents must use 12-point Times New Roman font or similar size typeset, 8.5 inch by 11-inch paper, and single-spaced pages for all narrative documents, with each page numbered consecutively. If the respondent has developed relevant reports, these reports may be included. RFI submissions may be submitted in English or Arabic. Any already published reference or supporting documents may be submitted in Arabic. Please do not submit applications, proposals, or resumes, as they will be discarded. Responses will be held confidential. Proprietary information should not be sent. RFI submissions will not be acknowledged; nor will we send any responses. USAID may use any information provided without incurring any obligation. Please submit electronic RFI information by no later than 6:00 p.m., Baghdad time, July 1, 2022, to: BaghdadOAADropbox@usaid.gov. USAID/Iraq reserves the right to incorporate any or all comments into the new solicitation document. Submission requirements: I. Cover page not to exceed one (1) page including: Organization name and address. Point of contact name, telephone number, and email address. Organizational small business/ CSO registration status. II. Comments and responses to questions/topics included here not to exceed five (5) pages total. Respondents may respond to any or all of the following questions/topics. It is not required to respond to each/all listed. Respondents are requested to note that USAID will not provide responses to questions submitted. USAID will review all comments and questions and may use them to inform the development of any activity. USAID asks respondents not to send any additional information beyond what is requested and to adhere to the page limits mentioned. Questions/Topics 1. Improving Government Accountability and Transparency How do citizens currently find out information about government budgeting, expenditures and services? What type of information regarding government budgets, expenditures and services are most needed by citizens and what is the best way to communicate this information? Are there government services or processes that could be easier to access and fees paid with more transparency using electronic/web-based systems? What changes to government processes or services have been made in recent years that have had a significant impact (positive or negative?) 2. Citizen-Government Engagement and Communication What are good examples of how Iraqi citizens or CSOs have engaged the government to make positive change for the community? How can the government more effectively communicate and/or partner with civil society, the private sector, and Iraqi citizens on priority issues, such as climate change? Are there opportunities to build on current or past initiatives and lessons learned from previous or current international programs conducted by these organizations? 3. Gender and Inclusion How can women and girls gain a stronger voice in the political process and community development? When working on issues of gender empowerment in government or political process, what is most needed and most supportive? Whose voices are most under-represented in Iraqi politics and government divisions and how could that be changed?