USAID E&E Bureau. Proposed Contract Modification to Task Order # 7200AA21F00012 - Connect for Growth with Research Triangle Institute (RTI)

C4G Activity Background Information. The purpose of the C4G activity is to strengthen energy security and resilience in the Europe and Eurasia (E&E) region as part of EI's U.S.-Europe Energy Bridge project. Under this activity, the contractor shall provide technical guidance, recommendations, and support for energy market development, regional integration, and reforms; diversified and efficient resource utilization and planning; and resilient energy systems to advance USAID's goal of increasing connectivity and cooperation in the energy sector between partner countries and the EU. The activity is designed to quickly and effectively respond to emerging issues and technical needs in partner countries impacting the regional energy sector and critical infrastructure. USAID will coordinate with the contractor to provide energy sector expertise to institutions, such as ministries, regulatory agencies, and utilities, in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine, and other countries for which support will impact regional energy security. The activity has the following objectives: Objective 1: Strengthened governance of domestic and integrated regional energy markets. Objective 2: Reduced dependence on energy sources controlled by malign actors. Objective 3: Improved energy system resilience. Contract Action Description. This action also seeks to increase the Total Estimated Cost (TEC) of the Connect for Growth (C4G) Task Order by $10 million. Increasing funding will allow USAID to continue to deliver and sufficiently plan for its assistance to the E&E region, particularly Moldova, over the next two years to facilitate commercial energy transactions, build the capacity of energy institutions to respond to potential supply disruptions and other threats, and accelerate governance and market structures that undercut Russia's monopoly influence over the continent's energy sector. The proposed contract action will increase the current Task Order TEC from $14,994,549 to $24,994,549. The TEC increase is necessary to accommodate the immediate and long-term energy sector assistance needs in Moldova. Further, increasing the TEC will position the USG to respond to the current and future energy challenges evolving in the E&E region as a result of the war on Ukraine.