USAID/Zambia Solar Technologies Training

Amendment 1: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION RFI Number: RFI 72061119-STT Subject: USAID/Zambia Solar Technologies Training Agency Name: USAID/Zambia Issuance Date: January 18, 2019 Response Due Date: February 15, 2019, 17:00 Zambia time Response submitted via (live link): Google Form USAID/Zambia Solar Technologies Training[i] IAW 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 obtaining information from interested parties regarding the design process of USAID/Zambia's anticipated Solar Technologies Training activity. Background Overall electricity access rate in Zambia currently stands at 31%. The situation is more challenging in rural areas where the access to electricity is less than 5%. This low access impedes Zambia's economic development. Increased access to electricity can increase economic growth and spur investment and trade, thereby reducing poverty. The national electricity grid will not be extended soon to most of the areas that currently lack electricity. Therefore, the increased utilization of other technologies, such as solar, offers an immediate and more realistic solution to the electricity access challenge. To support the increased utilization of solar technologies, there is a need to develop a cadre of trained solar professionals (installation and maintenance) throughout Zambia who can offer their services to both institutional and residential users. Furthermore, there are various projects to install solar technologies underway in support of different sector goals, such as health, education, water and sanitation. Supporting the development of expanded solar technology human capacity will ensure that solar technologies are installed, operating correctly, and well maintained. USAID/Zambia seeks information to help inform an intervention that is aimed at supporting a Zambia-based organization to provide regular training in solar technology installation and maintenance. The goal is to increase the use of solar technologies in Zambia via the development of these trained solar professionals. We invite all interested parties to complete this survey. This notice is solely intended to solicit responses on this possible activity and is not a Request for Proposals. Ideas contained herein may change significantly during the mission's ongoing program design, consultation and approval process. Interested parties must submit all comments concerning this draft Statement of Work in writing via Google Form USAID/Zambia Solar Technologies Training by February 15, 2019 17:00 Zambia time. If you encounter issues with Google Form, please contact oaa-solicit-lusaka@usaid.gov Comments other than issues with the google form will not be considered. Please note: 1. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a legally binding contract. 2. This is a new activity and there is no incumbent. [i] LINK TO SURVEY https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfZr1k0dBQXWxxc6rD4QTvHv_tLQN7_KjLPetR-wapmxe3pVQ/viewform?usp=sf_link