USAID Nepal Local Development Support Activity

Dear Interested Parties:

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) leads the U.S. Government's international development and disaster assistance through partnerships and investments that save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance, and help people emerge from humanitarian crises and progress beyond assistance. USAID/Nepal seeks a more self-reliant, prosperous, and inclusive Nepal that delivers improved democratic governance and health and education outcomes. USAID/Nepal is planning a new activity to develop the capacity of local partners to accelerate locally-led development. USAID is committed to addressing Nepal's development challenges by supporting locally-owned, sustainable solutions from local people and organizations to build diverse, inclusive economies and democratic, healthy societies. This activity will support USAID activities managed by local partners in coordination and collaboration with the respective Contracting Officer's Representative/Agreement Officer's Representative/Activity Managers. The activity is planned to be a multiple year effort, and has the following interlinked objectives:

1. Local Capacity Development - Strengthen the financial and administrative capacity of USAID/Nepal's local partners so they can successfully lead sustainable development initiatives that address Nepal's pressing development challenges.
2. Third Party Monitoring and Risk Management - Ensure local partners are in compliance with the terms and conditions of USAID grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements to improve the effectiveness and transparency of financial management and administration while reducing risk to the local partners and the U.S. Government; and,
3. Local Partner Coordination - Support USAID and local implementing partners of USAID/Nepal's Local Works program in coordination, communication, dialogue, and learning to most effectively engage with marginalized and vulnerable communities across Nepal and drive locally-led solutions to the challenges they face.

This is a Sources Sought Notice to identify qualified local entities, to include Nepalese for-profit and nonprofit organizations as defined in Attachment B - Eligibility Requirements, that are interested in and capable of performing the type of work described above. Your responses to the information requested will serve as market research to assist USAID in planning the procurement strategy and will not be released publicly.

Submission instructions for this Sources Sought Notice are provided in Attachment A.

USAID/Nepal is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information, answer questions, or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. Please note issuance of this Sources Sought Notice does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. Government, and in accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Do not submit pricing information in response to this Sources Sought. All costs associated with responding to this Sources Sought will be solely at the interested party's expense. Not responding to this Sources Sought does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if any are issued

Organizations are encouraged to review the following website to learn more about working with USAID: https://www.workwithusaid.org/. Thank you for your assistance and interest in USAID programs.

Sincerely,

Robyn Bertholon

Contracting Officer