USAID Fact Sheet: Contracting by USAID For Reconstruction of Iraq

USAID Reconstruction Contracts for Iraq

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
FACT SHEET

WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov
(202) 712-4320

2003-041

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 1, 2003

Between January 31st and March 4th, 2003 USAID issued nine procurement actions -- eight Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and one Request for Applications (RFA) - for reconstruction work in war-torn Iraq in compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). Three grants have also been awarded.

Each award listed below includes an initial funding amount to start activities and an estimated total amount for the full duration of the contract. This estimated total amount is based on strategic programming information available at the time of contract approval. Factors that might affect the final contract amount include: the prioritization of Iraqi initiatives; the degree of rehabilitation required; changes in market prices for materials, supplies and transport; staffing needs; shipping delays; and unforeseen circumstances. Further information on the individual RFPs and awards, as well as overall humanitarian and reconstruction efforts, can be found at www.usaid.gov/iraq.

REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS

Personnel Support

Awarded to the International Resources Group (IRG) of Washington, D.C. on February 7, 2003
Contract provides for: technical expertise for reconstruction.
Award - $7.1 million initially.

Seaport Administration

Awarded to Stevedoring Services of America (SSA) of Seattle, Washington on March 24, 2003.
Contract calls for: provision of initial assessment of Umm Qasr port in order to facilitate timely delivery of humanitarian supplies and other needed materials for reconstruction; development of improvement plans to overcome port-imposed constraints; hiring of port pilots to guide ships up the channel; facilitation of cargo-handling services such as warehousing, shipment tracking, refrigerated and other cargo storage; and coordination of onward transport of shipments from the seaport at Umm Qasr.
Award - $4.8 million initially.

Primary and Secondary Education

Awarded to Creative Associates International, Inc., of Washington, D.C., on April 11, 2003.
Contract calls for: increased enrollment and improved quality of primary and secondary education, including ensuring classrooms have sufficient material by start of new school year (i.e., desks, pencils, paper); facilitation of community involvement and other social mobilization to retain students; and development of baseline indicators.
Award - $1 million initially, up to $62.6 million over 12 months.

Local Governance

Awarded to Research Triangle Institute (RTI) of North Carolina on April 11, 2003.
Contract provides for: strengthening of management skills and capacity of local administrations and civic institutions to improve delivery of essential municipal services such as water, health, public sanitation and economic governance; includes training programs in communications, conflict resolution, leadership skills and political analysis.
Award - $7.9 million initially, up to $167.9 million over 12 months.

Capital Construction

Awarded to Bechtel of San Francisco, California on April 17, 2003.
Contract provides for: emergency repair or rehabilitation of power generation facilities, electrical grids, municipal water systems, sewage systems, airport facilities, the dredging, repair and upgrading of the Umm Qasr seaport and reconstruction of hospitals, schools, ministry buildings, irrigation structures and transportation links; goal is to repair or rehabilitate up to 100 hospitals, 6,000 schools (out of approximately 25,000), up to six airports, and one southern seaport.
Award - $34.6 million initially, up to $680 million over 18 months.

Theater Logistical Support

Inter-agency agreement awarded to the Air Force Contract Augmentation Program (AFCAP) on February 17, 2003; the AFCAP is a pre-existing arrangement for the timely support to and supplementation of existing U.S. Air Force contracts.
AFCAP will provide a broad range of logistical support services to USAID and its family of contractors engaged in assisting the Iraqi reconstruction effort; these efforts may include warehousing, customs clearance, trucking and provision of bottled water.
Award - $4 million initially, with up to $26 million over 12 months.

Public Health

Awarded to Abt Associates Inc. of Cambridge, Massachusetts on April 30, 2003.
Contract provides for: supporting a reformed Iraqi Ministry of Health (MOH) at the national, regional and local levels; delivering health services; providing medical equipment and supplies; training and recruiting health staff; providing health education and information; and determining the specific needs of the health sector and vulnerable populations such as women and children.
Award - $10 million initially, up to $43.8 million over 12 months.

Airport Administration

Contract award still pending.
Contract provides for assessment of civilian airports and collaboration for the timely repair; management of civilian airports for the expeditious reception and onward processing of humanitarian assistance, reconstruction material and personnel.

REQUESTS FOR APPLICATIONS

Community Action Program

Award still pending.
Promotion of diverse and representative citizen participation in and among communities throughout Iraq.
Identification, prioritization, and delivery of critical reconstruction and development needs.

GRANTS

Back to School Campaign

Grant announced to the United Nation's Children's Fund (UNICEF) on April 8, 2003.
Grant provides for: promotion of a "Back-to-School" campaign for all school-age children; rapid assessments to determine the availability of school materials; establishment of temporary schools where none are functioning; training of teachers; the establishment of accelerated learning programs; and the development of an education management system for Iraq.
Grant -$1 million for one year initially, up to $7 million.

Health, Water, and Sanitation Services

Grant announced to the United Nation's Children's Fund (UNICEF) on March 28, 2003.
Grant provides for: restoration/provision of basic health services to the most vulnerable populations, focusing on women and children; support for primary health care services; fund essential medicines, vaccines and micronutrients; establishment a rapid referral and response system for the most serious cases; and publishing and distribution relevant health education materials and nutritional assessments.
Grant - $8 million for one year initially, up to $40 million.

Health System Strengthening

Grant announced to the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 28, 2003.
Grant provides for: identification of crucial immediate and short-term health care needs of the population; rapid restoration of essential health services for the population; and strengthening of the capacity of a reformed Iraqi Ministry of Health to manage the health sector including review and further development of health policies and health system management.
Grant - $10 million for one year.

The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.

For more information on USAID's humanitarian relief efforts in Iraq, please visit www.usaid.gov/iraq/.