How can I become an implementing partner with USAID?

USAID conducts competition for contracts, grants and cooperative agreements to find the most qualified implementing partners for USAID/East Africa’s development assistance programs at the best value to the US Government. An implementing partner can be a U.S. or local non-governmental organization (NGO), commercial organization, an individual, or a public international organization.

The Regional Office of Acquisition and Assistance (RAAO) site is your one-stop place for finding important information to get you started doing business with USAID/East Africa.  Contracts are awarded primarily for technical assistance but also for commodities or equipment, transportation services and occasionally, construction. Grants and cooperative agreements are awarded for a variety of programs --- some recurring and some for unique non-recurring programs. All contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements issued ultimately support objectives of that part of the U.S. foreign assistance program managed by USAID and implemented for the people of East Africa.

USAID utilizes various acquisition and assistance instruments to implement its activities. Contracts, grants, cooperative agreements and purchase orders are some of the instruments that are negotiated and signed by USAID/East Africa. These instruments provide a variety of commodities and technical assistance to support the attainment of the agency's objectives. Acquisition refers to obtaining goods and services, through various types of contracts, for the use or benefit of the Agency. Assistance refers to transferring funds (or other valuables) from USAID to another party for the implementation of programs which will contribute to the public good through the furtherance of the objectives of USAID’s service to the people of East Africa.

USAID's relationships with its implementing partners are generally categorized as:

• Grants, which USAID provides funds to a grantee to implement a program without direct involvement with USAID during the program;
• Cooperative Agreements, which USAID provides funds to a cooperator but has substantial involvement and contact with implementer during project;
• Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Agreements, which USAID provides funds for a minority share of the project costs to a private sector implementer. The implementer is usually a non-traditional or first-time recipient of USAID financial support; or
• Contracts, which USAID uses to services or equipment to implement a project or program and which USAID has management responsibility.

To solicit help for its programs, USAID uses Request for Applications, a Request for Proposals. USAID publishes information about these public solicitations on this internet site and on the US Government Points of Entry: www.fedbizopps.gov and www.fedgrants.gov.  In all cases a Request for Applications (RFA) or a Request for Proposals (RFP) will provide an adequate time for a potential implementing partner to respond.

A RFA or RFP is used when USAID has a specific type of program in mind to meet our development assistance goals. An RFA results in a grant or cooperative agreement; an RFP results in a contract. These requests can be issued any time for any activity or program.

Where can I find more information about USAID branding and marking requirements?

http://www.usaid.gov/branding/ 

USAID's framework legislation, the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, section 641, requires that all programs under the Foreign Assistance Act be identified appropriately overseas as “American Aid.”

For more than a year, the Agency has been leading a branding campaign to ensure that the American people are credited for the foreign assistance they finance. Our new tagline clearly communicates our aid is “From the American People.”

The Agency has separate and different branding policies and marking requirements for our implementing partners: one for Acquisition Awards to contractors, and one for Assistance Awards to US NGOs receiving grants and cooperative agreements. Click on either page to get the latest information.

I have a great idea that USAID should do – how do I submit my proposal?

USAID generally works by developing direct programs with host countries and through competitive procedures for selection of contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants. This approach ensures that all activities are concentrated on pre-defined objectives to maximize impact; and that they are consistent, mutually reinforcing and draw services from the best available sources.

While unsolicited proposals will continue to be received and reviewed for funding, potential offerors should be aware that only in highly exceptional cases are such proposals likely to be approved for funding.

A valid unsolicited proposal or application must:

• Be innovative and unique;
• Be independently originated and developed by the offeror;
• Be prepared without U.S. Government supervision, endorsement, direction, or direct Government involvement;
• Include sufficient detail to permit a determination that USAID support could be worthwhile and the proposed work could benefit USAID's research and development or other responsibilities;
• Not be an advance proposal for a known USAID requirement that can or will be acquired by competitive methods;

Unsolicited proposals and applications must contain the following:

• No more than 5 pages

First page

• Full legal name of the individual proposed recipient and contact information (email, telephone number, facsimile, street address, postal mailing address of the offeror;  
• Date of submission;
• Full legal name and title of the authorized representative(s) of the offeror, who would contractually obligate the offeror to fulfill the any award made;

Second page through fourth page

• Brief description of offeror's proposed project, include geographic locations of performance, number of people to benefit from the project if successfully completed, measure or indicators of how USAID would know you were successful;
• previous work and experience, both functionally and geographically;
• Facilities to be utilized for the work; and
• The names and phone numbers of USAID technical or other personnel already contacted regarding the proposal.

Fifth page

• Proposed funding or total estimated cost;
• Cost estimate or budget for proposal sufficiently detailed by elements of costs for meaningful evaluation;
• Type of agreement contemplated (contract, grant, cooperative agreement, etc.);
• Period of time for which proposal or application is valid. (Note: unsolicited proposals should be submitted well in advance of the proposed start-up; a minimum of 6 months is recommended); 
• Names and contacts for other individuals or entities providing additional financial and in-kind support.

In evaluating an unsolicited proposal or application, USAID/East Africa will consider:

• Unique, innovative, or proprietary methods, approaches, or ideas assembled;
• Overall merit of the proposed effort or activity;
• Potential contribution which the proposed effort may be expected to make to USAID's objectives and goals if pursued at this time;
• Capabilities (including financial planning and management capability), related experience (both technical and in the geographic region), facilities, or techniques of the offeror which are considered to be integral factors for achieving the objective(s) of the proposal;
• Qualifications, capabilities, and experience of the proposed investigator, leaders, or other offeror personnel;
• Clear definition of the region, district, province or geographic area where the project will be implemented;
• The realism of the proposed cost;
• Amount of funding or value of in-kind contribution from other non-US Government sources; and
• Sustainability and replicability of the project as well as complementarity to existing or planned programs in the region.

A favorable comprehensive evaluation of an unsolicited proposal is not, in itself, sufficient justification for negotiating on a noncompetitive basis with the offeror.  Any unsolicited proposal may be rejected by USAID/East Africa if not found to be in its interest. If the above 5-page format is adhered to by offerors, USAID/East Africa will be notify the offeror within 60 days of its submission as to the disposition (result) or that USAID/East Africa requires more time to consider the submission. USAID may not use any unique and innovative unsolicited proposal or application as the basis for, or as a portion of, negotiations with another party unless the original offeror is notified and agrees to the requested use.

Decisions to proceed with the award of a noncompetitive contract on the basis of an unsolicited proposal shall be made in accordance with the requirements of Subpart 15.6 of the FAR (48 CFR Subpart 715.5). Decisions to proceed with the award of a noncompetitive grant or cooperative agreement on the basis of an unsolicited application shall be made in accordance with the requirements of USAID Automated Directives System (ADS) Chapter 303 - "Grants and Cooperative Agreements to Non-Governmental Organizations". If it is determined that the subject matter of any unsolicited proposal is acceptable for funding on a noncompetitive basis, the unsolicited proposal or application will serve as the basis for negotiation. USAID's contracting or grant officer may require, and request, additional supplemental information from the offeror, as necessary.

Info for Implementing Partners

This section provides information and resources to organizations implementing USAID development programs in East Africa. Partners are encouraged to check the site periodically for any updates.

Implementing Partner Notices

Here you can find Implementing Partner Notices to provide our partners and others with updates and general information regarding changes in policy, security and other directives that are issued by the Contracting Officer or Mission Director.

USAID Logos for Partners

Here you can find all relevant USAID East Africa logos for downloading and use by USAID East Africa implementing partners. The logos for web and print use are in different formats including translations in Swahili and Somali. All Implementing Partners are encouraged to use the USAID East African logos where appropriate, rather than the simple USAID logo. Click on the links below to get the logos for web and print use:

USAID Graphics Manual: Branding and Logo: