U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), REDSO/WCA/OP, Abidjan (ID), Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20521-2010

R -- GUINEA NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY SOL RFA NO. 624-97-003 DUE 041097 POC Contact Point: Carey N. Gordon, Regional Grant Officer, REDSO/WCA/OP, (Abidjan, Ivory Coast), Tel: (225) 41-45-28; Fax Nos. (225) 41-35-44 or (225) 41-34-60; Internet address: cagordon@usaid.gov. USAID invites U.S. Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs) and U.S. not-for-profit organizations to submit applications for a grant under the Guinea Natural Resources Management (GNRM) Project. For-profit organizations may also submit applications. However, they will not be entitled to receive a fee for this activity. It is anticipated that one grant will be awarded for an initial two-year period with possible extensions of the completion date of the grant for up to three additional years. As this is a results-oriented activity, continued annual funding will be made based upon the availability of funds and the achievement of required results. The GNRM Activity is an integral but free-standing component of the implementation phase of the multi-donor Fouta Djallon Highlands Integrated Rural Development (FDHIRD) Project initiated by the Government of Guinea (GOG). The overall goal of the GNRM Activity is to increase sustainable agricultural and value-added production for domestic and export markets and thepurpose is to improve the management of natural resources for profitable and sustainable agricultural production in the target watersheds and the surrounding villages. The GNRM Activity will focus on the following three intermediate results: (1) Strengthened local capacity for sustainable natural resource management, (2) Sustainable production and income increase, and (3) Enabling conditions for sustainable natural resource management. The implementation of the current GNRM activity will be founded on dynamic partnerships of USAID with its partners and customers. Therefore, it is essential that the Grantee coordinate its work closely with that of the Peace Corps, national NGOs, local institutions, and the National Directorate of Forests and Wildlife (DNFF) in order to achieve these intermediate results. In addition, linkages for dynamic community-based NRM activities should be established with PVOs working in other sectors such as Education and Health. All questions related to this notice and requests for a copy of the RFA must be addressed in writing or by fax or e-mail to the Grant Officer at the address stated above. Specify the RFA requested, and include your complete firm name, street address, phone and fax no. and internet addess, if one is available. No telephone requests will be honored. The issuance date of the RFA is expected to be approximately fifteen (15) days from the date of publication of this notice. The closing date for submission of proposals will be approximately forty five (45) days from the actual issuance date, and will be specified in the RFA. The preferred method of distribution of USAID procurement information is via the internet or by request of a solicitation on a 3.5" diskette (Wordperfect 5.1/5.2 Format). Only in instances where internet access or utilization of diskettes are not possible will a hard copy of the RFA be distributed upon request. This CBD notice, and the RFA once issued, can be viewed and downloaded from the USAID external web site: http://www.info.usaid.gov. Click onBUSINESS & PROCUREMENT from the web site menu. Then click on USAID PROCUREMENTS. From the USAID PROCUREMENTS menu, the CBD notice can be viewed by clicking on BROWSE CURRENT CBD NOTICES & PROCUREMENT INFORMATION BULLETINS. Then click on CURRENT USAID CBD NOTICES and select the solicitation entitled Guinea Natural Resources Management Activity (624-97-003). >From the USAID PROCUREMENTS menu, the RFA can be downloaded when available by clicking on DOWNLOAD AVAILABLE USAID SOLICITATIONS. Receipt of this RFA through internet must be confirmed by written notification to the contact person noted above. It is the responsibility of the recipient of this solicitation document to ensure that it has been received from internet in its entirety and USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes. The publication of this notice and/or the issuance of an RFA do not obligate the U.S. Government to award a contract. (0050)

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