U.S. Agency for International Development, M/OP/B/HNE, Room 1509, SA- 14, Washington, D.C. 20523-1424

L -- RECONSTRUCTION AND EXPANDED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY SOL OP/B/HNE-97-003 DUE 061697 POC Contact Point: Linh T. Lam, Phone: (703)875-1024 or Fax: (703) 875- 1519; Agreement Officer: James A. Jeckell, Phone: (703) 875-1017. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) contemplates issuing a Request for Application (RFA) for the development of Reconstruction and Expanded Economic Opportunity in Lebanon. In December 1996, the U.S. Government announced a renewed commitment to the rebuilding of Lebanon, and hosted the Friends of Lebanon Conference, which resulted in the commitment of significant resources from other international donors. Lebanon has made significant progress in restoring economic growth, and has embarked upon a massive program to rehabilitate the country's basic infrastructure. Although USAID's reconstruction efforts are concentrated in clusters of rural communities, there remains a critical need for micro and small enterprise access to credit in both rural and urban areas. USAID Strategic Objective 1 -- Reconstruction and Expanded Economic Opportunity, will focus substantial resources on the restoration of economic and social viability in approximately thirty (30) clusters of rural communities, a cluster being defined as a geographic/social/economic entity. USAID/OP on behalf of USAID/Lebanon office is soliciting applications from U.S.- registered PVOs for grants that will be awarded competitively. PVOs currently working in Lebanon may build upon existing activities, subject to the following objectives and requirements. USAID will fund microenterprise, including poverty lending or village banking activities. Applicants are requested to give special consideration to the needs of clusters of communities in rural resettlement and rural high-poverty areas identified in the Cazas of Hermel and Akhar in the North, West Bekaa, Rachaiya and Hesbaiya in the south-central area, and Beint Jbeil in the extreme South. However, USAID will not limit assistance to these areas. The objectives of this program are (a) The establishment of indigenous microenterprise lending institutions that are financially and institutionally self-sustaining with a portfolio of group lending or village banking activities, as well as other credit window(s) for eligible borrowers, (b) A program of credits to poor beneficiaries, through group lending or village banking, or for eligible entrepreneurs, in amounts up to $5,000 or its equivalent. In delivering this support applicants will be required to strengthen local partners and increase their commitment and capacity to sustain program benefits. USAID views local participation in the design and implementation of any of the above activities as essential. Further, applicants should consult with the offices of USAID/Lebanon to obtain information regarding the clusters of communities in target areas that have already been identified. Other program requirements will be provided in the final RFA. USAID may make one or more awards from this RFA to the responsible applicant(s) whose application(s) conforming to this RFA offers the greatest value to the Government. The RFA and instructions may be obtained at the internet website "http://www.info.usaid.gov". ONLY if you are unable to obtain it by the internet should you contact USAID at fax: (703) 875-1519. The preferred method of distribution of USAID procurement information is via the Internet or by request of an application on a 3.5" floppy disk (WordPerfect 5.1/5.2 format). This CBD notice can be viewed and downloaded using the Agency Web Site. The RFA, once issued, can be downloaded from the Agency web site. The Worldwide Web address is http://www.info.usaid.gov. Select Business and Procurement Opportunities from the home page, then "USAID Procurement." On the following screen, select "Download Available USAID Application." The RFA can also be downloaded via Anonymous File Transfer Protocol (FTP). The FTP address is FTP.INFO.USAID.GOV. Logon using the user identification of "anonymous" and the password is your e-mail address. Look under the following directory for the RFA: pub/OP/RFA/HNE97003/hne97003.rfa. 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 application 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. Telephone inquiries will NOT be accepted. USAID anticipates the issuance of the RFA on or about 6/9/1997. (0139)

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