American Embassy Moscow, PSC 77 USAID, APO AE 09721

R -- MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES. U.S. VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE TARGETED CONSULTING SERVICES TO FIRMS AND ENTERPREPRENEURS IN RUSSIA SOL 118-99-001 DUE 022299 POC Contact Point: Orion Yeandel, Contracting Officer, Tel: 7-095-956-4121, Fax: Internet: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will issue arequest for proposal (RFP) in support of the Mission s Business Development program for client focused business services to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs in the Russian Federation. USAID/Russia s Business Development program has concentrated on two strategic levels: (1) helping current and future entrepreneurs create successful businesses; and (2) building a more stable business environment. To achieve these objectives, the Business Development program has provided training, directed technical assistance, small scale financing services, and firm-level consulting activities. The major elements of the USAID/Russia private enterprise assistance effort have been to introduce and replicate successful models of private ownership and modern management; foster the development of a sustainable network of Russian business support institutions that can, in turn, render high quality services (consulting and training) to entrepreneurs and private enterprises; and increase access to finance for entrepreneurs and private enterprises. To help build successful Russian businesses and improve the business environment, USAID has worked with and through a variety of U.S. and Russian Business Support Organizations (BSOs). The anticipated result is the advancement of economic reform in specific regions in Russia through services designed to strengthen the regional and local capacity to promote investment and create a healthy business climate. Offerors should also focus on cost-effective ways of further developing a critical mass of entrepreneurs in support of the successful development of private enterprise and U.S./Russian business cooperation overall. USAID is seeking proposals from qualified U.S. organizations to assist in its program of private sector development by providing volunteer assistance to selected private sector firms and business support institutions in the Russian Federation. Currently, in assignments of up to eight weeks, American business volunteers undertake activities that help address these constraints and lay the groundwork for the development of small and medium business. The benefit from the follow-on business and trade partnerships developed through continued exchanges between U.S. industry experts and Russian clients is strengthened linkages between our business communities. This program is intended to implement the next logical phase of the Client Focused Business Volunteers Program in the Russian Federation, building on the investment of the last two years, taking into account opportunities presented by the financial crisis of August 1998, and incorporating lessons learned and cost considerations. USAID/Russia's strategy is to streamline the program by utilizing one strategically targeted mechanism, by using fewer resources and by maximizing the benefit of each and every volunteer. Offerors are expected to demonstrate their ability to implement this program under the following terms: 1. Subcontracting project development services to local Russian partner organizations. Under the current program, the implementing Private Volunteer Organizations are expected to have strengthened and transferred program management and project development capabilities to a local partner. In addition, under the current program, each implementer has established its own regional operations, that in some cases are unnecessary or redundant; 2. Maximizing the benefit of each Volunteer assignment, so that the knowledge and skills transferred benefit the widest possible audience of clients. Offerors will be expected to present creative ideas for achieving this objective. Offerors will also be expected to analyze the profile of volunteers and volunteer assignments that have taken place over the last two years in Russia; and 3. Offerors will be expected to propose an information product line as an integrated part of their proposal. Strategies for the three areas of concentration will contain annual quantifiable and measurable performance indicators which in total will mark achievement of the strategy. Illustrative budgets for contributions by partners and other cost-sharing elements that are realistic and practical will be provided. Offerors shall demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the programs and services provided by other organizations assisting the SME sector in Russia, and will reflect a plan of action to direct both Business Support Institutions (BSIs) and SMEs to these service providers in their proposals. Offerors will also demonstrate a specific strategy to increase access to finance for the BSIs and for their SME clients. The USAID Mission in Russia may award a single contract to facilitate the delivery of targeted business services in the Russian Federation that generate accelerated development and growth of Private Enterprise based on demand for these services. This CBD notice can be viewed and downloaded using the USAID Web Site. The RFP will be issued by being posted on the USAID Web Site. The RFP, 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 Procurements." On the following screen, select "Download Available USAID Solicitations." Receipt of this RFP through INTERNET should be confirmed by written notification to the contact person noted above. Parties providing this confirmation or otherwise expressing interest will be listed as an attachment to the RFP. 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. Any interested party requesting a hard copy or diskette of the solicitation must submit a written request (fax or email is acceptable) to the contact person noted above and must make its own arrangements to get the solicitation (mail, courier, etc.); USAID/Russia will not bear the cost for this purpose of courier service or other special pickup or delivery services. SIC Code 8742. Posted 11/24/98 (I-SN274434). (0328)

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