Carlton M. Bennett, Regional Contracting Officer, USAID/Dakar, Senegal, Department of State, Washington, D.C.

R -- SO1 IMPLEMENTING CONTRACTOR FOR USAID/SENEGAL STRATEGY 1998-2006 SOL 685-99-P-005 DUE 022699 POC Contact:Carlton M. Bennett, Regional Contracting Officer, USAID/Dakar, Senegal, Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20521-2130; Tel: (221) 823-1602; email: cbennett@usaid.gov The United States Agency for International Development Mission to Senegal (USAID/Senegal) is seeking the services of a contractor to implement its Private Sector strategic objective (SO1) entitled "Sustainable increases in private sector income- generating activities in selected sectors." USAID/Senegal's new assistance strategy is demand-driven. Specific Strategic Objectives (SOs) were developed in response to the expressed needs of USAID's Senegalese partners and customers and will be implemented through activities identified and requested by these partners and customers. The demand-driven approach emphasizes customer-partner ownership of the results and seeks to involve customers in all aspects of the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all activities. Each SO is designed to be implemented at two levels, the national level and the local level. The SO Contractor will be working primarily at the local level. In line with the demand-driven approach, the SO Contractor will not target groups or define which activities are to be carried out. The proposals (investment packages) presented by the Investment Units (entities such as the small and medium-size Enterprises (SMEs) and microenterprises, associations, Groupements d'interet ecomomique (GIEs), PVO/NGOs, Regional Chambers of Commerce and Regional Chambers for handicrafts, banks and the DFS) and approved by USAID/Senegal will define the activities to be carried out at the local level. The main objective of this contract is to provide the appropriate assistance and enable the local investment units to attain results and reach targets as set forth in the agreed upon investment packages. Presentation of Private Sector Strategic Objective Historically, Senegal has been one of the slowest-growing economies in Africa. However, the 1994 devaluation seems to have ushered in a new period of rapid growth. Although real GDP grew by only 2 percent in the first 12 months following the January 1994 devaluation, it accelerated to 4.8 percent in 1995, 5.6 percent in 1996 and 4.7 percent in 1997. This renewed growth has also been accompanied by reduced external and domestic imbalances. Recent improvement in Senegal's economy is neither irreversible nor automatically sustainable. The challenge is to build upon the sound macroeconomic climate, continue regulatory reforms, and leverage current economic opportunities within the context of decentralization. This will promote growth and employment, particularly in the entrepreneurial segments of the economy. USAID's strategy for assisting Senegal to achieve an improved quality of life through equitable and sustainable social and economic development focuses on the achievement of the three strategic objectives retained by the new country strategic plan. SO1 directly addresses the policy and institutional constraints that have inhibited private sector growth, employment, and income. It aims at achieving economic empowerment to the Senegalese population. Foreign and domestic small businesses and microenterprises requirean improved policy and regulatory environment, viable access to financial resources, and training in entrepreneurial and business skills. Direct support provided to businesses, business groups, and entrepreneurs is designed to provide opportunities for income-generating activities. The primary contractor will be expected to provide rapid response to requirements for short-term and long-term technical assistance in two functional areas: 1. Improvement of the access to financial services by microenterprises and small business entrepreneurs: (a) Expansion and sustainability of decentralized financial systems (DFS); (b) Awareness by potential clients of existing financial instruments that are available to them; (c) Reduction of financial risks so as to attract financial institutions to work with microenterprises and SMEs; (d) Increase of savings through improved decentralized financial systems. This functional areas focuses on improving financial interme- diation for microenterprises, SMEs, and rural enterprisesto enable them to access more financial and banking services. 2. Adoption by more microenterprises and SMEs of best technical and managerial techniques: (a) Increase and facilitation of access to market/ financing information by microenterprises and SMEs; (b) Improvement of the access to appropriate techno- logies by economic agents of microenterprises and SMEs; (c) Strengthening the capacities of businesses, associations and groups. This functional area focuses on the essential human resource skills required to generate successful enterprise activities. Building and supporting these skills among potential and practicing entrepreneurs is a key element of SO1 because even the most innovative financial services are not sufficient to spur business growth without the application of appropriate technical and managerial practices. Assistance will also be offered to support public education about how free markets operate and the appropriate role for government. In the NRM sector, activities will focus on viable, profit-making enterprises, through information on and access to appropriate and sustainable AG/NRM- based technologies for microenterprises and SMEs. USAID/Senegal intends to award an IQC contract with performance based task orders. Telephone requests for the RFP will not be honored. The issuance date of the RFP is expected to be on/or about January 22, 1999. A preproposal conference will be held in Senegal on February 8, 1999. The RFP closing date will be on/or about March 12, 1999. The publication of this notice or the issuance of a solicitation does not obligate the U.S. Government to award a contract. Posted 01/07/99 (I-SN285975). (0007)

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