U.S. Agency for International Development, M/OP/A/AOT, Room 7.10-023, RRB, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20523-7101

U -- ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RONALD H. BROWN INSTITUTE FOR SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN BUSINESSES SOL M/OP-00-826 DUE 060700 POC Melita E. Yearwood, Tel: 202-712-5893, E-mail: meyearwood@usaid.gov, Fax: 202-216-3052/Contracting Officer: Michael Walsh, Tel: 202-712-1205, E-mail: mwalsh@usaid.gov WEB: http://www.info.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/announce/cbd, http://www.info.usaid.gov. E-MAIL: http://www.info.usaid.gov, meyearwood@usaid.gov. NOTE: This is the 2nd CBD Notice on this subject. The 1st CBD Notice was published in the December 24, 1998 issue under RFA No. M/OP-99-354. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Bureau for Africa, Office of Sustainable Development, Strategic Analysis Division, is seeking applications for a four (4) year cooperative agreement from qualifying U.S. organizations to establish the Ronald H. Brown Institute. This initiative is being undertaken in conjunction with the Ronald H. Brown Foundation (www.rhbf.org). The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to accelerate Sub-Saharan Africa's (SSA) private sector development by improving African business development and linkages with U.S. firms. USAID's Bureau for Africa intends to develop a "Ronald H. Brown Institute" (RBI) to implement a program of supportive internships, institutional exchanges, workshops and seminars. The program of the proposed cooperative agreement is to develop the RBI to implement: (a) a program of internships for historically and economically disadvantaged African business persons to be trained primarily in USA firms in Africa emphasizing skills in vital sectors and key occupations; (b) an annual program of institutional exchanges, workshops, and seminars to compliment the internships with the same objectives as the internships, namely, accelerated SSA private sector development and improved African business linkages with USA enterprises; (c) mobilization of significant additional resources from extra USAID sources such as the private sector or foundations to compliment the $3 million provided by USAID; and (d) development of an adequate endowment to fund the specified RBI program following the assumption of full responsibility for the RBI by the ultimate takeover organization. The takeover organization could be a newly established organization, but is most likely to be an existing Southern Africa Business-oriented, non-profit, non-governmental organization, foundation, association or university. The endowment would consistof non-USAID resources mobilized, plus any residual USAID funds remaining after developmental costs are deducted from USAID's $3 million contribution. The initial focus for the RBI would be Southern Africa, although after the RBI program proves cost-effective, the program would be expanded to include all SSA countries with normal diplomatic relations with the USA. Applications will be considered from a wide range of organizations that include non-profit, non-governmental, for-profit and private voluntary organizations, consulting groups, colleges and universities (including those historically Black), foundations, international organizations, governmental technical assistance programs, banks, and business associations in Africa and the USA. NOTE: Although proposals are welcomed from for-profit organizations, USAID's policy is not to award fees or profits through grants or cooperative agreements. Applicants and/or their proposed collaborators must demonstrate their competence and expertise in the implementation of related activities, including fundraising. A Request for Application (RFA) will be issued after April 6, 2000. The closing date for submission of proposals will be approximately sixty (60) days from the actual issuance date and will be specified in the RFA. All responsible sources may submit a proposal, which shall be considered by USAID. The preferred method of distribution of USAID procurement information is via the Internet or by request of a solicitation on a 3.5" floppy disk (Word 97 format). This CBD Notice can be viewed and downloaded using the Agency website. The worldwide web address is http://www.info.usaid.gov. Select Business and Procurement Opportunities form the home page, then "USAID Procurements". On the following screen, select "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. Only in instances where Internet access or utilization of diskettes are not possible will a hard copy of the RFA be distributed upon request. Interested offerors may request a hard copy by submitting a written request to the contact point noted above. A preproposal conference to clarify issues, is anticipated to be held in Washington, D.C. in late April/early May. The results of this conference will be issued to all entities that have notified Ms. Yearwood of their receipt of the RFA. Posted 04/03/00 (W-SN440543). (0094)

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