U.S. Agency for International Development, Office of Emerging Markets, Economic Growth and Agricultural Development Center, Bureau for Global Affairs (G/EGAD/EH), RR 2.11-122, Washington, DC 20523

R -- 2001 EMERGING MARKETS DEVELOPMENT ADVISERS PROGRAM (EMDAP) SOL G/EGAD/EM-00-001 POC Judith Coker, Tel: 202-712-5363, Fax: 202-216-3025, E-mail: jucoker@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, jucoker@usaid.gov. Pursuant to USAID Automated Directives system (ADS) Series 303.5.5, this announcement contains information on the 2001 Emerging Markets Development Advisers Program (EMDAP) which is managed by G/EGAD/EM. USAID anticipates awarding one or more five-year cooperative agreements as a result of this announcement. USAID reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted. Application Deadline is July 28, 2000. NOTE: NO SEPARATE REQUEST FOR APPLICATION (RFA) WILL BE ISSUED ALL INFORMATION NECESSARY TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR CONSIDERATION IS CONTAINED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. Background: USAID's Office of Emerging Markets (G/EGAD/EM), among other activities, is engaged in supporting broad-based and sustainable development in USAID-recipient countries by providing technical resources which address constraints inhibiting general business development. EMDAP collaborates with organizations to field graduate business students with management experience to provide technical support to businesses in USAID-assisted countries. The business students act as advisers to host country entrepreneurs. By targeting assistance to the requirements of small to medium-sized businesses and business-serving organizations, EMDAP supports the USAID strategy of human resource capacity building as an essential element in broad-based sustainable economic growth. Since 1992, seven groups of MBA Advisers have provided assistance to more than 100 businesses and organizations in 30 USAID-assisted countries. The 109 Advisers have been midterm MBA candidates, or candidates for degrees in international relations/affairs and represent 57 US graduate business schools. The current program provides Advisers to field missions for a ten-month duration. However, USAID does not necessarily have a preference for a ten-month cycle and will accept proposals of varying duration so long as the applicant's program demonstrates progress toward the achievement of program objectives and the desired impact results. Purpose and Objectives: EMDAP is designed to promote linkages among MBA Advisers, host country businesses, US graduate business schools, USAID and the US business community. EMDAP focuses on three objectives: (1) improving management practices in small to medium-sized companies and business-serving organizations in USAID-assisted countries; (2) expanding MBA curricula to include issues of management and trade and investment in emerging and transitional markets; and (3) increasing commercial opportunities between US businesses and host country businesses. Work Assignment Placements: Work assignment placements are accomplished in collaboration with the USAID/Washington activity manager and with each cooperating USAID field mission. Advisers are selected by matching candidate credentials with the requirements of the assignments identified. Areas of preferential skills vary widely, but those most frequently required are: (1) financial planning and cost control, (2) production efficiency and quality control, (3) marketing and import/export, (4) human resource development/management, and (5) information systems development and management. Based on historical utilization of the program, USAID anticipates the placement of approximately 15-20 Advisers annually at various field missions. However, actual placement of Advisers is based on field interest in the program. EMDAP Beneficiaries and Desired Impact Results: Program beneficiaries consist of five separate, but related, entities: (1) the indigenous company or business-serving organization which receives valuable business management assistance over the program cycle; (2) The MBA Adviser who enhances his/her professional skills, develops perspective on how to conduct business in an emerging or transitional market and acquires valuable multicultural experience; (3) The US graduate business school, including students and professors, who gain understanding of emerging or transitional market business practices through direct interaction with returned Advisers; (4) the US business community which employs graduated Advisers who have acquired unique expertise abroad; and, (5) USAID which increases its capacity for developing human resources in support of broad-based, sustainable economic growth. Program Funding: As specified above, actual placement of Advisers is based solely on USAID field mission interest in the program. As such, initial funding under the agreement will cover only very minor initial start-up costs associated with program administration. Participating USAID field missions will provide funding to support the Adviser, including the Adviser's salary/stipend, travel and per diem costs (arrangements are usually made by the recipient at lower than maximum rates) and a pro-rata share of the administrative expenses associated with program operation. Proposal Format: Applicants must provide an original and two (2) copies of the following: (a) An Executive Summary, (b) Methodology for marketing and recruitment to ensure a diverse pool of qualified candidates are identified, (c) Methodology for selection ofEMDAP Advisers, (d) Methodology for pre-departure orientation, (e) Methodology for promoting the Desired Impact Results discussed above, (f) Demonstrated management skills to support project implementation and administration, (g) A five-year work-plan, (h) Applicant's experience in undertaking similar programs [Applicants must provide a list of all contracts, grants or cooperative agreements involving similar or related programs over the past three years. This list shall include a point of contact, telephone numbers, award numbers, and a brief description of the work performed.], and (i) A budget, using standard form SF424 (can be downloaded from http://info.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/forms/SF-424), with budget narrative providing detail, support, links to the proposed program, and cost-sharing arrangements, if any. [Note: Budget proposals shall include all administrative support costs necessary to support the program, including the Adviser's salary/stipend, and travel and per diem costs. The budget proposal shall utilize an estimate of fielding a total of 15 Advisers annually; five in the African region, five in the Central/South American region, and five in Eastern Europe. The Adviser's international airfare shall be budgeted at a fixed rate of $2,500 per trip.] Applicants shall limit responses to items (a)-(g) above to a total of fifteen (15) pages, using only 8.5 inch by 11 inch, single-spaced pages and number each page consecutively. Criteria: Proposals will be evaluated and ranked according to criteria that have been grouped into three categories: (1) Program Approach, (2) Management Capability, and (3) Organizational Capability. PROGRAM APPROACH (40 Points): Integrated plan to carry out program functions of marketing, recruitment, selection, placement, and orientation. Demonstrated progress toward the achievement of program objectives and the desired impact results. Cost effectiveness towards achievement of program objectives and the desired impact results. MANAGEMENT CAPABILITY (30 Points): Technical expertise of management staff. Ability to operate independently. ORGANIZATIONAL CAPABILITY (30 Points): Demonstrated successful performance under similar programs. Please send applications to: Judith Coker, USAID, G/EGAD/EM, RRB 2.11-122, Washington, DC 20523. Posted 06/28/00 (W-SN469281). (0180)

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