Opportunity Information: Apply for AID 611 A DRAFT PD
Apply for AID 611 A DRAFT PD
- The Zambia USAID Lusaka in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Community based Forest management Programs for REDD Readiness in Zambia" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 14, 2013 and posted on Oct 31, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 21, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $11,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $11,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The opportunity titled "Community based Forest management Programs for REDD Readiness in Zambia" was issued by USAID/Zambia as a market research notice tied to a draft program description, rather than as a formal call for proposals. The core idea is to find capable organizations that could manage and implement a Global Climate Change project focused on helping the Government of Zambia strengthen its national REDD strategy (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) while also improving joint, community-linked management of forests and other natural resources. In practical terms, USAID was signaling interest in partners who can help move Zambia further along the path of REDD readiness by improving how forests are governed and managed at both national and local levels, with a strong emphasis on participatory, community-based forest management approaches.
USAID laid out two immediate goals for sharing the draft program description. First, it wanted to identify potential implementers interested in Global Climate Change initiatives in Zambia, essentially mapping the field of qualified organizations. Second, it sought feedback from stakeholders on the proposed project’s objectives and expected outcomes, using comments on the draft as a way to refine the eventual program design. This means the notice functioned as an information-gathering and planning step: USAID was testing interest, assessing capabilities, and improving the program concept before deciding whether to release a full solicitation later.
Instead of requesting applications or concept notes, USAID asked interested organizations to submit a short capabilities statement. That statement needed to directly address experience relevant to REDD readiness and community forest management work in Zambia or similar contexts. USAID specifically asked respondents to summarize past work with local organizations and host government counterparts on Global Climate Change activities, experience defining and/or managing participatory forest management areas, and experience leveraging emissions-reducing technologies. The emphasis on partnership with local organizations and government entities suggests USAID was prioritizing implementers who can work through local systems, support government leadership, and deliver results through collaborative resource management structures rather than top-down enforcement models.
The submission rules were tight and highly specific, reflecting that this was meant to be a quick snapshot of qualifications rather than a full proposal. Responses could not exceed two single-sided pages total (including any attachments, CVs, or charts), had to use at least 11-point font, and be in Times New Roman or Arial. Submissions were to be emailed in Microsoft Word format to oaa_solicit_lusaka@usaid.gov by 5:00 p.m. local time on November 21, 2012. Only responses received by the deadline were to be considered.
The funding record attached to the notice indicates USAID anticipated a single award and was considering a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument, in the environment sector. The estimated total funding and the stated award ceiling were both $11,000,000, with no cost sharing or matching requirement. Eligible applicants covered a broad range, including public and state-controlled higher education institutions, private institutions of higher education, small businesses, other for-profit organizations, and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status. While those figures and categories describe what a later competitive award might look like, the key point is that the notice itself did not commit USAID to fund anything at that stage.
USAID included clear disclaimers to manage expectations and protect procurement integrity. The agency stated the notice did not obligate it to make an award, pay for any information submitted, or even acknowledge receipt of responses. USAID also reserved the right to use information provided by respondents for any legally appropriate purpose, including shaping a future solicitation. It warned that respondents should not include proprietary, confidential, or sensitive information, because USAID might incorporate non-proprietary content into subsequent solicitation documents. Finally, USAID noted that after reviewing the market research responses, it might publish a formal solicitation on FedBizOpps (now SAM.gov in current U.S. federal practice) and/or Grants.gov, and that these capability statements would not count as responses to any future solicitation.
In short, this was an early-stage USAID/Zambia market research outreach tied to a draft program description for a major climate and forestry initiative. USAID was exploring who could implement a community-based forest management program aligned with Zambia’s REDD strategy, and it invited concise evidence of relevant experience plus constructive comments to help refine the program before any formal competition was launched.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) Is this a live funding opportunity or a request for proposals?
This was not a formal call for proposals. It was a USAID/Zambia market research notice tied to a draft program description. The purpose was to gather information, identify capable organizations, and collect feedback to help refine a potential future program.
2) What is the opportunity called, and who issued it?
The notice was titled "Community based Forest management Programs for REDD Readiness in Zambia" and was issued by USAID/Zambia.
3) What was USAID trying to accomplish by releasing a draft program description?
USAID stated two immediate goals: (1) identify potential implementers interested in Global Climate Change initiatives in Zambia, and (2) solicit stakeholder feedback on the proposed objectives and expected outcomes to refine the eventual program design.
4) What was USAID asking organizations to submit?
USAID asked interested organizations to submit a short capabilities statement describing relevant experience. It did not request applications, concept notes, or full proposals under this notice.
5) What topics needed to be covered in the capabilities statement?
The capabilities statement needed to directly address experience relevant to REDD readiness and community forest management in Zambia or similar contexts. USAID specifically asked respondents to summarize: past work with local organizations and host government counterparts on Global Climate Change activities; experience defining and/or managing participatory forest management areas; and experience leveraging emissions-reducing technologies.
6) What kind of implementation approach did USAID seem to prioritize?
Based on the notice, USAID emphasized participatory, community-based forest management and joint, community-linked management of forests and other natural resources. The stated emphasis on working with local organizations and government counterparts suggests a preference for implementers who can support government leadership and operate through collaborative resource management structures.
7) What is the program concept about (in plain terms)?
The core idea described was a Global Climate Change project focused on helping the Government of Zambia strengthen its national REDD strategy (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) while improving national and local forest governance through community-linked management approaches.
8) Was USAID committing to fund a project by issuing this notice?
No. USAID included disclaimers stating the notice did not obligate the agency to make an award, pay for information submitted, or even acknowledge receipt of responses. This was an information-gathering step and did not commit USAID to funding at that stage.
9) What were the formatting and length requirements for submissions?
Responses could not exceed two single-sided pages total, including any attachments, CVs, or charts. Submissions had to use at least 11-point font and be in Times New Roman or Arial.
10) How and where were responses submitted?
Submissions were to be emailed in Microsoft Word format to oaa_solicit_lusaka@usaid.gov.
11) What was the submission deadline?
Responses were due by 5:00 p.m. local time on November 21, 2012. USAID indicated that only responses received by the deadline would be considered.
12) Were late submissions considered?
No. USAID stated that only responses received by the deadline would be considered.
13) Did USAID guarantee it would confirm receipt of submissions?
No. USAID explicitly stated it did not even have to acknowledge receipt of responses.
14) What did the funding record indicate about potential future funding levels?
The funding record attached to the notice indicated an estimated total funding of $11,000,000 and an award ceiling of $11,000,000. However, those figures described what a later competitive award might look like and did not mean USAID was committed to funding at the market research stage.
15) How many awards was USAID anticipating?
The attached funding record indicated USAID anticipated a single award.
16) What funding instrument was USAID considering?
The funding record indicated USAID was considering a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument.
17) Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The funding record indicated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
18) What sector was this opportunity associated with?
The funding record categorized it in the environment sector.
19) Who was eligible to respond or potentially apply later?
Eligible applicants were described broadly and included: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; small businesses; other for-profit organizations; and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status.
20) Could USAID use information submitted in the capabilities statement?
Yes. USAID reserved the right to use information provided by respondents for any legally appropriate purpose, including shaping a future solicitation.
21) Should organizations include proprietary or confidential information in their response?
No. USAID warned respondents not to include proprietary, confidential, or sensitive information because USAID might incorporate non-proprietary content into subsequent solicitation documents.
22) Would submitting a capabilities statement count as applying to a future solicitation?
No. USAID noted that capability statements submitted in response to the market research notice would not count as responses to any future formal solicitation.
23) Where might a future formal solicitation be published?
USAID stated that after reviewing market research responses it might publish a formal solicitation on FedBizOpps (now SAM.gov) and/or Grants.gov.
24) What stage of the procurement or assistance process was this notice?
This was an early-stage outreach and planning step. USAID was testing interest, assessing capabilities, and refining a draft program concept before deciding whether to release a full competitive solicitation later.
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