Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA294 2008 011
Apply for RFA294 2008 011
- The West Bank, Gaza USAID West Bank in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Emergency Water and Sanitation and Other Infrastructure Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001 USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 21, 2008 and posted on Apr 30, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 9, 2008. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- U.S. Non Governmental Organizations (USNGOs) and Public International Organizations (PIOs)
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Opportunity Summary:
The Emergency Water and Sanitation and Other Infrastructure Program was a USAID/West Bank and Gaza grant opportunity (RFA No. 294-2008-011) aimed at delivering rapid, emergency-style infrastructure support in the West Bank and Gaza, with the main emphasis on water and sanitation. It was framed as a quick-response mechanism for urgent humanitarian and service-delivery gaps affecting Palestinian communities, while also supporting broader development priorities where basic infrastructure was a limiting factor.
The opportunity focused on four core problem areas: a critical shortage of materials needed to repair, upgrade, and expand water and sanitation networks; high levels of drinking water loss (for example, leakage and system inefficiencies); inadequate sanitation and sewage collection/distribution systems; and broader infrastructure and service-delivery weaknesses that slow or prevent economic growth and progress in other sectors. USAID positioned the program as a way to intervene quickly when emergencies arise, especially when failing infrastructure threatens health, livelihoods, or community stability.
In practical terms, the program was intended to finance rehabilitation, expansion, and upgrading of water distribution and sewage systems, as well as direct delivery of potable water to communities in need. Typical activities mentioned included installing new pipes for potable water or sewage, repairing broken water and sewer lines, and repairing or supporting small pumping systems. Beyond immediate repairs, USAID also emphasized high-priority work in water conservation and community sanitation, suggesting the program would address both urgent breakdowns and select preventive or efficiency improvements that reduce future losses and risks.
Although water and sanitation were the primary targets, the solicitation made clear that the awardee could also be asked to implement other infrastructure projects as needed, particularly those requested by other USAID programs. This included infrastructure that supports democracy and governance initiatives, functioning health systems, improved human capacity (such as education-related facilities), economic recovery and growth, and other public facilities. The program was designed to be flexible so USAID could channel support into community-level infrastructure that removed bottlenecks to service delivery and development outcomes.
USAID highlighted that applicants would need strong operational capacity in difficult and unstable environments, including the ability to work under changing conditions, political uncertainty, and conflict-zone constraints. Because of this, the notice recommended building partnerships, especially between the lead recipient and organizations with hands-on construction capability (including commercial construction firms), so that a response team and implementation mechanism could be mobilized quickly when emergencies occur. The underlying expectation was that a consortium or partnership with diverse technical strengths would be better equipped to deliver fast, practical results.
The funding instrument was a cooperative agreement, meaning USAID anticipated active involvement during implementation rather than a fully hands-off grant relationship. The award ceiling was listed as up to $50,000,000, with an award floor of $50,000, and cost sharing or matching was required. Eligibility was limited to U.S. Non-Governmental Organizations (USNGOs) and Public International Organizations (PIOs). The assistance listing referenced CFDA 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas), and the funding activity category was described as water, sanitation, and other infrastructure.
Administratively, the announcement indicated the full solicitation would be made available only through Grants.gov, with no alternative distribution method, and applicants were responsible for ensuring they received the complete electronic package. The original posting date was April 30, 2008, with a closing date of June 9, 2008 (and an archive date of July 9, 2008). Questions were directed to Hourig DelDelian, Senior Contract Specialist, with contact details provided in the notice, and USAID anticipated issuing the RFA around April 29, 2008 following the pre-solicitation notice dated April 23, 2008.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the Emergency Water and Sanitation and Other Infrastructure Program?
It was a USAID/West Bank and Gaza grant opportunity (RFA No. 294-2008-011) designed as a rapid, emergency-style mechanism to address urgent infrastructure needs in the West Bank and Gaza. The primary emphasis was water and sanitation, with the broader goal of quickly filling humanitarian and service-delivery gaps affecting Palestinian communities, while also supporting development priorities where basic infrastructure was constraining progress.
2) What was the main purpose of this program?
The program was positioned as a quick-response capability for situations where infrastructure failures or gaps create immediate risks to health, livelihoods, or community stability. It aimed to enable fast intervention when emergencies arise, especially when water and sanitation systems are failing or insufficient.
3) Which geographic area did the opportunity target?
The opportunity targeted the West Bank and Gaza.
4) What were the core problem areas the opportunity intended to address?
USAID highlighted four core problem areas:
- A critical shortage of materials needed to repair, upgrade, and expand water and sanitation networks.
- High levels of drinking water loss (for example, leakage and system inefficiencies).
- Inadequate sanitation and sewage collection/distribution systems.
- Broader infrastructure and service-delivery weaknesses that slow or prevent economic growth and progress in other sectors.
5) What kinds of water and sanitation activities were envisioned?
The program was intended to finance rehabilitation, expansion, and upgrading of water distribution and sewage systems, as well as direct delivery of potable water to communities in need. Examples of typical activities included installing new pipes for potable water or sewage, repairing broken water and sewer lines, and repairing or supporting small pumping systems.
6) Did the program include work beyond emergency repairs?
Yes. In addition to urgent repairs and rapid response, USAID emphasized high-priority work in water conservation and community sanitation. This suggests the program could support select preventive or efficiency improvements intended to reduce future losses and risks (for example, addressing leakage and improving sanitation practices or infrastructure where prioritized).
7) Was this opportunity limited only to water and sanitation projects?
No. While water and sanitation were the primary targets, the solicitation stated the awardee could also be asked to implement other infrastructure projects as needed, particularly those requested by other USAID programs.
8) What other types of infrastructure could be included?
The notice indicated the program could support infrastructure tied to broader USAID priorities, including democracy and governance initiatives, functioning health systems, improved human capacity (such as education-related facilities), economic recovery and growth, and other public facilities. The intent was flexibility to remove community-level infrastructure bottlenecks that affect service delivery and development outcomes.
9) Why did USAID emphasize flexibility in this program?
The program was framed as a quick-response mechanism for changing and urgent needs. Flexibility allowed USAID to channel resources into priority community-level infrastructure when emergencies occur or when a basic infrastructure limitation is blocking delivery of essential services or progress in other sectors.
10) What type of funding instrument was used?
The funding instrument was a cooperative agreement. This means USAID anticipated active involvement during implementation rather than a fully hands-off relationship.
11) What was the funding range for awards under this opportunity?
The award ceiling was listed as up to $50,000,000, and the award floor was $50,000.
12) Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The notice stated that cost sharing or matching was required.
13) Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to U.S. Non-Governmental Organizations (USNGOs) and Public International Organizations (PIOs).
14) What capabilities did USAID expect applicants to have?
USAID emphasized strong operational capacity in difficult and unstable environments, including the ability to work under changing conditions, political uncertainty, and conflict-zone constraints. The overall expectation was that the awardee could mobilize quickly and implement effectively in a challenging operating context.
15) Did USAID encourage partnerships or consortia?
Yes. The notice recommended building partnerships, particularly between the lead recipient and organizations with hands-on construction capability, including commercial construction firms. The rationale was that a consortium with diverse technical strengths would be better equipped to mobilize a response team and implementation mechanism quickly when emergencies occur.
16) What was the assistance listing (CFDA) referenced in the notice?
The assistance listing referenced CFDA 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas).
17) How was the funding activity category described?
The funding activity category was described as water, sanitation, and other infrastructure.
18) How could applicants access the full solicitation?
The announcement stated the full solicitation would be made available only through Grants.gov, with no alternative distribution method. Applicants were responsible for ensuring they received the complete electronic package.
19) What were the key dates for this opportunity?
The original posting date was April 30, 2008. The closing date was June 9, 2008. The archive date was July 9, 2008. The notice also indicated USAID anticipated issuing the RFA around April 29, 2008, following a pre-solicitation notice dated April 23, 2008.
20) Who was the point of contact for questions?
Questions were directed to Hourig DelDelian, Senior Contract Specialist, with contact details provided in the notice.
21) What did USAID identify as typical on-the-ground interventions?
Typical interventions named in the notice included installing new potable water or sewage piping, repairing broken water and sewer lines, and repairing or supporting small pumping systems, as well as delivering potable water directly to communities in need.
22) What outcomes was USAID trying to protect or improve through rapid infrastructure support?
The opportunity emphasized protecting health and community stability when failing infrastructure creates urgent risks, supporting livelihoods and service delivery, and reducing constraints that slow economic growth and progress in other sectors when basic infrastructure is a limiting factor.
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