Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OAA 16 000012
Apply for RFA OAA 16 000012
- The USAID in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Energy Regulatory Partnership Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 09, 2016 and posted on Mar 09, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by This is a pre-notice.. (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 $24,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Energy Regulatory Partnership Program is a planned USAID funding opportunity (currently announced as a pre-notice) focused on improving how energy regulators operate in countries that receive USAID assistance. The central goal is to strengthen the capacity of energy sector regulatory authorities so they can carry out their legal mandates more effectively, attract and manage private investment in the power sector, and protect consumer interests at the same time. A major emphasis is placed on building regulatory frameworks that encourage clean energy investment, including renewable generation and demand-side management measures that improve efficiency and reduce system costs.
USAID, through its Bureau for Economic Growth, Education, and Environment (Office of Energy and Infrastructure), expects to make one five-year cooperative agreement under this opportunity. A cooperative agreement generally implies substantial involvement by the agency during implementation, so the awardee should anticipate close collaboration with USAID as the program is carried out. The stated maximum funding level (award ceiling) is $24,000,000. The opportunity is listed as an earmark in the funding opportunity data, and the activity category is energy.
The program scope is broad and organized around several types of activities that may be included in the eventual Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO). One major component is bilateral regulatory partnerships, designed to connect regulatory agencies and ministries in USAID-assisted countries with more experienced regulatory bodies from the United States, Europe, and also other countries that may have relevant experience. The intent is practical exchange: sharing approaches, lessons learned, and tools that regulators use to set tariffs, design market rules, oversee utilities, integrate new generation, and ensure reliability and consumer protection.
Another potential component is regional regulatory partnerships. This area is aimed at strengthening regional coordination and the regulatory capacity needed for cross-border electricity trade. In practice, that can include harmonizing technical and commercial rules, supporting regional power pools, and building the institutional arrangements that allow multiple countries to trade power reliably and transparently. The underlying idea is that regional trade can reduce costs, improve reliability, and make it easier to integrate variable renewable energy by balancing resources across a wider geography, but it requires regulators who can manage the rules and oversight needed for interconnected systems.
Technical assistance is also highlighted as a core program area and is described in flexible terms. Examples include placing embedded advisors within counterpart institutions, setting up job-shadowing arrangements, and providing direct support to draft, review, or strengthen policies, laws, regulations, manuals, and procedures. Technical assistance can also cover advising on international best practices, running workshops, assessing how well a particular regulatory instrument is working, and designing improved regulatory approaches. This signals that the program is not only about training but also about hands-on institutional change, where regulators may receive tailored support to implement new rules, improve decision-making processes, and operationalize reforms.
Training is listed as another possible activity stream, focused on building the skills of energy regulatory staff in USAID-assisted countries. While the pre-notice does not specify training formats, this typically aligns with structured courses, workshops, peer learning, and possibly certification-style programs that target areas such as tariff methodology, utility performance regulation, licensing, grid integration of renewables, consumer protection, dispute resolution, and regulatory impact analysis.
The opportunity also emphasizes knowledge management, which may include producing original research, developing model documents, and compiling best practices. This component suggests deliverables that can be reused across countries and regions, such as template regulations, guidance notes, case studies, benchmarking analyses, or toolkits for topics like renewable energy procurement, net metering or distributed generation rules, performance-based regulation, and DSM program oversight.
From an eligibility standpoint, the listing states the competition is unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of entity, subject to any clarifications that would appear later in the full NFO. However, it is important that this posting is only a pre-notice: USAID is signaling its intent to release an NFO in the future, but it is not yet accepting applications. The agency also states it will not respond to questions or requests for information until the NFO is formally issued. The eventual NFO will still depend on internal approvals and the availability of funds, and USAID is explicit that this pre-notice does not represent a commitment to make an award or reimburse any proposal preparation costs. Interested applicants are expected to monitor the official posting site for the release of the NFO and any further instructions, deadlines, or application requirements.
Energy Regulatory Partnership Program (USAID) - FAQs
1) What is the Energy Regulatory Partnership Program?
The Energy Regulatory Partnership Program is a planned USAID funding opportunity (currently announced only as a pre-notice) focused on improving how energy regulators operate in countries that receive USAID assistance. The program is designed to strengthen the capacity of energy sector regulatory authorities so they can carry out their legal mandates more effectively.
2) What is the main goal of this opportunity?
The central goal is to strengthen the capacity of energy sector regulatory authorities so they can: (1) implement their legal mandates more effectively, (2) attract and manage private investment in the power sector, and (3) protect consumer interests at the same time.
3) What priorities does the program emphasize related to clean energy?
A major emphasis is on building regulatory frameworks that encourage clean energy investment. This includes support for renewable generation and demand-side management (DSM) measures that improve efficiency and reduce system costs.
4) Which USAID office is associated with this opportunity?
USAID, through its Bureau for Economic Growth, Education, and Environment, Office of Energy and Infrastructure, expects to make an award under this opportunity.
5) What type of award is USAID expecting to make?
USAID expects to make one five-year cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement generally implies substantial involvement by USAID during implementation, so the awardee should anticipate close collaboration with the agency while carrying out program activities.
6) How many awards does USAID expect to make?
Based on the pre-notice, USAID expects to make one award.
7) What is the anticipated period of performance?
The anticipated period of performance is five years.
8) What is the maximum funding amount available under this opportunity?
The stated maximum funding level (award ceiling) is $24,000,000.
9) What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is energy.
10) Is this opportunity an earmark?
Yes. The opportunity is listed as an earmark in the funding opportunity data.
11) Is the program limited to one country or is it broader?
The scope described is broad and is focused on countries that receive USAID assistance, with activity concepts that include both bilateral and regional approaches.
12) What are "bilateral regulatory partnerships" in this program?
Bilateral regulatory partnerships are intended to connect regulatory agencies and ministries in USAID-assisted countries with more experienced regulatory bodies from the United States, Europe, and other countries that may have relevant experience. The focus is on practical exchange of approaches, lessons learned, and tools.
13) What kinds of regulatory topics might bilateral partnerships cover?
The pre-notice indicates partnerships may involve sharing tools and methods used by regulators to set tariffs, design market rules, oversee utilities, integrate new generation, and ensure reliability and consumer protection.
14) What are "regional regulatory partnerships" in this program?
Regional regulatory partnerships aim to strengthen regional coordination and the regulatory capacity needed for cross-border electricity trade. This can involve harmonizing technical and commercial rules, supporting regional power pools, and building institutional arrangements that enable reliable and transparent multi-country power trade.
15) Why does the program emphasize cross-border electricity trade?
The pre-notice highlights that regional trade can reduce costs, improve reliability, and make it easier to integrate variable renewable energy by balancing resources across a wider geography. It also notes that achieving these benefits requires regulators who can manage rules and oversight for interconnected systems.
16) What kinds of technical assistance (TA) activities might be supported?
Technical assistance is described flexibly and may include embedded advisors in counterpart institutions, job-shadowing arrangements, and direct support to draft, review, or strengthen policies, laws, regulations, manuals, and procedures. It may also include advising on international best practices, running workshops, assessing how a regulatory instrument is performing, and designing improved regulatory approaches.
17) Is this program only about training workshops?
No. While training is listed as a possible activity stream, the pre-notice also emphasizes hands-on institutional support, such as developing and strengthening regulatory instruments and improving decision-making processes and implementation of reforms.
18) What training topics are suggested by the pre-notice?
While the pre-notice does not specify formats, it suggests training that builds the skills of regulatory staff in areas such as tariff methodology, utility performance regulation, licensing, grid integration of renewables, consumer protection, dispute resolution, and regulatory impact analysis.
19) What does "knowledge management" mean in the context of this opportunity?
Knowledge management may include producing original research, developing model documents, and compiling best practices. The pre-notice suggests reusable deliverables such as template regulations, guidance notes, case studies, benchmarking analyses, or toolkits.
20) What kinds of knowledge products are specifically mentioned?
Examples include toolkits or model documents related to renewable energy procurement, net metering or distributed generation rules, performance-based regulation, and DSM program oversight.
21) Who is eligible to apply?
The listing states the competition is unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of entity, subject to any clarifications that may appear later in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO).
22) Can applications be submitted now?
No. This posting is only a pre-notice. USAID is signaling its intent to release an NFO in the future, but it is not yet accepting applications.
23) Will USAID answer questions about the opportunity now?
No. USAID states it will not respond to questions or requests for information until the NFO is formally issued.
24) What is an NFO and why does it matter?
The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) is the formal solicitation that would include official application instructions, deadlines, requirements, and any eligibility clarifications. The pre-notice indicates the NFO is expected later, after internal steps are completed.
25) Is USAID guaranteed to issue the NFO and make an award?
No. The pre-notice states that the eventual NFO depends on internal approvals and the availability of funds. USAID is explicit that the pre-notice does not represent a commitment to make an award.
26) Will USAID reimburse costs incurred to prepare an application?
No. USAID explicitly states that this pre-notice does not represent a commitment to reimburse any proposal preparation costs.
27) Where should interested applicants look for updates and the eventual NFO?
Interested applicants are expected to monitor the official posting site for the release of the NFO and any further instructions, deadlines, or application requirements.
28) What should applicants expect about USAID involvement during implementation?
Because the anticipated instrument is a cooperative agreement, the awardee should anticipate substantial USAID involvement and close collaboration throughout implementation.
29) What kinds of institutions are expected to participate in partnerships?
The program description references partnerships involving regulatory agencies and ministries in USAID-assisted countries, and more experienced regulatory bodies from the United States, Europe, and other countries with relevant experience.
30) What outcomes is the program trying to improve in the power sector?
The program aims to help regulators improve effectiveness and governance in ways that support private investment, protect consumers, enable reliable power systems, and establish frameworks that facilitate clean energy and efficiency measures that can reduce system costs.
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