Opportunity Information: Apply for AID RFI 612 14 00001
Apply for AID RFI 612 14 00001
- The Agency for International Development in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fisheries Integration of Society and Habitats (FISH) Activity" 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 Feb 13, 2014 and posted on Dec 18, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 20, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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 Fisheries Integration of Society and Habitats (FISH) Activity is a planned USAID/Malawi initiative focused on environment and natural resource outcomes, specifically tied to fisheries and the way fishing communities interact with aquatic habitats. At the time of this notice, USAID is not yet asking organizations to submit proposals or applications. Instead, the agency is circulating a draft program description and requesting public comments to help shape the final design before a formal solicitation is released. In practical terms, this is an early market-research and stakeholder-input step where USAID is signaling what it intends to fund and inviting feedback on the objectives, approach, and key elements.
This opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number AID RFI 612 14 00001, and the label "RFI" reflects the nature of the posting: it is a request for information and comments rather than a competitive application round. The opportunity category and instrument type are both marked as "Other," which is common when an agency is not yet specifying whether the eventual award will be a contract, cooperative agreement, or grant. The activity falls under the Environment funding activity category and is associated with CFDA 98.001, which covers USAID foreign assistance programs overseas. The notice also indicates that cost sharing or matching is expected, meaning organizations interested in the eventual solicitation should anticipate contributing their own resources (cash and/or in-kind) alongside USAID funding, though the specific cost-share level would typically be defined later in the formal solicitation documents.
USAID describes the FISH document as a draft that lays out the current thinking on program objectives and core design features. While the notice does not provide the detailed objectives in the excerpted text, the title and framing strongly suggest an integrated approach that links ecological habitat considerations with social and community factors in fisheries management. Programs of this type commonly aim to strengthen sustainable fisheries governance, reduce environmental degradation in freshwater or lake systems, support community-based or co-management structures, improve compliance and monitoring, and align livelihoods with conservation outcomes. The emphasis on "integration of society and habitats" implies that the activity is likely to address both human systems (institutions, behavior, incentives, enforcement, livelihoods, gender and community participation) and biophysical systems (habitat protection, ecosystem health, and the environmental conditions that underpin fish stocks). The draft program description is therefore meant to communicate how USAID is thinking about that combined social-ecological problem set in Malawi and what kinds of interventions might be prioritized.
In terms of funding, the posting shows an estimated total funding amount of 0 and award ceiling and floor values of 0. This typically does not mean there will be no funding; it usually means USAID had not yet finalized the expected budget at the time of the RFI posting, or it chose not to publish an estimate during the comment stage. Similarly, the eligibility field is described as "Unrestricted," indicating that, at least for the purposes of providing comments on the draft, participation is open to any type of entity, subject to any additional eligibility notes that might appear in the full announcement. When the formal solicitation is released later, the eligibility rules may become more specific depending on USAID's procurement or assistance strategy.
The key timing details show the posting date of December 18, 2013, with a closing date for comments of January 20, 2014. USAID/Malawi stated its intent to issue a solicitation for FISH within the next few months after the RFI period, meaning that organizations interested in competing would be expected to monitor USAID and Grants.gov communications for the later, official request for applications or proposals. Until that formal solicitation is issued, this notice should be treated strictly as a planning and feedback opportunity rather than an invitation to submit a full technical or cost proposal.
For parties who could not access the full announcement electronically or who had questions about obtaining the materials, the notice provides a Mission point of contact: Gideon Suya, Acquisition and Assistance Specialist at USAID/Malawi, with phone number +265 1 772 455. This contact detail reinforces that the immediate action requested by USAID was the submission of comments on the draft activity design, which is often a useful moment for implementers, local organizations, and technical experts to highlight on-the-ground realities, suggest measurable outcomes, flag risks, and propose partnership structures that could improve effectiveness once the activity moves into procurement.
Fisheries Integration of Society and Habitats (FISH) Activity (USAID/Malawi) - FAQs
1) What is the FISH Activity?
The Fisheries Integration of Society and Habitats (FISH) Activity is a planned USAID/Malawi initiative focused on environmental and natural resource outcomes related to fisheries and how fishing communities interact with aquatic habitats in Malawi. The framing suggests an integrated approach that considers both the human side of fisheries (communities, institutions, behavior, livelihoods) and the ecological side (habitat and ecosystem conditions that support fish stocks).
2) Is USAID currently accepting proposals or applications for FISH?
No. At the time of this notice, USAID is not asking organizations to submit proposals or applications. USAID is circulating a draft program description and requesting public comments to help shape the final design before a formal solicitation is released.
3) What does “RFI” mean in this opportunity?
“RFI” stands for Request for Information. This posting is a request for information and comments rather than a competitive funding round. It is part of an early planning and market-research phase where USAID signals what it intends to fund and invites feedback on objectives, approach, and key elements.
4) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this posting?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is AID RFI 612 14 00001.
5) What is USAID asking for right now?
USAID is requesting public comments on a draft program description. The intent is to use stakeholder input to refine the activity design before releasing the official solicitation.
6) What is the main purpose of submitting comments on the draft?
Submitting comments gives organizations and stakeholders a chance to influence the final design. This is often the moment to share on-the-ground realities, suggest measurable outcomes, flag potential risks, and propose partnership structures or implementation approaches that could improve effectiveness once the activity moves into a formal competition.
7) What sector or theme does this activity fall under?
The activity falls under the Environment funding activity category and focuses on fisheries and aquatic habitats, with an emphasis on the relationship between fishing communities and the ecosystems they depend on.
8) What does the title “Integration of Society and Habitats” imply?
It implies a combined social-ecological approach. Based on the notice description, the activity is likely to consider human systems (institutions, incentives, governance, enforcement, livelihoods, community participation) alongside biophysical systems (habitat protection, ecosystem health, and environmental conditions that underpin fish stocks).
9) Are the detailed objectives and activities listed in the notice excerpt?
No. The excerpted text does not provide detailed objectives. It indicates the document is a draft that lays out current thinking on program objectives and core design features, and that USAID is seeking comments to shape the final version.
10) What kinds of interventions are commonly associated with programs like this?
While the notice does not list final interventions, it notes that programs of this type commonly aim to strengthen sustainable fisheries governance, reduce environmental degradation in freshwater or lake systems, support community-based or co-management structures, improve compliance and monitoring, and align livelihoods with conservation outcomes.
11) What is the opportunity category and instrument type?
Both the opportunity category and instrument type are marked as “Other.” This is common at the RFI stage when the agency has not yet specified whether the eventual award will be a contract, cooperative agreement, or grant.
12) Does the posting indicate how much funding will be available?
No specific funding amount is provided in the posting. The estimated total funding amount is shown as 0, and the award ceiling and floor are also shown as 0. This typically reflects that USAID had not finalized the budget or chose not to publish an estimate during the comment stage, rather than indicating that no funding will ever be available.
13) Is cost sharing or matching required?
The notice indicates that cost sharing or matching is expected. This means organizations interested in the eventual solicitation should anticipate contributing their own resources (cash and/or in-kind) alongside USAID funding. The exact cost-share level would typically be defined later in the formal solicitation documents.
14) Who is eligible to respond to this RFI?
The eligibility field is described as “Unrestricted,” indicating that, for the purposes of providing comments on the draft, participation is open to any type of entity, subject to any additional eligibility notes that might appear in the full announcement.
15) Will eligibility rules change later when the official solicitation is released?
They might. The notice explains that while eligibility is “Unrestricted” for the comment stage, eligibility rules for the formal solicitation may become more specific depending on USAID’s procurement or assistance strategy.
16) What is the CFDA number associated with this activity?
The activity is associated with CFDA 98.001, which covers USAID foreign assistance programs overseas.
17) What are the key dates for this RFI?
The posting date is December 18, 2013, and the closing date for comments is January 20, 2014.
18) When does USAID expect to issue the formal solicitation?
USAID/Malawi stated its intent to issue a solicitation for FISH within the next few months after the RFI period. Interested organizations should monitor USAID and Grants.gov communications for the later, official request for applications or proposals.
19) Should organizations submit a technical proposal or budget now?
No. Until the formal solicitation is issued, this notice should be treated strictly as a planning and feedback opportunity rather than an invitation to submit a full technical or cost proposal.
20) Who is the point of contact for questions or for obtaining materials?
The notice provides a Mission point of contact: Gideon Suya, Acquisition and Assistance Specialist at USAID/Malawi, phone +265 1 772 455.
21) What should an interested organization do if it wants to compete later?
Based on the notice, the appropriate steps are to (1) review the draft program description (if available), (2) submit comments by the stated deadline, and (3) monitor USAID and Grants.gov for the formal solicitation that will follow.
22) What is the practical significance of this notice for implementers and stakeholders?
This notice signals USAID’s funding intent and provides an early opportunity to shape program design. It can be a valuable chance for implementers, local organizations, and technical experts to influence objectives and approaches before requirements are finalized in an official competitive solicitation.
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