Improving agricultural practices to protect Dominican Republic watersheds | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) Is this an open USAID funding opportunity I can apply to right now?

No. This notice is a sources sought / market survey. USAID published it to gauge whether there are enough qualified and interested organizations to implement the described work. It is not an open request for applications or proposals.

2) What is USAID trying to learn through this sources sought notice?

USAID is assessing the availability of capable organizations that could implement and manage a project in the Dominican Republic that raises smallholder agricultural productivity while protecting upper watershed ecosystems that supply water to major urban areas.

3) Will USAID definitely fund a project after this market survey?

No. USAID states the notice does not obligate the agency to fund anything, make an award, or pay any costs incurred by respondents to prepare submissions.

4) If USAID decides to move forward later, where would a future solicitation be announced?

USAID indicates any future solicitation would be announced separately through appropriate public channels (for example, FedBizOpps as used at the time, or Grants.gov).

5) What is the development objective behind the potential project?

The objective combines natural resource protection with improved rural livelihoods, responding to concerns about long-term water quality and availability. The Dominican Republic relies heavily on water originating in upper watersheds that supports household and industrial use, irrigation, and hydroelectric production.

6) Which areas or watersheds would the project target?

The concept targets at least two key watersheds tied to potable water supplies for Santo Domingo and Santiago, including work at the micro-watershed level in at least one municipality through land-use planning updates and implementation.

7) What kinds of agricultural systems or crops are emphasized?

USAID highlights permanent and high-value crops such as cacao and coffee, along with fruit and vegetable production, with an emphasis on improving productivity and promoting efficient and responsible water use.

8) What is the main technical approach (in plain terms)?

The technical theme is climate-smart agriculture or sustainable intensification: increasing yields and farm income while reducing negative environmental impacts, and strengthening resilience to climate change.

9) What environmental and climate risks does USAID want the project to address?

USAID specifically calls out improving resilience to climate change, reducing soil erosion and river sedimentation, limiting overuse of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, and maintaining soil fertility over time.

10) What are the two main requirement areas described by USAID?

USAID outlines (1) community-facing services and field implementation, and (2) sustainability and systems strengthening.

11) What does "community-facing services and field implementation" include?

This area includes identifying the most vulnerable zones in the target watersheds to prioritize interventions; recommending shifts in crops and farming practices to improve climate resilience and production while protecting ecosystem services; delivering technical assistance to boost crop productivity; conducting climate change awareness work tied to practical farm decisions; demonstrating integrated watershed management hands-on; and putting participation mechanisms in place so communities remain engaged and results last beyond the project.

12) What is meant by demonstrating integrated watershed management "hands-on"?

USAID indicates it is not looking only for messaging or awareness activities. The implementer is expected to demonstrate integrated watershed management methods through practical, on-the-ground approaches tied to farming, land use, and watershed protection.

13) What partnerships with water institutions are expected?

USAID expects coordination with water user associations and INDRHI (the national water resources institute) to improve irrigation water-use efficiency and to encourage a mechanism where a portion of irrigation fee revenues supports protection of upper watershed water sources, building on Payment for Ecosystem Services models (including one referenced in the Yaque del Norte basin).

14) Is municipal government collaboration part of the concept?

Yes. USAID expects collaboration with at least one municipality to update and implement an existing land-use plan in a selected micro-watershed, linking farm practices to broader territorial planning and governance.

15) What does "sustainability and systems strengthening" include?

This area includes monitoring and evaluation; building lasting capacity among communities, the private sector, and the Government of the Dominican Republic; and coordination with agencies tied to agriculture, environment, and water and sanitation services.

16) Which Dominican institutions and utilities are named for coordination?

USAID mentions coordination with entities including CAASD (Santo Domingo water utility), CORAASAN (Santiago water utility), INAPA, and INDRHI, among others.

17) Does USAID expect alignment with existing watershed initiatives?

Yes. USAID expects the project to leverage and align with existing watershed protection efforts, including water fund activities led by The Nature Conservancy in the target watersheds and Plan Yaque's Payment for Ecosystem Services approach in the Yaque del Norte watershed, as well as potential private sector contributions.

18) Could additional studies be required during implementation?

Yes. USAID notes that additional studies may be required as part of implementation.

19) What is the anticipated period of performance and funding level mentioned?

USAID anticipated a 2014 to 2016 period of performance with an estimated total funding level of USD 1.5 million, subject to availability of funds.

20) Does the notice suggest one award or multiple awards?

The notice indicates an expectation of a single award.

21) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The notice states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

22) Who was eligible to respond to this sources sought notice?

For purposes of the market survey, eligibility was effectively unrestricted. Any type of entity could express interest.

23) What was USAID asking organizations to submit?

USAID requested a short capability statement (no more than four single-sided pages) describing how the organization's experience matches the purpose and requirements.

24) What were the formatting requirements for the capability statement?

The submission was limited to four single-sided pages and required a minimum 11-point font in Arial or Times New Roman.

25) What specific content questions did USAID want respondents to address?

Respondents were asked to address: (1) which successful Dominican programs could be scaled to advance agricultural productivity, food security, watershed sustainability, and climate change adaptation; (2) what critical elements the country needs to strengthen to better integrate productivity gains with watershed management and adaptation (including policy, programming, and institutional capacity); and (3) which partnerships across government, civil society, and the private sector are already working well and could generate long-term impact for agriculture, natural resource management, and climate change adaptation.

26) How and when were responses submitted?

Submissions were to be emailed to the USAID/Dominican Republic contact by close of business on September 30, 2013.

27) Will USAID acknowledge receipt or provide feedback on capability statements?

USAID notes it may not acknowledge receipt and may not provide feedback to respondents.

28) Can USAID use the information provided in responses?

USAID states it may use non-proprietary information provided in responses.

29) Should respondents include proprietary, confidential, or sensitive information?

No. USAID instructs respondents not to include proprietary, confidential, or sensitive information.

30) Does responding to the market survey increase chances of winning a future award?

The notice only describes a market survey and does not promise any award or funding. Any later solicitation would be announced publicly through the appropriate channels.