Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA 388 12 000004
Apply for RFA 388 12 000004
- The Bangladesh USAID Dhaka in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "USAID s Agro Inputs Project in Bangladesh" 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 Sep 19, 2012 and posted on Feb 5, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 3, 2012. (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 $15,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- 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:
USAID Bangladesh announced a competitive grant opportunity called "USAID's Agro Inputs Project in Bangladesh" under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-388-12-000004. It was offered as a five-year Cooperative Agreement, meaning the selected awardee would not only receive funding but would also work with USAID in a more hands-on, collaborative way than a standard grant. The opportunity sits in the agriculture sector and is focused on accelerating agricultural development in Bangladesh, with a strong geographic emphasis on the southern delta region, where improved farm productivity and resilient rural livelihoods are closely tied to food security and poverty reduction.
The central aim of the project is to increase agricultural production and productivity while reducing rural poverty and improving food security. USAID intended to achieve these outcomes by strengthening the market systems that supply key agricultural inputs. The project is designed around the idea that farmers can only raise yields and improve crop quality if they have reliable access to the right inputs, can trust that those inputs are genuine and effective, and know how to use them safely and appropriately. In practice, this means focusing on private sector-led solutions that improve the availability, quality, and safe usage of major farm inputs such as fertilizer, seed, and pesticides.
A major emphasis of the opportunity is direct support to private sector activities. Rather than primarily delivering inputs through government or donor distribution channels, the project would stimulate and improve the commercial ecosystem that produces, imports, distributes, and sells these products. By doing so, USAID aimed to make improvements more sustainable over time, so that input supply chains remain functional and competitive after donor funding ends. This private sector focus also signals attention to issues such as quality assurance, supply reliability, retail networks, responsible marketing, and farmer trust in suppliers.
The RFA highlights several expected benefits from better inputs and better input use. First is higher yields, which can directly translate into increased household income and improved food availability. Second is mitigation of environmental degradation at the farm level, which points to improved stewardship and safer, more efficient application of fertilizers and pesticides. Third is improved product quality, including a link to export opportunities, suggesting that the project may support input-related improvements that help farmers meet higher quality standards and potentially comply with market requirements for residue limits, traceability, or other quality benchmarks.
Another core component is farmer knowledge and consumer empowerment. USAID specifically noted the need to expand access to and understanding of agricultural inputs so farmers can become "educated consumers." This implies activities such as training, demonstrations, behavior change communication, and practical guidance on selecting appropriate products, identifying counterfeit or substandard inputs, and applying them correctly. The announcement explicitly includes both male and female farmers, signaling a gender-inclusive approach and the expectation that outreach, training, and access strategies should not be limited to men. The goal is for farmers to be able to purchase appropriate quality inputs from trusted supply sources, which also suggests efforts to strengthen last-mile retailing and farmer-facing advisory services.
In terms of award size and competitiveness, USAID expected to make one award, with an anticipated total funding range between USD 12,000,000 (floor) and USD 15,000,000 (ceiling) over the life of the agreement. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement, lowering a common barrier to entry for applicants that might not have significant non-federal resources to contribute. Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types could apply, subject to any additional eligibility language in the full announcement.
Key administrative dates show that the opportunity was posted on February 5, 2012, with an original closing date of March 20, 2012, later extended to April 3, 2012. The opportunity was archived on September 30, 2012. The awarding office was USAID Bangladesh in Dhaka. For applicants who had trouble accessing the announcement, the listed point of contact was M. Sirajam Munir, Acquisition and Assistance Specialist (phone 8855500, email smunir@usaid.gov).
Overall, the grant opportunity is best understood as a five-year, market-oriented agricultural development initiative aimed at improving how agricultural inputs are supplied, regulated through market incentives and quality practices, and ultimately used by farmers in the southern delta of Bangladesh. Its logic is straightforward: strengthen private input systems and farmer decision-making, and the results should be better productivity, reduced poverty, improved food security, less environmental harm from misuse, and better-quality agricultural products with stronger market potential.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - USAID's Agro Inputs Project in Bangladesh (RFA-388-12-000004)
1. What is the name of this USAID funding opportunity?
The opportunity is called "USAID's Agro Inputs Project in Bangladesh."
2. What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-388-12-000004.
3. Which USAID office issued this opportunity?
The awarding office is USAID Bangladesh in Dhaka.
4. What type of award is being offered?
It was offered as a five-year Cooperative Agreement, which generally means the awardee would receive funding and also work with USAID in a more hands-on, collaborative way than under a standard grant.
5. How long is the project period?
The project is structured as a five-year initiative.
6. What sector does this opportunity focus on?
This opportunity sits in the agriculture sector.
7. What is the main geographic focus of the project?
The opportunity has a strong geographic emphasis on the southern delta region of Bangladesh.
8. What is the central aim of the project?
The central aim is to increase agricultural production and productivity while reducing rural poverty and improving food security.
9. What is the project strategy for achieving these outcomes?
USAID intended to achieve these outcomes by strengthening the market systems that supply key agricultural inputs, so farmers can access the right products, trust their quality, and use them safely and appropriately.
10. What kinds of agricultural inputs are emphasized?
The opportunity highlights major farm inputs such as fertilizer, seed, and pesticides.
11. Is the project designed around private sector-led solutions?
Yes. A major emphasis is direct support to private sector activities that improve how agricultural inputs are produced, imported, distributed, and sold through commercial channels.
12. Why does the opportunity emphasize private sector input systems instead of donor distribution?
The stated intent is to stimulate and improve the commercial ecosystem so improvements are more sustainable over time, with input supply chains that remain functional and competitive after donor funding ends.
13. What kinds of supply chain or market improvements are implied by the announcement?
The description points to themes such as quality assurance, supply reliability, retail networks, responsible marketing, and farmer trust in suppliers.
14. What benefits does USAID expect from better inputs and better input use?
The RFA highlights expected benefits including higher yields, increased household income, improved food availability, mitigation of environmental degradation at the farm level, and improved product quality.
15. How does the opportunity connect agricultural inputs to environmental outcomes?
The announcement points to mitigation of environmental degradation, which implies safer and more efficient application of inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides and improved farm-level stewardship.
16. Does the project relate to export opportunities or higher-value markets?
Yes. The opportunity links improved product quality to export opportunities, suggesting input-related improvements that help farmers meet higher quality standards and potential market requirements.
17. What does "farmer knowledge and consumer empowerment" mean in this opportunity?
USAID noted the need to expand access to and understanding of agricultural inputs so farmers can become "educated consumers." This implies efforts that help farmers choose appropriate products, recognize counterfeit or substandard inputs, and apply inputs correctly and safely.
18. Are both male and female farmers included in the project approach?
Yes. The announcement explicitly includes both male and female farmers, signaling a gender-inclusive approach to outreach, training, and access strategies.
19. How many awards did USAID expect to make under this RFA?
USAID expected to make one award.
20. What is the anticipated funding range for this award?
The anticipated total funding range over the life of the agreement was USD 12,000,000 (floor) to USD 15,000,000 (ceiling).
21. Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement stated for this opportunity.
22. Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types could apply, subject to any additional eligibility language in the full announcement.
23. When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on February 5, 2012.
24. What was the original closing date, and was it extended?
The original closing date was March 20, 2012, and it was later extended to April 3, 2012.
25. When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on September 30, 2012.
26. Who was the point of contact for access issues, and how could applicants reach them?
The listed point of contact was M. Sirajam Munir, Acquisition and Assistance Specialist. Phone: 8855500. Email: smunir@usaid.gov.
27. What is the overall logic of the project as described in the announcement?
The overall logic is that strengthening private input systems and improving farmer decision-making about inputs should lead to better productivity, reduced poverty, improved food security, less environmental harm from misuse, and better-quality agricultural products with stronger market potential.
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