Empower - Local Credit Support Facility

The United States Government (USG), represented by the United States Agency for International Development Regional Contracting Office (RCO/Kosovo) intends to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) on behalf of its client Mission, USAID/Kosovo. A Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract for a three-year, $4,500,000 to $5,500,000 activity entitled Empower - Local Credit Support Facility to be implemented in Kosovo is anticipated. USAID anticipates making one direct award for the implementation of this activity. The primary objective of the Empower - Local Credit Support Facility activity is to create a local credit facility as a non-banking financial institution to initially provide partial loan guarantees to banks that lend in targeted sectors such as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The overarching goal is increased investment and private sector employment from increased lending by banks to the private sector that accelerates business creation and expansion. This initiative is similar to the Small Business Administration in the U.S. that provides business loan guarantees. It also addresses a key constraint to economic growth, access to credit, as identified by the USAID Economic Growth Constraint Analysis. The two objectives of the Empower - Local Credit Support Facility activity are: 1. Sustainable local credit facility issuing local credit guarantees; and 2. Increased understanding of the financial community and relevant stakeholders about financial intermediation and tools for business growth. The Empower - Local Credit Support Facility activity will be implemented in partnership with the Government of Kosovo and other donors. This will be a full and open competition and the procedures set forth in FAR Part 15 shall apply. Except for the above, no additional information regarding this planned RFP is available at this time. All necessary information will be supplied when the RFP is posted on www.fedbizopps.gov, o/a 7 business days of this notice. Questions/requests for information will not be responded to until RFP issuance. Prospective Offerors are advised that this procurement is subject to internal USAID approvals and availability of funds. This solicitation notice in no way obligates USAID to release a solicitation or to award a contract.