Ending Female Genital Cutting in Guinea

Issuance Date: December 1, 2008 Closing Date : December 15, 2008 Closing Time : 04:00PM (Conakry, Guinea Time) Subject : REQUEST FOR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS ONLY “Ending Female Genital Cutting II, in Guinea” The United States Agency for International Development in Guinea (USAID/Guinea)is seeking proposals from qualified offerors to implement a new development assistance project. The “Ending Female Genital Cutting in Guinea II” will contribute to USAID/Guinea’s single Strategic Objective (SO), “Advanced Democratic Governance” and to the new foreign assistance framework objective, “Investing in People.” Female Genital Cutting (FGC)has been recognized by international bodies as a harmful practice and a violation of the human rights of girls and women. It is the U.S. Government’s (USG) goal to improve human rights in Guinea by developing a broader understanding and increased protection of basic human rights. USAID/Guinea has adopted a multisectoral approach to reaching its strategic objective encompassing the traditional development sectors of health, education and democracy and governance. This new project, as with the majority of the Mission’s activities, will have a Democratic/Governance (D/G) focus, by strengthening civil society knowledge, behavior, and participation, and thereby improving the Government of Guinea’s (GOG) accountability, transparency, and efficiency in all systems, particularly the health services sector. AT this time, the project is anticipated to be a two-year contract award, for an estimated budget of $1.5 million. USAID anticipates the issuance of a Request for Proposals(RFP)on this subject and we seek comments and questions on the attached Statement of Work from interested U.S. and non-U.S. non-governmental or profit organizations or private firms. USAID reserves the right to use any comments received in response to this request in its future plans and documents; however, USAID is not obligated to do so. USAID reserves the right to change this draft, based on comments received and its own internal review, prior to issuance of the RFP itself. Issuance of this draft for comment does not obligate USAID to issue a RFP on this subject. All expenses incurred in responding to this request for comment shall be the responsibility of the individual or organization which provides the comments and/or questions. The preferred method of distribution of USAID’s RFP is via the Internet. This request for questions/comments and any future Any prospective offeror who has comments on this request for questions/comments should submit them in writing to the undersigned at [email protected] and to Mr. Babacar Thioune at [email protected], by the closing date specified above Issuance of this request for questions/comments does not commit the Government to the issuance of a future RFP. Thank you for your interest in USAID programs. Sincerely, Lawrence Bogus Regional Contracting Officer USAID