Diaspora Invest Activity in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Award Number : AID-168-C-17-00001, Diaspora Invest Activity in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Notice Type : Notice of Intent The United States Agency for International Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina (USAID/BiH) intends to award a contract modification to Financial Markets International, Inc. (FMI) for a cost extension of approximately $185,000 to an existing contract (AID-168-C-17-00001). Contract period of performance remains the same, from April 3, 2017, through April 2, 2022. Launching a competition at this stage of the activity would result in a duplication of costs and efforts, and unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements. No solicitation package will be issued. The goal of the Diaspora Invest activity is to create new job opportunities for the citizens of BiH through increased diaspora investment. This goal will be achieved by: 1) Leveraging diaspora input, into the development of an institutional policy framework for diaspora investment; 2) Expanding diaspora direct investment by providing technical assistance and grants to eligible, early-stage SMEs and start-ups; 3) Developing a sustainable, local platform to provide business services and facilitation to potential diaspora investors. This extension for continued services under the present contract will supplement the activity with resources needed to further the progress achieved to date. It will allow USAID/BiH to conclude several on-going initiatives, building on the political trust engendered under the current award. The activities will build on the work already completed under the policy Component 1 to provide further technical assistance to the state-level ministries and agencies, entity institutions and local authorities in implementing the Diaspora Strategies. Any possible expression of interest in this additional work should be sent to the contact listed on this notice. The statutory authority permitting the award without providing full and open competition is AIDAR 706.302-70(a)(2), which says that “full and open competition need not be obtained when it would impair or otherwise have an adverse effect on programs conducted for the purpose of foreign aid, relief and rehabilitation.” It further states in AIDAR 706.302-70(b)(5) that this authority may be used for an award for the continued provision of highly specialized services when award to another resource would result in substantial additional costs to the Government or would result in unacceptable delays. No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. Please refer any questions to Ms. Lidija Kranjec, at [email protected].