DESCRIPTION: The Government of the Philippines (GOP) has undertaken a massive counter-terrorism effort in Southern Mindanao. In support of GOP's efforts, USAID/Philippines proposes to implement a 5-year program aimed at accelerating economic growth throughout Mindanao with a special focus on the conflict-affected areas, including the 5 provinces that comprise the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The proposed 5-year program called Growth with Equity in Mindanao II (GEM II), is envisioned to be a follow-on to the current GEM I which has been operational since 1996 and shall end in September 2002. GEM I has achieved many positive impacts. GEM II shall build upon and evolve from them. As in GEM I, the proposed program shall be an "umbrella" program under which a wide range of activities shall be carried out. These activities may include, but shall not be limited to: a subprogram aimed at assisting thousands of former combatants of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to diversify their production activities. Under GEM I, these former combatants received basic agricultural production assistance, a subprogram to construct small community infrastructure facilities such as water systems, water systems, culverts, warehouses, etc. in several hundred villages in the conflict-affected areas; a sub-program aimed at improving governance capability of the ARMM Government in a number of key areas; a sub-program aimed at establishing or strengthening 10-15 key Business Support Organizations (producer associations, chambers of commerce, etc.) in the conflict-affected areas; and a sub-program focused on education sector intervention such as reducing drop-outs from primary and secondary schools in the conflicted-affected areas. The contractor will also be expected to be alert for "targets of opportunity" as they emerge during the course of the GEM-2 Program, and to focus program resources on those areas. USAID anticipates awarding a cost-reimbursable contract for the 5-year program. Detailed information about this soliciation is contained in the RFP that will be available on or about May 10, 2002. To obtain the RFP, send your written requests to the Office of Regional Procurement, USAID/Philippines, PSC 502 Box 1, FPO AP 96515-1200 or Office of Regional Procurement, USAID/Philippines, 8/F PNB Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City 1308, Philippines. You may also send your requests by e-mail to
[email protected] referencing the above RFP. Our telephone nos. are (632) 552-9923 and (632) 552-9924. Our fax nos. are: (632) 551-9297 and (632) 552-9999. The preferred method of distribution of USAID Acquisition and Assistance (A&A) information is via the internet. By exception, USAID can provide the solicitation on a 3.5 floppy disk (MS Word 97 format), via e-mail, or in hard copy. The notice can be viewed and downloaded using this website. The solicitation, once issued, can also be downloaded from this website. You are encouraged to access the solicitation via the internet as this eliminates possible delays associated with mailing in general, and from overseas Missions, in particular. As the recipient of this pre-solicitation notice, you are responsible for ensuring that you have received it from the internet in its entirety. USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes. Further, be aware that amendments to solicitations may be issued and will be posted on the same internet site from which you downloaded the solicitation. Generally the Contracting Officer will issue amendments to all those who have sent in the written confirmation of solicitation receipt. However, USAID does not guarantee that an amendment will be issued to you directly based upon written confirmation thatyou have downloaded the solicitation from the internet. You are therefore advised to regularly check theFedBizOps website (http://www.fedbizops.gov) for amendments.