Opportunity Information: Apply for RFI 306 19 OED 01
This notice is not a grant competition or a request for proposals. It is a Request for Information (RFI) issued by USAID through its Mission in Afghanistan to gather ideas, feedback, and practical input on how to build higher education partnerships using a co-creation approach. USAID explains that the purpose is market research and planning: the agency wants to learn from universities, NGOs, companies, and other interested organizations about what kinds of partnership models could work, what challenges are likely, and what design choices might lead to stronger development results in Afghanistan. The RFI is issued under Federal Acquisition Regulation authorities (FAR Part 10 and FAR 15.201(e)) that allow the government to collect information to shape future programming.
The opportunity is titled "USAID/Afghanistan Request for Information: Higher Education" with Funding Opportunity Number RFI-306-19-OED-01. It was released on March 11, 2019, and responses were due March 25, 2019 by 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. The subject line focuses specifically on "Co-Creation of Higher Education Partnerships," signaling that USAID was exploring collaborative design processes where stakeholders help define problems, develop solutions, and structure partnerships rather than responding to a fully predetermined activity plan.
Eligibility is essentially open (unrestricted), meaning any type of entity could submit input. However, USAID is explicit that submissions must be comments and information only, not applications, proposals, resumes, or proprietary materials. The agency states that anything resembling an application or proposal would be discarded, and respondents should not send confidential or proprietary content. USAID also makes clear there is no funding attached to this RFI: the award ceiling is listed as $0, expected awards are 0, and the government is not committing to issue a future solicitation, award a grant, or pay for the preparation of responses.
In terms of how to respond, USAID required electronic submission in English using a specific template (Annex 1) and directed respondents to email the completed response to the Contracting Officer, Amy McQuade, at kblaidoaaoed@usaid.gov. Another important procedural point is that no questions would be accepted, so organizations had to rely on the attached RFI and Annex 1 instructions without an interactive Q&A period. USAID also notes that respondents are responsible for all costs of preparing and sending their input and that submitting a response does not provide any advantage in any later procurement or assistance competition that might follow.
Overall, the RFI functions as an early planning step for possible future USAID programming in Afghanistan's higher education sector. USAID is seeking broad community insight to inform activity design and planning decisions, while protecting the government from any obligation to fund ideas submitted and reserving full discretion to use, ignore, or selectively incorporate feedback. The notice also incorporates the standard FAR clause 52.215-3, which reinforces that the request is strictly for planning purposes and does not create any basis for claims against the U.S. Government based on submitted information or the government’s use of it.Apply for RFI 306 19 OED 01
- The Agency for International Development in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "USAID/Afghanistan Request for Information: Higher Education" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 11, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 25, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1) Is this notice a grant competition or a request for proposals (RFP)?
No. The notice is explicitly not a grant competition and not an RFP. It is a Request for Information (RFI) intended to collect ideas and feedback for USAID planning purposes.
2) What is the purpose of this RFI?
The purpose is market research and planning. USAID (through its Mission in Afghanistan) is gathering practical input on how to build higher education partnerships using a co-creation approach, including what partnership models could work, what challenges are likely, and what design choices could lead to stronger development results in Afghanistan.
3) What is the title and funding opportunity number?
The opportunity is titled "USAID/Afghanistan Request for Information: Higher Education" with Funding Opportunity Number RFI-306-19-OED-01.
4) When was the RFI released and when were responses due?
It was released on March 11, 2019. Responses were due March 25, 2019 by 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST).
5) What does "Co-Creation of Higher Education Partnerships" mean in this context?
It signals USAID was exploring a collaborative design process where stakeholders help define problems, develop solutions, and structure partnerships, rather than responding to a fully predetermined activity plan.
6) Who could respond to this RFI?
Eligibility was essentially unrestricted. USAID sought input from universities, NGOs, companies, and other interested organizations, and did not limit participation to a specific entity type.
7) Is there any funding attached to this RFI?
No. USAID states there is no funding attached. The award ceiling is listed as $0 and expected awards are 0.
8) Does responding to the RFI commit USAID to issue a future solicitation or make an award?
No. USAID makes clear that responding to the RFI does not commit the government to issue a future solicitation, award a grant, or enter into any agreement.
9) Does USAID pay organizations for preparing or submitting an RFI response?
No. Respondents are responsible for all costs associated with preparing and submitting their input. The government will not reimburse those costs.
10) What types of submissions were allowed?
USAID requested comments and information only intended to inform planning for higher education partnerships and co-creation approaches.
11) What types of submissions were not allowed?
USAID stated that respondents should not submit applications, proposals, resumes, or proprietary materials. Anything that resembled an application or proposal would be discarded.
12) Can respondents submit confidential or proprietary information?
No. USAID specifically instructed respondents not to send confidential or proprietary content.
13) What happens if an organization submits something that looks like a proposal?
USAID states that anything resembling an application or proposal would be discarded, because the RFI is for information-gathering only.
14) How were responses required to be submitted?
Responses had to be submitted electronically, in English, using a specific template identified as Annex 1.
15) Where were responses sent and who was the point of contact?
USAID directed respondents to email the completed response to the Contracting Officer, Amy McQuade, at kblaidoaaoed@usaid.gov.
16) Were questions accepted by USAID during the RFI period?
No. USAID stated that no questions would be accepted, meaning organizations had to rely on the RFI notice and Annex 1 instructions without an interactive Q&A process.
17) Does submitting an RFI response provide an advantage in any later competition?
No. USAID notes that submitting a response does not provide any advantage in any later procurement or assistance competition that might follow.
18) What legal/contracting authorities does USAID cite for issuing this RFI?
The RFI is issued under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 and FAR 15.201(e), which allow the government to collect information to help shape future programming.
19) What is the significance of FAR clause 52.215-3 in this RFI?
The notice incorporates FAR clause 52.215-3, reinforcing that the request is strictly for planning purposes and does not create a basis for claims against the U.S. Government related to submitted information or the government use of it.
20) What is USAID ultimately trying to learn from responses?
USAID is seeking broad community insight about partnership models, likely challenges, and design choices that could strengthen development outcomes for higher education partnerships in Afghanistan, particularly under a co-creation approach.
21) Can USAID use, ignore, or selectively incorporate ideas submitted in responses?
Yes. The RFI describes an information-gathering process where USAID retains full discretion and is not obligated to adopt any recommendation or fund any concept provided.
22) Does the RFI create any legal entitlement for respondents?
No. The RFI is a planning step only and does not create an entitlement to funding, an award, or any claim against the U.S. Government based on the submission or the government use of the submitted information.
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