Request for Information (RFI)

Subject: Request for Information (RFI)

Reference: USAID Trade and Competitiveness, Deloitte Overseas LLC

Deloitte Overseas LLC (“Deloitte”) under the USAID Trade and Competitiveness (“the Activity”) is looking for Business Development Service Providers interested is providing the services associated with this Request for Information.  Refer to Enclosure 1 (“Request for Information”) for the information requested. Please submit your response by Jan 27, 2023.  Note that all submissions become Deloitte property and will not be returned.  

This Request for Information shall not obligate Deloitte or the Activity, in any manner whatsoever, to enter into a contract or result in any claim whatsoever against Deloitte or the Activity, for reimbursement of costs for any information efforts expended by you in your response to this RFI.

All questions related to this RFI should be addressed to the undersigned at grants_subcontracts@tc-udhyamnepal.com. 

Enclosure 1

Request for Information

1. Description

Deloitte in support of the USAID Trade and Competitiveness Activity is seeking information on how an interested contractor could support the anticipated program needs.

This Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future.  This Request for Information does not commit Deloitte or the Activity to contract for any supply or service whatsoever.  Further, Deloitte is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals.  Responders are advised that the Deloitte or the Activity will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense.  Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued.

2. Background

USAID Trade and Competitiveness (henceforth referred to as the Activity) is a five-year Activity with the aim to chart a new growth path for the Nepali economy as it recovers from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Activity galvanizes Nepal to capitalize on global integration to diversify toward higher quality and higher value exports, foster sustainable job growth and income-generating opportunities for those that have previously been left behind by economic growth, and create greater sustainability and resiliency. The Activity is being implemented by Deloitte Consulting LLP in partnership with J.E Austin, South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics, and Environment (SAWTEE) and Deloitte, Touche, and Tohmatsu India (DTTI). The goal of the Activity is to accelerate firm and sector level competitiveness, generate employment opportunities, and increase sales of firms through interventions that incentivize public and private sector actors across the ecosystem to adopt new behaviors driving outcomes across three key objectives:

1. Improve access to market-based financial and non-financial services 
2. Increase productivity in sectors with high growth and employment potential
3. Improve the investment climate and business enabling environment, especially for targeted sectors

Engagement Information: 

The selected Business Development Service Provider will provide services that will improve the performance of business enterprises, its access to markets, and its ability to compete. The Activity is focused on three sectors; namely agriculture (with an emphasis on export market), tourism, and digital services (refers to companies that have a proven digital product for SMEs to improve their management practices).

Anticipated Period of Performance: 2023-2026

Performance Location: Nepal

Requirement:

1. Product and service offerings 
2. Management/Technical competency
3. Company registration document
4. Geographical presence
5. Sector serviced/Clients

Optional Requirement:

• Sales turnover of last three years
• Indicative pricing of the products/services

3. Requested Information

• Address your response to USAID Trade and Competitiveness through email at grants_subcontracts@tc-udhyamnepal.com. 
• Provide a company overview in the form of a Capabilities Statement.  Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and must be clearly marked.  
• Provide three (3) references for projects like the services being sought for the anticipated program.

4. Business Size

Identify your business size, NAICS code, and number of employees with your response.  Please refer to Federal Acquisition Regulation FAR 19 for additional detailed information on Small Business Size Standards.

5. Points of Contact

grants_subcontracts@tc-udhyamnepal.com

6. Summary

This is a Request for Information only to identify sources (individual/firm) from all over Nepal that  provides business development services in relation to training, organizational and systems improvement consulting activities ( in relation but not limited to e.g. ;  HR, operations, finance/accounting , strategic/business planning, corporate governance, legal, environmental, social & governance, digitization etc.), market research and understanding markets, advertising, branding and sales promotion, digital marketing,  trade facilitation, supply chain improvement, technology development and transfer, e-commerce, digital services  solutions (also applicable to sectors other than agriculture, tourism and export market e.g.: schools, hospitals, banks, enterprises), market  linkage promotion, business operations optimization, destination management, tourism and travel related service, international quality & safety standards , audit compliance and certification to businesses in the agriculture, tourism and digital services sector with an emphasis on enhancing exports for SMEs in Nepal. The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on Deloitte.  Deloitte has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought.