REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Reference Number: RFI-613-22-000003

Description: Support to Zimbabwe’s multi-sectoral HIV response

Release Date: August 30, 2022

Response Date: September 27, 2022

Agency: United States Agency for International Development/ Zimbabwe

Anticipated Place of Performance: Zimbabwe

I. Request for Information

The United States Government, represented by the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID)/ Zimbabwe, is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to solicit
information and potential interest from local organizations.

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to gather market insights and strategic input
for an upcoming funding opportunity for a program that is in support of the multi-sectoral HIV
response led by the Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ). The United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) in Zimbabwe intends to release, in early 2023, one request
for proposals (RFP) or Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) focused on the prevention of
HIV transmission among priority populations and facilitating continuity of care and viral
suppression for those living with HIV. Priority populations for the RFA or NOFO include key
populations (KP)--sex workers in their diversity and their sexual partners, men who have sex
with men (MSM), transgender individuals (TG), individuals who inject drugs; adolescent girls
and young women (AGYW); and at-risk young men.

This RFI is issued solely for information-gathering and planning purposes. This is not a Request
for Proposal (RFP) or a Request for Application (RFA) and is not be construed as a commitment
by the USG to issue any solicitation or NOFO, ultimately award a contract or assistance
agreement on the basis of this RFI or pay for any information voluntarily submitted as a result of
this request. Responses to this RFI must not be portrayed as proposals and will not be accepted
by the USG to form a binding agreement. It should be noted that responding to or providing
comment on this RFI will not give any advantage to any organization in any subsequent
procurement(s), if such procurement(s) is released and will not lead to an organizational conflict
of interest.

USAID will not provide answers to anything submitted in response to this request. USAID
posts its competitive business opportunities on www.beta.sam.gov or www.grants.gov. It is the
potential offeror’s/applicant’s responsibility to monitor these sites for announcements of new
opportunities. Responses to this RFI may be used by USAID without restriction or limitation.

The purpose of this RFI is to:

1. Alert interested local organizations to the potential for a new funding opportunity and
anticipated timeline;
2. Conduct market research, to determine interest and capacity of local organizations;
3. Solicit information on the following strategic areas of interest:
a. Opportunities to advance design thinking and more iterative, innovative and
agile approaches to engage and retain program participants and clients and deliver
HIV prevention and treatment services efficiently.
b. Opportunities to simplify and segment HIV service delivery models to create
efficiencies, while making space to intensify support for the minority of clients
who need it.
 c. Opportunities to engage the private health sector and integrate cost recovery
models into HIV service delivery, while maintaining a focus on equity,
specifically, marginalized, vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations.
d. Opportunities to leverage HIV systems to prepare for future pandemics and
build a resilient health system inclusive of the full continuum actors (public,
private, community).

II. How to Submit a Response

USAID/Zimbabwe is seeking to engage local organizations in support of USAID’s New
Partnerships Initiative and PEPFAR’s targets for local implementation. Organizations that wish
to express their interest should satisfy the following requirements:
1. Be a local organization, defined as follows:
a. is legally organized under the laws of Zimbabwe;
b. has its principal place of business or operations in Zimbabwe;
c. is majority owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents
of Zimbabwe; and
d. is managed by a governing body the majority of who are Zimbabwean citizens or
lawful permanent residents of Zimbabwe.
2. Type of organization: Non-governmental, public voluntary, civil society, trusts, faith-
based, academic, etc.
3. Have technical expertise and experience in the design, implementation and
management of HIV prevention, care or treatment activities in clinical or community
settings. Please indicate experience implementing biomedical prevention programming
(voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP),
condoms); and services for the priority populations listed above -- sex workers in
their diversity and their sexual partners, men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender
individuals (TG), individuals who inject drugs; adolescent girls and young women
(AGYW); and at-risk young men.
4. Organizations that currently have on-going community HIV prevention, care and
treatment activities should state their geographic coverage.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of the Zimbabwe health system.
 6. Demonstrate sound financial management including evidence of having received
and/or managed other donor funds. Organizations should clearly indicate the amount of
funding managed per year.

Response / Expression of interest should include:

1. Name and physical address of the organization;
2. Type of organization;
3. Name, email and phone number of contact person;
4. Website of the organization (if any);
5. Brief statement describing the capabilities of the organization, including a description of
any previous/current activities of similar scope; and
6. Responses to the five strategic areas of interest under I. 3) above.

Response / Expression of interest should be no more than 3 pages in length.

All responses must be submitted electronically to Gladmore Muchinota at
gmuchinota@usaid.gov and copy J. Zeb Simpson at jsimpson@usaid.gov no later than
September 27, 2022 at 17:00 hours Zimbabwe Time. Please use the following subject line when
submitting a response “Response.” You will receive confirmation of receipt of your response;
however, you will not receive individualized feedback or suggestions.

Use of Responses:
Commercially sensitive information will not be shared publicly. Responses to the larger strategic
questions referenced above may be used in the drafting of a solicitation by USAID without
restriction or limitation. Disclaimer Notice - This request for information is issued solely for
planning purposes and is published in accordance with FAR Part 10 and FAR 15.201(e). This is
not a solicitation or call for proposals. Any proposals submitted in response to this request will
not be considered. All information provided will become the property of USAID and will not be
returned. USAID reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for its purposes.
Proprietary information must not be sent. USAID will not pay for information submitted nor will
it reimburse for costs incurred by an organization that elects to respond to this request. All costs
associated with responding to this request will be solely at the respondent's expense. USAID is in
no way obligated to utilize submitted information or issue a solicitation as a result of this request.
USAID is not obligated to procure any of the services described herein, nor should the release of
this request be construed as such a commitment on the part of USAID. Not responding to this
request does not preclude participation in any future solicitation(s) or notices of funding
opportunity, if any is issued.

Sincerely,
J. Zeb Digitally signed by J.
Zeb Simpson

Simpson Date: 2022.08.29

15:28:03 +02'00'

J. Zeb Simpson
Contracting and Agreement Officer