The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Liberia is forecasting a federal grant opportunity aimed at improving access to safe drinking water in the counties of Montserrado and Margibi. The initiative seeks to eliminate the use of unimproved water sources and surface water by addressing systemic challenges in water service delivery, including governance, financial management, and community involvement. This effort is critical as over 100,000 residents in these areas still rely on inadequate water sources, highlighting the need for sustainable solutions. Interested parties can contact Claudia Molina at cmolina@usaid.gov or call 831-224-4629 for further information, with responses to the Request for Information due by April 6, 2021.

Request for Information - Water.pdf

Request.pdf

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Liberia has issued a Request for Information (RFI) aimed at enhancing access to sanitation and eliminating open defecation in five counties: Montserrado, Nimba, Lofa, Bong, and Grand Bassa. The background indicates that Liberia faces critical sanitation challenges, with only 23.8% of the population having access to basic sanitation, and 34.8% practicing open defecation. This RFI invites feedback from potential bidders on developing innovative, sustainable sanitation solutions, particularly focusing on the governance, behavior change, market development, and financing aspects of sanitation programming. 

Key objectives include moving towards basic sanitation, especially in areas where open defecation is prevalent, and establishing strategies tailored for both urban and rural settings. USAID emphasizes the need for local government involvement, enhanced follow-up support post-ODF certification, and rigorous monitoring. The Agency seeks insights on improving sanitation financing, leveraging existing health systems, and addressing challenges specific to urban areas. Responses to this RFI are voluntary and may influence future procurement but do not carry advantages in subsequent solicitations. The deadline for responses is April 6, 2021, with subsequent funding opportunities to be announced later.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the Government. All information submitted in response to this announcement isvoluntary, and the Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate anyrespondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the Government.Development Problem StatementUSAID has considerable experience working on water infrastructure in urban and peri-urban settings such as Montserrado and Margibi, where the cost-effectiveness of reaching people in more densely-populated areas is greater. Although the percentage of the population that already has access to basic water services in the two counties is fairly high, it is estimated that the counties are home to over 100,000 people who are still using unimproved water sources. This activity would seek to sustainably eliminate the use of surface water and unimproved water sources in Montserrado and Margibi, moving everyone to at least a basic level of water service.To do so, the activity would address key systems challenges affecting water service delivery, including poor governance and financial management of water systems, lack of financing for water, lack of community involvement in designing and managing local water systems, and insufficient customer demand for basic water services, which have limited the sustainability of water investments in the past.See related documents for full information.

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