procurementer and mobilization of resources
Answers
At this point, we have reviewed how your organization should gather intelligence on potential funders and investors, as well as on current and future grant or proposal applications. We have also discussed different methodologies for approaching potential funders and investors, and how your organization should tailor its presentations to each individual funder. This section will focus on how your organization should determine whether to invest in a particular grant or proposal opportunity.
Typically, funders and investors issue a written request to solicit proposals in a competitive, transparent manner for interested and qualified parties. These requests come out through different funding mechanisms, which are defined in the table below.
MECHANISM DEFINITION
Concept Paper /Expressions of Interest (EOI)
Summary of a project that reflects the interests, experience and expertise of the organization to address a particular issue or problem
Donors sometimes use it as a pre-qualification process to later request a full proposal
Can be a marketing tool to present your organization to private sector funders
Request for Proposals (RFP)
Competitive process for issuing an award to an organization that will implement a program/project to address a particular issue or problem
This is a contract
Request for Applications (RFA)
Similar to RFPs, but sometimes they are required to be submitted along with certain formats or application templates
This is similar to a grant
Request for Quotations (RFQ) Competitive process of issuing an award to bidders when the organization is buying a specific service or product
Public Private Partnerships (PPP) A collaborative initiative that combines resources from the public sector with resources from the private sector to accomplish a specific goal
Annual Program Statement (APS) The APS is a means for disseminating information to prospective applicants so that they may develop and submit applications for USAID funding.
Grand Challenges for Development Initiative (GCDI) GCDI grants are disbursed by USAID for the purposes of defining problems, identifying constraints, and providing evidence based analysis and systematized solutions.
These requests usually provide detailed information about the products, services and/or programs the funder wishes applicants to offer in a specific geographic region.
It is not very realistic or cost effective for an organization to invest time and resources on every procurement that a funder releases. Organizations should be strategic about how they use existing resources to develop new business.
Your organization should consider the following factors before pursuing a particular procurement:
The degree the procurement aligns with your organization's mission and vision
The degree of interest for your organization in region/zone
The degree of interest in the technical area or approach
The degree of interest in the funder
The likelihood of successful implementation
The likelihood of leading to other new opportunities
The impact on other current and/or future projects