Regional Sub-Saharan Africa: Digital Infrastructure Opportunities Desk Study Series

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a solicitation (Solicitation Number: 1131PL26R0002) issued by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) for services related to "Desk Study Series for Regional Sub-Saharan Africa Digital Infrastructure Opportunities." The goal is to support USTDA's decision-making for funding activities that advance U.S. strategic interests and promote U.S. industry participation in overseas digital infrastructure projects.

• Review up to 10 initial project proposals.

• Provide Project Reports for up to 15 activities for USTDA funding consideration.

• Submit one Final Report summarizing all Project Reports.

• Develop Terms of Reference (TOR) and budgets for at least 15 activities.

• Conduct Infrastructure Risk Screening and incorporate findings into TOR.

• Assess U.S. export potential and identify relevant U.S. suppliers.

• Analyze foreign competition and market entry issues.

• Develop an implementation plan.

• Prepare a Public Market Report (suitable for publication, without confidential information).

• Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price (indicated for multiple line items).

• Period of Performance: Twenty-four (24) months from the date of the Contracting Officer's signature.

• Place of Performance: Contractor's facility.

• NAICS Code: 541690 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services).

• Estimated Value: $19,000,000 (Size Standard).

• Offer Due Date/Local Time: Friday, March 20, 2026, 01:00 PM Arlington, VA time.

• Offer Submission: Via email to contractproposals@ustda.gov. Late proposals will not be accepted.

• Questions Due: Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 1:00 PM Arlington, VA time, via email to contractproposals@ustda.gov and aasibey@ustda.gov.

• Proposal Submission: Two volumes - Technical Proposal (max 10 pages, excluding cover page, table of contents, and executive summary) and Price Proposal (using SF 1449 and provided spreadsheet).

• Evaluation Factors: Technical (Technical Approach, Regional Expertise), Past Performance, and Price. Technical and Past Performance are significantly more important than Price. Best value award determination.

• The acquisition is set aside for Small Business (100%).

• Several FAR clauses related to small business set-asides are incorporated by reference (e.g., 52.219-6, 52.219-7, 52.219-8, 52.219-9).

• USTDA Nationality Requirements apply: Award is limited to U.S. firms or U.S. individuals. Contractor and subcontractor employees must be U.S. citizens or non-U.S. citizens lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Subcontractor use is limited to less than 50% of the proposed price.

• The solicitation incorporates FAR clauses 52.212-1, 52.212-3, and 52.212-4 by reference.

• The document includes extensive detail on the Performance Work Statement (PWS), including specific requirements for Project Reports, Final Reports, TOR, budget, and various attachments covering topics like U.S. Labor Impact, Nationality Requirements, and Infrastructure Resilience Guidance.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding Solicitation 1131PL26R0002 for the Regional Sub-Saharan Africa Digital Infrastructure Desk Study Series.

• Project Reports: Not all preliminary reports will advance to the full project report stage. The sourcing of the 15 Project Reports is not exclusively from the initial pool of 10 preliminary proposals; USTDA may direct the contractor to evaluate additional opportunities identified through independent market research.
• Project Pipeline: USTDA will develop its own project pipeline. Contractors should only engage with project sponsors as directed by USTDA.
• Country Prioritization: USTDA does not have a prioritized list of target countries or sub-regions for this desk study series; country selection will be driven by the project pipeline.
• Preliminary Report Template: A template will be provided for the Preliminary Review Reports.
• Due Diligence: The Project Report requires a thorough description of the host country project sponsor, including structure, capabilities, operations, and decision-making ability, to the extent required by USTDA. The contractor is expected to conduct independent beneficial ownership and organizational vetting of foreign project sponsors, relying on sponsor-provided documentation and open-source research.
• Foreign Competition Analysis: The analysis should include a discussion of foreign competition for goods and services by category, considering geographic factors, host country industry capabilities, technology, and past procurement tendencies. It should also discuss market entry issues impeding exports and trade.
• Revisions: There is no minimum or maximum number of revisions anticipated for Project Reports.
• Subscription Costs: Subscription costs for market intelligence platforms are not reimbursable as Other Direct Costs and require prior USTDA approval.
• Payment: Payment is contingent on government acceptance of the completed report; partial payment for documented work is not guaranteed if a project is determined non-viable.
• Past Performance: Contractor past performance is not exclusive to formal government contracting and can include commercial contracts.
• Option Period: The price proposal should not include the 6-month extension option (FAR 52.217-8). The government may extend the period of performance and adjust rates if necessary.
• Period of Performance: The anticipated period of performance is 24 months from the date of award.
• Technical Proposal Page Limit: The technical proposal shall not exceed 10 pages.
• New Requirement: This desk study series is a new requirement, not a continuation or re-compete of a prior USTDA contract.

These clarifications address vendor questions regarding project sourcing, pipeline development, country selection, deliverable formats, due diligence expectations, cost reimbursements, payment terms, past performance evaluation, and contract duration. Bidders should review these responses to ensure their proposals accurately reflect the requirements and expectations of the solicitation.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment to Solicitation 1131PL26R0002 extends the proposal due date.

• The proposal due date is extended from Monday, March 16, 2026, at 1:00 PM EST to Friday, March 20, 2026, at 1:00 PM EST.

• The deadline for proposal submissions has been extended.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for a Desk Study Series for Regional Sub-Saharan Africa Digital Infrastructure Opportunities. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is seeking services to support its decision-making regarding funding for activities related to digital infrastructure projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. The goal is to identify opportunities for U.S. industry participation and to support the development of these projects.

• Review up to 10 initial project proposals.

• Provide Project Reports for up to 15 activities for USTDA funding consideration.

• Develop Terms of Reference (TOR) and budgets for at least 15 activities.

• Prepare a Final Report summarizing all reviewed projects and approved Project Reports.

• Conduct an Infrastructure Risk Screening and incorporate findings into the TOR.

• Assess U.S. export potential and identify relevant U.S. suppliers.

• Develop a preliminary environmental and social impact assessment (PESIA).

• Review regulatory issues and legal frameworks.

• Analyze key host country development impacts.

• Provide a U.S. labor impact assessment.

• Assess qualifications of the proposed U.S. firm.

• Justify the need for USTDA funding.

• Provide recommendations on whether projects meet USTDA's funding criteria.

• Compile a list of contacts.

• Develop a Terms of Reference (TOR) and budget for the activity.

• Prepare a detailed activity budget, including line items and task breakdown.

• Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price

• Period of Performance: Twenty-four (24) months from the date of the Contracting Officer's signature.

• Place of Performance: Contractor's facility.

• Offer Submission Deadline: Monday, March 16, 2026, by 1:00 PM, local Arlington, VA time.

• Offer Submission Method: Email to contractproposals@ustda.gov.

• Questions Deadline: Wednesday, February 25, 2026, by 1:00 PM, Arlington, VA Time.

• Questions Submission Method: Email to contractproposals@ustda.gov and aasibey@ustda.gov.

• Proposals will be evaluated based on Technical Approach, Regional Expertise, Past Performance, and Price.

• Technical proposals shall not exceed 10 pages.

• Pricing information must be submitted separately.

• The acquisition is set aside for Small Business (100%).

• NAICS Code: 541690 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services)

• Size Standard: $19,000,000

• Award is limited to U.S. firms or U.S. individuals.

• The solicitation incorporates FAR clauses by reference and in full text.

• Offerors must comply with USTDA's nationality, source, and origin requirements.

• The contract includes clauses related to Service Contract Labor Standards, Equal Opportunity, and other standard FAR clauses.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a Combined Synopsis/Solicitation for a "Regional Sub-Saharan Africa Digital Infrastructure Opportunities Desk Study Series." The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) intends to award one contract to the offeror representing the best value to the Government. This announcement serves as the only Request for Proposal (RFP), and no separate written solicitation will be issued.

The specific deliverables are detailed within the "PROPOSAL PACKAGE" which includes:

• Section B – Schedule of Supplies/Services

• Section C – Contract Clauses

• Section D – Any Contract Documents, Exhibits and Attachment

• Section E – Instructions to Offerors

• The contract will be awarded under FAR Part 15.

• The period of performance and estimated value are not explicitly stated in this document.

• Offers are due by March 16, 2026, 1:00 PM, Arlington, VA Time.

• The evaluation will be based on factors and sub-factors to determine the best value to the Government.

• Questions regarding the solicitation must be submitted via email to contractorproposals@ustda.gov and aasibey@ustda.gov no later than 1:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Questions submitted by facsimile or alternate email addresses will not be accepted. No phone calls will be accepted.

• This procurement is SET-ASIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES under NAICS Code 541690 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services).

• Award is limited to U.S. Firms or U.S. individuals.

• Contractor and U.S. subcontractor employees must be U.S. citizens or non-U.S. citizens lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the U.S.

• Contractor use of subcontractors is limited to less than fifty percent of the proposed price.

• Offerors must be registered and have an active status in the System for Award Management (SAM) database (www.SAM.gov) to be eligible for award.

• Any contract awarded to a contractor who is suspended, debarred, or facing proposed debarment is voidable.

• The issuance date of this solicitation was February 19, 2026.