USAID carries out its nearly 70 activities over a vast Russian landscape. Implementing every activity on our own seems unrealistic. So we look to private organizations and individuals to help us out. There are two ways to get involved with USAID - as an implementing partner or as a program participant.

Implementing partners

USAID conducts competitions for grants and contracts to find the best implementing partners for its assistance programs. An implementing partner can be a U.S. or local non-governmental organization (NGO), commercial organization, an individual, or a public international organization.

USAID's relationships with its implementing partners are usually based on either

Grants, which give the implementer substantial freedom, without much involvement with USAID during the project,

Cooperative Agreements, which involve substantial contact between USAID and implementer during project, or

Contracts, which USAID uses to acquire property or services for its direct benefit or use.

To solicit help, USAID commonly uses a Request for Applications, a Request for Proposals, or an Annual Program Statement. USAID publishes these public solicitations on its internet site: www.usaid.gov/business/

A Request for Application or Request for Proposal is used when USAID has a specific type of program or methodology in mind. An RFA results in a grant or cooperative agreement; an RFP results in a contract.

These requests can be issued any time during the year for any activity or program, but most are issued in the spring and summer, and are published at www.fedbizopps.gov at least 30 days before the applications are due. Once published, they are also available at USAID's procurement web site, listed above. An Annual Program Statement is used when USAID intends to support a variety of creative approaches. Applicants are meant to develop their own methodologies in implementing activities, in keeping with USAID's strategic objectives. An APS is published at least once a year and remains open for proposals at least six months.

Although the majority of USAID's work is done through these competitive means, there are some exceptions.

Sometimes, USAID extends an award and or awards a follow-on grant, cooperative agreement or contract for the same activity. However, after ten years, virtually all activities must be re-opened to competition.

In very exceptional cases, USAID funds an unsolicited proposal that clearly demonstrates a unique, innovative, or proprietary capability, in support of a public purpose, and fits within USAID's strategic objective.

Program participants

Program participants are usually NGOs, small and medium-sized businesses, municipal institutions, or individuals. Federal government institutions can participate only in exceptional cases. Program participants receive some form of assistance from the implementing partner:

Subgrants

Loans

Technical assistance and advisory services

Training

Access to other resources and information

Partnerships

Each program has its own eligibility requirements and terms of participation. To learn more about terms of participation, contact the implementer of the USAID program in which you are interested.

For more information, visit USAID's web site, www.usaid.gov.