RFI - USAID/Morocco Bridge to Middle School Activity | 72060821BMSRFI 0002

Opportunity Information: Apply for 72060821BMSRFI 0002

USAID/Morocco issued this notice as a Request for Information (RFI) for a potential future education program tentatively called the "Bridge to Middle School" Activity. The basic intent is early planning: USAID is trying to test whether its preliminary program concept is sound and whether the proposed design makes sense for strengthening the Moroccan public education system, especially around the transition from upper primary into middle school. The activity is framed as a systems strengthening and capacity building effort aimed at supporting the Ministry of Education, with the broader strategic goal of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of Morocco's education system.

The RFI is mainly asking the public, current and prospective USAID partners, and other knowledgeable stakeholders to provide feedback that can help USAID refine its thinking before it decides whether to launch a formal funding competition. USAID highlights three specific areas where it wants input. First, it wants reactions to its draft theory of change, meaning feedback on whether the logic of the proposed intervention (the problem analysis, assumptions, pathways of change, and expected outcomes) seems realistic and evidence-based. Second, it is requesting information grounded in documentation and experience about the strengths and weaknesses of Morocco's upper primary and middle school public education system, presumably including issues like learning outcomes, transition and dropout points, school management, teacher support, governance, and equity concerns. Third, it invites any additional considerations that experienced education stakeholders believe USAID should factor into program design, particularly as they relate to systems-level reform and institutional capacity.

A key point is that this is not a funding solicitation and does not function like a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). USAID explicitly states that the RFI is for information and planning only, and it does not commit the U.S. Government to issue a NOFO, make an award, or pay for the time or materials respondents submit. If USAID later decides to compete an award, the official opportunity and all application instructions would be posted on grants.gov, and USAID notes that it will not respond to questions or requests for information until a NOFO is actually issued. They also advise interested parties to keep monitoring grants.gov for any updates.

The submission instructions are fairly specific and are meant to keep responses short and comparable. Responses had to use a required template (Attachment 3), be written in English, and submitted in either Microsoft Word format or as a searchable PDF. The response length was capped at six single-spaced pages using 11-point Times New Roman (or similar), 1-inch margins, and consecutive page numbering. USAID emphasizes that concise, issue-specific input is preferred. If respondents wanted to reference additional materials (reports, infographics, etc.), USAID would only review those if they were provided as embedded links within the main body of the response, rather than as separate attachments. Respondents also needed to include identifying and contact information (name, title, organization, contact details). While USAID says individual responses will be kept confidential, it warns respondents not to include proprietary or protected information. It also clarifies that applications or resumes are not appropriate for an RFI and would be discarded.

On process and fairness, USAID states it may incorporate all, some, or none of the feedback into any later NOFO, depending on internal discussions and approvals. Respondents would not be invited to elaborate after submission, and responding to the RFI would not provide any competitive advantage in a future procurement. In terms of logistics, responses were required to be submitted by email only (no phone calls or hard copy submissions) to Salya Yacoubi at syacoubi@usaid.gov with a copy to usaidmoroccocontracts@usaid.gov. The deadline was June 23, 2021, by 12:00 pm (noon) Rabat time, and both the email subject line and the file name were required to read "Responses to Morocco RFI Bridge to Middle School." Late submissions would not be reviewed.

The listing metadata on the opportunity indicates it falls under the education category and references an anticipated cooperative agreement structure, with an award ceiling noted at $25,000,000 and an expectation of one award, although those figures are part of the planning context and do not change the fact that an RFI itself is not a commitment to fund. The opportunity is identified on grants.gov under Funding Opportunity Number 72060821BMSRFI 0002, CFDA 98.001, posted by USAID/Morocco (USAID-Rabat), created June 2, 2021, with the closing date of June 23, 2021.

• The Agency for International Development, Morocco USAID-Rabat in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "RFI - USAID/Morocco Bridge to Middle School Activity" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 02, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 23, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $25,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

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