Opportunity Information: Apply for 72011524RFI00001
This opportunity is a Request for Information (RFI) from USAID Central Asia focused on shaping the design of a forthcoming regional energy activity in Central Asia. It is not a funding solicitation or a call for full proposals; instead, USAID is collecting practical input from organizations and individuals who have relevant experience in the region or in energy-sector reform. The goal is to use the responses to refine how USAID might structure future assistance aimed at modernizing energy systems and markets across Central Asian countries.
USAID indicates that the anticipated activity would support broader U.S. Government objectives in the region by advancing four main themes. First, it aims to increase regional electricity interconnection, meaning improved cross-border coordination and infrastructure that allow power systems to operate more reliably together and potentially trade electricity more effectively. Second, it seeks to promote and incorporate green energy, which typically includes scaling renewable generation, integrating variable renewables into the grid, and improving enabling policies and technical standards that make clean power investments viable. Third, it intends to catalyze investment in energy efficiency, which can cover upgrades in industry, buildings, district heating, public infrastructure, and utility operations, as well as reforms that make efficiency projects financeable and measurable. Fourth, it emphasizes increasing transparency in energy markets, generally pointing to clearer market rules, better access to data, improved governance and oversight, reduced opportunities for corruption, and more predictable regulatory environments that can attract private capital and build public trust.
The RFI specifically invites recommendations on how USAID should structure its assistance to help Central Asian countries reform and modernize their energy sectors. In practice, that means USAID is looking for ideas on what types of interventions are likely to work, how to prioritize among competing needs, what partnerships make sense (government, regulators, utilities, private sector, investors, and regional bodies), and how to sequence reforms so technical work, policy change, and investment mobilization reinforce each other. Because the RFI is framed around project design, respondents would typically share insights such as key barriers in the region, lessons learned from similar efforts, realistic approaches to implementation, risk considerations, and suggestions for results metrics that demonstrate real market and systems improvements.
From the listing details, this is categorized under Energy and uses an "Other" instrument type and category, reinforcing that it is an information-gathering exercise rather than a standard grant competition. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, so there are no stated limitations on who may respond to the RFI. The issuing organization is USAID in Kazakhstan (USAID-Almaty) under USAID Central Asia. The opportunity number is 72011524RFI00001, and the title is "Request for Information (RFI) on USAID New Energy Activity in Central Asia." The original closing date is December 12, 2023. The award ceiling is shown as 0 and expected awards as 1, which is consistent with an RFI where USAID may later release a separate solicitation for funding once the project design is finalized.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as an early market-sounding step: USAID is signaling its intent to launch a new energy-focused initiative in Central Asia and is asking the field to help shape it. Any party with relevant technical, policy, finance, or regional integration experience is being invited to provide actionable recommendations that USAID can incorporate into the structure, scope, and priorities of the anticipated activity.Apply for 72011524RFI00001
- The Kazakhstan USAID-Almaty in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Information (RFI) on USAID New Energy Activity in Central Asia" 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 2023-11-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-12-12. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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FAQs: USAID Central Asia - Request for Information (RFI) on New Energy Activity
What is this opportunity?
This is a Request for Information (RFI) issued by USAID Central Asia to gather input that will help shape the design of a future regional energy activity in Central Asia.
Is this a grant or funding solicitation?
No. The notice is not a funding solicitation and not a call for full proposals. It is an information-gathering request intended to inform USAID's project design for a potential future assistance activity.
What is USAID trying to accomplish through this RFI?
USAID is seeking practical recommendations on how to structure assistance to help Central Asian countries reform and modernize their energy sectors, including what interventions might work, how to prioritize needs, what partnerships make sense, and how to sequence reforms and investments.
What region does this RFI focus on?
The RFI focuses on Central Asia and is framed as a regional energy activity (not limited to a single country).
Who is issuing the RFI?
The issuing organization is USAID in Kazakhstan (USAID-Almaty) under USAID Central Asia.
What is the opportunity title and number?
The title is "Request for Information (RFI) on USAID New Energy Activity in Central Asia" and the opportunity number is 72011524RFI00001.
What is the closing date for this RFI?
The original closing date listed is December 12, 2023.
Who is eligible to respond?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning there are no stated limitations on who may submit information in response to the RFI.
What sector is this RFI categorized under?
The opportunity is categorized under Energy.
What instrument type is used for this opportunity?
The instrument type and category are listed as "Other," which aligns with the fact that this is an RFI rather than a standard grant or cooperative agreement competition.
What themes or focus areas does USAID highlight for the anticipated activity?
USAID identifies four main themes for the anticipated regional energy activity: (1) increasing regional electricity interconnection, (2) promoting and incorporating green energy, (3) catalyzing investment in energy efficiency, and (4) increasing transparency in energy markets.
What does "increasing regional electricity interconnection" mean in this context?
It refers to improved cross-border coordination and infrastructure so power systems can operate more reliably together and potentially trade electricity more effectively across Central Asian countries.
What does USAID mean by "green energy" here?
In this RFI context, green energy generally includes scaling renewable generation, integrating variable renewables into the electricity grid, and improving enabling policies and technical standards that make clean power investments viable.
What kinds of activities could fall under "energy efficiency" in this RFI?
Energy efficiency may include upgrades in industry, buildings, district heating, public infrastructure, and utility operations, as well as reforms that make efficiency projects financeable and measurable.
What does "increasing transparency in energy markets" refer to?
It generally points to clearer market rules, better access to data, improved governance and oversight, reduced opportunities for corruption, and more predictable regulatory environments that can attract private capital and build public trust.
What type of input is USAID looking for from respondents?
USAID is looking for actionable, practical recommendations related to project design, such as key barriers in the region, lessons learned from similar efforts, realistic implementation approaches, risk considerations, and suggestions for results metrics that show meaningful market and system improvements.
Is USAID asking for complete project proposals?
No. Because this is an RFI focused on design, it is seeking ideas and recommendations rather than full proposals for funding.
What kinds of partnerships does USAID appear to be considering?
The RFI references potential partnerships involving government entities, regulators, utilities, the private sector, investors, and regional bodies, depending on which interventions are prioritized.
How might USAID use the responses to this RFI?
Responses are intended to help USAID refine how it might structure future assistance, including the scope, priorities, sequencing, and performance metrics of the anticipated regional energy activity.
Does the listing indicate any funding amount or award ceiling?
The award ceiling is shown as 0, which is consistent with an RFI that is not making an award at this stage.
How many awards are expected under this opportunity?
The listing shows expected awards as 1, which is consistent with an RFI context where a separate future solicitation may be released after project design is finalized.
Should organizations expect a future funding opportunity related to this RFI?
The notice signals USAID's intent to launch a new energy-focused initiative and frames this RFI as an early market-sounding step, suggesting a future solicitation may follow once the design is finalized.
What is the primary purpose of this RFI in the overall project lifecycle?
The RFI is positioned as an early step to collect field input and shape the structure and priorities of a forthcoming USAID regional energy activity in Central Asia.
What kind of experience is relevant for respondents?
The RFI invites organizations and individuals with relevant technical, policy, finance, regional integration, or energy-sector reform experience in Central Asia (or closely related contexts) to provide input.
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