| |
USAID
Announces Umbrella Contract for Water and Coastal Resources
Management
WASHINGTON,
DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov/
Press: (202) 712-4320
Public
Information: (202) 712-4810
2004-101
November
1, 2004
Contact:
USAID Press Office
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) announced five awards to support developing
countries’ long-term goals of developing and managing
water and coastal resources, while protecting the environment
and maintaining ecological balance. The five awards—based
on full and open competition—fall under one umbrella
called an Indefinite Quantity Contract (IQC), with a ceiling
of $2 billion.
Under
this Indefinite Quantity Contract, the five awardees will
exclusively support USAID’s global program in integrated
water and coastal resources management, a collection of activities
that brings together stakeholders and the latest scientific
techniques for the responsible management of rivers and water
resources. Groups receiving the five awards are ARD Inc.;
Chemonics International; PA Government Services, Inc.; Joint
Venture of International Resources Group and Tetra Tech, Inc;
and DAI.
USAID
uses Indefinite Quantity Contracts to provide rapid services
to USAID field missions and to staff offices for short-, medium-,
and long-term activities. These services include support for
program development, problem analysis, and implementation
of activities. The $2 billion ceiling for this contract reflects
the increased demand of water needs around the globe, and
demonstrates USAID’s preparation to be quick and responsive
when a request is made.
Components
of integrated water and coastal resources management include:
* |
|
Managing
water resources at the basin or watershed scale. This
includes integrating land and water, upstream and downstream,
groundwater, surface water, and coastal resources. |
| |
|
|
* |
|
Optimizing
supply. This involves conducting assessments of surface
and groundwater supplies, analyzing water balances, adopting
wastewater reuse, and evaluating the environmental impacts
of distribution and use options. |
| |
|
|
* |
|
Managing
demand. This includes adopting cost-recovery policies,
utilizing water-efficient technologies, and establishing
decentralized water management authorities. |
| |
|
|
* |
|
Providing
equitable access to water resources through participatory
and transparent governance and management. This may include
support for effective water users' associations, involvement
of marginalized groups, and consideration of gender issues. |
| |
|
|
* |
|
Establishing
improved and integrated policy, regulatory, and institutional
frameworks. |
The
contract period is for five years, effective September 30,
2004.
|
|
