Opportunity Information: Apply for RFI 383 GVP 17 001
USAID/Sri Lanka (USAID-Colombo) issued a Request for Information (RFI) titled "RFI - Sri Lanka Media Support Program" to gather input from organizations and professionals who work in or support the media sector. The RFI is not a funding solicitation by itself, but a market research and project design step meant to shape a future USAID activity. USAID is seeking perspectives from both U.S. and non-U.S. entities, including non-profit and for-profit NGOs, media professionals, and other relevant institutions that can speak to the realities of Sri Lanka's media environment and what would make an external support program effective.
The concept USAID is exploring is a four-year activity with an estimated total value up to $6,000,000, with the expectation of making one award. The anticipated funding instrument type is a Cooperative Agreement, and the activity is categorized under community development (CFDA 98.001). The overall intention is to strengthen the professionalism of Sri Lanka's media sector while also expanding access to information, implying a focus not only on journalist skills and ethics, but also on the systems, institutions, and practices that shape whether the public can obtain reliable information and whether media can operate effectively.
USAID is specifically asking respondents to react to the problem framing and offer recommendations to improve the project design. The agency wants feedback on whether the problems it has identified match Sri Lanka's current sociopolitical context, and what additional issues the program should address that may not yet be captured. It also asks who the key stakeholders should be, what realistic results could be achieved over the life of the project, and how the activity might influence broader media sector development and reform. In addition, USAID requests concrete suggestions to improve the proposed goals and objectives and to propose technical interventions that could strengthen the media sector, which signals that USAID is looking for practical, implementable ideas rather than general commentary.
Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with and without U.S. 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and other applicants as clarified in the opportunity materials. This wide eligibility suggests USAID is open to a range of implementers and partners, such as media development NGOs, journalism schools, professional associations, training providers, research groups, technology-focused organizations working on information access, and consortiums that combine complementary capabilities.
Responses to the RFI were requested in writing and directed to Mr. Harsha Kaluarachchi, Acquisition and Assistance Specialist, at srilankaprocurement@usaid.gov. Questions were to be addressed to Mr. Robert Parnell, Contracting Officer, at rparnell@usaid.gov. The posting dates indicate the RFI was created on October 21, 2016, with an original closing date of October 28, 2016 at 5:00 pm U.S. Eastern Time. USAID also makes the standard point that issuing the RFI does not create any obligation to fund a future program, does not guarantee a subsequent solicitation, and does not commit the U.S. Government to reimburse any costs incurred by respondents in preparing and submitting information.Apply for RFI 383 GVP 17 001
- The Agency for International Development, Sri Lanka USAID-Colombo in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "RFI - Sri Lanka Media Support Program" 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 Oct 21, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 28, 2016. (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 $6,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - RFI - Sri Lanka Media Support Program (USAID/Sri Lanka)
1) What is this opportunity?
This is a Request for Information (RFI) issued by USAID/Sri Lanka (USAID-Colombo) titled "RFI - Sri Lanka Media Support Program." It is a market research and project design step intended to gather input from organizations and professionals connected to Sri Lanka's media sector.
2) Is this RFI a funding solicitation or a grant application?
No. The RFI is not a funding solicitation by itself. It is meant to inform and shape a potential future USAID activity. Submitting a response is not the same as applying for a grant or contract.
3) Why is USAID issuing this RFI?
USAID is seeking perspectives to improve its understanding of Sri Lanka's current media environment and to refine the design of a possible future program. The agency is specifically asking respondents to react to USAID's problem framing and provide recommendations that would make external support effective and realistic.
4) Who is USAID trying to hear from?
USAID is seeking input from both U.S. and non-U.S. entities, including nonprofits and for-profits, NGOs, media professionals, and other relevant institutions that can speak to the realities of Sri Lanka's media sector and the practicalities of implementing a support program.
5) What is the program concept USAID is exploring?
USAID is exploring a four-year activity intended to strengthen professionalism in Sri Lanka's media sector and expand access to information. The concept implies attention not only to journalist skills and ethics, but also to broader systems, institutions, and practices that affect whether the public can obtain reliable information and whether media can operate effectively.
6) What is the estimated funding level and award plan?
The concept described in the RFI references an estimated total value of up to $6,000,000 over four years, with an expectation of making one award (if a future activity is pursued).
7) What type of funding instrument is anticipated?
The anticipated instrument type is a Cooperative Agreement, as stated in the RFI summary of the concept.
8) What is the CFDA or assistance listing category for this activity?
The activity is categorized under community development, CFDA 98.001.
9) What specific feedback is USAID requesting?
Based on the RFI description, USAID is asking respondents to provide practical, implementable feedback, including:
- Whether USAID's identified problems match Sri Lanka's current sociopolitical context
- What additional issues should be addressed that may not yet be captured
- Who the key stakeholders should be
- What realistic results could be achieved during the project life
- How the activity might influence broader media sector development and reform
- Concrete suggestions to improve proposed goals and objectives
- Proposed technical interventions to strengthen the media sector
10) Does USAID want general commentary or detailed recommendations?
The RFI emphasizes concrete suggestions and technical interventions, which indicates USAID is looking for practical and implementable ideas rather than high-level or purely conceptual commentary.
11) Who is eligible to respond?
Eligibility is broad. The RFI lists eligible entity types that include:
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits with U.S. 501(c)(3) status
- Nonprofits without U.S. 501(c)(3) status
- For-profit organizations (including small businesses)
- Other applicants as clarified in the opportunity materials
12) What kinds of organizations might be relevant respondents?
The RFI description suggests USAID is open to hearing from a wide range of media-sector and information-access actors, such as media development NGOs, journalism schools, professional associations, training providers, research groups, technology-focused organizations working on information access, and consortiums with complementary capabilities.
13) How were responses supposed to be submitted?
Responses were requested in writing and directed to Mr. Harsha Kaluarachchi, Acquisition and Assistance Specialist, at srilankaprocurement@usaid.gov.
14) Where should clarification questions about the RFI have been sent?
Questions were to be addressed to Mr. Robert Parnell, Contracting Officer, at rparnell@usaid.gov.
15) What were the key dates for this RFI?
The RFI was created on October 21, 2016. The original closing date was October 28, 2016 at 5:00 pm U.S. Eastern Time.
16) Does issuing this RFI mean USAID will definitely fund a program?
No. USAID included a standard notice that issuing the RFI does not create any obligation to fund a future program and does not guarantee that a subsequent solicitation will be issued.
17) Will USAID reimburse respondents for the cost of preparing an RFI response?
No. USAID states that the U.S. Government does not commit to reimbursing any costs incurred by respondents in preparing and submitting information in response to the RFI.
18) How many awards does USAID expect to make for the future activity (if it proceeds)?
The concept anticipates one award.
19) What is the intended duration of the potential future activity?
USAID's concept describes a four-year activity.
20) What is the overall focus of the potential program?
The stated overall intention is to strengthen professionalism in Sri Lanka's media sector while expanding access to information. The RFI language suggests a dual focus on professional practices (such as skills and ethics) and on the enabling environment (systems, institutions, and practices that shape information access and media effectiveness).
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