Request for Information on Inclusive Education and Policy, Tajikistan | 72011922R00002

Opportunity Information: Apply for 72011922R00002

USAID/Tajikistan released a Request for Information (RFI) titled "Request for Information on Inclusive Education and Policy, Tajikistan" (Reference Number 72011922R00002). It was posted on February 25, 2022, and responses were due by March 24, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. Tajikistan time. The point of contact for submissions and questions is Denis Arvanitidi (darvanitidi@usaid.gov). This notice is strictly for market research and planning purposes under relevant Federal Acquisition Regulation provisions, meaning it is not a Request for Proposals and should not be treated as a promise that USAID will fund a project, issue a future solicitation, or reimburse any costs associated with preparing a response. USAID also emphasizes that any proposals or budget submissions sent in response to this RFI will not be reviewed as funding applications.

The core goal of the RFI is to gather practical, written input that can help USAID better understand and potentially design future programming related to inclusive education in Tajikistan, with a strong emphasis on Tajik Sign Language. In particular, USAID is looking for information that could inform future efforts around official recognition of Tajik Sign Language, development of content standards, and the full pipeline needed to expand access for deaf and hard of hearing learners. That pipeline includes interpreter and teacher training, certification systems, employment and workforce placement, and the capacity of higher education institutions to deliver sign language instruction and related training programs. USAID notes that submitted information may be used internally to identify implementation challenges and improve development outcomes, and respondents should not send proprietary material.

USAID lays out a set of targeted questions (respondents are not required to answer all of them) that signal what the Agency is trying to learn. On the policy side, USAID is asking what considerations matter for developing education policy that would formally recognize Tajik Sign Language and establish content standards. On the program design side, USAID asks respondents to describe what an effective activity would look like if the objective is to increase both the number and the quality of Tajik Sign Language interpreters and teachers, specifically through higher education institutions, with the broader intent of improving education quality across primary, general secondary, and higher education levels. The RFI also requests perspectives on likely barriers that could block or slow implementation, and the fundamental components that would make a Tajik Sign Language-focused activity successful in practice. Another major theme is partnership: USAID explicitly asks how it could work with the Ministry of Education and Science, the private sector, civil society, and Disabled Persons Organizations to strengthen programming in this area.

A large portion of the RFI focuses on higher education, reflecting USAID interest in universities, teacher training institutes, and other tertiary institutions as long-term anchors for interpreter preparation and sign language instruction. USAID requests recommendations of specific higher education institutions it might partner with, including any geographic considerations that could affect coordination or access. It also asks for ideas on how to structure engagement with those institutions to create a Tajik Sign Language interpreter certification program and connect graduates to actual jobs afterward, implying an interest not only in training but also in employability and labor-market integration. Additional questions ask for best practices on linking student teaching practicums to primary and general secondary schools serving deaf and hard of hearing students, how to house Tajik Sign Language within language faculties or disciplines at universities, and how higher education institutions can conduct outreach and provide services that are responsive to deaf student communities. USAID invites respondents to add broader recommendations and contextual insights relevant to designing future programming for deaf and hard of hearing students in higher education.

In terms of submission requirements, responses had to be submitted electronically using an attached USAID template and emailed to darvanitidi@usaid.gov with the subject line "72011922R00002 USAID/Tajikistan Inclusive Education." The main narrative response was limited to 10 pages. Respondents could also attach optional annexes that do not count toward the 10-page limit, but those annexes were capped at 3 pages. The email needed to include basic identifying information such as the reference number, date, affiliation/organization, business address, and representative name and email. USAID states that respondents should expect only an electronic confirmation of receipt, not individualized feedback, and reiterates that the government assumes no obligation as a result of the RFI and that no claims can be made based on USAID use of submitted information.

Finally, the opportunity metadata clarifies that this is categorized as a discretionary opportunity in the education sector (CFDA 98.001), with eligible applicants listed as unrestricted. However, because it is an RFI rather than a funding announcement, the award ceiling is listed as zero and there are no expected awards associated with this notice. The overall message is that USAID is testing ideas and gathering expert input to shape possible future work on inclusive education and Tajik Sign Language policy and training systems in Tajikistan, especially through the higher education system and in collaboration with government and disability-focused stakeholders.

• The Tajikistan USAID-Dushanbe in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Information on Inclusive Education and Policy, Tajikistan" 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 2022-02-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-03-24. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

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