What is an Unsolicited Proposal?

An unsolicited proposal is a written proposal for a new or innovative idea that is submitted on the initiative of the offeror for the purpose of obtaining a contract with the Government, and that is not in response to a request for proposals or any other Government-initiated solicitation or program.

Basic Requirements for an Unsolicited Proposal

USAID is always looking for those who can contribute new ideas consistent with the Agency’s development assistance objectives in Guinea. USAID prefers to issue competitive awards whenever possible in order to ensure that we achieve the best value and strongest solutions from those who can deliver the desired results. While we accept unsolicited proposals for review, potential offerors should be aware that only in highly exceptional cases are such proposals likely to be funded.

A valid unsolicited proposal must:

•             Be innovative and unique;

•             Be independently originated and developed by the offeror;

•             Be prepared without Government supervision, endorsement, direction, or direct Government involvement;

•             Include sufficient detail to permit a determination that USAID support could be worthwhile and the proposed work could benefit USAID's research and development or other responsibilities;

•             Not be an advance proposal for a known USAID requirement that can be acquired by competitive methods;

A Valid Unsolicited Proposal must include:

1.            Basic information, including—

•             Offeror's name and address and type of organization; e.g., profit, nonprofit, educational, small business;

•             Names and telephone numbers of technical and business personnel to be contacted for evaluation or negotiation purposes;

•             Identification of proprietary data to be used only for evaluation purposes;

•             Names of other Federal, State, local agencies, or parties receiving the proposal or funding the proposed effort;

•             Date of submission; and

Signature of a person authorized to represent and contractually obligate the offeror.

2.            Technical information, including—

•             Concise title and abstract (approximately 200 words) of the proposed effort;

•             A reasonably complete discussion stating the objectives of the effort or activity, the method of approach and extent of effort to be employed, the nature and extent of the anticipated results, and the manner in which the work will help to support accomplishment of USAID's mission;

•             Names and biographical information on the offeror's key personnel who would be involved, including alternates; and

•             Type of support needed from USAID; e.g., facilities, equipment, materials, or personnel resources.

3.            Supporting information, including—

•             Proposed price or total estimated cost for the effort, in sufficient detail for meaningful evaluation;

•             Period of time for which the proposal is valid (a six month minimum is suggested);

•             Type of contract preferred;

•             Proposed duration of effort;

•             Brief description of the organization, previous experience in the field, and facilities to be used;

•             Other statements, if applicable, about organizational conflicts of interest, security clearances, and environmental impacts;

Before you submit an Unsolicited Proposal:

•             Ensure that you are familiar with USAID’s country- or regional-based programs;

•             Carefully read the requirements for submission

•             Review the Guidelines for Submitting Unsolicited Contract Proposals

Related Resources

•             The USAID Grant & Contract Process: A Basic Guide

•             The Development Experience Clearinghouse - The Agency’s online resource for USAID-funded technical and program documentation