MUNZSSInlD - usaid

5.3 BILATERAL USAID BUY-INS
Purnose of the BuX-in Mechanism. In response to Mission demand,
EXITOS includes a buy-in mechanism permitting bilateral USAIDs to easily
access EXITOS during implementation. This mechanism is consistent with
ROCAP's desire to (1) complement bilateral USAID programs; (2) facilitate
access to ROCAP projects; and (3) maximize the benefit of ROCAP activities to
Agency programs in Central America. The EXITOS buy-in mechanism has two
specific purposes: (1) to permit bilateral USAIDs to easily access the
Contract Team for activities that are consistent with the Purpose of the
Project; and (2) to contribute to attainment of Project objectives.
The buy-in contract under EXITOS will give bilateral USAIDs in Central America
a mechanism to buy in to the Project to obtain TA, training, commodity
procurement and MTAE-related research services from the Contractor. The
mechanism is, in effect, a joint venture between ROCAP, bilateral USAIDs and
the Contractor, and the successful bidder on EXITOS will be required to
execute both the Core and Buy-In Contracts. These services, directly relevant
to attainment of Project objectives, will generally be "follow-on" services,
i.e., provided subsequent to assistance given to CA counterpart export
promotion organizations by advisors under the Core Contract.
Proammatic Accentabilitv of Bu-in Activities. The purpose of EXITOS is
"to increase the sales and/or volumes of Central American non-traditional
exports". Activities proposed for implementation under the EXITOS buy-in
mechanism shall therefore be considered by ROCAP to be programmatically
consistent with the Purpose of EXITOS, and thus eligible for execution under
the buy-in mechanism, so long as they: (1) are consistent with attainment of
Project objectives; (2) occur in one or more of the same five major TA areas
covered under the Core Contract; and (3) are completed by the EXITOS project
activity completion date (PACD). The ROCAP Director will be responsible for
ensuring that individual buy-ins have been subjected to an acceptable
programmatic analysis, i.e., are consistent with these criteria.
Buy-ins for all types of field actions consistent with attainment of Project
objectives--including the purchase of inputs to be used in research projects
that are either additional to or complement activities occurring unda, Lhe
Core Contract--will be programmatically acceptable. Research-related buy-ins
may fund such inputs as planting materials, packaging materials, post harvest
technologies, and subsidized freight rates for experimental shipments. Buy-in
funds may also be used to purchase additional technical equipment such as that
required to supplement database systems, poftware programs, add-on computer
equipment, or diagnostic equipment such as refractometers and microscopes.
Buy-ins should generally be for a minimum of US$50,000.
Buy-in Procedures. The procedures to be employed by USAIDs wishing to
access EXITOS through the buy-in mechanism are as follows for activities that
are part of an already authorized project. First, counterpart organizations,
in coordination with the applicable bilateral USAID, will develop a scope of
work for a specific level of effort consistent with the Statement of Work in
the Core Contract. The USAID will then submit to ROCAP a PIO/T including
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