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PRGI/MyFedAccess
^{Contract Activity & Project Profiles: LAC - Ecuador}

1.    Acquisitions & Assistance Training Course for Cognizant Technical Officers (CTOs)
2.    State-Of-The-Art (SOTA) Course/Meetings for Latin America and Caribbean (LAC)
            Public Health & Nutrition Field Officers

Contract Activity:    Acquisitions & Assistance Training Course for Cognizant Technical Officers (CTOs)


Background:    The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) routinely enters into contracts with vendors to acquire a variety of goods and services in support of its development projects and initiatives. When requirements that need to be fulfilled are identified, the requesting Program/Project Office submits its Scope of Work (SOW) to a Contract Officer. In turn, the Contract Officer incorporates the SOW into the resultant Request for Proposals/Quotations (RFP/Q).

To help ensure the agency receives responsive Proposals/Quotations, the SOW and RFP must clearly describe the technical requirements, as well as the rules and regulations that must be followed by all vendors. The next critical step in the Acquisitions & Assistance process is evaluating the Proposals/Quotations that are submitted by prospective vendors. Finally, after a contract is awarded, a Cognizant Technical Officer (CTO)--historically known as the Contracting Officer's Technical Representative--oversees the actual delivery of the goods and/or services that were procured.

Certain procurement policies are subject to change, and there is a constant turnover of Contract Officers and CTOs; hence, ongoing training must be provided in all phases of the Acquisition & Assistance/Procurement process to ensure compliance with the prevailing procurement policies.

Project Profile:    Professional Resource Group International, Inc. (PRGI) was contracted to design a curriculum and training manuals, provide Subject Matter Experts, and Professional Facilitators to assist government procurement personnel in delivering the Acquisition & Assistance training course for Contract and Cognizant Technical Officers in Quito, Ecuador and other countries throughout Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America (including the Caribbean Basin), and the Middle East. Case studies, audio-visual materials, small group discussions, and other tools were used to enhance the effectiveness of the overall training presentation.

The course included instructions and guidance on how to write a comprehensive Scope of Work and how to evaluate responses to Request For Proposals/Quotations.

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Contract Activity:    State-Of-The-Art (SOTA) Course/Meetings for Latin America and Caribbean (LAC)
    Public Health & Nutrition Field Officers

Background:    In many regions of LAC unequal access to quality health services presents a major obstacle to achieving overall health improvements, as well as economic and social development. This is reflected across health indicators, but especially in maternal and child health indicators, which have been slow to improve among poor, rural, or otherwise marginalized groups. Similarly, while trends in fertility and contraceptive prevalence rates for the region are positive overall, large pockets of unmet need exist for family planning and reproductive health services, and ensuring uninterrupted contraceptive supplies and access to services for the neediest remains a challenge.

HIV/AIDS is also a significant and growing problem that not only threatens individual lives, but also jeopardizes prosperity and social stability at national and sub regional levels.

Latin America and the Caribbean Basin Countries

1. Bolivia	9. Guyana	17. Peru
2. Brazil	10. Haiti	18. Antigua & Barbuda*
3. Colombia	11. Honduras	19. The C'wealth of Dominica*
4. Cuba	12. Jamaica	20. Grenada*
5. Dominican Republic	13. Mexico	21. St. Kitts & Nevis*
6. Ecuador	14. Nicaragua	22. St. Lucia*
7. El Salvador	15. Panama	23. St. Vincent & the Grenadines*
8. Guatemala	16. Paraguay

____________________
*Eastern Caribbean Countries


The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) uses State-Of-The-Art (SOTA) programs and practices to help alleviate the Public Health and Nutrition deficiencies identified by Field Officers located throughout LAC. USAID/LAC programs are designed to:

• Build health systems capacity
  

• Improve child survival, health, and nutrition
  

• Improve maternal health and nutrition
  

• Reduce unintended pregnancy and improve healthy reproductive behavior
  

• Reduce transmission and impact of HIV/AIDS
  

• Prevent and control infectious diseases of major importance
  

• Reduce non-communicable diseases and injuries
  

• Address health requirements of internally displaced persons
  
  

State-Of-The-Art (SOTA) Course for USAID/LAC
Public Health and Nutrition Field Officers

State-Of-The-Art (SOTA) Meetings for USAID/LAC
Public Health and Nutrition Field Officers & Private Sector Health Professionals

To keep one another informed and up-to-date on SOTA Practices that are working in the field, USAID/LAC brings their Public Health and Nutrition Officers together periodically to exchange "Best Practices," and to plan future programs.


Project Profile:    Professional Resource Group International, Inc. (PRGI) was contracted to design, facilitate, and provide Logistical and Administrative Support Services for week-long USAID/LAC State-Of-The-Art (SOTA) Course/Meetings. Field Officers from Ecuador in attendance at the SOTA Course/Meetings hosted by PRGI learned how their counterparts from other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean Basin and other leading Public Health and Nutrition professionals from the private sector were meeting their challenges. In addition to having sessions that dealt with the specific programs and initiatives designed around the Strategic Objectives for the region, SOTA discussions were also held regarding the processes used to support and measure their progress. With the USAID/Washington senior staff members in attendance, the Field Officers were able to relate the success of their efforts and make recommendations that could help ensure the sustainability of programs sponsored by the USAID/LAC Missions throughout the region. Case studies, audio-visual materials, small group discussions, and other tools were used to enhance the effectiveness of the overall training presentation.

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