The U.S. soon will undertake a financial commitment to help modernize emergency-communications systems nationwide—nationwide, that is, in the Eastern European country of Ukraine. A separate, U.S.-financed endeavor will cost about $100,000 annually to deploy an adviser to help launch a financial-services reform program “designed to improve the investment environment in Ukraine,” according to contracting documents that U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor has located.
In the first project, the U.S. Trade & Development Agency (USTDA) today (April 4) began searching for a consulting firm capable of conducting a “feasibility study,” which would entail an initial inquiry plus a follow-up report detailing potential technical and financial requirements of the “Ukraine National Emergency Telephone Call Response System” initiative. Although USTDA did not release an estimated cost of that project, it acknowledged that the Government of Ukraine currently faces a budgetary shortfall in carrying it out.
“Out of a total estimated cost of $100 million, this leaves $22.3 million that must be funded,” the USTDA document says.
In addition to developing technology and system requirements for the “1-1-2” (rather than 9-1-1) system, the selected contractor will develop a comprehensive technical design and strategic plan to execute the project, the document says.
Ultimately, the federal government’s financing of the feasibility study not only serves as a gift to the Ukrainian people, but as a subsidy for U.S. industry—even for U.S. business that already have a foothold in Ukraine. “The Contractor shall assemble a list of potential U.S. equipment suppliers, including ICT [information and communications technology] and telecommunications equipment manufacturers and other technology companies,” the document says,” and particularly those companies with a demonstrated interest in selling ICT and communications equipment and/or products and services in Ukraine.
Separately, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) intends to hire an individual private contractor whom the agency will deploy to Kiev, the Ukrainian capital. The goal is to assist in carrying out banking and investment industry reforms espoused by the U.S.
The Senior Financial and Legal Sector Advisor, as the position is known, will support U.S.-led efforts to improve “the regulators and related agencies in Ukraine's financial sector (including the securities commission, financial services regulator, National Bank, and Deposit Guarantee Fund).” The contractor also will be tasked with facilitating the development of “the government securities market and capital market infrastructure” as well as “credit mechanisms and investment opportunities.” Additional responsibilities include providing guidance in the development of pension systems and the creation of a “financial literacy awareness campaign.”
The annual pay range for the position is $84,697 - $110,104.
It should be noted that the Regional Mission of USAID/Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova (UBM) “ranks as one of the Agency's largest programs, with funding levels of $83 million in FY 2010. Approximately $67 million will be provided to Ukraine in FY 11, the SOW points out.
(Source: Solicitation #USTDA-I1-P-67-999 and #SOL-121-11-000001, retrieved April 4, 2011)
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