Building Partnershipswith Mexico

Nathan YoungeRegional Director for Latin American and the CaribbeanSeptember 2008

USTDAAn agency of the Federal Government of the United States

Founded in 1981Supports the planning of projects that may be funded by financial institutions

Over 70 projects in MexicoClose collaboration with bilateral and multilateral institutionsDual Mission: Developmental and Commercial

USTDA Activities

Technical Assistance

Feasibility Studies

Training

Orientation Visits, Workshops and ConferencesLatin American officials participate in airport security training

USTDA Funding

Federal, state or local government agencies

Private host country companies or U.S. companies that would like to develop a project in Mexico

USTDA Sectors in 2007

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Agriculture2.5

Energy30.3

Human Resources0.3

Multi-Sector6.2

Minerals & Natural Resources0.2

Manufacturing0.7

Services9.6

Telecommunication14.2

Transportation22.0

Water & the Environment14.0

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Feasibility Studies

Technical, economic and financial feasibilityProject specificAverage cost of study is US$350,000Conducted by U.S. Firms selected by a host country entity

Examples of Feasibility StudiesMunicipality of Puerto Peasco- Water Desalination Facility ($369,325)

Northwest Border Multimodal Ports - Tijuana Intermodal Terminal ($427,861)

Merida-Progreso Multimodal Airport ($445,250)

Wastewater Desalination Facilities

Technical Assistance

SCT Multimodal National Plan ($1,323,900)

TFM Toluca Intermodal Facility ($750,000)

NAFINSA Investment Catalyst Fund ($277,300)

Puerta Mxico Intermodal Terminal Inauguration in Toluca, 2008

Orientation Visits and Conferences

USTDA organizes and finances orientation visits to the United States

USTDA provides funding for technical conferences throughout the world

The goal is to provide and exchange of information and technology between U.S. and Mexican entitiesMexican Secretary of the Economy Eduardo Sojo discusses Mexicos National Infrastructure Program at the opening of the Building Partnerships in Infrastructure Conference, February 2008

Evaluation CriteriaUSTDA evaluates the following key factors:

The project should be a priority for the host country

There is a likelihood of obtaining financing for the project

Meets the requirement for importing equipment and services to the host country

Requesting USTDA FundingNo formal application procedure. Model Proposal Format can be found at www.ustda.gov.

Requests can be made year-round.

Requests may come from a foreign entity or project sponsor, or from a U.S. firm interested in the project.

Public and private overseas entities are eligible for assistance.

Project DefinitionUSTDA contracts with U.S. small businesses to enhance project definition, supply preliminary assessments and provide due diligence for proposed projects. Desk Studies (DS) A DS provides a quick analysis and is produced within the United States.Definitional Missions (DM) A DM provides a detailed evaluation involving travel to a designated country or region.

Grant Process Flow ChartSubmit a ProposalApprove GrantSelect a U.S. firmENTER INTO A CONTRACT

Using USTDA ResourcesVisit our website at www.USTDA.gov:Check current business opportunities with USTDA and our grant recipientsSign-up for our eNewsletter to learn about upcoming eventsOrder copies of USTDA funded reports

USTDA Contact InformationU.S. Trade and Development Agency1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1600Arlington, VA 22209Telephone (703) 875-4357 Fax (703) 875-4009Website: www.ustda.gov

Nathan Younge Regional Director, Latin America and the Caribbeannyounge@ustda.gov

Keith EischeidCountry Manager, Mexicokeischeid@ustda.gov

There is no formal application or deadline to apply for USTDA assistance. Guidelines can be found on USTDAs website at www.ustda.gov under Model Proposal Format.

Requests can be made year-round and can come from a foreign entity or project sponsor, or from a U.S. firm interested in a particular project.

Public and private overseas entities are eligible to receive USTDA assistance.Small U.S. businesses play an important role in all aspects of the agencys program, but an area where they are especially important is in USTDAs desk study and definitional mission contracts.

Desk studies and definitional missions are part of USTDAs own due diligence process. The agency relies on the independent expert analysis that these studies contain in making its funding decisions. The contracts associated with these studies are reserved exclusively for small U.S. companies.

A desk study provides a quick analysis and is produced within the United States. A definitional mission, on the other hand, is more detailed and involves travel by the contract to a designed region.Once USTDA receives a funding proposal, it completes a due diligence process that involves a desk study or definitional mission to review its specifics in light of the agencys eligibility criteria. If a favorable recommendation is made, and assuming that available funds exist, a grant is awarded to the overseas project sponsor. The overseas sponsor then selects a U.S. firm to conduct the USTDA-funded work. Typically, this selection process is handed through a competition held on the Federal Business Opportunities website at www.fbo.gov. After a selection is made, the project sponsor and the U.S. firm enter into a contract to do the work. Once the work has been completed by the U.S. firm and approved by the project sponsor, then USTDA pays the U.S. firm directly for the work performed.In order to track business opportunities associated with USTDAs program, there are three things that you should do.

First, you should check USTDA postings regularly on the Federal Business Opportunities website at www.fbo.gov. Competitive opportunities with USTDA grant recipients to provide technical assistance and to conduct early investment analysis are posted there. In addition, USTDA competes its definitional mission contract on FedBizOpps.

Second, you should sign up to receive USTDAs biweekly eNewsletter. A free subscription is available on our website at www.ustda.gov. The eNewsletter contains information about current contracting opportunities with USTDAs grant recipients and upcoming USTDA-sponsored events. Third, you should visit USTDAs library to review already completed investment analyses and technical assistance reports to provide you with information on projects that may be moving toward implementation and to give you a sense of the scope of a successful USTDA assistance program. This information can help you to refine your own proposals in response to FedBizOpps announcements. You can speak with a member of USTDAs program staff by calling (703) 875-4357 and asking to speak with the Regional Director or Country Manager for your area of interest. USTDAs staff listing appears on the agencys website at www.ustda.gov.