Attachment_C_Task_Order_2_Palau_and_Solomon_Island_19AQMM19R0270_Attachment_1_PWS_A001_Track_Changes.docx

Attachment C – Task Order Request for Proposal, Palau and Solomon Islands Task Order Background The Global Defense Reform Program (GDRP) is a flexible, multi-year, Department of State (State)-funded program, coordinated with the Department of Defense (DoD), to assist select partner nation Aarmed Fforces, at both the service and Ministry of Defense (MoD) level, with providing security in an effective, transparent, and accountable manner to civilian authorities, while advancing U.S. national security objectives. GDRP is intended to be a flexible, global program to assist defense reform. Each GDRP activity is tailored to the individual needs and requirements of the recipient nation.

Through GDRP, the United States seeks to provide advisory support to Palau and the Solomon Islands through the placement of the following two (2) embedded maritime advisors:

· One (1) strategic/operational-level Maritime Domain Awareness advisor Senior Advisor embedded at the Palau Ministry of Justice’s Maritime Law Enforcement Division (MLED); and,

· One (1) strategic/operational-level Maritime Security advisor Senior Advisor embedded at the Solomon Islands Ministry of Police and National Security’s Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF).

These two (2) embedded Advisors shall coordinate closely with one another, as well as other U.S-funded advisory and capacity building efforts to ensure complementary programming, to include INDOPACOM Security Cooperation Offices, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Defense Ministry of Defense Advisors (MODA) and Defense Governance Management Team (DGMT), and other relevant U.S. and likeminded allies capacity building programs, including but not limited to Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and France.

Section A of this Task Order outlines the requirements for the Palau Advisor. Section B outlines the requirements for the Solomon Islands Advisor.

Section A: Advisory Services to the Palau Ministry of Justice

A.1. OBJECTIVE

The embedded strategic/operational-level Maritime Domain Awareness advisor Senior Advisor shall work with the MLED and the new Maritime Law Center (MLC) to enhance maritime governance and security through development and implementation of strategy and policies focused on: maritime domain awareness; personnel readiness; professionalization of the force; maintenance and logistics, and related financial planning.

Identified Gaps:

In 2018, the Government of Palau’s Ministry of Justice’s Maritime Law Enforcement Division (MLED), which is responsible for Palau’s maritime security, stood up a new Maritime Law Center (MLC). The MLC is responsible for maritime security and maritime domain awareness (MARSEC/MDA), information fusion, and coordinating Palau’s maritime law enforcement operations in a 230,000+ square mile Exclusive Economic Zone.

MLED requires assistance to organize, integrate, and operationalize the new MLC to ensure its ability to monitor, effectively patrol, defend its territorial integrity and enforce its laws, adequately respond to natural disasters, and effectively conduct maritime search and rescue throughout its large EEZ. MLED also requires support to develop the strategy and policy to ensure personnel readiness, professionalization of the force, and maintenance and logistics.

A.2. PURPOSE

The Contractor shall provide one (1) full-time maritime Advisor:

The strategic/operational-level Maritime Domain Awareness Advisor Senior Advisor shall work with the MLED and Maritime Law Center to establish a strategic Country Action Plan to address the identified core competencies required to enable a professional, ready MLED/MLC capable of defending its territorial integrity and effectively monitoring, patrolling, and enforcing its laws in its EEZ. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall enhance Palau’s maritime governance by strengthening the core maritime safety and security competencies within the ministry and MLED/MLC, including personnel readiness and professionalization, small boat maintenance and logistics, and maritime law enforcement strategy and policy.

The Advisor Senior Advisor shall also assist the MLC with integrating the current MARSEC/MDA common operating pictures (COP), including the U.S.-provided coastal radar system, with U.S. and like-minded partner information and interagency reporting, and threat analysis, to align maritime threat response actions. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall further support the MLC with the development of command center standard operating procedures, equipment maintenance programs, operational and information sharing protocols, and an MLC staff training and qualification program. Additional support shall include facilitating the drafting and implementation of a national search and rescue and mass rescue operation plan.

A.3 PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS

State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Global Programs and Initiatives (PM/GPI) has a requirement for full-time (40-hour work week) support services of:

· One (1) Advisor Senior Advisor embedded in the Palau Ministry of Justice’s Maritime Law Enforcement Division (MLED). The work week in the Palau Royal Solomon Islands Police Force. The work week in the Solomon Islands is Monday-Friday.

A.4 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Advisory Services to the Palau Ministry of Justice The Advisor Senior Advisor shall provide expert guidance and advise the Palau Ministry of Justice, Palau Maritime Law Enforcement Division (MLED), and the Palau Maritime Law Enforcement Center (MLC), to implement Palau’s maritime governance and maritime domain awareness strategy and operationalize the MLC.

The main areas of focus will be enhancing maritime domain awareness; personnel readiness; professionalization of the force; patrol boat readiness, maintenance and logistics; strategy and policy; and related financial planning. Enhancing Palau’s capacity to enforce its EEZ is growing increasingly urgent as Palau’s Marine Sanctuary goes into effect this year, which bans commercial fishing in 80% of Palau’s EEZ.

Where barriers to institutional change exist, the Advisor Senior Advisor shall work to identify those barriers, make recommendations to overcome them, and, where possible, work to address them in support of the desired end state.

TASK A: Conduct an Initial Landscape Assessment that includes a Gap Analysis The Advisor Senior Advisor shall complete an initial baseline stakeholder and MLED/MLC landscape assessment, including a review of existing MDA capabilities and system, equipment, and manning requirements, identify potential shortfalls, conflicts, gaps, risks, and overlaps, and provide recommendations based on the review. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall brief the U.S. Joint Region Marianas Security Cooperation Office (SCO), U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam stakeholders, and U.S. Embassy Koror on the baseline assessment. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall also brief the baseline assessment to the GDRP Program Office.

Within sixty (60) days after arrival in Palau, the Advisor Senior Advisor shall have:

· Achieved an initial understanding of the recipient ministry and agency key stakeholders, existing strategies and policies, current and future plans, and decision-making processes

· Identified associated gaps in achieving maritime security and governance in Palau

· Identified ways to address the identified gaps, including training and capacity building initiatives at the Ministerial and Agency levels.

· Framed the problem set sufficiently such that the Advisor Senior Advisor can make relevant recommendations for future actions by the partner country and the Advisor Senior Advisor can identify areas in which to focus their expertise and efforts during their period of performance. Produced an Initial Landscape Assessment and Gap Analysis, as outlined in Section 87, ‘Deliverables’.

· Produced an Initial Landscape Assessment and Gap Analysis, as outlined in Section 8, ‘Deliverables’. The Initial Landscape Assessment and Gap Analysis shall be completed in direct coordination with the ODC and LAFMLED.

TASK B: Facilitate development of a Country Action Plan Within thirty (30) days after the Initial Landscape Assessment has been completed, the Advisor Senior Advisor shall work with the RSIPF MLED to develop a Country Action Plan.

To complete the Country Action Plan, the Advisor Senior Advisor shall launch a process with identified stakeholders to facilitate development of the Plan that outlines reform objectives, and breaks down the steps required to achieve those objectives. The Country Action Plan will be the first step in generating a shared vision for actions that will be taken by the RSIPF to address their goals and gaps, including specific types of advisory support services that may be required.

The Country Action Plan shall be developed with the MLED/MLC and in close coordination with the Political Section of the U.S. Embassy Koror, the Joint Marianas SCO, and GDRP Program Office. The Country Action Plan should be approved by MLED/MLC senior leadership. The Advisor Senior Advisor should advise the U.S. Embassy of any steps needed to build the necessary political support for the changes and process identified.

The Contractor may be required to provide reach-back support to the Advisor, should the Advisor Senior Advisor identify short-term training requirements or other advisory support services to address gaps.

TASK C: Develop and regularly update a Work Plan Within fifteen (15) days after the Initial Landscape Assessment and Gap Analysis has been completed, the Advisor Senior Advisor shall develop a Work Plan that outlines Country Action Plan objectives, milestones, and corresponding activities that the Advisor Senior Advisor shall undertake until the end of the performance period. The Work Plan shall also list the required tasks over the following thirty (30) days.

The Office of Security Cooperation (OSC) and GDRP Program Office shall agree on the overall goals and objectives in the Work Plan. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall update the Work Plan every thirty (30) days throughout the period of performance.

A template for the Work Plan shall be provided by the GDRP Program Office during the Senior Advisor’s orientation in Washington DC and shall be completed and but shall be completed and updated by the Senior Advisor. The Work Plan shall connect the activities of the Advisor Senior Advisor to the overall Country Action Plan. While the Country Action Plan may require a multi-year effort that extends beyond the Senior Advisor’s period of performance, the Work Plan should focus specifically on the Senior Advisor’s own deliverables and tasks during their period of performance.

The Advisor Senior Advisor shall brief the U.S. Embassy Koror and Joint Marianas SCO on a monthly basis, which shall include at minimum the Political Section and SCO. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall brief on what steps or engagements have been made over the last thirty (30) days, what steps or engagements are planned for the next thirty (30) days, and highlight any issues or areas where the Advisor Senior Advisor could use support from the U.S. Embassy team to build required political support or momentum. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall provide a summary of the monthly meeting and email updated Work Plans monthly to OSC, the Contracting Officer (CO), Contracting Officer Representative (COR), and the GDRP Program Office.

TASK D: Provide advisory services to implement the Country Action Plan The Advisor Senior Advisor shall act as the trusted guide for the MLED/MLC. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall provide technical assistance and expert guidance and advise the MLED/MLEC to execute the Country Action Plan.

The ultimate goals of the advisory services are to:

· promote broad interaction among stakeholder agencies to identify organizations, partnerships, best practices, and other efforts that enhance maritime security and governance through expanded MDA and operational response collaboration.

· improve partner nation organizational capabilities to effectively share maritime security and law enforcement-related information on vessels, cargo, passengers, infrastructure, natural and man-made disasters, and other potential threats within the maritime domain.

As part of their advisory services, the Advisor Senior Advisor shall attend MLED/MLC staff meetings and planning sessions, as well as OSC contractor meetings.

As appropriate, the Advisor Senior Advisor shall interface with other international military advisors to stay current on needs, and de-conflict assistance requirements.

TASK E: Maintain Performance Monitoring Framework and support data collection activities.

The Contractor and Advisor Senior Advisor shall closely track progress against the aforementioned Work Plan and Country Action Plan, both of which are to be captured in the monthly progress reports. The GDRP Program Office (specifically the M&E Advisor) is responsible for providing guidance on the development and maintenance of the Performance Monitoring Framework; however, the Advisor Senior Advisor shall work with the GDRP Program Office to determine the specific objectives, as well as the frequency of data collection and definition for each indicator in the corresponding framework. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall begin data collection for all M&E indicators, as provided by GDRP Program Office, following award of the contract. Data collection shall be conducted on a regular and continuing basis from the time that each Performance Monitoring Framework is approved until the task order is completed.

A.5 PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS

Advisory Services to the Palau Ministry of Justice REQUIRED Qualifications for one (1) strategic-level Maritime Domain Awareness advisor Senior Advisor to the Palau Ministry of Justice

a. Minimum five (5) years of experience with in one or more of the following fields: maritime strategy, maritime law enforcement and security operations, maritime information and intelligence fusion, maritime security policy, and maritime security matters at the operational and strategic levels required.

b. Minimum six (6) years prior services within the U. S. Coast Guard/Navy service.

c. Prior demonstrated supervisory experience in a U.S. Coast Guard sector/district command center, or U.S. Navy maritime operations center or other maritime domain awareness-focused operations center with experience in responsible for command and control, maritime domain/situational awareness, and information/intelligence management.

d. Prior demonstrated experience in two or more of the following areas: operations, planning, exercises, training, developing and implementing standard operating procedures, developing and implementing watchstander job qualifications and requirements, and or managing operations center personnel;

e. U.S. citizen

f. Moderate Risk Public Trust (MRPT) certification issued by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS/SI/PSS)

PREFERRED Qualifications for one (1) strategic-level Maritime Domain Awareness advisor Senior Advisor to the Palau Ministry of Justice

a. Prior demonstrated experience as a U.S. Coast Guard command center chief, USCG Command Duty Officer, or Navy Battlewatch Captain.

b. Prior demonstrated experience working in service, combatant, and strategic level headquarters, e.g., OPNAV, OSD, Joint Staff, USCG, ONI, and/or COCOM staff, highly desired.

c. Background in MDA, related MDA operations and intelligence/information management, fusion, and support.

d. Experience advising foreign military or government at the operational or strategic level

e. Demonstrated ability to work in an environment with limited resources and to apply innovative and creative solutions to resolve problems

f. Proven self-starter who can be successful working independently at various organizational levels and with executives/managers/leaders/staffs from multiple functional areas and cultural backgrounds

g. Demonstrated communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with counterparts to help them achieve goals through the provision of quality advice, support, and mentoring.

h. Proven success in individual and organizational capacity building and aptitude to share knowledge, mentor and coach others

A.6 LIFE SUPPORT

a. The Contractor shall arrange for housing, security, food, transport, office supplies, communications (any type – 24/7 connectivity) and all other basic requirements for its employees conducting the tasks under this section.

A.7 DELIVERABLES

The below deliverables and coordination requirements are mandatory by the Task Order.

Advisory Services to the Palau Ministry of Justice

a. Candidate Selection and Deployment

1) The Offeror shall submit a Project Management Plan (PMP) with their proposal, as outlined in Section L of the RFP.

2) Within five (5) business days after award, the Government will provide written comments to the Contractor regarding their PMP.

3) The Contractor shall incorporate all comments into a revised PMP and submit to the Government within fifteen (15) business days after receiving the initial written feedback.

4) T Within five (5) business days after receiving revised PMP the he Government will host schedule a meeting with all relevant stakeholders to review the revised PMP. The Government and the Contractor will agree to final revisions to the PMP within ten (10) business days after that meeting. If the PMP is not deemed technically acceptable, the Government and the Contractor may repeat the process outlined in steps 2 through 4 until the Government and the Contractor agree to final revisions of the PMP.

5) Once the PMP is approved by the Government and the Contractor, the PMP can only be changed via modification or change order.

6) Once the selected Senior Advisor is selected in accordance with the process above, the Senior Advisor shall attend an orientation training in Washington D.C., provided by the GDRP Program Office, for three five day work-weeks prior to deployment. The selected Advisor shall attend a three-week orientation training in Washington D.C., provided by the GDRP Program Office, prior to deployment. The Contractor shall provide lodging and transportation for the Advisor Senior Advisor to support the training. The Government shall provide all training materials and the orientation schedule to the Contractor.

7) The Contractor shall notify the CO/COR and GDRP Program Office if revisions to the PMP may be required.

8) The Contractor shall submit any potential change or factor that may contribute to a modification of the PMP, as part of the required monthly progress report.

9) The Contractor shall provide mitigation strategies that account for all relevant performance standards.

b. Initial Landscape Assessment and Gap Analysis (Task A)

1. Due no later than sixty (60) days following arrival in country, submit the Initial Landscape Assessment and Gap Analysis. US Embassy personnel will work closely with the Senior Advisor upon arrival in country to provide historical context for the Landscape Assessment and Gap Analysis. A template for the Initial Landscape Assessment and Gap Analysis shall be provided by the GDRP Program Office, but at a minimum shall include:

i. A baseline stakeholder and MLED/MLC landscape assessment

ii. A review of existing MDA capabilities and systems, equipment, and manning requirements

iii. Potential shortfalls, conflicts, gaps, risks, and overlaps

iv. Initial recommendations based on the review

2. Progress toward the Initial Landscape Assessment and Gap Analysis shall be captured in the monthly progress reports.

3. Once completed, the Advisor Senior Advisor shall deliver the Initial Landscape Assessment and Gap to the GDRP Program Office, CO, COR, OSC through email.

c. Country Action Plan (Task B)

1. Due no later than thirty (30) days after delivery of the Initial Capabilities Assessment and Gap Analysis, the Advisor Senior Advisor shall outline a Country Action Plan. A template for the Country Action Plan will be provided by the GDRP Program Office, but at a minimum the Country Action Plan shall:

i. be developed in collaboration with the MLED/MLC

ii. identify and nest within key strategy document of the MLED/MLC and government of Palau

iii. outline MLED/MLC objectives

iv. break down the steps required to achieve those objectives

v. identify specific types of advisory support services required to achieve objectives

vi. address the steps needed to build the necessary political support for the reforms and processes identified, and should highlight any support the U.S. Embassy can provide to build political will and commitment to the reform process.

vii. Include milestones and timelines

2. The Country Action Plan shall be approved by MLED/MLC senior leadership.

3. Once completed, the Advisor Senior Advisor shall send the GDRP Program Office, CO, COR, and the Joint Marianas SCO a copy of the Country Action Plan through email.

d. Monthly Brief with U.S. Embassy Team

1. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall brief the U.S. Embassy team monthly on what steps or engagements have been made over the last 30 days, what steps or engagements are planned for the next 30 days, and highlight any issues or areas where the Advisor Senior Advisor could use support from the U.S. Embassy team to build political support.

2. The U.S. Embassy team should include, at minimum, the Political Section, with a monthly written email to the Joint Marianas SCO.

3. Advisor Senior Advisor shall provide GDRP Program Office with a written summary of key talking points, U.S. Embassy team response, and attendee list in the Monthly Progress report (outlined below in item ‘e’).

e. Monthly Progress Reports

1. Advisor Senior Advisor shall email Monthly Progress Reports in the format provided by the GDRP Program Office, which shall include a Performance Monitoring Framework and the Work Plan for the next thirty (30) days, to the GDRP Program Office, CO, COR and ODC no later than the fifth (5) day of the following month.

2. Advisor Senior Advisor shall participate in monthly check-in calls with the GDRP Program Office no later than the tenth (10) day of each month.

f. Performance Monitoring Framework

1. Advisor Senior Advisor shall maintain all program monitoring information by recording progress in the Performance Monitoring Framework provided by the GDRP Office that shall be submitted as part of the Monthly Progress Reports.

2. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall work collaboratively with the GDRP Program Office to determine applicable indicators to measure progress, which will be captured in the Performance Monitoring Framework.

3. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall be responsible for collecting data for all indicators as outlined in the Performance Monitoring Framework.

4. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall respond to all other requests for interim quantitative and qualitative data within five (5) business days of the request from the GDRP Program Office

g. Quarterly Group Call with GDRP Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Advisor

1. Every three (3) months the Advisor Senior Advisor shall participate in a call with the GDRP Advisor; a readout of those conversation shall be delivered to CO, COR, OSC

h. After Action Reports (AAR) and Exit Report and Interview

1. AAR + five (5) business days from completion from any major milestone (e.g. workshop, report, or other non-regular deliverable)

2. Exit Report and Interview + five (5) business days after departure of the Advisor Senior Advisor from the assignment

3. Transition Plan and all preparation of necessary handover documents prepared for the follow-on Advisor Senior Advisor + ten (10) business days after departure of the Advisor Senior Advisor from the assignment

A.8 CONTRACTING OFFICER REPRESENTATIVE:

TBD

Contracting Officers Representative U. S. Department of State

PM/GPI

A.9 GOVERNMENT TECHNICAL MONITOR:

PALAU:

Security Cooperation Officer

And

A.10 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The work under this task shall take place in the following location(s):

· Advisors shall be primarily based in the following locations:

· Koror, Palau

· Travel within the country and region, as needed, to complete assessments and successfully collaborate with local stakeholders.

· Travel that has any bearing on cost must be coordinated with the CO.

· Advisor Senior Advisor must inform the OSC about the weekly location of performance, sending to the OSC no later than the Friday before the week begins.

· Additional regional travel may also be required. Regional travel must be requested and approved by the CO.

A.11 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

Approval of final documents and other work products must be in accordance with the task order terms and conditions. Work performed will be reviewed for quality, timeliness, and professionalism, by the PM/GPI/GDRP Program Office, in coordination with the OSC and CO. If the performance is unacceptable, feedback will be provided within two weeks.

A.12 TIME OF PERFORMANCE

Performance shall include 1920 hours of services for each position per performance period (average of 40 hours each week X 52 weeks).

A.13 PERFORMANCE METRICS

If > 20 documents, 95% to 99% of documents delivered on schedule.

or grammatical errors; the context and analysis add value to the U.S. government knowledge on the subject; critical analysis is provided (not just simple reporting of observations).

95% to 99% of document delivered on scheduled due date And

95% initial acceptance of deliverable by COR

Data Deliverables Quality

within two (2) business days.

consistent coverage of advisor during period of performance.

In the event an advisor Senior Advisor substitution is required, the Contractor shall work with GDRP Program Office to revise the Project Management Plan (PMP). Initial revisions of the PMP must be completed within (30) business days, to include a State-led stakeholder meeting. All revisions to the PMP shall place within forty-five (45) business days after the departure of personnel.

Section B: Advisory Services to the National Securities Royal Solomon Islands Police Force

B.1. OBJECTIVE

The Advisor Senior Advisor shall help enhance the Solomon Islands maritime governance by strengthening the core maritime safety and security competencies within the Ministry and Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), including personnel readiness and professionalization, maritime law enforcement strategy and policy, and small boat maintenance and logistics. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall also support the implementation of the existing regional plan to integrate law enforcement and MDA common operating pictures (COP). The Advisor Senior Advisor shall leverage the established Australian law enforcement presence to help develop existing operational and information sharing protocols, which enable the U.S. and other like-minded partners to share information and threat analysis to support alignment of maritime threat response actions.

Identified Gaps:

Gaps in core competencies limit RSIPF’s ability to effectively maintain maritime domain awareness of or enforce its laws in its EEZ. Weaknesses span the spectrum of maritime governance including inability to monitor, effectively patrol, defend its territorial integrity and enforce its laws, adequately respond to natural disasters, and effectively conduct maritime search and rescue throughout its large EEZ. The RSIPF’s shortfalls include personnel readiness, professionalization of the force, maintenance and logistics, strategy and policy, and related financial planning.

B.2. PURPOSE

The Contractor shall provide one (1) full-time maritime Advisor:

The strategic-level Maritime Security Advisor Senior Advisor shall work with the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Service, and the Commissioner of the RSIPF to develop a detailed Country Action Plan with milestones required to enhance core ministerial and operational competencies and build RSIPF’s capacity and capability to effectively defend its territory and govern its maritime domain. The objective is to establish a plan to enable a professional, ready RSIPF capable of effectively monitoring, patrolling, and enforcing its laws in its EEZ. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall help enhance the Solomon Islands maritime governance by strengthening the core maritime safety and security competencies within the Ministry of Police and RSIPF, including personnel readiness and professionalization, maritime law enforcement strategy and policy, and small boat maintenance and logistics.

B.3 PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS

State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Global Programs and Initiatives (PM/GPI) has a requirement for full-time (40-hour work week) support services of:

· One (1) Advisor Maritime Security Senior Advisor embedded inat the Solomon Islands Ministry of Police and National Security’s Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF)Palau Maritime Law Enforcement Division/Maritime Law Center. The work week in Solomon Islands Palau is Monday-Friday.

B.4 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Advisory Services to the Solomon Islands Ministry of Police and National Security The Advisor Senior Advisor shall provide expert guidance and advise the Ministry of Police and National Security and the Commissioner of the RSIPF.

The main goals the host country would like to accomplish with the advisor Senior Advisor are to:

· enhance maritime governance and security through development and implementation of strategy and policies focused on personnel readiness, professionalization of the force, maintenance and logistics, and related planning.

· enhance ministerial and operational competencies and build RSIPF’s capacity and capability to effectively defend its territory and govern its maritime domain.

· establish a plan to enable a professional, ready RSIPF capable of effectively monitoring, patrolling, and enforcing its laws in its EEZ.

The Advisor Senior Advisor shall assist the Solomon Islands to enhance maritime governance by strengthening the core maritime safety and security competencies within the ministry and RSIPF, including personnel readiness and professionalization, maritime law enforcement strategy and policy, and small boat maintenance and logistics.

The Advisor Senior Advisor shall also support the implementation of the existing regional plan to integrate law enforcement and MDA common operating pictures (COP). The Advisor Senior Advisor shall leverage the established Australian law enforcement presence to help develop existing operational and information sharing protocols, which enable the U.S. and other like-minded partners to share information and threat analysis to support alignment of maritime threat response actions.

TASK A: Conduct an Initial Landscape Assessment that includes a Gap Analysis The Advisor Senior Advisor shall complete an initial baseline stakeholder and RSIPF landscape assessment, including a review of existing MDA capabilities and system, equipment, and manning requirements, identify potential shortfalls, conflicts, gaps, risks, and overlaps, and provide recommendations based on the review. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall brief the Chief, Office of Security Cooperation (OSC), U.S. Embassy in Suva, Fiji, the GDRP Program Office, and any designated points of contact from U. S. Embassy Port Moresby on the baseline assessment.

Within sixty (60) days after arrival in the Solomon Islands, the Advisor Senior Advisor shall have:

· Achieved an initial understanding of the recipient ministry and agency key stakeholders, existing strategies and policies, current and future plans, and decision-making processes

· Identified associated gaps in achieving maritime security and governance

· Identified ways to address the identified gaps, including training and capacity building initiatives at the Ministerial and Agency levels.

· Framed the problem set sufficiently such that the Advisor Senior Advisor can make relevant recommendations for future actions by the partner country and the Advisor Senior Advisor can identify areas in which to focus their expertise and efforts during their period of performance

· Produced an Initial Landscape Assessment and Gap Analysis, as outlined in Section 8, ‘Deliverables’.

· Completed the Initial Landscape Assessment and Gap Analysis in direct coordination with the SCO and RSIPF.

TASK B: Facilitate development of a Country Action Plan Within thirty (30) days after the Initial Landscape Assessment has been completed, the Advisor Senior Advisor shall work with the RSIPF to develop a Country Action Plan.

To complete the Country Action Plan, the Advisor Senior Advisor shall launch a process with identified stakeholders to facilitate development of the Plan that outlines reform objectives, and breaks down the steps required to achieve those objectives. The Country Action Plan will be the first step in generating a shared vision for actions that will be taken by the RSIPF to address their goals and gaps, including specific types of advisory support services that may be required.

The Country Action Plan shall be developed in partnership with the RSIPF and in close coordination with the OSC Suva and designated point of contact at U. S. Embassy Port Moresby, and GDRP Program Office. The Country Action Plan shall be approved by RSIPF senior leadership and Advisor Senior Advisor shall advise the U.S. Embassy of any steps needed to build the necessary political support for the changes and process identified.

The Contractor may be required to provide reach-back support to the Advisor, should the Advisor Senior Advisor identify short-term training requirements or other advisory support services to address gaps.

TASK C: Develop and regularly update a Work Plan Within fifteen (15) days after the Initial Landscape Assessment and Gap Analysis has been completed, the Advisor Senior Advisor shall develop a Work Plan that outlines Country Action Plan objectives, milestones, and corresponding activities that the Advisor Senior Advisor shall undertake until the end of the performance period. The Work Plan shall also list the required tasks over the following thirty (30) days.

The Office of Security Cooperation (OSC) and GDRP Program Office shall agree on the overall goals and objectives in the Work Plan. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall update the Work Plan every thirty (30) days throughout the period of performance.

A template for the Work Plan shall will be provided by the GDRP Program Office during the Senior Advisor’s orientation in Washington DC and but shall be completed and updated by the Senior Advisor. The Work Plan should connect the activities of the Advisor Senior Advisor to the overall Country Action Plan. While the Country Action Plan may require a multi-year effort that extends beyond the Advisor’s period of performance, the Work Plan should focus specifically on the Advisor’s own deliverables and tasks during their period of performance.

The Advisor Senior Advisor shall brief the Chief, Office of Security Cooperation (OSC), U.S. Embassy in Suva, Fiji, and any designated points of contact from U. S. Embassy Port Moresby. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall brief on what steps or engagements have been made over the last thirty (30) days, what steps or engagements are planned for the next thirty (30) days, and highlight any issues or areas where the Advisor Senior Advisor could use support from the U.S. Embassy team to build required political support or momentum. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall provide a summary of the monthly meeting and email updated Work Plans monthly to OSC, the Contracting Officer (CO), Contracting Officer Representative (COR), and the GDRP Program Office.

TASK D: Provide advisory services to implement the Country Action Plan The Advisor Senior Advisor shall act as the trusted guide for the RSIPF. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall provide technical assistance and expert guidance and advise the RSIPF to execute the Country Action Plan.

The ultimate goals of the advisory services are to:

· promote broad interaction among stakeholder agencies to identify organizations, partnerships, best practices, and other efforts that enhance maritime security and governance through expanded MDA and operational response collaboration.

· improve partner nation organizational capabilities to effectively share maritime security and law enforcement-related information on vessels, cargo, passengers, infrastructure, natural and man-made disasters, and other potential threats within the maritime domain.

As part of their advisory services, the Advisor Senior Advisor shall attend RSIPF staff meetings and planning sessions, as well as OSC contractor meetings.

As appropriate, the Advisor Senior Advisor shall interface with other international military advisors to stay current on needs, and de-conflict assistance requirements.

TASK E: Maintain Performance Monitoring Framework and support data collection activities The Contractor and Advisor Senior Advisor shall closely track progress against the aforementioned Work Plan and Country Action Plan, both of which shall be captured in the monthly progress reports. The GDRP Program Office (specifically the M&E Advisor) is responsible for providing guidance on the development and maintenance of the Performance Monitoring Framework; however, the Advisor Senior Advisor shall work with the GDRP Program Office to determine the specific objectives, as well as the frequency of data collection and definition for each indicator in the corresponding framework. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall begin data collection for all M&E indicators, as provided by GDRP Program Office, following award of the contract. Data collection shall be conducted on a regular and continuing basis from the time that each Performance Monitoring Framework is approved until the task order is completed.

B.5 PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS

Advisory Services to the Solomon Islands Ministry of Police and National Security REQUIRED Qualifications for one (1) strategic/operational-level Maritime Security advisor Senior Advisor to the Solomon Islands

a. Supervisory experience at a U. S. Coast Guard or Navy sector operations/response department or small boat station with experience in one or more of the following fields: responsible for conducting multi-mission operations, overseeing patrol boat and small craft maintenance and logistics, developing and implementing standard operating procedures, and developing and implementing a personnel training and qualification program.

b. Minimum six (6) years prior services within the U. S. Coast Guard/Navy service.

c. Prior demonstrated experience formulating and implementing maritime strategy, maritime policy, or maritime security matters at the operational and strategic levels required.

d. Prior demonstrated operational-level experience in one or more of the following fields: maritime law enforcement and or maritime security operations, including 87 to 110-feet patrol boats and small boats.

e. Prior demonstrated experience in one or more of the following fields: implementing a patrol boat and small boat job qualification and training program as well asor oversight of vessel maintenance and logistics program.

f. Prior demonstrated experience planning and executing one of the following operational areas: maritime security, maritime law enforcement, and search and rescue operations and exercises.

g. Willingness to travel frequently (up to 20%) and work in disparate remote, isolated work environments.

h. U.S. citizen

i. Moderate Risk Public Trust (MRPT) certification issued by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS/SI/PSS)

PREFERRED Qualifications for one (1) strategic-level Maritime Security advisor Senior Advisor to the Solomon Islands

a. Prior demonstrated experience working in service, combatant, and strategic level headquarters staff.

b. Coast Guard 87 to 110 feet patrol boat , Navy Patrol Coastal, or USCG/USN small boat operational experience.

c. Prior demonstrated experience advising foreign military or government at the operational or strategic level.

d. Demonstrated ability to work in an environment with limited resources and to apply innovative and creative solutions to resolve problems.

e. Proven self-starter who can be successful working independently at various organizational levels and with executives/managers/leaders/staffs from multiple functional areas and cultural backgrounds.

f. Demonstrated communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with counterparts to help them achieve goals through the provision of quality advice, support, and mentoring.

g. Proven success in individual and organizational capacity building and aptitude to share knowledge, mentor and coach others.

B.6 LIFE SUPPORT

g. The Contractor shall arrange for housing, security, food, transport, office supplies, communications (any type – 24/7 connectivity) and all other basic requirements for its employees conducting the tasks under this section.

B.7 DELIVERABLES

The below deliverables and coordination requirements are mandatory by the Task Order.

Advisory Services to the Solomon Islands Ministry of Police and National Security

a. Candidate Selection and Deployment

1. The Offeror shall submit a Project Management Plan (PMP) with their proposal, as outlined in Section L of the RFP.

2. Within five (5) business days after award, the Government will provide written comments to the Contractor regarding their PMP.

3. The Contractor shall incorporate all comments into a revised PMP and submit to the Government within fifteen (15) business days after receiving the initial written feedback.

4. Within five (5) business days after receiving the revised PMP tThe Government will host schedule a meeting with all relevant stakeholders to review the revised PMP. The Government and the Contractor shall agree to final revisions to the PMP within ten (10) business days after that meeting. If the PMP is not deemed technically acceptable, the Government and the Contractor may repeat the process outlined in steps 2 through 4 until the Government and the Contractor agree to final revisions of the PMP.

5. Once the PMP is approved by the Government and the Contractor, the PMP can only be changed via modification or change order.

6. The selectedOnce the Advisor Senior Advisor is selected in accordance with the process described above, the Senior Advisor shall attend an three-week orientation training in Washington D.C., for three five day work-weeks provided by the GDRP Program Office, prior to deployment. The Contractor shall provide lodging and transportation for the Advisor Senior Advisor to support the training. The Government shall provide all training materials and the orientation schedule to the Contractor.

7. The Contractor shall notify the CO/COR and GDRP Program Office if revisions to the PMP may be required.

8. The Contractor shall submit any potential change or factor that may contribute to a modification of the PMP, as part of the required monthly progress report.

9. The Contractor shall provide mitigation strategies that account for all relevant performance standards.

b. Initial Landscape Assessment and Gap Analysis (Task A)

1. Due no later than sixty (60) days following arrival in country, submit the Initial Landscape Assessment and Gap Analysis. U.S. Embassy personnel will work closely with the Senior Advisor upon arrival in country to provide historical context for the Landscape Assessment and Gap Analysis. A template for the Initial Landscape Assessment and Gap Analysis will be provided by the GDRP Program Office, but at a minimum must include:

i. a baseline stakeholder and RSFIP capability assessment.

ii. a review of existing MDA capabilities and systems, equipment, and manning requirements

iii. potential shortfalls, conflicts, gaps, risks, and overlaps

iv. initial recommendations based on review

2. Progress toward the Initial Landscape Assessment and Gap Analysis shall be captured in the monthly progress reports.

3. Once completed, the Advisor Senior Advisor shall deliver the Initial Landscape Assessment and Gap Analysis to the GDRP Program Office, CO, COR, OSC through email

c. Country Action Plan (Task B)

1. Due no later than thirty (30) days after delivery of the Initial Capabilities Assessment and Gap Analysis, the Advisor Senior Advisor shall outline a Country Action Plan. A template for the Country Action Plan shall be provided by the GDRP Program Office, but at a minimum the Country Action Plan shall:

i. be developed in collaboration with the RSIPF

ii. identify and nest within key strategy documents of the RSIPF and government of Solomon Islands

iii. identify objectives

iv. breakdown the steps required to achieve those objectives

v. address the steps needed to build the necessary political support for the reforms and processes identified, and highlight any support the U.S. Embassy can provide to build political will and commitment to the reform process.

vi. include milestones and timelines

2. The Country Action Plan must be approved by RSIPF senior leadership.

3. Once completed, the Advisor Senior Advisor shall email the GDRP Program Office. CO, COR, and OSC a copy of the Country Action Plan through email.

d. Monthly Brief with U.S. Embassy Team

1. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall brief the U.S. Embassy team monthly on what steps or engagements have been made over the last 30 days, what steps or engagements are planned for the next 30 days, and highlight any issues or areas where the Advisor Senior Advisor could use support from the U.S. Embassy team to build political support.

2. The U.S. Embassy team should include, at minimum, the OSC and Political Section.

3. Advisor Senior Advisor shall provide GDRP Program Office with a written summary of key talking points, U.S. Embassy team response, and attendee list in the Monthly Progress report (outlined below in item ‘e’).

e. Monthly Progress Reports

1. Advisor Senior Advisor shall email Monthly Progress Reports in the format provided by the GDRP Program Office, which shall include a Performance Monitoring Framework and the Work Plan for the next thirty (30) days, to the GDRP Program Office, CO, COR and ODC no later than the fifth (5) day of the following month.

2. Advisor Senior Advisor shall participate in monthly check-in calls with the GDRP Program Office no later than the tenth (10) day of each month.

f. Performance Monitoring Framework

1. Advisor Senior Advisor shall maintain all program monitoring information by recording progress in the Performance Monitoring Framework provided by the GDRP Office that shall be submitted as part of the Monthly Progress Reports.

2. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall work collaboratively with the GDRP Program Office to determine applicable indicators to measure progress, which will be captured in the Performance Monitoring Framework.

3. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall be responsible for collecting data for all indicators as outlined in the Performance Monitoring Framework.

4. The Advisor Senior Advisor shall respond to all other requests for interim quantitative and qualitative data within five (5) business days of the request from the GDRP Program Office

g. Quarterly Group Call with GDRP Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Advisor

1. Every three (3) months the Advisor Senior Advisor shall participate in a call with the GDRP AdvisorProgram office; a readout of those conversation shall be delivered to CO, COR, OSC

h. After Action Reports (AAR) and Exit Report and Interview

1. AAR + five (5) business days from completion from any major milestone (e.g. workshop, report, or other non-regular deliverable)

2. Exit Report and Interview + five (5) business days after departure of the Advisor Senior Advisor from the assignment

3. Transition Plan and all preparation of necessary handover documents prepared for the follow-on Advisor Senior Advisor + ten (10) business days after departure of the Advisor Senior Advisor from the assignment

B.8 CONTRACTING OFFICER REPRESENTATIVE:

TBD

Contracting Officers Representative U. S. Department of State

PM/GPI

B.9 GOVERNMENT TECHNICAL MONITOR:

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Senior Defense Official U.S. Embassy Suva, Fiji

And Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation

B.10 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The work under this task shall take place in the following location(s):

· Advisors shall be primarily based in the following locations:

· Honiara, Solomon Islands.

· Travel within the country and region, as needed, to complete assessments and successfully collaborate with local stakeholders.

· Travel that has any bearing on cost must be coordinated with the CO.

· Advisor Senior Advisor must inform the OSC about the weekly location of performance, sending to the OSC no later than the Friday before the week begins.

· Additional regional travel may also be required. Regional travel must be requested and approved by the CO.

B.11 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

Approval of final documents and other work products must be in accordance with the task order terms and conditions. Work performed will be reviewed for quality, timeliness, and professionalism, by the PM/GPI/GDRP Program Office, in coordination with the OSC and CO. If the performance is unacceptable, feedback will be provided within two weeks.

B.12 TIME OF PERFORMANCE

Performance shall include 1920 hours of services for each position per performance period (average of 40 hours each week X 52 weeks).

B.13 PERFORMANCE METRICS