Sol7200AA18R00023_Final.pdf

Issuance Date: Monday, January 29, 2018 Deadline for Question Submission: Friday, February 9, 2018 12:00 noon EST Closing Date for Proposals: Thursday, March 8, 2018 Closing Time for Proposals: 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time Applicable NAICS Code: 541990 NAICS Code Description: All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical

Services

EMAIL SUBMISSIONS ONLY

Subject: USAID Request for Proposal Number: 7200AA18R00023 Program Title: Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC)

Dear Prospective Offeror:

The United States Government represented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is issuing the Solicitation No. 7200AA18R00023 entitled, Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC) to request proposals for which it intends to award a Contract for the referenced activity.

The requirements for this activity are described in Section C "Statement of Work". The resultant Contract is a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) and only one Award is anticipated. USAID encourages your organization to indicate its interest in this Contract by submitting a proposal in accordance with the instructions in Section L "Instructions to Offerors".

To maintain fairness throughout this competitive process and per the notice of funding opportunity;

there will be no face to face or phone conversations/meetings relative to the RTAC solicitation. Please submit all questions concerning this RFP via e-mail to Trenae Bonner at tbonner@usaid.gov with a copy to both the Administrative CO Roderick Watson at rwatson@usaid.gov and labcdr_feedback@usaid.gov, no later than 12 pm EST on February 9, 2018.

Questions shall be submitted in the following format and pertain specifically to content within the RFP:

1. Label the subject line with the following naming structure: “RTAC Solicitation #_Question_Vendor Name.”

2. The question should contain a category (i.e. technical, price/cost, general, etc.…). All relevant questions may be placed under one title or category or may be labeled separately.

3. Page number and Section of the RFP from which the question was derived.

Example of Question format:

Technical - Pg. X, Section X – Which position is considered Key Personnel?

mailto:tbonner@usaid.gov mailto:rwatson@usaid.gov mailto:labcdr_feedback@usaid.gov

Cost - Pg. X, Section X – Where is the Contractor Salary Threshold (CST) defined?

Highlights USAID anticipates awarding a single award with a two (2) year base period and two (2) one-year option year periods.

USAID anticipates a maximum ordering limitation for this solicitation of $24,000,000. The maximum aggregate dollar cannot exceed this solicitation limitation.

The applicable NAICS code is 541990 All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Best value is being used as an evaluation factor; factors other than only price will be considered in determining the successful offeror.

Offerors are responsible for ensuring that proposals are received by USAID by the due date and time as specified above and in Section L. The Government reserves the right to award a Contract without discussions or the submittal of final proposed revisions, based upon evaluation of the offeror’s submitted technical and cost information. Accordingly the offeror’s initial offer should contain its best terms for both cost and technical proposal. The Offeror should retain for their records a complete copy of their proposals for future reference. Failure to comply with the submission instructions and date will deem any submission unacceptable and it will not be reviewed or evaluated. Proposals (including all attachments and appendices) must be submitted electronically to Contract Specialist Trenae Bonner at tbonner@usaid.gov using only in PDF and Excel formats for requested and required documents where applicable.

Issuance of this solicitation does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S.

Government, nor does it commit the Government to pay for any costs incurred in the preparation or submission of a proposal. Furthermore, the Government reserves the right to reject any offer, if such action is considered to be not in the best interest of the Government.

This RFP can be viewed and downloaded from www.fedbizopps.gov . USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes. Further, offerors should be aware that amendments to this solicitation may be issued and will be posted on www.fbo.gov attached to this solicitation. USAID advises to regularly check the above website for amendments.

Proposals are due electronically to tbonner@usaid.gov no later than Thursday, March 8, 2018 at 5:00 PM EST. Please note that an early submission is encouraged and welcomed.

Sincerely, Roderick D. Watson Senior Contracting Officer USAID, Office of Acquisitions & Assistance Special Initiatives & Development Partners mailto:tbonner@usaid.gov http://www.fedbizopps.gov/ http://www.fbo.gov/ mailto:tbonner@usaid.gov

Solicitation No.: 7200AA18R00023 - Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC) Page 3

LIST OF ACRONYMS

SECTION B: SERVICES/PRICES

B.1 PURPOSE

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE

B.3 CONTRACT PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

B.4 TOTAL ESTIMATED COST

B.5 BUDGET

B.6 PAYMENT

B.7 PAYMENT SCHEDULE

B.8 TRAVEL AND OTHER DIRECT COSTS

B.9 DANGER PAY ALLOWANCE

B.10 ACCEPTANCE AND APPROVAL

SECTION C: STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 OBJECTIVE

C.2 BACKGROUND

C.3 OVERVIEW

C.4 STATEMENT OF WORK

TASK 1: ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN RESEARCH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER (RTAC)

OPERATIONS

TASK 2: ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A HIGHER EDUCATION-BASED RTAC PARTNER POOL

TASK 3: DEVELOP, UTILIZE, AND MAINTAIN AN RTAC WEBSITE

TASK 4: COMPOSE PUBLICATIONS AND PRODUCTS

TASK 5: SUPPORT CONVENINGS

TASK 6: DEVELOP AND DELIVER TRAINING

TASK 7: MANAGE ADDITIONAL RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES

SECTION D: PACKAGING AND MARKING

NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

D.1 BRANDING STRATEGY

D.2 AIDAR 752.7009 – MARKING (JAN 1993)

D.3 ANTICIPATED ELEMENTS OF MARKING PLAN

D.4 APPROVAL OF CONTRACTOR BRANDING IMPLEMENTATION & MARKING PLAN

SECTION E: INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

E.1 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.2 SCOPE OF INSPECTION

E.4 QUALITY ASSURANCE

E.4 RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL

SECTION F: PERFORMANCE

NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

F.1 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

F.2 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

F.3 KEY PERSONNEL

F.4 DELIVERABLES

F.5 REPORTS

F.6 COMMUNICATION

F.7 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

F.8 OPTION PERIOD

F.9 PERSONAL IDENTITY VERIFICATION OF CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL (JAN 2011)

F.10 WORK WEEK

F.11 AIDAIR 752.7001 BIOGRAPHICAL DATA FOR 752.7001 (JUL 1997)

SECTION G: CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

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G.1 CONTRACTING OFFICER AND AUTHORITY

G.2 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

G.3 INVOICES, ACCPETANCE, AND APPROVAL

G.4 PAYMENT AND VOUCHERS

G.5 CONTRACTOR PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT

The Contractor’s Primary Point of Contact will be determined upon award

G.6 DOCUMENTATION FOR PAYMENT, AIDAR 752.7003 (NOV 1998)

G.7 LIMITATION OF WITHOLDING

G.8 INVOICE FREQUENCY

G.9 NOTICE OF PROGRESS PAYMENTS

G.10 LIMITATION OF FUNDS

G.11 APPROVAL AUTHORITY

G.12 PERSONNEL COMPENSATION

G.13 ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

G.14 LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

G.15 TECHNICAL DIRECTION AND RELATIONSHIP WITH USAID

G.16 OMBUDSMAN

SECTION H: SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

H.1 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

H.2 752.702 DESIGNATION OF AUTHORIZED GEOGRAPHIC CODE

H.3 752.222-70 USAID DISABILITY POLICY (DEC 2004)

H.4 752.225-70 SOURCE AND NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS (FEB 2012)

H.5 AIDAR 752.228-3 WORKER’S COMPENSATION INSURANCE (DEC 1991)

H.6 AIDAR 752.228-70 MEDICAL EVACUATION (MEDEVAC) SERVICES (JUL 2007)

H.7 AIDAR 752.7007 PERSONNEL COMPENSATION (JUL 2007)

H.8 AIDAR 752.7031 LEAVE AND HOLIDAYS (OCT 1989)

H.9 AIDAR 752.7032 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL APPROVAL AND NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS (APR 2014)

H.10 ADS 302.3.5.9 NONDISCRIMINATION (JUNE 2012)

H.11 ADS 302.3.5.21 USAID IMPLEMENTING PARTNER NOTICES (IPN) PORTAL FOR ACQUISITION (JULY 2014) H.12 302.3.5.22 SUBMISSION OF DATASETS TO THE DEVELOPMENT DATA LIBRARY (DDL) (OCTOBER 2014)

H.13 NONEXPENDABLE PROPERTY PURCHASES AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES

H.14 LOGISTIC SUPPORT GOVERNMENT FURNISHED FACILITIES OR PROPERTY

H.15 CONSENT TO SUBCONTRACTS

H.16 LOGISTIC SUPPORT

H.17 STANDARDS OF CONDUCT -- IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES

H.18 PROHIBITION OF ASSISTANCE TO DRUG TRAFFICKERS

H.19 DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION (AIDAR)

H.20 RIGHT TO PROCURE FROM OTHER SOURCES

H.21 FRAUD REPORTING

H.22 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

H.23 CONFIDENTIALITY AND OWNERSHIP OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

H.24 ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS SYSTEM

H.25 USAID-FINANCED THIRD-PARTY WEB SITES (AUG 2013)

H.26 SECURITY CLEARANCE

SECTION I: CONTRACT CLAUSES

I.1 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

I.2 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

I.3 52.203-13 CONTRACTOR CODE OF BUSINESS ETHICS AND CONDUCT (APR 2010)

I.4 52.222-50 COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (MAR 2015)

I.5 AIDAR 752.209-71 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST DISCOVERED AFTER AWARD (JUN 1993)

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I.6 AIDAR 752.242-70 PERIODIC PROGRESS REPORTS (OCT 2007)

I.7 AIDAR 752.7006 NOTICES (APR 1984)

I.8 AIDAR 752.7008 USE OF GOVERNMENT FACILITIES OR PERSONNEL (APR 1984)

I.9 AIDAR 752.7025 APPROVALS (APR 1984)

SECTION J: LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS, AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS

SECTION K: REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF

OFFERORS

SECTION L: INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

L.1. 52.252-1 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

L.2. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION TO OFFERORS

L.3 RECEIPT OF PROPOSALS AND DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

L.4 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL AND COST PROPOSAL

SECTION I – TECHNICAL PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS

SECTION II – COST PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS

SECTION M – EVALUATION CRITERIA

M.1 GENERAL INFORMATION

M.2 TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA

M.3 EVALUATION OF PAST PERFORMANCE

M.4 COST PROPOSAL EVALUATION

M.5 DETERMINATION OF COMPETITIVE RANGE

M.6 SOURCE SELECTION

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LIST OF ACRONYMS

ADS Automated Directive Services APS Annual Program Statement CDR Center for Development Research CO Contracting Officer COR Contracting Officer Representative DDL Development Data Library DEC Development Exchange Clearinghouse DUNS Data Universal Numbering System HESN Higher Education Solutions Network HUBZone HUBZone small business LAB U.S. Global Development Lab LASER Long-term Assistance and SErvices for Research LOE Level of Effort M/B/IO Missions, Bureaus, and Independent Office MEL Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning MSI Minority-Serving Institution ODC Other Direct Costs PEER Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research RFP Request for Proposal RTAC Research Technical Assistance Center SAM System for Award Management SB Small Business SDVOB Veteran-Owned Small Business SSEB Source Selection Evaluation Board SOW Statement of Work SSN Sources Sought Notice STIP Science, Technology, Innovation, and Partnership STTA Short-Term Technical Assistance TA Technical Assistance USAID U.S. Agency for International Development WOSB Women-Owned Small Business Concerns

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SECTION B: SERVICES/PRICES

B.1 PURPOSE

The Contractor shall provide and perform the full description of the services required as described in “Section C – Statement of Work”.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE

The Government anticipates awarding a Fixed Price Contract + Cost Reimbursement (for additional activities consistent with the scope of this RFP) contract. The Contractor must be able to perform all services identified in Section C of this solicitation.

B.3 CONTRACT PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

USAID anticipates an award with a 2 year base with potentially 2 option years or 4 years inclusive of options.

B.4 TOTAL ESTIMATED COST

The estimated total contract value for this project is $24M. Approximately $2M-$3M per year anticipated from CDR (contingent on the availability of funds) with the remainder from the Lab and other USAID Missions/Bureaus/Independent Offices (M/B/IOs) who would have the ability to “buy-into” the Contract for specific, agreed-to activities consistent with the overall scope of the technical assistance support services outlined in this RFP.

B.5 BUDGET

This RFP includes both discrete tasks (indicated by non-italicized font in Section C below) and additional activities that will be identified after award (indicated by italicized font in Section C below). All activities noted in Section C in plain text (NON-italicized text) should be budgeted for as a part of the RTAC Prime’s Budget. USAID expects that Offerors will lay out a clear plan in their proposals regarding how they will complete all of these plain text activities as part of their proposals.

This plan should be presented as a part of Offeror’s Budget Summary as a component of the Cost Proposal as outlined in Table 1.1 (see detailed instructions in Section L). Budget Table 1.1 is included to illustrate the budget details. The Offeror should provide their proposed RTAC Budget in the same format as the sample provided. The Agreed-to Budget for the specific activities in this SOW will be awarded on a Fixed Price basis and signed into the ultimate Contract.

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Budget Table 1.1

All italicized activities listed in Section C. are illustrative activities that should not be specifically budgeted for at this time and instead will be evaluated and awarded based on an analysis of the proposed hourly/daily rates identified by Offerors in their RTAC Labor Rate Chart. USAID expects that many of the italicized activities will ultimately be required activities under this Contract and therefore Offerors should have a strong plan for staffing these activities with researchers with the appropriate regional and technical skills. These additional technical support services will be negotiated post-Award and will be supported via a cost reimbursement basis. All additional tasks must fall clearly within the overall project scope of technical assistance services identified in this RFP and must fall within the overall contract ceiling of $24M over the life of the Contract. As a component of these additional activities, it is envisioned that M/B/IOs may select to “buy-in” for one or more, discrete and defined Task(s) or Subtask(s) as outlined in Section C., or they may elect to obligate funds into the RTAC Contract to enable them to leverage a portfolio of the support products available under Section C. Each specific buy-in will be negotiated between the CDR Contracting

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Officer’s Representative (COR), the M/B/IO buying in, and the RTAC Prime and formally approved and obligated into the mechanism by the Contracting Officer (CO).

In order to enable the Government to evaluate the costs for additional services to be performed under this contract Offerors must complete and submit the RTAC Labor Rate Chart (Table 2.1) to outline proposed costs by labor category for additional technical assistance and support service needs to be fulfilled under this Contract. Once negotiated, the final burdened rates from the RTAC Labor Rate Chart will be incorporated into the final Contract Award for the successful Offeror and will be used to determine appropriate salary costs for consultants supported under the “additional” Section C tasks as they are further defined in the future.

Table 2.1: RTAC Labor Rate Chart

NOTE: For all Offerors other than small businesses, a small business subcontracting plan must be included. Based on market research conducted in advance of this procurement, USAID believes that activities related to the development and implementation of the MEL Plan (Task 1.D), developing a Website (Task 3), and conducting meetings and convenings (Task 5) may be particularly well suited for the small business community. But, ultimately, it is up to each Offeror to propose the most

Solicitation No.: 7200AA18R00023 - Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC) Page 10 appropriate tasks to be completed by small business subcontractors as a part of their overall proposal.

The key personnel positions for the award will operate consistently throughout the life of the award;

the level of effort for full-time key personnel is 2080 hours. For all other positions the offeror must propose the labor categories and the level of effort. The offeror must address/acknowledge how it will address the staffing needs. This includes provision of the short term technical assistance (STTA) the Offeror must be able to provide in a timely response based on USAID’s needs.

When submitting budgets adhere to the following:

Per FAR 16.601, the contractor shall provide fixed hourly rates that include wages, overhead, general and administrative expenses, and profit.

Per FAR 16.601, the contractor shall specify separate fixed hourly rates that include wages, overhead, general and administrative expenses, and profit for each category of labor to be performed by— (A)The contractor;

(B) Each subcontractor; and

(C) Each division, subsidiary, or affiliate of the contractor under a common contract.

The offeror should provide costs for direct materials, subcontracts, other direct costs as applicable.

Specific allocations of time per labor category will be determined post-Award as additional activities are identified. The Contractor shall be responsible for tracking and reporting the level of effort utilized by all funded labor categories. The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) has the authority to adjust the number of hours amongst existing labor categories in the Contract as long as the total dollar value of labor supported does not exceed the contract value of $24M. The Contractor must forward their request to the COR for USAID review, negotiation, and approval and then to the Contracting Officer for modification to update the Contract document to reflect agreed-to labor and costs for additional activities (additional information available in Section C.4 below).

There is no guarantee the Government will reach the ceiling established per contract year as the need for services are driven by the Agencies demand.

B.6 PAYMENT

1. This is a firm fixed-price + cost reimbursement contract.

2. Schedule of Payment: Invoices may be submitted monthly.

3. Method of Submission: Electronic submission of invoices is required. Submit invoices to the designated Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for approval. The SF-1034 must be signed, and it must be submitted along with the invoice documents and any other documentation in Adobe.

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4. USAID will obligate an agreed to contract amount for the performance and completion of the required services as described in Section C - Statement of Work and Technical Specification.

The Offerors shall not exceed the amount unless authorized by the Contracting Officer pursuant to the applicable clauses on this contract.

5. The Contractor will be responsible for submitting SF-425 on a quarterly basis throughout the life of the Contract. The SF-425 must be signed and submitted to the COR via email (due dates = October 30, January 31, April 30, July 31).

Payments to the Offerors:

Payments will be made on submission of the Offerors’ Invoice which complies with the Requirements of this Section.

Obligation of Government Payments

The obligation of the Government to make payments required under the provisions of this contract will, at the discretion of the Contracting Officer, be subject to reductions and/or suspensions permitted under the FAR and agency regulations including the following in accordance with FAR 52.232-5, such as:

Claims which the Government may have against the Offerors under or in connection with this Contract; and Unless otherwise adjusted, repayment to the Government upon demand for overpayments made to the Offerors.

B.7 PAYMENT SCHEDULE

A payment schedule will be established before award date and will be based on the submitted and negotiated proposal.

B.8 TRAVEL AND OTHER DIRECT COSTS

Travel if authorized shall be reimbursed at cost and shall be conducted in accordance with Travel Regulations and the Cost Principles outlined FAR Part 31.205-46. Travel costs will be reimbursed at cost and in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR), Department of State Per Diem Rates, and FAR Part 31 Cost Principles.

Local travel (travel to and from normal job site, supervisory personnel traveling to a Government site or alternative facility to conduct training, personnel temporarily working at a Government site or alternative facility will consider such facility his/her normal job site) will not be reimbursed under the contract, sub-awards, or subcontracts for Washington, DC metropolitan area based work. All travel must be approved by the designated Contracting Officer Representative (COR). All Travel requests should be submitted with a narrative and must have origination and destination points and include all cost associated with the planned travel. International Travel approvals will be negotiated

Solicitation No.: 7200AA18R00023 - Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC) Page 12 and granted by the Cognizant COR for Travel up to $10,000 per person per event on an individual basis.

The offeror will be expected to support TA providers to deploy to Missions around the world to participate in trainings or other research activities of the type outlined in Section C of the RFP.

The offeror should estimate cost as realistically as possible. The Department of State per diem rates may be used to determine travel cost.

ODCs will be required as necessary. The U.S. dollar costs allowable shall be limited to reasonable, allocable, and necessary costs determined in accordance with FAR 52.216-11 and AIDAR 752.7003 Documentation for Payment.

B.9 DANGER PAY ALLOWANCE

The Contractor employees may receive Danger Pay as a percentage of their unloaded basic compensation. Neither overtime or other premium pay nor other allowances are factored into the calculation of Danger Pay. Danger Pay is paid only for hours for which basic compensation is paid (DSR 655). The Contractor will be reimbursed for payments made to its employees for Danger Pay not to exceed that amount paid to USAID employees in the cooperating country. For additional information, please see the Department of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR), Chapter 650.

B.10 ACCEPTANCE AND APPROVAL

Payments will be on a monthly basis in accordance with FAR 52.216.7 on all allowable costs.

Unacceptable deliverables by the COR, are considered to be unallowable costs and should not be included in the voucher.

[END OF SECTION B]

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SECTION C: STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 OBJECTIVE

To develop a Research Technical Assistance Center to support scientific and research-based technical assistance (TA) needs for the Agency by leveraging the technical and research expertise of the higher education community. Anticipated activities include: creation of evidence-to-action policy briefs, technical reports, strategic research agenda setting and research activity consultations, coordination of university-based researchers for expert panels or convenings, sector-focused trainings, and other short-term technical assistance (STTA) or related TA.

Of note, this Contract will be a sister-activity to the Long-term Assistance and SErvices for Research (LASER), which will likely be a Cooperative Agreement focused on providing long-term TA and research support for the Agency. RTAC will be expected to coordinate with LASER as needed and be available to publish products from LASER work on a proposed RTAC information-sharing platform.

C.2 BACKGROUND

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and its partners have been working to tackle the world’s toughest development challenges for more than 50 years. Our mission is to partner to end extreme poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies while advancing our security and prosperity. We have long invested in science, technology, innovation, and partnership (STIP) to achieve progress across many of USAID’s goals. Today’s global development landscape is rapidly evolving. Driven by scientific breakthroughs, disruptive innovation, and rapid advancements in information and communication technologies, coupled with growing contributions by the private sector, these changes offer unprecedented opportunities to leverage the world’s best thinking to solve critical global challenges.

Recognizing the value of a more focused and coordinated approach to harnessing these changes, USAID established the U.S. Global Development Lab (Lab) in April 2014. The Lab serves as an innovation hub, working in all technical and geographic areas. We take smart risks to test new ideas and partner within the Agency and with other actors to harness the power of innovative tools and approaches that accelerate development impact.

Lab Mission The Lab has a two-part Mission that aims to:

1. Produce breakthrough development innovations by sourcing, testing, and scaling proven solutions that impact millions of people; and

2. Accelerate the transformation of the development enterprise by opening development to people anywhere with good ideas, promoting new and deepening existing partnerships, bringing data and evidence to bear, and harnessing scientific and technological advances.

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Lab Approach The Lab operates under a set of guiding principles. The Lab aims to be:

Open and Inclusive - Drawing upon the ingenuity of people from around the world.

Evidence-based - Investing based on strong evidence of impact.

Catalytic - Attracting the support of others to enable sustainable development solutions that reach massive scale.

Agile - Creating fast feedback loops that enable continuous learning and performance improvement.

Lab Tools The Lab is focused on utilizing STIP approaches as our primary tools to reach key development outcomes. We work across USAID and with the broader international development community to find innovative approaches and solutions. When a new solution or approach proves effective, we endeavor to mainstream it across USAID and with our partners to increase its impact.

Lab Objectives The Lab’s programming is aligned around five objectives:

Science: Increasing the use of scientific research to improve development outcomes and make better policy and programming decisions.

Technology: Advancing the use of enabling technologies, digital infrastructure, and data-driven approaches to empower underserved communities and improve development effectiveness.

Innovation: Increasing the adoption of high impact development solutions and the effective use of innovation models and design practices.

Partnerships: Advancing the use of private sector engagement, new collaborative approaches, and cultivation of entrepreneurial ecosystems to accelerate and scale development impact.

Agency Integration: Increasing the effective integration of STIP by Missions and Bureaus to advance USAID’s sustainable development results and priorities.

CDR Overview Within the Lab, the Center for Development Research (CDR) leads the Lab’s Science Objective, which aims to increase the use of scientific research to improve development outcomes.

CDR recognizes the excellent work in research and development being pursued by Bureaus and Missions across USAID. CDR seeks to complement this work as we partner on research programming and coordination across the agency. CDR currently partners with USAID colleagues, other federal agencies, universities, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to increase the scientific knowledge and evidence directed toward addressing USAID’s development priorities and improving policy and programming decisions.

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CDR is currently composed of three flagship programs, the Higher Education Solutions Network (HESN), the Partnership for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER), and the Science Policy programs (including USAID Research Policy and Coordination, American Association for the Advancement of Sciences Science & Technology Policy Fellows, Jefferson Science Fellows, Seeding Labs, and Research and Innovation Fellows). As some of these programs are beginning to wind down, CDR is in the process of adding additional programs to our portfolio, now referred to as the “HESN 2.0 portfolio,” to assist USAID in addressing its development objectives.

Overview of New HESN 2.0 Programming for FY 2018 CDR has conducted a series of internal focus groups, conversations, consultations, and extensive market research over the past 1.5 years to advance our thinking on the next steps of research and university-based programming for the Lab. To that end, CDR released an initial Request for Information (RFI) in October 2016 (and subsequent RFI addendum in July 2017). USAID also hosted an “Industry Day” (conducted November 9, 2016 in Boston, MA) to further our market research efforts. The purpose of the RFI and the “Industry Day” event was to identify ideas and capture comments and information from the public that could assist CDR as it sought to expand our programming portfolio.

On August 4, 2017, USAID published a follow-on Sources Sought Notice (SSN)/Request for Information (RFI) on our draft contract Scope of Work (SOW) to solicit additional feedback on our proposed program designs. The information received in response to that SSN/RFI assisted USAID in further fleshing out the key elements of the new mechanisms USAID currently plans to release under the HESN 2.0 portfolio. In particular, feedback helped USAID refine its thinking around the importance of emphasizing the difference between the new mechanisms, including appropriate incentives for university researchers in each mechanism, and diversifying the potential pool of individuals completing work under the Contract mechanism discussed in this RFP. Additional specifics about the three planned new mechanisms can be found below.

Leveraging the unique capabilities of the higher education community, CDR programming will continue to be centered on the Lab’s Science Objective: Increase the use of scientific research for improved development outcomes. CDR will partner with the higher education community to increase the use of scientific research to inform policies, programs, and innovative solutions (i.e.

tools, technologies and approaches) to development challenges. Backed by our intensive consultation process, CDR recognizes the value of leveraging the university community across the range of objectives under the Lab and Agency and therefore anticipates that work under our CDR-led higher education mechanisms will contribute to not just the Science Objective but also all major objectives of the Lab as well as the unique strategies and objectives of various Missions, Bureaus, and Independent Offices (M/B/IOs) across the Agency.

https://www.usaid.gov/hesn/about https://www.usaid.gov/hesn/about https://www.usaid.gov/hesn/about https://www.usaid.gov/hesn/about https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/GlobalDevLab/international-research-science-programs https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/science-technolog-and-innovation/science-usaid https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/science-technolog-and-innovation/science-usaid https://www.aaas.org/program/science-technology-policy-fellowships https://www.aaas.org/program/science-technology-policy-fellowships http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/Jefferson/ http://seedinglabs.org/ https://www.usaid.gov/RIFellowships

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The currently planned new programs under HESN 2.0 are anticipated to include the following:

1. Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC) - RTAC will provide timely research-based technical assistance that facilitates USAID’s capability to make quick, evidence-based programming decisions by leveraging the technical expertise of the higher education community. Anticipated activities include: creation of evidence-to-action policy briefs and technical reports; strategic research agenda setting and research activity consultations;

coordination of university-based researchers for expert panels or convenings and sector-focused trainings; and provision of additional technical assistance support. CDR anticipates that the successful RTAC Prime will establish and maintain a network of individual graduate students, faculty, and researchers with current academic affiliations, who would apply directly to the RTAC Prime to participate as a part of the RTAC Partner Pool. These individuals would then be available to serve as individual technical advisors, via subcontract agreements, upon whom USAID can call on for support across a wide variety of technical sectors as needed.

2. Long-term Assistance and SErvices for Research (LASER) - Viewed as a sister activity to

RTAC, CDR envisions expanding our support of long term research efforts that address specific development needs via award of a “Long-Term Assistance and SErvices for Research (LASER)” Cooperative Agreement. Through LASER, USAID will leverage the intellectual prowess, knowledge, and in-country/on the ground connection of institutions of higher education to co-create and implement innovative solutions. Co-creating research projects with USAID and other development actors will help researchers maximize their impact by addressing questions that are pressing and actionable for development actors. CDR is exploring our potential ability to source, convene, fund and follow these projects so that the entire research system, from end-user to policy maker can be engaged, educated, and contribute to the success of the research project. CDR plans to release this opportunity as a Request for Application (RFA) with the Prime Implementing Partner being responsible for supporting a large variety of university-based partners, faculty, researchers, and organizations able to partner with USAID in the design and execution of long-term research-based programming via substantive sub-award agreements based on specific project needs and technical capabilities.

3. Science, Technology, Innovation and Partnerships Annual Program Statement (STIP

APS) - CDR envisions publishing an APS in which CDR, the Lab, and other USAID M/B/IOs would be invited to submit addendums or specific priorities in support of cross-cutting development challenges that can be tackled in partnership with institutions of higher education in the U.S. and abroad. Universities would then have the opportunity to respond, stating how they would work across sectors and with in-country partners, to develop and test an intervention that could bend the curve of development.

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CDR envisions that a portion of the work performed under all three of the mechanisms above will be driven by CDR and its own unique research interests. However, an additional portion of the work supported under these mechanisms will be supported via “buy-ins” from other Centers within the Global Development Lab as well as by USAID M/B/IOs with interest in deepening their relationships with the academic community.

C.3 OVERVIEW

RTAC Prime and the RTAC Partner Pool Throughout this document, “RTAC Prime” refers to the Prime organization leading the RTAC contract as well as any general subcontracts the RTAC Prime awards to support overall management and administration of the RTAC. The term “RTAC Prime” does not refer to individual participants/consultants under the RTAC Partner Pool.

USAID envisions that the most critical job of the RTAC Prime will be to establish and manage a network of university-based consultants/TA providers for USAID. This network, known as the RTAC Partner Pool, is envisioned to be comprised of domestic and international university researchers, faculty, and students at the graduate level who can be available to respond to time-sensitive and varied USAID requests. In this document, the terms “TA providers” and “RTAC Partner Pool members” are used interchangeably. Our market research suggests that the pool of university researchers interested in participating in work under the Partner Pool will likely apply for this work as individual consultancies under the RTAC Prime. However, the RTAC Prime may also propose to include specific university departments, teams, or sub-organizations as a part of their RTAC Partner Pool proposals at their discretion.

As a part of the proposal, and ongoing RTAC operations, the RTAC Prime must demonstrate that they have the logistical, management, and operational capacity to support USAID’s work in all sectors of development in which USAID works, and to enable participation from local researchers in all developing countries in which USAID works. The RTAC Prime’s proposed approach for establishing and maintaining this Partner Pool, as well as the qualifications of the initially proposed participants in the pool, will factor heavily in the evaluation decision made by USAID during the review process. The RTAC Prime will be evaluated on qualities of their proposed Partner Pool, which must include a diversity of researchers (including female researchers and researchers from U.S. minority-serving institutions (MSIs)1 and developing countries), the technical and regional range of the proposed pool, and individual qualifications of the proposed researchers.

1 The USAID MSI Program’s mission is to facilitate an environment where U.S. MSIs become USAID partners by successfully competing for USAID awards and by engaging in U.S. foreign assistance activities. The USAID MSI Program provides support to minority-serving U.S. higher education institutions interested in USAID programs and activities and promotes the interests, capabilities, and experience of MSIs within USAID. MSIs include Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). For more information on MSIs please follow this link - https://www.usaid.gov/partnership-opportunities/universities/minorityserving-institutions.

https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do https://www.usaid.gov/where-we-work https://www.usaid.gov/partnership-opportunities/universities/minorityserving-institutions

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Requirements of the RTAC Partner Pool, including requirements regarding member diversity and approval processes, are outlined in section C.4: Statement of Work/Task 2.

Contract Activity Notes All activities noted below in plain text (NON-italicized text) are currently known Contract activities (for one or more years of the Contract) and should be budgeted for as a part of the RTAC Prime’s Cost Proposal. USAID expects that Offerors will lay out a clear plan in their proposals regarding how they will complete all of these plain text activities as part of their proposals.

All italicized activities listed in Section C. are illustrative activities that should not be specifically budgeted for at this time. However, the RTAC Prime must have a strong management plan to enable them to quickly identify and partner with additional people and resources in support of the italicized activities if and when they become needed. USAID expects that many of the italicized activities will ultimately be required activities under this Contract and will be supported under the Contract.

In the following SOW text, “RTAC Prime” represents the ultimate holder of the RTAC Contract.

It is not intended to suggest that the RTAC Prime may not propose subcontracts under the Prime Contract. Rather, USAID expects that all non-small business Offerors will propose that some portions of the following SOW could be best performed by small business subcontractors and will set-aside those components of work for the small business community accordingly (see sections L and M for more information on USAID’s small business subcontracting goals). The term “RTAC Prime” is used for readability and ease and is intended to represent the Prime and any other proposed core subcontractors (small business or otherwise) included in the RTAC Prime’s proposal.

Depending on the affiliation of the Prime, USAID understands that it is possible that more or fewer of the core tasks identified below may be fulfilled by the RTAC Prime (or affiliated subcontractors) versus individual participants in the RTAC Partner Pool. Offerors must demonstrate that their proposed approach to completing the tasks identified in this SOW is comprehensive and consists of the requisite capabilities and expertise to complete the tasks successfully-- albeit by members of the RTAC Prime Key Personnel, other RTAC Prime staff, or individual subcontracts with members of the RTAC Partner Pool.

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C.4 STATEMENT OF WORK

TASK 1: ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN RESEARCH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER

(RTAC) OPERATIONS

Performing Party: RTAC Prime

Overview of Task: Under this Task, the RTAC Prime must establish the necessary personnel and processes to establish and maintain the RTAC. It is expected that the Key Personnel identified in this Request for Proposal (RFP) will play a key role in managing the RTAC and as such will be available for regular (minimum weekly) phone consultations and (daily) email communications with USAID.

Subtask 1.A: Participate in Contract Kick-Off Meeting (Year One) The RTAC Prime must participate in an RTAC Contract Kick-Off Meeting with the RTAC COR and CO in Washington, DC within 30 days of the Contract signing. This (estimated) 2-hour meeting will be used to orientate the RTAC Prime to the rules, regulations, and operations of USAID. USAID will prepare the agenda for the meeting. For budgeting purposes, the RTAC Prime must plan to send three of their Key Personnel team to the meeting.

Subtask 1.B: Submit Annual Workplan (All Contract Years) The RTAC Prime must submit an Annual Workplan to the RTAC COR outlining the proposed management plan of the RTAC, key responsibilities and roles of RTAC Key Personnel and RTAC Partner Pool members, and an updated timeline and budget for RTAC deliverables. The RTAC Prime must submit a draft workplan within 21 days of Contract Award and a final workplan 14 days after receipt of USAID comments. In subsequent Contract Years, Annual Workplans are due 45 days before the start of the next Contract Year.

Subtask 1.C: Develop an RTAC-Specific Invoice Process (Contract Year 1) and Implement the Process (All Contract Years) It is anticipated that this Contract will be funded from a large variety of funding lines, and supported by the Lab and M/B/IOs across USAID. To ensure appropriate cost accountability and tracking, the RTAC Prime must create an internal process to document that costs are appropriately charged to specific Agency line items (as identified by the COR) and that subcontracts to pay subcontractors and individual researchers in the RTAC Partner Pool are billed and reported to the appropriate line items accordingly. The primary deliverable for this subtask will be the development and approval of an RTAC Invoice Format, initially due within 2 weeks of Contract Award and subject to adjustment as needed over the duration of the contract at the direction of the COR. In addition, thirty days after the conclusion of every government fiscal quarter (due dates = October 30, January 30, April 30, and July 30), the Contractor must submit a detailed financial report documenting project/Agency expenses, disbursements, and balances by Agency line item.

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Subtask 1.D: Develop and Incorporate Monitoring & Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Plan (Base Period) USAID collects program data to track and improve performance and incorporates a learning agenda to inform planning and management. The MEL plan includes the indicators, indicator targets, and program learning questions that will be tracked throughout program implementation and used to modify administration as needed. The RTAC Prime must incorporate financial resources for these monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities in their proposed and final budgets for this Contract.

When preparing their MEL plan, the RTAC Prime is highly encouraged to utilize the MEL principles described in the following USAID toolkits:

Monitoring Evaluation Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting

Additionally, the plan must contain the components outlined in Automated Directive Services 201 (ADS 201) section 201.3.4.10: A. Activity MEL Plan.

This plan must be approved by the COR before major RTAC implementation activities begin. The RTAC Prime must submit a draft MEL plan within 45 days of Award and a final MEL plan 15 days after receipt of USAID comments for RTAC operations. Once approved, the RTAC Prime must propose an approach to implement the MEL plan. USAID anticipates that this may involve the RTAC Prime proposing to subcontract out portions of the work identified in the MEL plan to ensure that an objective review is completed.

Within the MEL plan, the RTAC Prime must:

Subtask 1.D.1: Define and Document Monitoring Approach As a component of the draft MEL plan, the RTAC Prime must outline the activity’s monitoring approach, including relevant performance indicators and targets.

Below is a list of potential performance indicators, including:

# of convenings held to disseminate research for use, and # of participants # of trainings conducted # of research products translated for use (turned into policy briefs, incorporated into systematic reviews, business case analysis etc.)

# and share of developing country/minority serving institutions or affiliated individuals in

RTAC Partner Pool # and share of research technical assistance providers affiliated with a U.S. minority-serving institution/ developing country where USAID works # and share of female researchers in RTAC Partner Pool # and share of female researchers providing research technical assistance services https://usaidlearninglab.org/content/monitoring-toolkit https://usaidlearninglab.org/evaluation https://usaidlearninglab.org/cla-toolkit https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/200/201

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# of policy/programming recommendations adopted by the public sector, the private sector, USAID, or other development actors

Subtask 1.D.2: Propose an Evaluation Framework The RTAC Prime must propose an evaluation framework, following the principles outlined in USAID’s Evaluation Policy, that corresponds to their monitoring plan to assure that the needed data will be collected and reported throughout the life of the contract. This framework should include proposed definitions of success, evaluation questions to be answered, and processes for ensuring that potential evaluators are able to contribute to and receive information from the planned implementation approach.

Subtask 1.D.3: Outline an Adaptive Learning Approach In the draft MEL Plan, the RTAC Prime must outline the administrative processes that they will employ to ensure that contract monitoring and evaluation data is utilized to adapt and improve contract implementation with respect to maximizing the impact of program outputs. USAID retains the right to approve of any changes made in workplan implementation resulting from this process.

Subtask 1.D.4: Submit and Implement Final MEL Plan (Base Period and All Option Years) Within 15 days of receipt of comments from USAID on the draft MEL plan, the RTAC Prime must respond to and incorporate all feedback on the draft monitoring approach, evaluation framework, adaptive learning approaches, and present USAID with a final MEL plan which incorporates all of these elements and which must be followed throughout the Contract Period. Once approved, the MEL plan must be followed throughout the duration of the Award and may not be substantively changed without USAID approval.

Subtask 1.D.5: Submit Bi-Annual Performance Reports, Based on MEL Plan (Annually) Two times per Contract Year (due dates = April 30 and October 30), the Contractor must submit a complete report documenting progress towards the approved MEL Plan. These reports must be comprised of both a narrative and a data portion. The data collected will feed into the indicators agreed-upon within the MEL plan and will require uploading information to USAID’s existing knowledge management systems. The exact contents of the narrative portion will be outlined by USAID after the Contract is awarded. However, it will provide a status update on RTAC’s activities, results, and performance against all indicators identified in the approved MEL plan. If the RTAC Prime does not meet targets for an indicator, a justification will be required in the narrative.

Subtask 1.E: Submit Short RTAC Monthly Progress Reports (All Contract Years) The RTAC Prime must submit monthly progress reports to the COR outlining progress against tasks and subtasks. These reports can be in bullet form and should be two pages or less. Progress https://usaidlearninglab.org/evaluation?tab=2

Solicitation No.: 7200AA18R00023 - Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC) Page 22 reports are due on the 5th day of every month (or the first business day thereafter) and should cover activities performed during the previous month.