Amendment 0001 Revised Sol_72011422R00004.pdf

(x)

72011422R00004 x x

1 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted ; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE

RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR

OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted , such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

x

N/A

Not Applicable

720114

Tbilisi 0131, Georgia 29, Georgian-American Friendship Av Regional Contracting Office USAID/Georgia

12/08/20210001

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended , by one of the following methods: (a) By completing

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

11/08/2021

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation data, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not is required to sign this document and return __________________ copies to the issuing office.

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

The purpose of this Amendment to the Solicitation is to:

a) provide answers to questions from the prospective offerors;

b) incorporate revisions to the Solicitation document and provide revised Solicitation;

c) provide a copy of the List of Primary Target Communities.

Accordingly, the following changes shall apply to the Solicitation:

1) Answers to questions from the prospective offerors are provided in Attachment 1 to this

Continued ...

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

Samuel Kraegel

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

Previous edition unusable

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9 A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect .

ITEM NO. SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

NAME OF OFFEROR OR CONTRACTOR

2 2

CONTINUATION SHEET

REFERENCE NO. OF DOCUMENT BEING CONTINUED PAGE OF

(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F)

72011422R00004/0001

Amendment;

2) Revised Solicitation is attached to this

Amendment;

3) Copy of the List of Primary Target Communities is provided in Attachment 2 to this Amendment.

--------End of Amendment 001------

NSN 7540-01-152-8067 OPTIONAL FORM 336 (4-86)

Sponsored by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.110

SOL #72011422R00004

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES/PRICES .............................................................. B-1 B.1 PURPOSE ........................................................................................................................ B-1 B.2 CONTRACT TYPE ........................................................................................................ B-1 B.3 ESTIMATED COST, FIXED FEE, AND OBLIGATED AMOUNT ......................... B-1 B.4 BUDGET .......................................................................................................................... B-1 B.5 INDIRECT COSTS ........................................................................................................ B-2 B.6 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE .......................................................................................... B-3 B.7 COST REIMBURSABLE .............................................................................................. B-3

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK .............. C-1

C.1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... C-1 C.2 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................ C-2 C.3 SCOPE OF WORK ........................................................................................................ C-6 C.4 DETAILED WORK REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................... C-6

C.5 APPROACH TO PROVIDING COMPETITIVE GRANTS AND

LEVERAGING INVESTMENT…………………………………………………….C-10

C.6 CONTRACT DELIVERABLES…………………………………………………… C-11

C.7 TECHNICAL GUIDELINES AND CONSIDERATIONS…………………………C-13

C.8 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE……………………………………………....C-18

SECTION D - PACKAGING AND MARKING .................................................................... D-1 D.1 AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (JAN 1993) ................................................................... D-1 D.2 MARKING AND BRANDING STRATEGY .............................................................. D-1 D.3 BRANDING STRATEGY AND MARKING PLAN .................................................. D-1 D.4 BRANDING STRATEGY ............................................................................................. D-2

D.5 BRANDING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (BIP) AND MARKING PLAN (MP) .. D-2

SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE .............................................................. E-1

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY

REFERENCE .................................................................................................................. E-1 E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE ........................................................................... E-1

SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE ............................................................. F-1

F.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY

REFERENCE .................................................................................................................. F-1 F.2 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE .................................................................................... F-1 F.3 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE ...................................................................................... F-1 F.4 AUTHORIZED WORK WEEK .................................................................................... F-1 F.5 AIDAR 752.242-70 PERIODIC PROGRESS REPORTS (OCT 2007) ...................... F-1 F.6 REPORTS AND DELIVERABLES ............................................................................. F-2 F.7 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS .................................................................................. F-8 F.8 PERFORMANCE EVALUATION ............................................................................... F-9

F.9 KEY PERSONNEL…………………………………………………………………….F-9

F.10 SUBMISSION OF DATASETS TO THE DEVELOPMENT DATA LIBRARY

(DDL) (OCT 2014)…………………………………………………………………….F-11

F.11 ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS…………………………………F-12

F.12 AIDAR 752.7005 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT

EXPERIENCE DOCUMENTS (SEP 2013)………………………………………….F-12

SECTION G - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA ................................................... G-1

G.1 AIDAR 752.7003 DOCUMENTATION FOR PAYMENT (NOV 1998) ................... G-1

G.2 ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACTING OFFICE ...................................................... G-2 G.3 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S AUTHORITY ........................................................... G-2 G.4 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR) ................................... G-2 G.5 TECHNICAL DIRECTIONS/RELATIONSHIP WITH USAID .............................. G-3

G.6 ACCEPTANCE AND APPROVAL……………………………………….……….....G-4

G.7 PAYING OFFICE .......................................................................................................... G-4

G.8 INVOICES…………………………………………………………………………….. G-5

G.9 CONTRACTOR’S PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT……………………………G-5

SECTION H - SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS ................................................. H-1

H.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY

REFERENCE ................................................................................................................. H-1

H.2. AIDAR 752.225-70 SOURCE AND NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS (FEB 2012)

H-1

H.3 AIDAR 752.7004 EMERGENCY LOCATOR INFORMATION (JUL 1997) ......... H-2

H.4 AIDAR 752.7005, SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT

EXPERIENCE DOCUMENTS (SEP 2013)................................................................. H-2 H.5 INSURANCE AND SERVICES ................................................................................... H-3

H.6 752.228-70 MEDICAL EVACUATION (MEDEVAC) SERVICES (JULY 2007)... H-5

H.7 AUTHORIZED GEOGRAPHIC CODE ..................................................................... H-5 H.8 LANGUAGE OF REPORTS AND OTHER OUTPUTS ........................................... H-5

H.9 752.7034 ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND DISCLAIMER (DEC 1991) ...................... H-6

H.10 EXECUTIVE ORDER ON TERRORISM FINANCING (FEB 2002) ..................... H-6

H.11 FOREIGN GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS TO INTERNATIONAL

CONFERENCES (JUNE 2012) .................................................................................... H-6 H.12 REPORTING OF FOREIGN TAXES (JULY 2007) .................................................. H-7 H.13 USAID DISABILITY POLICY - ACQUISITION (DECEMBER 2004) .................. H-7 H.14 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST .................................................. H-8 H.15 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ....................................................................................... H-8

H.16 752.7032 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL APPROVAL AND NOTIFICATION

REQUIREMENTS (APR 2014) .................................................................................... H-9 H.17 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE ...................................................................... H-10 H.18 DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION ........................................................................ H-11 H.19 BUSINESS CLASS TRAVEL ..................................................................................... H-12 H.20 NEWS RELEASE ........................................................................................................ H-12 H.21 TITLE TO PROPERTY .............................................................................................. H-12 H.22 PRESS RELATIONS ................................................................................................... H-12 H.23 NONDISCRIMINATION (JUNE 2012) .................................................................... H-12 H.24 USAID-FINANCED THIRD-PARTY WEB SITES (AUG 2013)............................ H-13

H.25 CONFERENCE PLANNING AND REQUIRED APPROVALS (AUG 2013) ...... H-14

H.26 USAID IMPLEMENTING PARTNER NOTICES (IPN) PORTAL FOR

ACQUISITION (JULY 2014) .................................................................................... H-15

H.27 SUBMISSIONOF DATASETS TO THE DEVELOPMENT DATALIBRARY

(DDL) (OCTOBER 2014) ............................................................................................ H-16

H.28 PROHIBITION ON THE USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO PROMOTE, SUPPORT,

OR ADVOCATE THE LEGALIZATION OR PRACTICE OF PROSTITUTION–

TIP ACQUISITION (MAY 2007) .............................................................................. H-17

H.29 USAID IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTION 508 OF THE REHABILITATION

ACT OF 1973 AND FEDERAL ACQUISITION CIRCULAR (FAC) 97-27

"ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY .... H-17

H.30 CONTRACTOR’S PERSONNEL INTEGRITY IN FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ... H-17

H.31 THIRD COUNTRY TRAINING ................................................................................ H-18

H.32 52.203-99, PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING WITH ENTITIES THAT

REQUIRE CERTAIN INTERNAL CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS

(DEVIATION 2015-02)................................................................................................ H-18

H.33 LOGISTIC SUPPORT ................................................................................................ H-18 H.34 CONSENT TO SUBCONTRACTS ............................................................................ H-18

H.35 CONTRACTOR’S USE OF PROJECT VEHICLES AND LIABILITY

INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLES ..... H-19

H.36 NONEXPENDABLE PROPERTY PURCHASES AND INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES ................................................................................. H-19 H.37 FRAUD REPORTING ................................................................................................ H-20 H.38 FACILITIES USED FOR RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES ........................................... H-20

H.39 CONSIDERATIONS FOR GRANTS UNDER CONTRACT……………………..H-20

H.40 AIDAR 752.7007 PERSONNEL COMPENSATION (JUL 2007)…….……………H-22

H.41 AIDAR 722.170 EMPLOYMENT OF THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS (TCN'S)

AND COOPERATING COUNTRY NATIONALS (CCN'S)……………………...H-23

H.42 PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING FOR CERTAIN COVERED

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR

EQUIPMENT (SECTION 889) (JANUARY 2021)………………………………..H-23

PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSES .......................................................................................... I-1 SECTION I - CONTRACT CLAUSES ..................................................................................... I-1

I.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY

REFERENCE ................................................................................................................... I-1

I.2 52.204-5 WOMEN – OWNED BUSINESS (OTHER THAN SMALL BUSINESS) .. I-4

I.3 52.204-25 PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING FOR CERTAIN

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR

EQUIPMENT (AUG 2021) ............................................................................................. I-4

I.4 52.209-9 UPDATES OF PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION REGARDING

RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (OCT 2018) ................................................................ I-7

I.5 52.216-24 LIMITATION OF GOVERNMENT LIABILITY (APR 1984) ................. I-8 I.6 52.219-9 SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTING PLAN (JUN 2020) .................. I-8 I.7 52.222-2 PAYMENT FOR OVERTIME PREMIUMS (JUL 1990) .......................... I-20 I.8 52.222-35 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR VETERANS (JUN 2020) ....................... I-21

I.9 52.222-36 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES .... I-21

I.10 ENSURING ADEQUATE COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR FEDERAL

CONTACTORS (OCT 2021)

(DEVIATION)………………………………………………………………………....I-21

I.11 52.229-8 TAXES – FOREIGN COST REIMBURSEMENT CONTRACTS

(MAR 1990) ..................................................................................................................... I-22 I.12 52.243-7 NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES (JAN 2017) ............................................ I-22

I.13 52.247-67 SUBMISSION OF TRANSPORTATION DOCUMENTS FOR AUDIT

(FEB 2006) ...................................................................................................................... I-24 I.14 752.219-70 USAID MENTOR- PROTÉGÉ PROGRAM (JUL 2007) ....................... I-25

I.15 752.245-70 GOVERNMENT PROPERTY - USAID REPORTING

REQUIREMENTS. (OCT 2017) .................................................................................. I-25

I.16 752.225-9 BUY AMERICAN ACT - TRADE AGREEMENTS ACT –

BALANCE OF PAYMENTS PROGRAM................................................................... I-27

I.17 752.7101 VOLUNTARY POPULATION PLANNING ACTIVITIES (JUN 2008) . I-27

PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS ......... J-1

SECTION J - LIST OF ATTACHMENTS .............................................................................. J-1

SECTION K - REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER STATEMENTS

OF BIDDERS ................................................................................................................. K-1

K.1 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY

REFERENCE ................................................................................................................. K-1

K.2 52.204-8 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

(MAR 2020) ..................................................................................................................... K-1

K.3 REPRESENTATION REGARDING CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS

AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT (OCT 2020) ........ K-5

K.4 INSURANCE - IMMUNITY FROM TORT LIABILITY ......................................... K-8

K.5 AGREEMENT ON, OR EXCEPTIONS TO, TERMS AND CONDITIONS .......... K-8

K.6 52.209-5 CERTIFICATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS ........ K-8

K.7 52.209-7 INFORMATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS

(OCT 2018) .................................................................................................................... K-11 K.8 52.215-6 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE (OCT 1997) .............................................. K-13

K.9 52.222-22 PREVIOUS CONTRACTS AND COMPLIANCE REPORTS

(FEB 1999) ..................................................................................................................... K-13 K.10 52.222-25 AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COMPLIANCE (APR 1984) ....................... K-13

K.11 52.225-20 PROHIBITION ON CONDUCTING RESTRICTED BUSINESS

OPERATIONS IN SUDAN—CERTIFICATION (AUG 2009) .............................. K-13

K. 12 52.227-15 REPRESENTATION OF LIMITED RIGHTS DATA AND

RESTRICTED COMPUTER SOFTWARE (DEC 2007) ......................................... K-14

K.13 52.230-1 COST ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOTICES AND

CERTIFICATION (JUN 2020) ................................................................................... K-15

K.14 52.230-7 PROPOSAL DISCLOSURE--COST ACCOUNTING PRACTICE

CHANGES (APR 2005) ............................................................................................... K-17 K.15 AUTHORIZED NEGOTIATORS .............................................................................. K-18 K.16 SIGNATURE ................................................................................................................ K-18

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO BIDDERS ............ L-1

L.1 52.252-1 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

(FEB 1998) ....................................................................................................................... L-1 L.2 52.216-1 TYPE OF CONTRACT (APR 1984) ............................................................. L-1

L.3 52.215-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS – COMPETITIVE ACQUISITION

(JAN 2017)………………………………………………………………………………………………………………L-1

L.4 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS .......................................................... L-5 L.5 SUBMISSION/DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS ............................................................ L-6

L.6 INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARATION OF TECHNICAL PROPOSAL .............. L-7

L.7 INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF THE

COST/BUSINESS PROPOSAL.................................................................................. L- 11

L.8 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF BRANDING AND

MARKING PLANS ....................................................................................................... L-16

L.9 WAIVERS UNDER FAR PART 4.2101 PROHIBITION ON COVERED

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES AND

EQUIPMENT (DECEMBER 2021)………………………………………………….L-18

L.10 52.233-2 SERVICE OF PROTEST (SEP 2006)……………………………………...L-19

SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD .................................................. M-1 M.1 GENERAL INFORMATION ....................................................................................... M-1 M.2 TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA ................................................................ M-1

M.3 COST/BUSINESS EVALUATION .............................................................................. M-4 M.4 DETERMINATION OF COMPETITIVE RANGE ................................................... M-5

M.5 SOURCE SELECTION…………………………………………………………….....M-5

SOL #72011422R00004 SECTION B

B-1

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES/PRICES

B.1 PURPOSE

USAID Resilient Communities Program will strengthen the resilience capacity of at-risk Georgian communities, improving their economic conditions and ability to mitigate economic and other shocks and malign influence. Targeted communities will include those along the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) with Georgia’s occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and may also include additional communities in other regions that USAID or the Program deem as being especially at risk.

This will be done through increased socio-economic engagement within and between target communities and the wider country. The Program will provide the foundation for inclusive, sustained, and private sector-led socioeconomic development, support of market systems linked to regional and national markets, and improved and diversified employment opportunities, especially among women and youth. When taken together, these activities will result in strengthening target communities’ ability to be resilient and counter threats to their socio-economic well-being.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE

This is a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) Completion-type contract. For the consideration set forth below, the Contractor will achieve the performance objectives and deliverables or outputs described in Section C, Statement of Work, and in accordance with the performance standards specified herein.

B.3 ESTIMATED COST, FIXED FEE, AND OBLIGATED AMOUNT

(a) For the five-year contract period, the Total Estimated Cost for the performance of the work required hereunder, exclusive of fixed fee, is _______ [ TBD ]. The Total Fixed Fee, is _______ [ TBD ] . The Total Estimated Cost Plus Fixed Fee, if any, is _______ [ TBD ] .

(b) Within the estimated cost plus fixed fee specified in paragraph (a) above, the amount currently obligated and available for reimbursement of allowable costs incurred by the Contractor (and payment of fee) for performance hereunder is _______ [ TBD ] . The Contractor must not exceed the aforesaid obligated amount, unless authorized by the contracting officer pursuant to the clause of this contract entitled “Limitation of Funds (APR 1984)” FAR 52.232-22.

(c) Funds obligated hereunder are anticipated to be sufficient through _______ [ TBD ] .

B.4 BUDGET

The following itemized budget sets forth the estimates for reimbursement of dollar costs for cost categories and the fixed fee.

B-2

CLIN Item Total ($) 001 Total Direct Costs ___ 002 Grants under Contract $9,000,000 003 Total Indirect Costs 004 Contract Total Cost (excluding fee) 005 Fixed Fee Total Estimated Cost Plus Fixed Fee

B.5 INDIRECT COSTS

The contract clause entitled “Allowable Cost and Payment (JUN 2013)”, FAR 52.216-7, specifies that the indirect cost rates shall be established for each of the contractor’s accounting periods that apply to this contract. Pending establishment of revised provisional or final indirect cost rates, allowable indirect costs shall be reimbursed on the basis of the following negotiated provisional or predetermined rates and the appropriate bases:

For the Prime Contractor:

Description Rate Base Type Period

TBD TBD% 1/ 1/ 1/

TBD TBD% 2/ 2/ 2/

1/ Base of Application: TBD Type of Rate: TBD Period: TBD 2/ Base of Application: TBD Type of Rate: TBD Period: TBD

For Major Subcontractor(s):

Pending establishment of revised provisional or final indirect cost rates, allowable indirect costs will be reimbursed on the basis of the following negotiated provisional or predetermined rates and the appropriate bases:

Description Rate Base Type Period

TBD TBD% 1/ 1/ 1/

TBD TBD% 2/ 2/ 2/

1/ Base of Application: TBD Type of Rate: TBD Period: TBD 2/ Base of Application: TBD Type of Rate: TBD Period: TBD

B-3

A “Major Subcontractor” is a subcontractor that is performing 20% or more of the contract, B.6 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE

a) The Government shall pay the Contractor the fixed fee specified in the Schedule for performing this contract.

(b) In accordance with FAR 52.216-8 “Fixed Fee (JUN 2011),” USAID reserves the right to withhold a reserve not to exceed $100,000. The Contracting Officer shall release 75 percent of all fee withholds under this contract after receipt of an adequate certified final indirect cost rate proposal covering the year of physical completion of this contract, provided the Contractor has satisfied all other contract terms and conditions, including the submission of the final patent and royalty reports, and is not delinquent in submitting final vouchers on prior years’ settlements. The Contracting Officer may release up to 90 percent of the fee withholds under this contract based on the Contractor’s past performance related to the submission and settlement of final indirect cost rate proposals.

B.7 COST REIMBURSABLE

The U.S. dollar costs allowable shall be limited to reasonable, allocable and necessary costs determined in accordance with FAR 52.216-7, Allowable Cost and Payment, FAR 52.216-8, Fixed Fee, if applicable, and AIDAR 752.7003 “Documentation for Payment.”

END OF SECTION B

SOL #72011422R00004 SECTION C

C-1

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

USAID RESILIENT COMMUNITIES PROGRAM

C.1 INTRODUCTION

USAID Resilient Communities Program (the Program) will strengthen the resilience1 capacity of at-risk Georgian communities, improving their economic conditions and ability to mitigate economic and other shocks and malign influence. Targeted communities will include those along the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) with Georgia’s occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and may also include additional communities in other regions that USAID or the Program deem as being especially at risk.

It will do this through increased socio-economic engagement within and between target communities and the wider country. The Program will provide the foundation for inclusive, sustained, and private sector-led socioeconomic development, support of market systems linked to regional and national markets, and improved and diversified employment opportunities, especially among women and youth. When taken together, these activities will result in strengthening target communities’ ability to be resilient and counter threats to their socio-economic well-being.

To strengthen the resilience of target communities, the Program will employ systems-based approaches to analyze and propose inclusive development through five objectives:

1. Targeted communities have increased cohesion and increased resilience to economic, social and environmental shocks.

2. Increased integration of MSMEs in targeted communities into the regional and national markets.

3. Improved productivity of micro and small enterprises

4. Increased private investment in or near ABL communities to accelerate Small and medium Enterprise’s growth and diversify the economy; and

5. Respond to the dynamic development context.

The Program must contribute to Georgia’s country-wide development objectives of building trade relationships with more stable, higher-value markets and ensuring gender equality, women’s empowerment, and youth employment.

To counter malign influence, USAID Resilient Communities Program will strategically work with the Georgian government to increase positive engagement with the people living in communities administered by the Georgian government along the occupied territories. The following will provide brief background information on the specific challenges this Program will address: smallholder and MSME market exclusion; limited public and private investment; and limited local capacity to adapt to and recover from shocks.

1 For USAID, resilience is the ability of people, households, communities, countries, and systems to mitigate, adapt to, and recover from shocks and stresses in a manner that reduces chronic vulnerability and facilitates inclusive growth.

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1870/USAIDResiliencePolicyGuidanceDocument.pdf

C-2

C.2 BACKGROUND

US Government and Government of Georgia Priorities

The US Government’s foreign policy priorities are to advance Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration; support Georgia in protecting itself from external malign influence; and help Georgian citizens benefit from better employment opportunities. The Georgian Government's National Development Strategy, as well as the SME Development Strategy, the Rural Development Activity, and the Regional Development Strategy underline the need to introduce socio-economic reforms to stimulate inclusive development, the growth of SMEs, and to enhance trade and connectivity as a means to address poverty and unemployment in rural areas. However, the attraction of investments in export-oriented or import-substitution sectors, including manufacturing and agriculture, have remained flat and far below the country’s potential.2 According to the Association Agreement between Georgia and the EU, Georgia has an obligation to ensure agricultural and rural development practices comply with EU best practices. The Georgian government has adopted an integrated approach to rural development, which requires the involvement of a wide array of stakeholders in the decision-making process, including the increased use of a citizen-centered, bottom-up approach. This approach requires increased authority and responsibilities for local authorities, the civil sector, local unions, and active citizens. However, the capacity and readiness of local stakeholders to jointly plan and address rural development interventions and challenges and to engage in a meaningful dialogue with each other need substantial improvement.

Georgia has achieved impressive development progress over the last decade and a half. However, the combination of Georgia’s precarious geopolitical situation, jeopardized territorial integrity, and constant Russian threats to its sovereignty complicate and challenge the country’s progress toward Euro-Atlantic integration.

Vulnerabilities to External Malign Influence

Russia continues to occupy the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in violation of its ceasefire obligations. Kremlin disinformation actively feeds the narrative that the occupied territories need Russia’s protection from the rest of Georgia, which is portrayed as an enemy.

The Russian military also supports “borderization” efforts that threaten the rights and well-being of people living along the ABLs between the occupied territories and Tbilisi-administered territory. These barriers often alienate and divide civilians from their property located in the occupied territories. In 2018 alone, the State Security Service of Georgia registered more than 130 instances of illegal detention in the areas alongside the ABLs.

Protracted malign influence threatens public and private investments in ABL villages, leaving communities marginalized from Georgia’s economic development. Furthermore, encroaching Russian occupation threatens livelihoods, resulting in outmigration and depopulation of villages, which in turn creates favorable conditions for further borderization. These actions continue to hinder socio-economic development on both sides of the ABL, fostering a dependence on Russia and cutting these communities off from Georgia and the rest of the international community.

Rural depression and outmigration

2 OECD Investment Policy Assessment, 2020

C-3

USAID/Georgia has long recognized that armed conflict, closed and moving boundaries, and restricted movement create substantial challenges to the socio-economic development of communities alongside the ABL. These communities, once on trade routes, are now remote and poorly integrated into growing markets on the regional and national levels. Constant security threats and moving boundaries hinder investments, economic development, and diversification.

Limited employment opportunities result in youth out-migration from these communities.

GeoStat demographic data indicates that, on average, Georgia’s rural regions have lost 25% of their population since 2011. While the Shida Kartli region has seen population growth, its communities alongside the ABL have been depopulated.3 In fact, the regions alongside the country’s northern border have the highest out-migration rates. In addition, female youth migrate twice as frequently as males, and almost all migration is from rural to urban areas.4 The World Bank’s country social analysis5 identified place of residence, specifically mountainous and remote rural areas, as an important social exclusion factor.6 The same study identified ability, opportunity, and dignity as defining social inclusion factors. These inclusion drivers are manipulated by malign interests in ABL communities.

Limited investment and linkages to regional and national markets

The constant security threats and “borderization” deter public and private investment resulting in the marginalization of ABL communities. In effect, there are mostly micro, and few small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) operating in the area, and those that do exist, lack linkages to regional and national markets. The lack of supply chain infrastructure, such as consolidation centers, and post-harvest handling and processing facilities, poses further challenges to the area’s integration in value chains and market systems.

Limited investment and weak integration in the larger economy have hindered ABL communities from benefiting from Georgia’s growth. It has also constrained their ability to take advantage of economic opportunities associated with European Union (EU) alignment including access to high-value markets under the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA).

COVID-19

The adverse economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to negatively affect the ability of both local and international players to make new investments. It is therefore critically important for USAID to join forces with the private sector and the Georgian government to offer a robust set of incentives to attract private investment in the ABL communities and mobilize resources needed for their resilience.

The Program will be implemented in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which triggered a recession in the Georgian economy. The development of a number of economic sectors, businesses, and households has been reversed and stunted. This once again underlines the importance of resilience to shocks for the whole economy, and much more so for the communities alongside the ABL.

3 GeoStat 2015 data.

4 USAID/Georgia CDCS Gender Analysis, 2019, p. 10.

5 “A country’s Social Analysis. Social exclusion and inclusion in Georgia,” the World Bank, 2017 6 Social exclusion implies that certain members of society may face complex barriers and, due to them, have persistently lower outcomes—e.g., access to quality education, health, employment, and income— relative to the rest of society, thus not achieving their full potential.

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Limited participation of micro-enterprises in market systems

Root causes of low economic productivity in ABL communities are manifold. The main economic activity for communities alongside the ABL is agriculture.

Land fragmentation, insufficient aggregation and collective action, combined with dependency on low-value crops and obsolete agriculture practices, represent key barriers to improving agricultural productivity. Despite substantial investments by donors and the Georgian government, there is a lack of access to and adoption of new technologies, skills, financial resources, and other inputs for smallholder farmers and startup enterprises.

Through its programming, the Georgian government, and donors including USAID, prioritized the transfer of new varieties, modern agricultural technologies and practices to farmers, improvement of extension services, increasing access to finance, and strengthening critical value-chain players. While substantial gains have been reached and documented, communities alongside the ABL are still far from sustained economic growth that benefits the majority of the population. A systemic approach is needed to promote cooperation among smallholder farmers and link them to markets in which they can commercialize their operations and become viable market players. Further, efforts are needed to help communities diversify away from agriculture into new sectors and value chains (e.g., services).

Smallholder farmers are risk-averse in introducing new varieties and technologies, and they lack resources to grow and meet market needs in terms of quantity and quality of their produce. While the area is dominated by agriculture, non-agricultural sectors contribute significantly to the communities and their development. These sectors include, but are not limited to, hospitality/tourism, handicrafts, and small-scale services. Across all sectors, smallholders and microenterprises have limited bargaining power with suppliers and customers, face higher costs of market integration, and remain highly vulnerable to any type of shock.

Weak capacity of communities and local institutions to lead development and adapt to and recover from shocks

The brittleness of local communities and institutions, combined with dilapidated public infrastructure, make communities even more vulnerable to borderization, natural and human-made disasters, and other shocks. This in turn results in frequent disruption of development and impedes local socio-economic growth. Institutional capacity in the regions is generally weak.

Regional and local authorities and other social partners (i.e., business, NGOs, citizens’ organizations) do not cooperate to effectively manage regional development issues, while municipal services remain underdeveloped. The Georgian government has recently adopted a new Decentralization Strategy, however regional authorities and other stakeholders lack experience in planning, resourcing, and implementing development projects.

Gender Impact on Outmigration and Vulnerability

Multiple gender-related disparities prevail in Georgia’s rural areas, which are more starkly pronounced in the target communities due to their marginalization and vulnerability to external threats. Some of these disparities include: (a) women’s limited decision-making power within households and in economic activities; (b) the asset gender gap7,8 which gives men a greater say within households and micro-enterprises; (c) land ownership: a review of third-party data on land

7 Men owning and disposing of larger shares of almost all types of assets such as real estate, land, and large equipment 8 Geostat, Women and Men, 2020, p.77.

C-5 ownership by sex point to only a slightly disproportional ownership; however, considering land size, women are in a disadvantaged position, which is also reflected in the economic inactivity in villages;9 (d) rural women’s ‘time poverty’, which refers to their disproportionate role in the production of goods and services for the family, caring responsibilities, and parenting, although women themselves rarely consider this work because it is not paid and is considered part of their gender responsibilities;10 and (e) rural women’s contribution to agricultural production being invisible and under-recognized because women hired in the agricultural sector are clustered at the lower end of the value chains, occupying jobs that tend to be the most labor-intensive and lowest paying. This makes them less likely to be involved in the production of high-value commodities.

It is important to note that women have limited access to large, more profitable, and wholesale markets in Georgia’s rural areas, including the ABL communities. Wholesale marketing is mostly associated with men while retail and small marketing is associated with women. Women have weaker access to means of transportation, including trucks, which limits their access to local markets. In addition, women’s access to information, innovation and knowledge, new technologies, machinery, and agricultural inputs is lower compared to men.11 In many rural communities, rigid gender-based roles assigned to men negatively impact their ability to meaningfully participate in the activities of the communities and institutions coping with shocks. Men in Georgia are stereotypically expected to be the main breadwinners, providers, and protectors of women and the family. These restrictive gender roles put pressure on men, leading to frustration when social expectations are not fulfilled. Many men’s loss of status and position as a provider as unemployment rises has led to increased mental health problems and higher rates of suicide as well as higher rates of violence against women.12

Note on measuring resilience13:

• Resilience is not an outcome, but a capacity that influences outcomes.

• Resilience as a capacity exists and must be measured at multiple levels, not just at the household level.

• Resilience as a capacity and its relation to outcomes are realized in relation to shocks and stresses.

• Resilience as a capacity must be measured in relation to outcomes of interest.

• External malign influences and location in the ABL create stresses and potential shocks.

• For this Program, resilience as a capacity will be measured in relation to socio-economic outcomes.

9 UN Women, Country Gender Equality Profile of Georgia, 2020, p. 74.

10 FAO, Gender, Agriculture and Rural Development in Georgia, 2018.

11 FAO, Gender, Agriculture and Rural Development in Georgia, 2018.

12 ibid.

13 https://www.fsnnetwork.org/sites/default/files/resilience_measurement_in_usaid.pdf https://www.fsnnetwork.org/sites/default/files/resilience_measurement_in_usaid.pdf

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C.3 SCOPE OF WORK

The purpose of USAID’s Resilient Communities Program is to have resilient target communities that pursue and benefit from inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development and are capable of countering protracted malign influence.

The primary focus of the Program is to strengthen the resilience of up to 93 communities alongside the ABL (all Georgian government-administered territories adjacent to ABL) and potentially other communities of the country that are vulnerable to external malign influence. The list of primary target communities is attached in Annex A of this scope of work. The program will use a market-systems approach to address the root causes of vulnerability in target communities through increased market linkages, investment, and community strengthening. The Program will not prescribe any sector or type of implementation activity. Rather the Program must take a broad approach to resolve the wide range of economic, and social challenges for improved resiliency.

The Program will contribute towards the achievement of USAID/Georgia’s Development Objective 1: Resilience to External Malign Influence Strengthened.

Development Objective 1 Theory of Change:

“If people living in and along the Occupied Territories are positively engaged; if economic exposure to external malign influence is reduced; if vulnerable key infrastructures are cyber-hardened; and if the impact of disinformation is mitigated, then Georgia’s resilience to external malign influence will be strengthened.”14

This Program will contribute to the development objective by increasing positive engagement with people living in and along the occupied territories and reducing economic exposure to external malign influence.

C.4 DETAILED WORK REQUIREMENTS

The Program has five objectives. These objectives are interrelated and will complement each other, driving sustainable and systematic changes and resulting in more resilient communities linked to growing markets. The approaches to each objective must deploy strategies for private sector-led economic transformation, harnessing systems change, catalyzing investments, and building the capacity and resilience of local institutions.

Objective 1. Targeted communities have increased cohesion and increased resilience to economic, social, and environmental shocks (approximately 20% of Program resources).

Illustrative Tasks under this Objective:

● Build the capacity of target communities in economic planning and in risk identification, mitigation, and response.

● Improve service delivery at the community and municipal level.

● Improve local economic infrastructure.

The aim of Objective 1 is to build the capacity of target communities in economic planning and in risk identification, mitigation, and response. It will support the improvement of services at the

14 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/CDCS-Georgia-MAY-2025.pdf

C-7 community and municipal level, and will sustainably build local productive economic infrastructure. The contractor must design and implement activities that can be adapted to reflect a changing development context and improve the ability of people, businesses, households, communities, and municipalities in and near the ABL to mitigate, adapt to, and recover from shocks and stresses in a manner that reduces chronic vulnerability and facilitates their ability to lead their own development.

The Contractor will design and implement specific interventions to support community-led economic planning and advocacy efforts with governing institutions to improve public service delivery; strengthen community-based organizations (CBOs), associations, and groups to build community cohesion; increase youth and women’s participation; and support community groups to establish linkages with national civil, business or professional associations.

The Program must catalyze investments from central and local governments, businesses, and communities to improve critical infrastructure and services in target communities. The Program must prioritize investments with high visibility and impact on socio-economic development and risk readiness. Specific interventions benefiting wider communities, such as the rehabilitation of productive economic infrastructure, improvement of social, public and economic services, building disaster risk reduction and readiness capabilities and related infrastructure, and introducing climate-sensitive actions, may all be supported. These interventions must deliver sustained improvements in the quality of life and economic well-being of people living in target communities within the program timeline. Priority must be given to creating opportunities for youth, women, and the poor, supporting the diversification of the rural economy and employment.

The Program must work closely with the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure (MRDI), Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development (MoESD), and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture (MEPA) and their respective agencies, regional administrations, and municipal governments, as well as with the EU and other donors, to ensure that all supported activities are consistent with the priorities of development strategies at the country and regional levels. The Contractor must engage relevant private sector partners in attracting financial and non-financial investment to target communities and strengthening relationships between local government and business associations. The Contractor must support municipalities to advance private-public dialogue and private-public partnerships in local development planning and projects. The Contractor must strive for complementarity with regional and municipal development plans, and seek contributions from communities to leverage additional resources for their development. A combination of TA and matching grants must be used to build the capacity of local institutions, both public and private, to better provide services, improve infrastructure, resolve bottlenecks and remove barriers to attract investments, improve environmental protection, encourage adoption of climate-smart solutions, and sustainably manage community resources. Furthermore, the results of this Component must connect and add value to the interventions of Objectives 2, 3 and 4.

Objective 2. Increased integration of MSMEs in targeted communities into the regional and national markets (approximately 25% of Program resources) Illustrative Tasks under this objective:

● Identify existing commercially viable sector clusters. Where no such clusters exist, organize small producers into commercially viable clusters;

● Link new and existing clusters to other value-chain players (e.g. suppliers, buyers);

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● Increase trade between the target communities and other regions of Georgia

Under this Component, the Contractor must design and implement interventions that create opportunities for enterprises in the target area to engage in market systems sustainably and profitably as well as address market systems gaps, such as lack of storage facilities and supply chain problems. The Contractor must design and implement an integrated set of interventions that increase the potential for enduring linkages within and between target communities and the greater Georgian territory.

The Contractor must engage a wide-range of private sector…