72011519R00002_-_Amendment__2_-_Tracked_Changes.pdf

Issue Date: February 12, 2019, 2019 Questions Due: February 20, 2019 10:00 am Almaty Time Closing Date: March 15, 2019 10:00 am Almaty Time

SUBJECT: Request for Proposals (RFP) RFP No.: Solicitation: 72011519R00002

To All Potential Offerors:

The United States Government, represented by the United States Agency for International Development Regional Mission to the Kyrgyz Republic, is seeking proposals from qualified organizations to implement a project entitled “Improved Basic Education in the Kyrgyz Republic” as detailed in Section C.

USAID anticipates awarding a cost plus fixed-fee completion-type contract as a result of this solicitation, covering an estimated period of five years. The total estimated value of the procurement is $17.5 million - $19.5 million. Offerors must propose costs that they believe are realistic and reasonable for the work described herein.

This procurement will be conducted under full and open competition procedures, pursuant to Part 15 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) (48 CFR Chapter 1). If your organization decides to submit a proposal in response to this solicitation, it must be submitted in accordance with Section L of this RFP.

Offerors must also carefully review Section M - Evaluation Factors for Award. Sections B through I of the solicitation will become a substantive part of the anticipated contract with blanks to be completed by the Contracting Officer upon award. Section K (Representations, Certifications and Acknowledgements) must be filled out in full by the Offerors.

It is the responsibility of the recipient of this solicitation to ensure that the solicitation has been received from the FBO.gov page in its entirety. USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from download or conversion processes.

Questions and comments related to this RFP must be submitted electronically to AlmatyAAsolicitations@usaid.gov no later than the time and date listed above using the following format for the email subject line: “Solicitation: 72011519R00002, Improved Basic Education in the Kyrgyz Republic

– [Name of Organization] Questions/Comments”. USAID may consolidate and/or not respond to questions/comments and will publically post all responses as an amendment to this RFP. All amendments to this solicitation will be issued and posted on the FBO website. Offerors are encouraged to check this website (http://www.fbo.gov) periodically.

The Technical and Cost proposals must be submitted according to Section L of this RFP. Proposals are due no later than the closing date and time listed above. Proposals received after the closing date and time will be processed as late and handled in accordance with FAR 15.208.

Issuance of this RFP in no way obligates the U.S. Government to award a contract nor does it commit the U.S. Government to pay any costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal. Furthermore, the Government reserves the right to reject any and all offers, if such action is considered to be in the best interest of the U.S. Government.

Thank you for your interest in USAID programs.

Sincerely, Jonathan Chappell Contracting Officer http://www.fbo.gov/

RFP #72011519R00002 – Amendment #2 Improved Basic Education in the Kyrgyz Republic

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Contents

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

B.2 COST REIMBURSEMENT CONTRACT TYPE

B.3 TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE AND OBLIGATED AMOUNT

B.4 PRICE/COST SCHEDULE

B.5 FIXED FEE (CPFF)

B.6 INDIRECT COSTS (CPFF)

B.7 COST REIMBURSABLE (CPFF)

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION / SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

SECTION D – PACKAGING AND MARKING

D.1 AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (JAN 1993)

D.2 BRANDING AND MARKING POLICY

D.3 BRANDING STRATEGY

D.4 OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATION PLAN

D.5 APPROVAL OF BRANDING IMPLEMENTATION AND MARKING PLAN AND OUTREACH AND

COMMUNICATION PLAN

SECTION E – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE AND SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP)

SECTION F – DELIVERIES OF PERFORMANCE

F.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

F.2 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

F.3 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

F.4 AUTHORIZED WORK DAY / WEEK

F.5 DELIVERABLES AND REQUIRED REPORTING

F.6 FIXED FEE PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

F.7 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

F.8 752.7005 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE DOCUMENTS

(SEPTEMBER 2013)

F.9 752.242-70 PERIODIC PROGRESS REPORTS (OCTOBER 2007)

SECTION G – CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

G.1 CONTRACTING OFFICER'S AUTHORITY

G.2 ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACTING OFFICE

G.3 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

G.4 AIDAR 752.7003 DOCUMENTATION FOR PAYMENT (NOV 1998) (CPFF)

G.5 TECHNICAL DIRECTIONS/RELATIONSHIP WITH USAID

G.6 PAYING OFFICE

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G.7 ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

G.8 CONTRACTOR’S PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT

SECTION H – SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

H.1 INSURANCE AND SERVICES

H.2 AUTHORIZED GEOGRAPHIC CODE

H.3 AIDAR 752.225-70 SOURCE AND NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS (FEB 2012)

H.4 AIDAR 752.7032 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL APPROVAL AND NOTIFICATION

REQUIREMENTS (APR 2014)

H.5 KEY PERSONNEL

H.6 LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

H.7 NONEXPENDABLE PROPERTY PURCHASES AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

RESOURCES

H.8 ADS 548 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENT

H.9 LIMITATION ON ACQUISITION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (APRIL 2018)

H.10 ADS 547 PROPERTY MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES

H.11 FOREIGN GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS TO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

H.12 REPORTING OF FOREIGN TAXES (JULY 2007)

H.13 NONDISCRIMINATION (JUNE 2012)

H.14 ACCESS TO USAID FACILITIES AND USAID’S INFORMATION SYSTEMS (AUGUST 2013)

H.15 USAID DISABILITY POLICY - ACQUISITION (DECEMBER 2004)

H.16 USAID-FINANCED THIRD-PARTY WEB SITES (NOVEMBER 2017)

H.17 CONFERENCE PLANNING AND REQUIRED APPROVALS (AUGUST 2013)

H.18 USAID IMPLEMENTING PARTNER NOTICES (IPN) PORTAL FOR ACQUISITION (JULY 2014).. 34

H.19 302.3.5.21 SUBMISSION OF DATASETS TO THE DEVELOPMENT DATA LIBRARY (DDL)

(OCTOBER 2014)

H.20 ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS SYSTEM

H.21 GENDER CONSIDERATION

H.22 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

PART II – CONTRACT CLAUSES

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 52.222-50 COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (MAR 2015)

I.4 52.244-2 SUBCONTRACTS ALT I. (JUNE 2007)

PART III – LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACHEMENTS

SECTION J - LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

PART IV – REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

SECTION K – REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER STATEMENTS

K.1 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

K.2 52.204-8 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS (OCT 2018)

K.3 52.204-17 OWNERSHIP OR CONTROL OF OFFEROR (JUL 2016)

K.4 52.204-20 PREDECESSOR OF OFFEROR (JUL 2016)

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K.5 52.209-11 REPRESENTATION BY CORPORATIONS REGARDING DELINQUENT TAX

LIABILITY OR A FELONY CONVICTION UNDER ANY FEDERAL LAW (FEB 2016)

K.6 52.209-5 CERTIFICATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (OCT 2015)

K.7 52.209-7 INFORMATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (OCT 2018)

K.8 REPRESENTATION BY CORPORATIONS REGARDING DELINQUENT TAX LIABILITY OR A

FELONY CONVICTION UNDER ANY FEDERAL LAW (FEB 2016)

K.9 52.222-22 PREVIOUS CONTRACTS AND COMPLIANCE REPORTS (FEB 1999)

K.10 52.222-56 CERTIFICATION REGARDING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS COMPLIANCE PLAN

(MAR 2015)

K.11 52.230-1 COST ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOTICES AND CERTIFICATION (OCT 2015)

K.12 52.230-7 PROPOSAL DISCLOSURE—COST ACCOUNTING PRACTICE CHANGES

(APR 2005)

K.13 INSURANCE - IMMUNITY FROM TORT LIABILITY

K.14 SIGNATURE

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

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

L.2 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

L.3 FAR 52.216-1 TYPE OF CONTRACT (APR 1984)

L.4 FAR 52.233-2 SERVICE OF PROTEST (SEP 2006)

L.5 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

L.6 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL VOLUME

L.7 TECHNICAL VOLUME CONTENTS

L.8 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COST VOLUME

SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

M.1 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

M.2 GENERAL AND SOURCE SELECTION INFORMATION

M.3 TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA

M.5 CONTRACTING WITH SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS

M.6 DETERMINATION OF THE COMPETITIVE RANGE AND CONTRACT AWARD

M.7 AWARD

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PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is to obtain services that achieve the results described in Section C.

“Description/Specifications/Statement of Objectives.”

B.2 COST REIMBURSEMENT CONTRACT TYPE

This is a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) completion contract. For the consideration set forth below, the contractor must provide the deliverables or outputs described in Sections C and F in accordance with the performance standards specified in Sections C and F.

B.3 TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE AND OBLIGATED AMOUNT

(a) The estimated cost for the performance of the work required hereunder, exclusive of fixed fee, if any, is TBD. The fixed fee, if any, is TBD. The estimated cost plus fixed fee, if any, is TBD.

(b) Within the estimated cost plus fixed fee (if any) specified in paragraph (a) above, the amount currently obligated and available for reimbursement of allowable costs incurred by the contractor (and payment of fee, if any) for performance hereunder is TBD. The contractor cannot exceed the aforesaid obligated amount.

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

B.4 PRICE/COST SCHEDULE

Total

a. Direct Costs

b. Indirect Costs

c. Fixed Fee Total Price

B.5 FIXED FEE (CPFF)

Pursuant to FAR 16.306(d), the fixed fee payable under this contract will be tied to the completion of the reports and deliverables specified in Section F.6 of this contract and in accordance with the final approved Fee Schedule.

B.6 INDIRECT COSTS (CPFF)

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 Indirect Cost X % 1/ 1/ 1/ Indirect Cost Y % 2/ 2/ 2/ Indirect Cost Z % 3/ 3/ 3/

1/Base of Application:

Type of Rate:

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Period:

2/Base of Application:

Type of Rate:

Period:

3/Base of Application:

Type of Rate:

Period:

B.7 COST REIMBURSABLE (CPFF)

Allowable costs will 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.

In addition, the requirement and conditions concerning estimated cost and funding apply as detailed in FAR 52.232-22, Limitation of Funds, incorporated by reference in Section I of this contract.

[END OF SECTION B]

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SECTION C – DESCRIPTION / SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

USAID’s Statement of Objectives is attached in Section J. The Performance Work Statement of the successful offeror will be incorporated as Section C.

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SECTION D – PACKAGING AND MARKING

D.1 AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (JAN 1993)

It is USAID policy that USAID-financed commodities and shipping containers, and project construction sites and other project locations be suitably marked with the USAID emblem. Shipping containers are also to be marked with the last five digits of the USAID financing document number. As a general rule, marking is not required for raw materials shipped in bulk (such as coal, grain, etc.), or for semi-finished products which are not packaged.

Specific guidance on marking requirements should be obtained prior to procurement of commodities to be shipped, and as early as possible for project construction sites and other project locations. This guidance will be provided through the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) indicated on the cover page of this Contract, or by the Mission Director in the Cooperating Country to which commodities are being shipped, or in which the project site is located.

Authority to waive marking requirements is vested with the Regional Assistant Administrators, and with Mission Directors.

A copy of any specific marking instructions or waivers from marking requirements is to be sent to the Contracting Officer; the original should be retained by the contractor.

D.2 BRANDING AND MARKING POLICY

All USAID-funded foreign assistance (including programs, projects, activities, public communications, or commodities) must be communicated, promoted, and marked as coming from the American People through

USAID.

Specific communications and promotion measures will be described in the “Branding Strategy” and “Branding Implementation Plan,” and specific marking will be described in the “Marking Plan” for the contract.

Branding and marking under this contract will comply with the USAID Automated Directive System Chapter 320 Branding and Marking (ADS320) at http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/320.pdf.

D.3 BRANDING STRATEGY

The Contractor’s approach to marking and branding will be governed by standard USAID marking and branding guidelines in the ADS, as well as the Branding Strategy outlined below.

The name of the project: “Improved Basic Education in the Kyrgyz Republic” (IBE-KR) Translations to other applicable languages (Kyrgyz, Russian, etc.) must be proposed by the contractor and approved by USAID as part of the Branding Implementation Plan.

How the materials and communications will be positioned: In all project communications and materials the project will be referred to as USAID’s. In all public events and public communications the project will also acknowledge and make it visible and understandable that the project, all its activities and/or materials/deliverables are made possible by the American People. Any materials and communications produced by any subcontractor must follow USAID branding requirements.

The desired level of visibility: The contractor must ensure that the project (as well as the fact that it is made possible by the American people through USAID) receives broad visibility not only among its beneficiaries and counterparts, but also among the general public in the Kyrgyz Republic. USAID’s experience in the Kyrgyz Republic demonstrates critical importance and multiple opportunities for public outreach through information dissemination. The contractor may identify, in consultation with USAID, additional groups/sub-groups of target audiences for the project’s public communications.

http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/320.pdf

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Communication and Outreach Strategy The contractor and USAID will agree on a communication and outreach strategy that will detail how the desired level of visibility will be achieved. More specifically, the Communication and Outreach Strategy will detail: overall goal, objectives, intermediate results, indicative activities, communication products and how they will be distributed and to whom, budget, messaging, and an indicative monitoring and evaluation plan to assess to which extent the implementation of the strategy is achieving its target results.

Communication Activities The Contractor and USAID will agree on the type of activities, including frequency and geographic coverage, which will be designed and implemented to achieve the Strategy’s objectives. These may include but may not be limited to: opening or closing events, national or international day celebrations, regional or national media campaigns, community mobilization, cultural celebrations, partnerships with public figures, etc.

Communication Products The contractor will detail what communication tools and platforms it will utilize, with details on distribution, dissemination, and utilization of each. Communication tools may include, but are not limited to: brochures, flyers, posters, social media sites, television, podcasts, radio, blogs, online publication, websites, newspaper, infographics, billboards, etc. The communication tools should be proposed while demonstrating how they are relevant to the context of this project and the targeted audiences.

Content Creation and Acquisition The contractor will explain how it will acquire professional, high quality content for the design and publication of its communication products. Content includes, and is not limited to: photography, video or films, written text, infographics, illustrations, graphics, pictograms, maps, GIFs, etc. The contractor will share with USAID a list or group of professional and reputable content creators, along with their portfolios, that it proposes to hire for specific assignments. While the contractor is encouraged to work with creatives and artists to produce original content for its communication and outreach activities, a certain amount of licensed or stock content may be utilized instead.

Any other organizations to be acknowledged: Co-branding and co-marking of public communications with local partners, in particular municipal governments and partners in public-private partnerships, is encouraged in order to promote local ownership of the initiatives supported by USAID. Co-branding and co-marking is to be specified in the branding implementation plan and will require approval by USAID.

D.4 OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATION PLAN

The contractor will be expected to develop and implement a high quality outreach and communication plan that includes strategies and activities that meet international marketing, brand building, advertising, and content creation standards. The focus of the communication will be the results, impacts, and achievements of the project. The messaging and overall narrative of all communication and outreach efforts will focus on the people (or beneficiaries) of the project to highlight the transformative nature of the proposed developmental approach and activities. The contractor will propose content distribution options, including communication tools or products, to ensure that the acquired content reaches a wide audience and achieves the communication objectives it serves. The targeted audience will include all segments of the Kyrgyz public as well as selected segments of the American public. The contractor will propose a social media strategy with specific reach and engagement targets along with publication plans or approaches to achieve them. It is also expected that a high-quality, high-impact national campaign will be held to inform the Kyrgyz public about the project’s main achievement and results while supporting USAID brand building and brand recognition in the country.

D.5 APPROVAL OF BRANDING IMPLEMENTATION AND MARKING PLAN AND OUTREACH AND

COMMUNICATION PLAN

The Branding Implementation Plan and Marking Plan along with the Outreach and Communication Plan will be finalized and submitted for Contracting Officer approval. The contractor will follow the approved Branding Implementation and Marking Plan during implementation of this contract unless a waiver is

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[END OF SECTION D]

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SECTION E – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The following Contract clauses pertinent to this section are hereby incorporated by reference (by Citation Number, Title, and Date) in accordance with the clause at FAR 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE" in Section I of this Contract. See http://acquisition.gov/far/index.html for electronic access to the full text of a FAR clause.

FEDERAL ACQUISTION REGULATION

(48 CFR Chapter 1)

NUMBER TITLE DATE

52.246-3 INSPECTION OF SUPPLIES—COST REIMBURSEMENT MAY 2001

52.246-5 INSPECTION OF SERVICES--COST-REIMBURSEMENT APR 1984

E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

USAID inspection and acceptance of services, reports and other required deliverables or outputs will take place in Kyrgyz Republic.

The Contracting Officer has delegated to the COR the authority to inspect and accept certain services, reports and required deliverables and outputs as outlined in the COR designation letter and via clauses in the contract.

E.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE AND SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP)

The progress, success and impact of the Contractor’s performance under this contract will be monitored and evaluated as a part of the overall activity results. The QASP is a management tool with the intent of encouraging maximum performance, efficiencies, and cost effectiveness by the Contractor and can be modified at any time by the Government.

The QASP will be used as a Government document to enforce the inspection and acceptance clauses of the contract. The QASP is attached to this contract as attachment J.2. The QASP may require revision to reflect the Contractor’s known strengths and weaknesses. This is intended to be a “living” document that will be reviewed and updated on a frequent basis. It is based on the premise that the Contractor, not the Government, is responsible for managing and ensuring that quality controls meet the terms of the contract. The Government reserves the right to modify performance standards and/or metrics during the life of this contract, in order to ensure that the right outcomes are being assessed and that the performance standards are appropriate. The COR will ensure that the QASP is implemented and updated.

[END OF SECTION E]

http://acquisition.gov/far/index.html

SECTION F – DELIVERIES OF PERFORMANCE

F.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The following contract clauses pertinent to this section are hereby incorporated by reference (by Citation Number, Title, and Date) in accordance with the clause at FAR ―52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE in Section I of this contract. See http://acquisition.gov/far/index.html for electronic access to the full text of a FAR clause.

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (48CFR Chapter 1)

NUMBER TITLE DATE

52.242-15 STOP-WORK ORDER AUG 1989

ALTERNATE I APR 1984

F.2 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance for this contract is October 1, 2019 – September 30, 2024.

F.3 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The place of performance under this contract is the Kyrgyz Republic, as detailed in Section C of the RFP.

F.4 AUTHORIZED WORK DAY / WEEK

No overtime of premium pay is authorized under this contract. The contractor is authorized up to a five (5) day workweek for long-term staff in the field with no premium pay, and six (6) day workweek for short-term advisors in the field with no premium pay.

F.5 DELIVERABLES AND REQUIRED REPORTING

In addition to the requirements set forth for submission of reports in Sections I and H of this RFP and in the AIDAR clause 752.242-70, Periodic Progress Reports, the contractor must submit the following reports and deliverables electronically to the Contracting Officer’s Representative and a copy to the Contracting Officer at AlmatyAAReporting@usaid.gov.

All deliverables and required reporting must be submitted in the English language, unless otherwise specified. The contractor must promptly notify the Contracting Officer’s Representative of any problems, delays, or adverse conditions which materially impair the contractor’s ability to meet the requirements of the contract. The COR and the contractor will develop a standard format for submission of all deliverables and reports within the first thirty (30) days of contract award.

DELIVERABLES:

F.5.1 Annual Work Plan

Within forty-five (45) days of the award, the contractor will finalize and submit a detailed annual work plan and budget to describe the activities specified in the statement of objectives and must cross reference the applicable sections in Section C of this contract. The workplan and budget will be a guide to the implementation of the contract with a breakdown of activities or tasks to complete the benchmarks, timelines and anticipated progress in the achievement of the program results, as well as associated costs.

The work plan and budget must link to the results and have no inconsistencies with Section C. It must also describe the anticipated achievements toward performance indicators with an explanation of how those achievements are expected to contribute to the activity result level.

http://acquisition.gov/far/index.html mailto:AlmatyAAReporting@usaid.gov

The contractor must submit subsequent annual work plans to USAID for review and approval no later than sixty (60) days prior to the end of the USG fiscal year (September 30).

The annual work plan will include a list of clearly defined Tasks, Activities, Deliverables, Benchmarks and Indicator Targets. The contractor may not include activities in the work plan that fall outside the parameters of the statement of objectives. The contractor’s annual work plan will describe how the contractor intends to organize responsibilities among its staff to ensure accomplishment of the tasks. The work plan, at a minimum, will include:

1. A systematic presentation (i.e., Gantt chart) of activities to be accomplished under the different results and sub-results, on a monthly basis;

2. The proposed location of the activities;

3. The anticipated outputs and outcomes from each of the tasks conducted;

4. The anticipated staffing required from program technical staff and financial resources required to complete the tasks;

5. The identification of any assumptions used in preparation of the work plan, as well as suggested alternatives, if necessary;

6. The anticipated risks with regard to achieving the anticipated objectives of the contract and how they will be mitigated; and

7. Estimated budget to implement the planned activities.

F.5.2 Activity Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan

Within 90 days of award, the awardee must submit for approval an Activity Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (MELP or MEL Plan) for the life of the activity. The MELP must satisfy USAID’s ADS 201 requirements, as well as the following:

• The MEL Plan must include narrative that clearly articulates the activity’s theory of change, describing the causal and logical relationships between different levels of results, along with the associated interventions, indicators and other performance data, and critical assumptions under each result. The MEL Plan should also present a visually represented logic model that illustrates these results, the causal and logical relationships between them, and the indicator and other performance data required to measure each.

• The MEL Plan must identify and describe the activity’s learning approach. This should include: learning objectives with corresponding information needs; plans for external collaboration in pursuing the learning agenda; strategic opportunities to “pause and reflect” on evidence; plans for documenting and disseminating gained knowledge; resources (financial and human resources as well as tools) needed to implement learning approaches; and, references to planned points of programmatic adaptation as a result of this learning.

• If the activity incorporates specific steps to address identified inequalities based on gender or other social exclusion criteria in participation or achievement, the MEL Plan must describe the approach to assessing whether the root causes of inequalities and the proposed approach to mitigating them are appropriately identified and effectively pursued.

• The MEL Plan must include an appropriate set of quantitative and/or qualitative indicators, which maximizes validity, reliability, integrity, precision, timeliness, and cost effectiveness. The MEL Plan should contain only indicators with a clear use in management decision-making or reporting. No non-mandatory indicator should be proposed without a clear analytic or communication purpose. USAID will provide a list of required indicators for reporting. Preference should be given to all relevant standard indicators (https://www.state.gov/f/indicators/) before proposing custom indicators. For each indicator, the MEL Plan must include a Performance Indicator Reference Sheet (PIRS) whose content and format follows a template to be provided by USAID. PIRS for required indicators will also be provided.

https://www.state.gov/f/indicators/

• The MEL Plan must also include, in consultation with USAID, agreed-upon planned internal and external evaluations and evaluation questions that are salient to the implementation, adaptation or review of the activity in line with the USAID Evaluation Policy. The MEL Plan should demonstrate how the timing and of evaluations and content of evaluation questions is appropriate.

• The MEL Plan must include a narrative description of how data collection will be managed, including the planned staffing structure and resources needed to carry out the MEL Plan.

• The MEL Plan should also include a Performance Indicator Tracking Table (PITT) template, an excel-based file that tracks all quantitative performance data, including: baseline figures, quarterly and/or annual performance figures, quarterly and/or annual targets, life of project totals, and life of project targets, disaggregated as appropriate. USAID may provide a specific reporting format for the PITT.

• Proposed indicators must, at minimum, include these disaggregates: sex disaggregates for all people level indicators, numerators and denominators for all ratios and percentages, and geographic locations.

Sex and ratio disaggregates must be included in the PITT. For geographic disaggregation, all indicators associated with a discrete project site must be disaggregated by the decimal GPS coordinate associated with that site. All indicators associated with an area-wide activity must be disaggregated by province and district name. Geographic disaggregates should not be included in the PITT unless otherwise directed.

The MEL Plan must include the following mandatory indicators:

• Standard Foreign Assistance Indicator ES.1-1: Percent of learners who attain a minimum grade-level proficiency in reading at the end of grade 2 with USG assistance

• Standard Foreign Assistance Indicator ES.1-2: Percent of learners attaining minimum grade-level proficiency in reading at the end of primary school (or grade 6, whichever comes sooner) with USG assistance

F.5.3 Gender Analysis Methodology

The contractor is required to conduct a gender analysis during the first 90 days of the contract.

At least 30 days prior to the commencement of field work for the gender analysis, the contractor must submit a plan which details the proposed methodology for conducting a utilization-focused gender analysis which meets the standards described in ADS 205.3.2. The plan should include quantitative and qualitative sources for required literature review, sample sizes for key informant and/or individual interviews, proposed site visits if any, and methodology for analyzing qualitative data. The plan should identify priority gender gaps that could prevent the achievement to the project’s objectives and suggest specific activities that will be implemented to close gender gaps, address inequalities, and/or empower women and girls through the activity.

The gender analysis plan must:

• Explain the primary research questions to be investigated through the Gender Analysis, as per the five domains of USAID’s gender analysis framework and their relationship to aspects of the activity’s sub-purpose(s)

• Detail the combination of social science research techniques, timeframe and resources that will be used to answer those questions.

• Describe the social and economic characteristics within which the analysis methodology, including the sampling strategy, will enable insight. This should include noting which specific intersecting identities will be investigated, if any.

F.5.4 Gender Analysis Report and Action Plan

Following the approval of the gender analysis plan by the COR, the gender analysis will be conducted and a draft report submitted. The report must:

• Present the methodology and overall findings of the gender analysis.

• Discuss the gender gaps that may impact the achievement of the activity’s objectives and recommend, with a rationale for each, up to five priority gaps the activity should address during activity implementation

• Include a draft Gender Action Plan

• Utilize bulletized text, and where necessary, concise narrative which lends itself to rapid and clear understanding on the part of the reader.

• If appropriate, the report may additionally recommend future areas of programmatic work or research which the contractor cannot act upon because they are not clearly within the scope of the current award.

• Be no longer than 12 pages, excluding annexes

The Gender Action Plan portion of the report must present:

• Prioritized gender gaps and recommended activities to reduce each gap,

• Key stakeholders in implementation,

• Proposed gender-sensitive indicator(s) that track the extent to which gender gaps are being reduced or opportunities to promote women’s/girls empowerment is enhanced, including indicators to assess any potential differential effects (including unintended or negative consequences) on females and males engaged in the activities

• A staff training and capacity development plan,

• A summary budget,

• A description of tools to be developed or used, and

• Any other content the contractor deems pertinent.

The Gender Action Plan (GAP) should be implemented over the remaining timeline for the award. The GAP and gender sensitive indicators should be reviewed annually with the COR and the Mission Gender Advisor to determine if activities:

1) have to be adapted to mitigate unintended negative consequences and

2) are no longer appropriate as the gender gap has been addressed/changed or a underlying gender gap has arisen that is a more direct causal link to the gender gap(s).

F.5.5 Quarterly Performance Reports

The contractor must submit quarterly performance reports no later than 30 calendar days following the end of each standard USG fiscal quarter (i.e. October 30, January 30, April 30, July 30) to the COR, with a copy submitted to the Contracting Officer at AlmatyAAReporting@usaid.gov. Reports may be submitted electronically. Regardless of the start date of the contract all reporting will be adjusted to the USG fiscal year calendar.

The quarterly performance report will include details of major activities, achievements, and an indicator data table. These reports will include progress toward achievement of milestones, the Annual Work Plan and success stories, as well as document progress toward standard indicators from Activity Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan (MELP) and other USAID reporting purposes. The reports will include financial information on the expenses incurred, available funding for the remainder of the activity, and any variances from planned expenditures. This report will also include explanation of problems, delays or adverse conditions and actions taken or contemplated to resolve the situation, or any assistance needed to resolve the situation.

The quarterly performance report must include as annexes an updated Performance Indicator Tracking Table, and if requested, an updated site location reporting form. USAID may require that this data be submitted through an online platform.

The 4th Quarter Performance Report may be a section of the Annual Report but must contain all information required under this section.

F.5.6 Annual Report

An Annual report will be due within thirty (30) calendar days after the end of each USG fiscal year, ending September 30. These reports must be based on the approved Annual Work Plan and MELP and will cover:

• Summary of cumulative accomplishments for the year as a whole;

• Situational background information concerning the activity’s objective;

• Description of progress against planned accomplishments in the Work Plan and any deviations;

• Description of progress against planned AMEP targets and any deviations;

• Progress in coordination with host government, other donors, USAID-funded projects, and any public-private partnership partners;

• To what extent and how relevant gender gaps between males and females were closed

• What needs and gender inequalities emerged or remain

• At least two success stories suitable for publication;

• The report must also include a CD with a collection of a minimum of 20 photographs a year that are illustrative of project’s achievements in “.jpeg” format. The photographs will comply with guidance provided in the USAID Graphic Standards Manual, and be at least 1MB in size each.

Each photograph will have a brief explanation regarding its subject and identity: the photographer and his/her organization, person(s) featured in the photograph, and the location where the photograph was taken.

• Summary of administrative/staffing issues; and

• Planned main activities for the next year.

Annual reports must include the following as separate attachments and/or annexes:

• List of commodities procured and revised inventory;

• List of all reports, analyses, presentations, and other key documents produced during the year;

• Personnel summary that will indicate all of the positions (short and long term – local and expatriate), and the salary rates;

• List of all subcontracts/subgrantees, if any, with a short description of the purpose and amount;

• Status reports on progress, and any delays or issues with activity implementation under the annual workplan; and

• Other documents as may be required by USAID.

Reports will be provided electronically to the COR with a copy to the Contracting Officer at AlmatyAAReporting@usaid.gov. Reports must be prepared in a reader-friendly format so that they can be easily reviewed by the Mission and by USAID’s counterparts.

Relevant parts of the Quarterly and Annual reports will be translated into Russian and, as appropriate, into Kyrgyz, for presentation to government partners and other local counterparts.

F.5.7 Final Report

No later than 45 calendar days prior to the contract completion date, the contractor must submit electronically a draft Final Report that details accomplishments against the tasks, targets, and deliverables set forth in the contract and in the MELP; highlight major achievements; address lessons learned during implementation; and recommend ways to resolve identified constraints. The Contracting Officer and/or COR may provide comments, which the contractor must address in revising the draft prior to final submission of the Final Report. The Final Report must be prepared in a reader-friendly format so that it can be disseminated within and outside USAID for study and future use. Relevant parts of the Final Report must be translated into Russian, and/or into Kyrgyz, as appropriate, for presentation to the host government partners and other local counterparts. The Final Report must also contain a well-organized table of contents of all reports, deliverables, presentations, and other key documents produced during the life of the contract. These documents must be compiled and delivered to the COR concurrently with the draft Final Report in a user-friendly, properly indexed, searchable electronic form (e.g. CD-ROM or equivalent media).

If an Annual Report has not been completed for the Fiscal Year in which the award ends, the Final Report will have a distinct section that covers all information required for the Annual Report (see F.5.6).

F.5.8 Mid-line and End-Line Early Grade Reading Assessment

The contractor will perform classroom-based reading diagnostics (process focused) and administer nationally representative, standardized baseline and endline reading assessments (outcome focused) through use of the existing Early Grade Reading Assessment tool (EGRA). The assessments will be conducted in coordination and partnership with MoES, its affiliates, and the National Testing Center to ensure that they serve multiple purposes, including long-term strategic planning and evaluation. In addition, the EGRA results must identify if there are any target districts that require supplementary attention before completion of the activity. Targeted teachers must receive training on the use of formative and summative assessments and how to appropriately use the assessments to guide instruction and measure student progress. The number of schools will be determined through a statistical power analysis. Sampling for the EGRA should use matching or randomized control testing.

Required components

● Targeted teachers receive training packages on how to conduct classroom-based formative assessments of their students’ reading skills.

● Utilize Early Grade Reading Assessment tool to measure reading progress in coordination and partnership with MoES, its affiliates, and the National Testing Center.

● Midline and endline reading assessments are administered in a representative sample of intervention and nonintervention groups.

● EGRA results discussed with the ministries and USAID before its public presentation, dissemination of findings, and recommendations.

● EGRA results must be appropriately disaggregated by grade, gender, language, and school type at a minimum.

F.5.9 Participant Training Reports

The contractor will collect training data on all trainings, conferences, and workshops provided by the contractor under this contract held in the United States, third countries, or in-country. The training data will be entered into TraiNET and submitted to the COR no later than 30 days following the end of each fiscal quarter measured from October 1, as relevant. Any training data for the final fiscal quarter of the contract must be entered into TraiNET and submitted to the COR no later than thirty (30) days prior the end of the award. The contractor will follow USAID policy directives and required procedures governing the design and implementation of participant training activities found in ADS 252, which provides detailed information regarding visa compliance guidelines and ADS 253, which provides guidance on how to implement USAID-funded training programs.

F.5.10 Quarterly Financial Reports

The contractor must submit quarterly financial summaries for the contractor and each subcontractor/subgrantee to the COR, within thirty (30) days after the end of the quarter, showing disbursements and accruals to date, budget estimate, subcontractor/subgrantee obligations and expenditures, and change orders, if any.

F.5.11 Accrual Reports

The contractor must submit quarterly accrual reports for this contract overall as well as the resources allocated to this contract. Accrual reports must include the (a) total amount obligated; (b) total amount invoiced for, (c) total amount of funds expended but not yet invoiced for; and (d) remaining unexpended funds. Accrual reports will be submitted to the COR electronically, 10 days prior to the end of the quarter.

F.5.12 Monthly Vouchers

The contractor will track and document in a monthly voucher the detailed expenditures for both project activities (project expenditures) and non-project expenditures (management, administrative, operational, indirect costs and fees). Each voucher must include a financial summary sheet. The voucher must be submitted to the payment office indicated on the cover sheet of the contract. In addition, a copy must be provided to the COR. Voucher reports must be consistent with AIDAR 752.7003 documentation for payment requirements.

F.5.13 Quarterly International Travel Plan

This plan will be due to the COR ten (10) calendar days before the beginning of the next quarter.

F.6 FIXED FEE PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

Deliverables for Year 1

Deliverables Delivery Schedule Format Fixed Fee Payment Schedule ($)

Annual Work Plan 45 days after the award Electronic

Activity Monitoring, Monitoring, and Evaluation Plan (AMEP)

Within 90 days after the contract award date.

Electronic

Quarterly Performance Report Within 30 calendar days after the end of USG fiscal quarter during which contract is awarded.

second USG fiscal quarter after contract award.

third USG fiscal quarter after contract

Annual Performance Report Within 30 calendar days after the end of fourth USG fiscal quarter after contract

Gender Analysis and Action Plan

Within 90 calendar days after the contract award.

Deliverables for Year 2

Annual Work Plan – with MELP revisions as necessary

60 days prior to the end of the USG fiscal year

USG fiscal quarter.

Annual Performance Report Within 30 calendar days after the end of fourth USG fiscal quarter.

Deliverables for Year 3

MELP revisions as necessary

60 days prior to the end of the USG fiscal

Mid-line Early Grade Reading Assessment

Within 30 calendar days after the end of 2nd USG fiscal quarter.

Annual Report Within 30 calendar days after the end of

Deliverables for Year 4

MELP revisions as necessary

60 days prior to the end of the USG fiscal

Annual Report Within 30 calendar days after the end of

Deliverables for Year 5

MELP revisions as necessary

60 days prior to the end of the USG fiscal

End-line Early Grade Reading Assessment

Within 30 calendar days after the end of 2nd USG fiscal quarter.

Final Report Due 45 calendar days prior to the completion date of the contract

F.7 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

Evaluation of the contractor's overall performance in accordance with the performance standards set forth in Section C and Section F, will be conducted jointly by the COR and the Contracting Officer, and will form the basis of the contractor's permanent performance record with regard to this contract.

F.8 752.7005 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE

DOCUMENTS (SEPTEMBER 2013)

(a) Contract Reports and Information/Intellectual Products.

(1) Within thirty (30) calendar days of obtaining the Contracting Officer Representative’s approval, the contractor must submit to USAID’s Development Experience Clearinghouse (DEC) one copy each of reports and information products which describe, communicate or organize program/project development assistance activities, methods, technologies, management, research, results and experience. These reports include: assessments, evaluations, studies, technical and periodic reports, annual and final reports, and development experience documents (defined as documents that (1) describe the planning, design, implementation, evaluation, and results of development assistance; and

(2) are generated during the life cycle of development assistance programs or activities.) The Contractor must submit copies of information products including training materials, publications, databases, computer software programs, videos and other intellectual deliverable materials required under the Contract Schedule. The following information is not to be submitted:

(i) Time-sensitive materials such as newsletters, brochures and bulletins.

(ii) The contractor’s information that is incidental to award administration, such as financial, administrative, cost or pricing or management information.

(2) Within thirty (30) calendar days after completion of the contract, the contractor must submit to the DEC any reports that have not been previously submitted and an index of all reports and information/intellectual products referenced in paragraph (a)(1) of this clause.

(a) Submission requirements. The contractor must review the DEC Web site for the most up-to-date submission instructions, including the DEC address for paper submissions, the document formatting and the types of documents to be submitted. The submission instructions can be found at: https://dec.usaid.gov.

(1) Standards.

(i) Materials must not include financially sensitive information or personally identifiable information (PII) such as social security numbers, home addresses and dates of birth. Such information must be removed prior to submission.

(ii) All submissions must conform to current USAID branding requirements.

(iii) Contract reports and information/intellectual products can be submitted in either electronic (preferred) or paper form. Electronic documentation must comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

(iv) The electronic submissions must consist of only one electronic file, which comprises the complete and final equivalent of the paper copy. In the case of databases and computer software the submissions must also include necessary descriptive information e.g., special backup or data compression routines, software used for storing/retrieving submitted data or program installation instructions.

(v) Electronic documents must be in one of the National Archives and Records Administration

(NARA)-approved formats as described in NARA guidelines related to the transfer of permanent E-records. (See http://www.archives.gov/records-mgmt/inititives/transfer-to-nara.html).

(2) Essential bibliographic information. Descriptive information is required for all Contractor products submitted. The title page of all reports and information products shall include the contract number(s), contractor name(s), name of the USAID Contracting Officer’s Representative, the publication or issuance date of the document, document title, (if non-English, provide and English translation of the title), author name(s), and development objective or activity title (if non-English, provide a translation) and associated number, and language of the document (if non-English). In addition, all hard copy materials submitted in accordance with this clause must have, attached as a separate cover sheet, the name, organization, address, telephone number, fax number, and Internet address of the submitting party.

F.9 752.242-70 PERIODIC PROGRESS REPORTS (OCTOBER 2007)

(a) The contractor shall prepare and submit progress reports as specified in the contract schedule. These reports are separate from the interim and final performance evaluation reports prepared by USAID in accordance with FAR 42.15 and internal Agency procedures, but they may be used by USAID personnel or their authorized representatives when evaluating the contractor's performance.

(b) During any delay in furnishing a progress report required under this contract, the contracting officer may withhold from payment an amount not to exceed US$25,000 (or local currency equivalent) or five (5) percent of the amount of this contract, whichever is less, until such time as the contractor submits the report or the contracting officer determines that the delay…