72027822R00005 - WEC RFP searchable.pdf

RFP Issuance Date: December 30, 2021

Questions Due Date: January 10, 2022, at 8:00 AM Amman local time

Proposal Deadline: February 7, 2022, at 8:00 AM Amman local time

Subject: Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 72027822R00005 for the USAID/Jordan Water Efficiency and Conservation (WEC) Activity

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID/Jordan), is seeking proposals from qualified organizations interested in providing the services required to implement the “Water Efficiency and Conservation” (WEC) activity in accordance with the terms and conditions stated in this RFP.

USAID anticipates awarding one (1) cost-plus-fixed-fee term type contract to the responsible offeror whose offer conforms to the solicitation requirements and is the most advantageous to the US Government, price and other factors considered. The procedures set forth in FAR Part 15 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) apply.

The details of this program are defined in the Statement of Work (SOW) located in Section C of the attached Request for Proposal (RFP). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this opportunity is 541990. The authorized geographic code for procurement of goods and services under the resulting contract is 937.

Questions regarding this RFP must be submitted by e-mail to Jordan_WEC@usaid.gov no later than the deadline for questions indicated above. Phone inquiries will not be accepted and any oral instructions or explanations shall not be binding. Inquiries received after the deadline for questions will not receive a response.

Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the instructions listed in Section L of this RFP. Proposals received after the closing date and time will be processed as late and handled in accordance with FAR 52.215-1, which is contained herein. Only electronic submissions will be accepted. It is the responsibility of the Offeror to ensure that the RFP has been received from the internet in its entirety and USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.

Issuance of this RFP does not in any way obligate 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 an offer.

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 Government.

Sincerely, Supervisory Contracting Officer mailto:Jordan_WEC@usaid.gov

Table of Contents

Table of Contents 1

PART I – THE SCHEDULE 6

SECTION A - SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM 6

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS 7

B.1 PURPOSE 7

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE 7

B.3 TOTAL ESTIMATED COST, FIXED FEE, AND OBLIGATED AMOUNT 7

B.4 CONTRACT LINE ITEMS 7

B.5 LEVEL OF EFFORT (LOE) 8

B.6 COST REIMBURSABLE 9

B.7 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE 9

B.8 INDIRECT COSTS 9

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK 10

C.1 INTRODUCTION 10

C.2 BACKGROUND 10

C.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT 14

C.4 STATEMENT OF WORK 17

C.5 PROGRAM MANAGEMENT 23

SECTION D - PACKAGING AND MARKING 29

D.1 AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (JAN 1993) 29

D.2 BRANDING AND MARKING POLICY 29

D.3 BRANDING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND MARKING PLAN 29

SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE 30

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 30

E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE/RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL 30

SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE 31

F.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 31

F.2 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE 31

F.3 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE 31

F.4 AUTHORIZED WORK WEEK 31

F.5 KEY PERSONNEL 31

F.6 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 33

F.7 TEAMS AND USAID SPONSORED J-1 VISAS 42

F.8 LANGUAGE OF REPORTS AND OTHER OUTPUTS 42

F.9 AIDAR 752.242-70 PERIODIC PROGRESS REPORTS (OCT 2007) 43

F.10 AIDAR 752.7005 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE

DOCUMENTS (September 2013) 43

F.11 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS 44

SECTION G - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA 46

G.1 AIDAR 752.7003 DOCUMENTATION FOR PAYMENT (NOV 1998) 46

G.2 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S AUTHORITY 47

G.3 ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACTING OFFICE 47

G.4 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR) 47

G.5 TECHNICAL DIRECTIONS/RELATIONSHIP WITH USAID 47

G.6 ACCEPTANCE AND APPROVAL 49

G.7 ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA 49

G.8 PAYING OFFICE 49

G.9 CONTRACTOR’S POINT OF CONTACT 49

SECTION H: SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS 51

H.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 51

H.2 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE 51

H.3 AIDAR 752.7007 PERSONNEL COMPENSATION (JULY 2007) 53

H.4 EMPLOYMENT COSTS OF THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS (TCNs) AND

COOPERATING COUNTRY NATIONALS (CCNs) 53

H.5 DEFENSE BASE ACT (DBA) INSURANCE 54

H.6 AIDAR 752.7032 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL APPROVAL AND NOTIFICATION

REQUIREMENTS (APR 2014) 55

H.7 LOGISTIC SUPPORT 55

H.8 AIDAR 752.222-70 USAID DISABILITY POLICY (DEC 2004) 55

H.9 AIDAR 752.209-71 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST DISCOVERED

AFTER AWARD (JUN 1993) 56

H.10 AIDAR 752.225-70 SOURCE AND NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS (FEB 2012) 56

H.11 AUTHORIZED GEOGRAPHIC CODE 57

H.12 PROHIBITION OF ASSISTANCE TO DRUG TRAFFICKING 57

H.13 CONSENT TO SUBCONTRACT 57

H.14 LIMITATION ON ACQUISITION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (APRIL 2018)

(DEVIATION NOs. M/OAA-DEV-FAR-20-3c and M/OAA-DEV-AIDAR-20-2c) (APRIL 2020) 58

H.15 CONFIDENTIALITY AND OWNERSHIP OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 59

H.16 STANDARDS OF CONDUCT – IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES 59

H.17 AIDAR 752.7013 CONTRACTOR-MISSION RELATIONSHIPS (OCT 1989) [DEVIATION

#M/OAA/DEV-AIDAR-20-03c (JUN 2020)] 59

H.18 SOVEREIGN RELATIONSHIPS 60

H.19 PRESS RELATIONS 60

H.20 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED FACILITIES OR PROPERTY 61

H.21 MEETINGS WITH GOVERNMENT OF JORDAN MINISTERS 61

H.22 ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS SYSTEM 61

H.23 AIDAR 752.7036 USAID IMPLEMENTING PARTNER NOTICES (IPN) PORTAL FOR

ACQUISITION (JUL 2014) 62

H.24 CONTRACTOR’S USE OF PROJECT VEHICLES AND LIABILITY INSURANCE

REQUIREMENTS FOR PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLES 63

H.25 DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION 64

H.26 ADS 302.3.5.21: SUBMISSION OF DATASETS TO THE DEVELOPMENT DATA

LIBRARY (DDL) (OCTOBER 2014) 64

H.27 GRANTS UNDER CONTRACTS (GUCs) 66

H.28 CONFLICT OF INTEREST 66

H.29 VALUE ADDED TAX AND CUSTOMS DUTIES 68

PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSES 69

SECTION I - CONTRACT CLAUSES 69

I.1 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998) 69

I.2 752.252-2 AIDAR SOLICITATION CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (MAR

2015) 71

I.3 52.204-21 BASIC SAFEGUARDING OF COVERED CONTRACTOR INFORMATION

SYSTEMS. (JUN 2016) 72

I.4 52.229-8 TAXES – FOREIGN COST-REIMBURSEMENT CONTRACTS (MAR 1990) 73

I.5 52.245-9 USE AND CHARGES (APR 2012) 74

I.6 752.229-71 REPORTING OF FOREIGN TAXES (JUL 2007) 76

I.7 752.7101 VOLUNTARY POPULATION PLANNING ACTIVITIES (JUNE 2008) 77

I.8 52.204-24 REPRESENTATION REGARDING CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS

AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT. (NOV 2021) 77

I.9 52.204-25 PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING FOR CERTAIN

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR

EQUIPMENT (NOV 2021) 80

I.10 52.222-35 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR VETERANS (JUN 2020) 83

I.11 52.222-36 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES

(JUN 2020) 83

I.12 52.223-99 ENSURING ADEQUATE COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR FEDERAL

CONTRACTORS (OCT 2021) (DEVIATION #M/OAA-DEV-FAR-22-01c) 84

I.13 752.231-72 CONFERENCE PLANNING AND REQUIRED APPROVAL (AUG 2013)

[DEVIATION (M/OAA-DEV-AIDAR-20-01c) (APR 2020)] 84

I.14 752.7034 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND DISCLAIMER (DEC 1991) 87

I.15 752.245-70 GOVERNMENT PROPERTY - USAID REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

(OCT 2017) 87

PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS, AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS 90

J - LIST OF ATTACHMENTS 90

PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS 91

SECTION K - REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF

OFFERORS OR RESPONDENTS 91

K.1. NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 91

K.2 52.203-18 PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING WITH ENTITIES THAT REQUIRE

CERTAIN INTERNAL CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS OR

STATEMENTS–REPRESENTATION (JAN 2017) 91

K.3 52.204-3 TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION. (OCT 1998) 92

K.4 52.204-8 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS (NOV 2021) 93

K.5 52.204-17 OWNERSHIP OR CONTROL OF OFFEROR. (AUG 2020) 97

K.6 52.204-20 PREDECESSOR OF OFFEROR (AUG 2020) 97

K.7 52.209-7 INFORMATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (OCT 2018) 99

K.8 52.209-11 REPRESENTATION BY CORPORATIONS REGARDING DELINQUENT TAX

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

K.9 52.209-12 CERTIFICATION REGARDING TAX MATTERS (OCT 2020) 100

K.10 52.209-13 VIOLATION OF ARMS CONTROL TREATIES OR AGREEMENTS-

CERTIFICATION (NOV 2021) 101

K.11 52.215-6 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE (OCT 1997) 103

K.12 52.219-1 SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM REPRESENTATIONS (SEP 2021) 103

K.13 52.222-18 CERTIFICATION REGARDING KNOWLEDGE OF CHILD LABOR FOR

LISTED END PRODUCTS (FEB 2021) 107

K.14 52.225-4 BUY AMERICAN—FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS-ISRAELI TRADE ACT

(FEB 2021) 107

K.15 52.225-25 PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING WITH ENTITIES ENGAGING IN

CERTAIN ACTIVITIES OR TRANSACTIONS RELATING TO

IRAN—REPRESENTATION AND CERTIFICATIONS (JUN 2020) 110

K.16 52.230-1 COST ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOTICES AND CERTIFICATION (JUN

2020) 111

K.17 52.230-7 PROPOSAL DISCLOSURE--COST ACCOUNTING PRACTICE CHANGES

(APR 2005) 113

K.18 52.237-8 RESTRICTION ON SEVERANCE PAYMENTS TO FOREIGN NATIONALS

(AUG 2003) 113

K.19 SIGNATURE 114

K.20 52.203-19 PROHIBITION ON REQUIRING CERTAIN INTERNAL CONFIDENTIALITY

AGREEMENTS OR STATEMENTS (JAN 2017) 114

K.21 52.204-24 REPRESENTATION REGARDING CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS

AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT (NOV 2021) 115

K.22 52.204-26 COVERED TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT OR

SERVICES-REPRESENTATION (OCT 2020) 118

K.23 52.232-40 PROVIDING ACCELERATED PAYMENTS TO SMALL BUSINESS

SUBCONTRACTORS (NOV 2021) 118

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS 120

L.1 52.252-1 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 120

L.2 52.214-35 SUBMISSION OF OFFERS IN U.S. CURRENCY (APR 1991) 120

L.3 52.215-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS—COMPETITIVE ACQUISITION (NOV 2021) 120

L.4 52.216-1 TYPE OF CONTRACT (APR 1984) 124

L.5 52.233-2 SERVICE OF PROTEST (SEPT 2006) 124

L.6 ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS 125

L.7 SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS 126

L.8 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL 127

L.9 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COST PROPOSAL 132

L.10 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF BRANDING AND MARKING PLANS 139

L.11 WAIVERS UNDER FAR PART 4.2101 PROHIBITION ON COVERED

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT

(DECEMBER 2021) 140

SECTION M – EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD 143

M.1 GENERAL INFORMATION 143

M.2 TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA 143

M.3 COST PROPOSAL EVALUATION 145

M.4 DETERMINATION OF COMPETITIVE RANGE 145

M.5 SOURCE SELECTION 146

ATTACHMENT 1 - BUDGET TEMPLATE 147

ATTACHMENT 2 - USAID’S BRANDING STRATEGY FOR THE WEC ACTIVITY 148

ATTACHMENT 3 - GUIDANCE FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE BRANDING

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 149

ATTACHMENT 4 - GUIDANCE FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE MARKING PLAN 150

ATTACHMENT 5 - INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION 153

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION A - SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is to provide the USAID/Jordan Mission with technical assistance services and related support to accomplish the objectives of the Water Efficiency and Conservation Activity (WEC), as described in the Statement of Work (SOW).

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE

This is a five-year Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee Term Type contract. The Contractor must provide the level of effort described in Sections B.5 to accomplish the goals and objectives set forth in Section C, and otherwise comply with all contract requirements.

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

(a) The estimated cost for the performance of the work required hereunder, exclusive of fixed fee (if any) is $ [TBD - to be filled in at the time of award]. The fixed fee (if any) for the contract period is $[TBD - to be filled at the time of award]. The total estimated cost plus fixed fee amount is $[TBD - to be filled at the time of award].

(b) Within the total 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 - to be filled at the time of award]. The Contractor must not exceed the aforesaid obligated amount in accordance with the Limitation of Funds Clause, FAR 52.232.22.

(c) Funds obligated hereunder are anticipated to be sufficient through [TBD - to be inserted at the time of award]. Funding for this contract will be on an incremental basis, subject to the availability of funds.

B.4 CONTRACT LINE ITEMS

The following itemized budget sets forth the contract cost items:

Item Amount

CLIN 0001 Water Efficiency and Conservation Activity

0001a Direct Costs $[TBD]

0001c Subcontracts $[TBD]

0001d Grants Under Contract $7,000,000

0001e Indirect Costs $[TBD]

0001f Fixed Fee $[TBD]

Total Estimated Cost plus Fixed Fee Amount: $[TBD]

The Contractor must not exceed any contract cost item nor is authorized to shift funding between items without prior written approval of the Contracting Officer.

B.5 LEVEL OF EFFORT (LOE)

(a) The Contractor must provide a total of [TBD - to be filled in at the time of award] days of level of effort to implement the Statement of Work. The Contractor must not exceed the total level of effort of person days, which are allocated as follows:

Position/Labor Category Total LOE

[TBD to be completed at the time of award] [TBD to be completed at the time of award]

[TBD to be completed at the time of award] [TBD to be completed at the time of award]

Total LOE (workdays ordered): *[TBD to be completed at the time of award]

*[USAID has estimated the total LOE for Professional/Technical Staff to be 22,500 labor days.

However, Offerors must propose the LOE, including the positions and/or labor categories, that aligns with its proposed technical approach. (see L.9, Part 2,c)]

(b) Subject to the ceiling price established in this contract and with the prior written approval of the COR, the contractor may adjust the number of workdays actually employed by each position/category in the performance of the work. The contractor must attach a copy of the COR approval to the voucher submitted for payment. Adjustments may only be made within the ceiling of the total LOE (workdays ordered). Once the level of effort has been fully expended, this contract is complete.

(c) It is the contractor’s responsibility to ensure that any COR-approved adjustments to the workdays ordered for each position/category do not result in costs incurred which exceed the ceiling price of or obligated amount under this contract. Under no circumstances shall such adjustments authorize the contractor to be paid any sum in excess of the current obligated amount or contract ceiling.

(d) Approvals, technical orders or other direction from the COR do not constitute authorization to increase the total LOE or ceiling price for this Contract. The Government is not obligated to reimburse the Contractor for any actions which increase the total LOE unless such actions have been specifically authorized in writing by the Contracting Officer.

B.6 COST REIMBURSABLE

Costs must be limited to those that are reasonable, allocable, allowable, and necessary for the implementation of the contract as determined in accordance with FAR 31 (other applicable cost principles), FAR 52.216-7 (Allowable Cost and Payment), and AIDAR 752.7003, Documentation for Payment.

B.7 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE

Subject to FAR 52.216-8 Fixed Fee, payment of fixed fee will be made in proportion to the level of effort (LOE) that was delivered by the Contractor during the period covered by the invoice. In the event that the Contractor does not provide all of the total LOE required under the contract by the expiration of the contract period, the total amount of fixed fee will be reduced in similar proportion, as determined by the CO and COR. For example, if the Contractor has expended 85% of the total level of effort, then the Contractor is entitled to 85% of the fixed fee amount, provided that the performance and compliance has been otherwise satisfactory.

B.8 INDIRECT COSTS

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

Description Rate Base Type Period

TBD TBD TBD TBD

Base of Application: TBD Type of Rate: TBD Period: TBD

[END OF SECTION B]

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 INTRODUCTION

The objective of the Water Efficiency and Conservation Activity (“the Activity”) is to increase water use efficiency and conservation in Jordan by applying commercial incentives to the agriculture, industrial,1 and the municipal sectors and strengthening the Government of Jordan (GOJ) governance over irrigated2 3 agriculture.

This Activity will contribute to USAID/Jordan’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) 2020-2025 five-year goal of supporting Jordan to advance its stability, prosperity and self-reliance by spurring inclusive private sector-led economic growth, improving water security, strengthening accountable governance, fostering a healthy, well-educated population, and enhancing the agency and leadership of women and youth.

This Activity will contribute to achieving USAID/Jordan’s CDCS Development Objective (DO2):

Jordan’s Ability to Improve its Water Security Strengthened. The Activity falls under intermediate result (IR) 2.3: Water Efficiency and Conservation Expanded. The Activity will also contribute to IR 2.2: Water Sector Governance and Management Strengthened and IR 2.4: Inclusive Participation in Water Sector Decision-Making Increased. The Activity will also contribute to USAID/Jordan’s DO 5: Agency and Leadership of Women and Youth Enhanced.

Specific cross-cutting objectives related to support to gender, youth, persons with disabilities (PWD), and private sector engagement must be defined and integrated by the Contractor throughout contract implementation. By incorporating these objectives, the Activity will support the Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) goals, including: (1) Agency and Leadership for Women and Youth Enhanced (2) Persons with Disabilities: Engage persons with disabilities in the water sector at all levels, and (3) Private Sector Engagement Improved: Identifying new approaches and preparing strategies and plans to enhance and improve private sector participation in the water sector.

C.2 BACKGROUND

Jordan is one of the most water-poor countries in the world, and forecasts indicate worsening conditions over the coming decades as the country experiences higher temperatures, and lower rainfall and runoff.

The country’s renewable water supply currently only meets about two-thirds of the population’s overall water needs, and groundwater is being over-abstracted faster than it is being recharged. Its per capita share of renewable water resources is less than 65 cubic meters per year, only one fifth of the United

3 https://www.marketlinks.org/sites/default/files/resource/files/Market_Systems_Framework.pdf

2 The term “municipal” in this document refers to water that is provided to users through the water utility, and includes households, commercial facilities, education, medical, and touristic water users.

1 Market based solutions are any set of regulations and financial incentives that can encourage a certain behavior through market signals rather than through explicit directives. For instance, incentives that catalyze farmers to adopt the new technologies to pursue better results in order to solve the water-related or environmental problems.

https://www.marketlinks.org/sites/default/files/resource/files/Market_Systems_Framework.pdf

Nations minimum standard for water scarcity. By 2040, models suggest precipitation will be 10 to 154 mm less (13-20% less) than today, and droughts will be more pronounced. Given limitations on new5 sources of water and ever-growing demands, it is critical to improve conservation of scarce water resources.

Agriculture in Jordan consumes an estimated 52% (reduced from 75% over the last decade) of the country’s overall water resources and 70% of its groundwater, while only contributing around 4% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Despite its small contribution to the GDP, agriculture has important socio-economic impacts and high political significance. Current policies and pricing on water6 contribute to the fact that water conservation is not a high priority for farmers. With approximately 40% of agriculture’s contribution to GDP coming from irrigated agriculture in the highlands where groundwater is being rapidly depleted and there are no alternative sources of water, increased7 conservation is vital.

Municipal water use represents approximately 45% of Jordan’s water consumption. The water tariff is8 very low, presenting little incentive to conserve water. However, municipal water supply is intermittent;9 in most areas, water is supplied once every week to two weeks. Many homes cope with limited water supply by purchasing from water tankers when their household storage runs out. This water is often more than ten times as expensive as water provided by public utilities and is often sourced through illegal extraction providing comparatively little revenue in turn to the cash-strapped government water entities.

Most households in Jordan are not equipped for efficient use of their water resources. Although Jordanians have coped with water shortage and intermittent supply by using very little water, water-saving practices and technologies would help Jordanian households stretch their limited water resources to last for longer durations of time. While there are greater gains to be made at the household level in terms of water use, at the commercial level, there is currently more incentive to promote water-savings as the tariff for commercial use is higher than for households. USAID has had successes in the past in working with non-residential properties, such as office buildings, hotels and schools by installing water-saving devices and promoting water efficiency practices.10

Within Jordan, females are the main users and managers of water at the household level. These women are role models in their household but can also serve as influencers to work with market actors across the public, private and civil society sectors to promote evidence-based water-saving practices and innovative technologies in agriculture and households in Jordan.

2.1 Government of Jordan Priorities

10 Study or presentation on water savings potential and gains on water conservation at the municipal level by

WMI.

9 According to the Department of Statistics Household, Income and Expenditure Survey 2017-2018, the average Jordanian family spends approximately 92 JDs per year on water and wastewater bills, while they spend 313 JDs annually on their electricity bill. These numbers are based on data from 5 governorates (Amman, Zarqa, Irbid, Balqa and Madaba) which include the majority of the population.

8 Residential Best Management Practice Guide (USAID IDARA project, 2010).

7 Water Resources, Use and Management in Jordan: A Focus on Groundwater, IWMI, 2018.

6 Ministry of Water and Irrigation Water Sector Capital Investment Plan 2016 – 2025.

5 https://phys.org/news/2016-03-nasa-drought-eastern-mediterranean-worst.html

4 Nortcliff, S., Carr, G., Potter, R.B., Darmame, K. (2008) “Jordan’s Water Resources: Challenges for the Future.” Geographical Paper No. 185, The University of Reading, United Kingdom.

https://jordankmportal.com/resources/report-on-schools-and-hotels-training-program https://jordankmportal.com/resources/report-on-schools-and-hotels-training-program https://jordankmportal.com/resources/water-residential-english https://gw-mena.iwmi.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/04/Rep.11-Water-resources-use-and-management-in-Jordan-a-focus-on-groundwater.pdf https://jordankmportal.com/resources/water-sector-capital-investment-plan-2016-2025 https://phys.org/news/2016-03-nasa-drought-eastern-mediterranean-worst.html https://www.reading.ac.uk/web/files/geographyandenvironmentalscience/GP185.pdf https://www.reading.ac.uk/web/files/geographyandenvironmentalscience/GP185.pdf

The GoJ’s vision for addressing its water crisis is laid out in the National Water Strategy and the Water Sector Capital Investment Plan 2016-2025. These plans stem from Jordan 2025: A National Vision and11

Strategy and draw a direct link between Jordan’s water security and its economic future by highlighting12 the gap between demand and supply and accentuating the need to reduce agricultural waste, diminish non-revenue water, utilize unconventional water resources, and enhance regional cooperation. The Economic Growth Plan 2018-2022 singled out agriculture along with the mining sector to have great potential for employment and growth. It aims for agriculture to make up 10% of Jordan’s GDP. The13 plan focuses on water conservation and harvesting/capturing investments with the aim of reducing external vulnerability.

The GoJ describes water and wastewater supply services as essential to the sustainability of the different economic sectors and an integral input in economic growth in its National Water Strategy 2016-2022. The strategy prioritizes economic sectors that provide the highest returns to the economy, superseded only by water for municipal use (drinking). The strategy also recognizes the role of the agriculture sector in the economy and identifies measures to manage irrigation water such as consumption reduction, tariff adjustment, and substituting fresh water with treated wastewater for irrigation. The document describes measures such as sound irrigation advisory services and introducing the right incentive schemes to encourage optimized water consumption.

Jordan’s agriculture sector played a key role in ensuring food security during the COVID-19 lockdown, which cemented its strategic role during a crisis situation. Recognizing the strategic significance of the sector, in October 2020 the Prime Minister mandated the newly formed Cabinet to strengthen the agricultural sector.14

2.2 USAID Support for Water Efficiency and Conservation

USAID focuses its agriculture support on water conservation. In 2017, USAID/Jordan launched its Water Innovation Technologies (WIT) Activity, drawing on market systems to promote water conservation in the agriculture sector. WIT has partnered with private sector actors to introduce improved technologies and practices in the agriculture sector and at the household level. The ongoing activity is projected to achieve water-savings of at least 18.5 million cubic meters during its life. Through its work with private irrigation companies, WIT encouraged farmers to adopt water-saving technologies they were not used to, and helped irrigation companies provide aftermarket services so farmers could improve production while reducing water use. Results demonstrate a vast potential for improved water-savings, along with increased economic productivity at the farm level. Moreover, WIT worked to increase the participation of women15 in water conservation by working with private sector actors who provide water-saving technologies and products for women-led groups and female farmers to access knowledge and technologies to conserve more water while increasing their income.

The Community-Based Initiatives for Water Demand Management (CBIWDM) project enabled 175 communities to apply water-saving technologies in their homes. The Institutional Support and Strengthening Program (ISSP) worked closely with the water sector and the water utilities to reform and

15 Analysis of Consumption Patterns in Agriculture: Market Systems Development Analysis.

14 “Royal Decree approves new Cabinet headed by Khasawneh” (Jordan Times - October 13, 2020).

13 Jordan Economic Growth Plan (2018-2022).

12 Jordan 2025 - A National Vision and Strategy .

11 Ministry of Water and Irrigation Water Sector Capital Investment Plan 2016 – 2025.

https://jordankmportal.com/resources/water-consumption-patterns-in-agriculture-market-systems-development-assessment-final-report http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/jor170691.pdf https://jordankmportal.com/resources/jordan-2025-a-national-vision-and-strategy https://jordankmportal.com/resources/water-sector-capital-investment-plan-2016-2025 restructure the sector to become more efficient, sustainable, and responsive to consumer needs. The Water Management Initiative (WMI) supported the GOJ to achieve measurable improvements and greater sustainability in the water sector by providing technical assistance to strengthen the GOJ’s reform, policy development and implementation, and capacity building efforts. The Public Action for Water, Energy and Environment Project (PAP) focused on public education and behavior change communications Activity to increase efficiency in the use of water and energy, to promote proper solid waste handling practices, and to introduce policy changes. The Hydroponic Green Farming Initiative (HGFI) developed a hydroponic farming model that improves upon current greenhouse technology and drip irrigation systems and demonstrated practices. Documents and reports from all these activities and many others are available through the USAID/Jordan portal (https://usaidjordankmportal.com). Other information sources include the Development Experience Clearinghouse (DEC) (https://dec.usaid.gov/dec/home/Default.aspx), and USAID’s Development Data Library (DDL) website (http://www.usaid.gov/data). Further, the Contractor is encouraged to be familiar with the 2017 US Gov Global Water Strategy (US GWS), the Executive Order on Climate Change at Home and Abroad, and the U.S. Government Global Food Security Strategy

FY17-21.16

2.3 Other Donors Working on Water Efficiency and Conservation

The Embassy of the Netherlands and the World Bank have been actively engaged in supporting the agriculture sector as a tool to jumpstart Jordan’s economy. Their work also includes a focus on generating jobs for Syrian refugees working in the agriculture sector. Among its many interventions, the Embassy of the Netherlands has set up a project to identify the value chains with high export values, working with a mix of medium to large scale producers. Their project also works on post-harvest issues and global Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) compliance. The World Bank has recently launched a value chain project whose initial stage is to identify value chains with high export value, and work on post-harvest issues and logistics for getting products to export markets. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has also recently launched a value chain project working to increase the quality and value of tomatoes, olives and dates. The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has a solicitation for an agriculture project in the northern highlands of Jordan that includes a focus on Syrian refugees as farm labor. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) works on promoting on-farm irrigation efficiency in Azraq and the Jordan Valley, and the KfW Bankengruppe (KfW) along with the European Investment Bank are developing a separate irrigation project in the Jordan Valley. Their approach has been to set up demonstration farms. In all cases, USAID has actively engaged with these donors as partners, working cooperatively to ensure that support to the agriculture sector results in improved water efficiency and conservation.

On the municipal level, GIZ has been very active in promoting water conservation best practices in the municipal sector while engaging influential stakeholders such as religious authorities to inform as many people as possible about water-saving. GIZ has also worked on empowering women in the field of water conservation and provided certification and institutional support for cooperatives of female plumbers. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) have ongoing efforts to promote water conservation in schools and health centers.

16 US Government Global Water Strategy 2017; Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad; US Government Global Food Security Strategy FY17-21 https://usaidjordankmportal.com https://dec.usaid.gov/dec/home/Default.aspx http://www.usaid.gov/data https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/Global_Water_Strategy_2017_final_508v2.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/executive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/executive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad/ https://www.fas.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2016-10/u.s._government_global_food_security_strategy_fy17-21.pdf

C.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT

Agricultural and municipal water use in Jordan is inefficient and further exacerbates water scarcity.

Commercial properties have achieved a significant increase in efficiency given past advancements. Water tariffs for commercial properties are at market rates, providing an incentive for commercial property owners to conserve water. Making parallel advancements in the municipal water sector will be challenging as the amount of water per capita is low to begin with and the tariff for municipal consumption is so low it does not incentivize any savings.

As mentioned, agriculture is the largest consumer of water in Jordan, consuming over 52% of the country’s annual water supply. While the GoJ has laws and regulations in place to govern water use and abstraction, there is a lack of uniform enforcement. Without consistent enforcement, farmers and water users feel enabled to over-abstract. Moreover, users lose faith in their government’s commitment to apply the law on an equal measure to all citizens, regardless of connections and status. While the GoJ recognizes the severity of Jordan’s limited water resources, pressure for social stability creates competing demands that contradict the challenge of promoting water conservation.

3.1 Challenges to Water Governance

While Jordan has a strong framework of laws and regulations that govern the use of water resources, specifically regarding groundwater, enforcement has always been a challenge. The Government of Jordan has improved abstraction monitoring by metering legal wells and through remote sensing of agricultural water use. However, some farmers and other actors have found ways to outpace the system in place.

The Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI), including the Jordan Valley Authority (JVA) and the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ), currently lacks the tools and capacity to engage farmers in dialogue regarding water use, as well as to incentivize water-efficient and conservation-based agriculture. A recent study by USAID sheds light on the reason that farmers cultivate certain areas, what is limiting their expansion,17 and why they choose certain crops. There is a knowledge gap between male and female water users.

Agriculture is a versatile sector that can adapt to changing resources but communication between the water governing authorities and the farming community has been missing, particularly from women who are then further excluded from decision making.

Governance over municipal water use is not far from that of the agriculture sector. The municipal water sector lacks strong representation of male and female municipal water users who are given minimal involvement in decision making. Furthermore, the water utilities do not show strong interest in adopting demand management techniques and limit their demand management interventions to water efficiency campaigns. Lack of buy-in from water utilities and decision making based on multi-level stakeholders’ engagement.

3.2 Wastewater Reuse in Agriculture

Jordan has been using treated wastewater in agriculture since the early 1980s. The National Water Strategy 2016-2025 states that all treated wastewater should be used for irrigation and the Ministry constructed wastewater treatment plants across the kingdom, making this vision a reality. Treated

17 Analysis of Consumption Patterns in Agriculture: Market Systems Development Analysis.

https://jordankmportal.com/resources/water-consumption-patterns-in-agriculture-market-systems-development-assessment-final-report wastewater currently makes up 28.6% of the irrigation water in Jordan. Non-conventional water resources, such as treated wastewater, offset the country’s dependence on freshwater, especially groundwater. However, current regulations and standards limit the direct reuse of treated effluent in agriculture to the irrigation of fodder crops and fruit trees. Although the generated effluent quality from most of the treatment plants in Jordan is suitable for restricted irrigation, the culture among farmers and decision-makers is to restrict use even further.18 19

3.3 Marginal Representation of Women in Agriculture

Women in Jordan represent only 14.9% of the workforce – one of the lowest rates in the world. A recently conducted USAID private sector survey in Jordan found that 49% of the businesses (56% in agriculture) report that they do not hire women. This is despite the fact that women have a high rate of university enrollment.

According to a Gender Assessment done under the USAID Water Innovation Technologies activity20

(WIT) social norms dictate a perception that women cannot go to a work site (a farm in this case). This perception affects all aspects of agribusiness advisory services (including private sector), on-farm work, and prevents women from accessing knowledge, markets, profit, or other resources. Advances have been made, though, as male farmers have started accepting technical advice from women. According to the same analysis, the difficulty women face in agriculture is of a social and technical nature, in addition to the gender gap. Issues of concern for women working in the farms include: personal safety, working conditions, family restrictions on women joining men on field trips or meeting farmers in the field; and women and men saying “field work is not women’s work”.

3.4 Incentives and Disincentives for Water Conservation

Farms in the Jordan Valley are largely irrigated by surface water from the King Abdullah Canal. Farmers in other parts of the country, however, rely largely on groundwater abstraction from private wells. The Ministry of Water and Irrigation charges a licensing fee for these wells in addition to an abstraction tariff.

The tariff for groundwater abstraction for agriculture is so low that it does not provide an incentive to farmers to conserve water. The cost of water is insignificant compared to other farm costs, such as energy and labor. In the groundwater-dependent farming systems of the highlands, donors and the government have communicated messages of water conservation by convincing farmers that less water use means less pumping which would also save the farmers money on their electricity bills. However, as farmers install photovoltaics in the northern highlands, they have changed this equation by reducing the cost of energy and thereby potentially freeing farmers from the biggest constraint to groundwater abstraction.

3.5 Inefficiency of Water Use in Agriculture

While Jordan is one of the most water scarce countries in the world, in general, water use at the farm level does not reflect this scarcity. In a study conducted by the WIT Activity, farmers often over-irrigate their

20 USAID Water Innovation Technologies Gender and Youth Assessment in Agriculture.

19 Wastewater Reuse in the Middle East: Policy, Legal, and Regulatory Framework - Jordan Assessment. July 2020.

18 Quality Aspects of Domestic Water in Jordan.

https://jordankmportal.com/resources/gender-report https://jordankmportal.com/resources/wastewater-reuse-in-the-middle-east-policy-legal-and-regulatory-framework https://jordankmportal.com/resources/wastewater-reuse-in-the-middle-east-policy-legal-and-regulatory-framework https://www.ais.unwater.org/ais/pluginfile.php/356/mod_page/content/111/Jordan_ULIMAT_ICID_AHMA_2012-1.pdf crops by two to five times the actual crop water demand. There are a number of reasons for this,21 including poor irrigation system design, as well as a general lack of knowledge on the part of farmers as to their crops’ actual crop water requirements. Jordan’s National Agriculture Research Center (NARC) and researchers at various Jordanian universities focus on the issue of water conservation; however, capacity to disseminate this research is limited. Agronomy programs that are focused on irrigation represent a small part of the curriculum and are outdated in their approach. As a result, most agronomists who graduate with a degree in agricultural engineering in Jordan are ill equipped to promote water conservation practices. Jordan’s public agriculture extension service has a narrow reach that is understaffed and underfunded. Irrigation suppliers, who have a market incentive for promoting water conservation, are passive in their approach to supplying and selling irrigation equipment to farmers. There is little innovation and effort to promote new products and very limited technical support to farmers on how to improve their irrigation systems or ensure their crops are receiving the necessary water supply.22

Most farmers, both large and small scale, subsistence as well as commercial, working in a vacuum of information and support, have developed their own strategies to irrigate their crops, often without the most up-to-date information on best practices for irrigation. While some farms apply the latest technology and best practices, when it comes to efficient and conservation-based water management, they are the exception rather than the rule, and there is no avenue for scaling up such best practices in Jordan.

In general, Jordanian farmers operate individually and collaborate and exchange information informally.

There are few current examples of private initiatives or of farmer cooperatives or associations that successfully bring farmers together to work collaboratively. As a result, many initiatives working in the agriculture sector struggle to resolve common issues that affect agricultural production and marketing.

The lack of information and resources, including the dearth of private and public advisory services, makes it challenging for farmers to meet common standards for quality, aggregate products, or access post-harvesting and handling services.

3.6 Inefficient water use in the industrial sector

The Jordanian industry sector relies mainly on freshwater resources and groundwater for the most part.

With a persistent gap between water supply and demand, growth of firms across various industries is already being constrained. These constraints will become even stronger over time. Furthermore, the difficult economic and financial situation of the industrial sector in Jordan has prevented firms from making new investments to conserve or recycle water.

3.7 Inefficient Use of Water Resources at the Municipal level

At the residential level, there are multiple challenges. While there are many companies that offer water saving devices for household use, not all of the products adhere to Jordanian or other recognized standards. In addition, most of these companies do not actively market them to consumers, who are unaware of the benefits of installing such products in saving water at the household or commercial property level. Households and the commercial sector do not have incentives to save water when tariffs are low. Streams of running water are a common sight as residents wash their cars, sidewalks, office and shop entrances.

22 Analysis of Consumption Patterns in Agriculture: Market Systems Development Analysis, December 2018.

21 Simulation of Project Impact on Groundwater Resources Under Scenarios of Adoption of Water-Saving Technologies and Practices in Azraq and Mafraq, Jordan.

https://jordankmportal.com/resources/water-consumption-patterns-in-agriculture-market-systems-development-assessment-final-report https://jordankmportal.com/resources/simulation-of-project-impact-on-groundwater-resources-under-scenarios-of-adoption-of-water-saving-technologies-and-practices-in-azraq-and-mafraq-jordan https://jordankmportal.com/resources/simulation-of-project-impact-on-groundwater-resources-under-scenarios-of-adoption-of-water-saving-technologies-and-practices-in-azraq-and-mafraq-jordan

C.4 STATEMENT OF WORK

4.1 Market Systems Development Approach

The Contractor will implement this activity via a facilitative market systems development approach to increase water use efficiency and conservation. The market systems approach relies on an understanding of, and openness to, complex, constantly changing dynamics in the social, political, and economic realms, informed by close observation of local contexts and consultation with local actors including the public and private sector. This market systems framework implies a light-touch, facilitative approach to intervene where most needed, while not creating artificial market dynamics as a direct player. It also relies on push-pull thinking up and down the value chain to ensure improved water use efficiency and conservation. It entails working with the public and private sector to understand the dynamic nature of this market system and engaging with these stakeholders early in the process of developing this approach.

The constantly changing nature of market systems demands an agile implementing mechanism, in which USAID and the Contractor can respond to new information, challenges, and opportunities that arise after the initial contract is drafted. The Contractor must understand and fully adopt market system development and Collaboration, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) principles.

The market systems approach puts into practice the adaptive management outlined in USAID’s recently revised Program Cycle guidance at https://usaidlearninglab.org/program-cycle-overview-page ). Three key principles of this guidance are:

1. Apply analytic rigor: Make strategic choices based on conclusions supported by evidence

2. Manage adaptively: Make adjustments in response to new information and context changes

3. Promote sustainability: Generate lasting changes that can be sustained by local actors.

In order to be responsive to complex and variable market conditions, the Contractor must build in feedback loops, moments for reflection by engaging with the public and private sector and have the ability to be flexible to adjust programming during implementation.

4.2 Overall Target, Outcomes, and Activity Components

Overall Target: The overall target is to save 70 million cubic meters of water by the end of this23 five-year contract.

USAID aims to achieve this target through the five components and corresponding outcomes that are required under this contract as described below. USAID will not set specific targets for each of the outcomes in order to provide maximum flexibility to the Contractor to achieve the results in the most efficient manner across the outcomes and components. Specific activities and incremental milestones will be set through the annual work planning process, and the contractor will be expected to meet these

23 Water savings is related to a reduction in the amount of water that is lost due to a leak, illegal tapping, inefficient use, or other water losses, which has been reclaimed as a result of this Activity. For example, saved water refers to the water that is not pumped from aquifers due to improved efficiency of use or recycling.

https://usaidlearninglab.org/program-cycle-overview-page milestones as it makes progress toward the contract’s overall target of saving 70 million cubic meters of water by the end of the five-year contract term.

The Contractor must employ a flexible, adaptive management approach, both across components and within each component, to achieve the desired outcomes and overall target. Only illustrative24 interventions are specified as the Contractor is expected to study, pilot, and scale up interventions through continuous feedback loops and to capitalize on opportunities as they arise.

Component 1: Enhance the technical resources and skilled expertise surrounding irrigation leading to efficient and reduced water application in irrigated agriculture

Under this component, the Contractor must build on USAID’s recent work under WIT with private sector actors which provided technologies and after-market services to increase water efficiency in agriculture.25

The Contractor must use a market-based approach to both impact supply and demand. The Contractor must expand on methods to disseminate innovative technologies to increase agricultural water use efficiency by facilitating activities that target systemic changes.

The Contractor must generate demand for new irrigation advisory services, introduce new concepts of irrigation efficiency and technologies that defy existing beliefs and practices. The Contractor must cooperate with different market actors to change the consumptive behavior of the farmers, and not only focus on introducing technologies, but also to achieve scale in disseminating these technologies and practices. The Contractor must enable systemic changes via market systems promoting water conservation practices that generate success for farmers and the sector as a whole, while helping to conserve Jordan’s limited water resources for use by other sectors as well as for future use. Under this component, the Contractor must increase the technical capacity of the practitioners who work in the agricultural sector (e.g. farm labor, private sector field and sales personnel, public sector extension workers).

The Contractor will be expected to leverage cooperation with different market actors, including governmental actors, as a means to provide technical expertise in agricultural water…