Sol_72027920R00001.pdf

Date Issued: December 5, 2019 Deadline for Submission of Questions: December 16, 2019 Closing Date: January 16, 2020 Closing Time: 12:00PM (noon), Frankfurt time

SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) No.: 72027920R00001

YEMEN CONTINOUS LEARNING AND EVALUATION ACTIVITY

The United States Agency for International Development seeks proposals from qualified organizations to implement the USAID/Yemen Continuous Learning and Evaluation (YCLE) Activity described in the attached Request for Proposals (RFP). Subject to the availability of funds, USAID/Yemen plans to award a single cost-plus-fixed-fee completion contract to one successful offeror with an estimated cost in the range of $15-20 million, covering a total estimated period of five years. The contract period is comprised of a basic period of three years and two one-year option periods.

This procurement will be conducted under full and open competition procedures, pursuant to Part 15 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) (48 CFR Chapter I). Offerors are invited to submit a proposal in accordance with the requirements of the enclosed RFP. Proposals must be received by USAID no later than the date and local time stated above and in this RFP. USAID requires that offers remain valid for a minimum of 180 days.

Any current USAID/Yemen implementing partner, contractor or grantee, shall be disqualified from pursuit of work under this solicitation, either as a prime or subcontractor, if the work under the anticipated contract would be related whatsoever to the contractor or grantee's current award, as determined by the Contracting Officer. The Head of the Contracting Activity, in consultation with USAID's Competition Advocate, may authorize a waiver (in accordance FAR 9.503) by determining that preclusion of the Contractor from the contract would not be in the Government's interest.

Offerors should read the entire solicitation, which includes all pertinent technical sections and the terms, conditions and instructions required for submitting a proposal. Prior to the submission of proposals, any amendments to this solicitation will be made available through the Government port of entry at http://www.fbo.gov. It is the offeror’s responsibility to check this site periodically for official updates and amendments to the solicitation. This solicitation in no way obligates USAID to award a contract, nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal in response hereto. Furthermore, USAID reserves the right to reject any and all offers, if such action is considered to be in the best interest of USAID.

All questions, comments, requests for clarifications must be sent to usaidyemensolicitations@usaid.gov no later than the date and time indicated above. Questions will not be entertained after this date.

Thank you for your interest and we look forward to your participation.

Sincerely, Zachary Clarke Contracting Officer USAID/Yemen

ACQUISITION AND ASSISTANCE OFFICE

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT/Yemen Middle East Regional Platform

9. Sealed offers in original and _0_ copies for furnishing the supplies or services in the Schedule will be received at the place specified in Item 8, or if hand carried, in the depository located in N/A until 12:00 p.m. local (Frankfurt) time January 16, 2020.

5. DATE ISSUED

12/05/2019

6. REQUISITION/PURCHASE NUMBER

REQ-279-20-000001

SEALED BID (IFB)

1. THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED ORDER RATING PAGE OF

PAGES

UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700)

2. CONTRACT NUMBER 3. SOLICITATION NUMBER 4. TYPE OF SOLICITATION

NEGOTIATED (RFP)

7. ISSUED BY CODE 8. ADDRESS OFFER TO

ACQUISITION AND ASSISTANCE OFFICE

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT/Yemen Middle East Regional Platform

(If other than Item 7)

NOTE: In sealed bid solicitations "offer" and "offeror" mean "bid" and "bidder".

CAUTION - LATE Submissions, Modifications, and Withdrawals: See Section L, Provision No. 52.214-7 or 52.215-1. All Offers are subject to all terms and conditions contained in this solicitation.

A. NAME B. TELEPHONE (NO COLLECT CALLS) C. E-MAIL ADDRESS

zclarke@usaid.gov, usaidyemensolicitations@usaid.gov

AREA CODE

+49 (0)

NUMBER

69 7535

EXT.

(X) SEC. DESCRIPTION PAGE(S) (X) SEC. DESCRIPTION PAGE(S)

PART I - THE SCHEDULE PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSES

x A SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM 1 x I CONTRACT CLAUSES I-1 x B SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS B-1 PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACH.

x C DESCRIPTION/SPECS./WORK STATEMENT C-1 x J LIST OF ATTACHMENTS J-1 x D PACKAGING AND MARKING D-1 PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS x E INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE E-1 x F DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE F-1 x G CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA G-1 x L INSTR., CONDS., AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS L-1 x H SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS H-1 x M EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD M-1 x K

REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER

STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS K-1

NOTE: Item 12 does not apply if the solicitation includes the provisions at 52.214-16, Minimum Bid Acceptance Period.

12. In compliance with the above, the undersigned agrees, if this offer is accepted within 180 calendar days from the date for receipt of offers specified above, to furnish any or all items upon which prices are offered at the price set opposite each item, delivered at the designated point(s), within the time specified in the schedule.

13. DISCOUNT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT 10 CALENDAR DAYS (%) 20 CALENDAR DAYS (%) 30 CALENDAR DAYS (%) CALENDAR DAYS (%)

(See Section I, Clause No. 52-232-8)

14. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF AMENDMENTS AMENDMENT NO. DATE AMENDMENT NO. DATE

(The offeror acknowledges receipt of amendments to the SOLICITATION for offerors and related documents numbered and dated:

CODE FACILITY

16. NAME AND TITLE OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO SIGN OFFER 15A. NAME AND

ADDRESS

OF OFFEROR

(Type or print)

15B. TELEPHONE NUMBER 17. SIGNATURE 18. OFFER DATE

AREA CODE NUMBER EXT.

15C. CHECK IF REMITTANCE ADDRESS IS DIFFERENT FROM

ABOVE - ENTER SUCH ADDRESS IN SCHEDULE

19. ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS NUMBERED 20. AMOUNT 21. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION

22. AUTHORITY FOR USING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION: 23. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN ITEM (4 copies unless otherwise specified)

10 U.S.C. 2304(a) ( ) 41 U.S.C. 253(c) ( )

24. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 7) 25. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY CODE

USAID/YEMEN

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OFFICE

CODE

26. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

ZACHARY CLARKE

CONTRACTING OFFICER

27. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 28. AWARD DATE

IMPORTANT - Award will be made on this Form, or on Standard Form 26, or by other authorized official written notice.

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

(REV. 9-97)

10. FOR INFORMATION CALL:

USAID/Yemen Zachary Clarke, Contracting Officer

11. TABLE OF CONTENTS

STANDARD FORM 33

SOLICITATION, OFFER AND AWARD

SOLICITATION

OFFER (Must be fully completed by offeror)

AWARD (To be completed by Government)

N/A

72027920R00001 X

See Attached Table of Contents

RFP No: 7027920R00001 Yemen Continuous Learning and Evaluation

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES/PRICES

B.1 PURPOSE

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE

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

B.4 LINE ITEMS

B.5 INDIRECT COSTS

B.6 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE

B.7 COST REIMBURSABLE

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

SECTION D - PACKAGING AND MARKING

D.1 AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (JAN 1993)

D.2 BRANDING STRATEGY

SECTION E – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

SECTION F – DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

F.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

F.2 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

F.3 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

F.4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

F.5 KEY PERSONNEL

F.6 REPORTS AND DELIVERABLES OR OUTPUTS

F.7 AIDAR 752.242-70 PERIODIC PROGRESS REPORTS (OCT 2007)

F.8 AIDAR 752.7005 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE

DOCUMENTS (SEPTEMBER 2013)

SECTION G - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

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

G.2 ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACTING OFFICE

G.3 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

G.4 TECHNICAL DIRECTIONS/RELATIONSHIP WITH USAID

G.5 PAYING OFFICE

G.6 INVOICING INSTRUCTIONS

G.7 ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

G.8 CONTRACTOR CONTACT INFORMATION

SECTION H - SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

H.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

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

H.3 AUTHORIZED GEOGRAPHIC CODE

H.4 AIDAR 752.228-70 MEDICAL EVACUATION (MEDEVAC) SERVICES (JULY 2007)

H.5 EXECUTIVE ORDER ON TERRORISM FINANCING (FEB 2002)

H.6 AIDAR 752.228-3 WORKER’S COMPENSATION INSURANCE (DEFENSE BASE ACT)

(DEC 1991)

H.7 INSURANCE AND SERVICES

H.8 SUBCONTRACTING PLAN, INDIVIDUAL SUBCONTRACT REPORT (ISR) AND THE

SUMMARY SUBCONTRACT REPORT

H.9 CONSENT TO SUBCONTRACT

H.10 NONEXPENDABLE PROPERTY PURCHASES AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

RESOURCES

H.11 LOGISTIC SUPPORT

H.12 LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

H.13 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

H.14 RESTRICTIONS AGAINST DISCLOSURE (MAY 2016)

H.15 COMPLIANCE WITH THE TRAFFICKING VICTIMS PROTECTION

REAUTHORIZATION ACT

H.16 AUTHORIZED WORK WEEK

H.17 COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 508 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973, AS

AMENDED

H.18 ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS SYSTEM

H.19 AIDAR 752.204-71 PARTNER VETTING. (FEB 2012)

H.20 ADS 302.3.5.19 USAID-FINANCED THIRD-PARTY WEB SITES (AUG 2013)

H.21 ADS 302.3.5.21 SUBMISSION OF DATASETS TO THE DEVELOPMENT DATA

LIBARARY (OCT 2014)

H.22 ADS 302.3.5.10 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: PRECLUSION FROM

FURNISHING CERTAIN SERVICES AND RESTRICTION ON USE OF INFORMATION

(SEPTEMBER 2018)

PART II – CONTRACT CLAUSES

SECTION I- CONTRACT CLAUSES

I.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

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

I.3 52.204-25 PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING FOR CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS

AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT. (AUG 2019)

I.4 FAR 52.217-8 OPTION TO EXTEND SERVICES (NOV 1999)

I.5 FAR 52.217-9 OPTION TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT (MAR 2000)

I.6 FAR 52.243-7 NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES. (JAN 2017)

I.7 AIDAR 752.209-71 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST DISCOVERED AFTER

AWARD (JUN 1993)

I.8 AIDAR 752.222-71 NONDISCRIMINATION (JUN 2012)

I.9 AIDAR 752.229-71 REPORTING OF FOREIGN TAXES (JULY 2007)

I.10 AIDAR 752.231-72 CONFERENCE PLANNING AND REQUIRED APPROVALS (AUG 2013)

I.11 752.245-70 GOVERNMENT PROPERTY - USAID REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. (OCT

2017) 68

I.12 752.7013 CONTRACTOR-MISSION RELATIONSHIPS (JUNE 2018)

I.13 752.7032 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL APPROVAL AND NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

(APR 2014)

I.14 752.7034 ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND DISCLAIMER. (DEC 1991)

J - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS

PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

SECTION K - REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF

BIDDERS

K.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

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

K.3 FAR 52.204-24 REPRESENTATION REGARDING CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS

AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT. (AUG 2019)

K.4 FAR 52.230-1 COST ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOTICES AND CERTIFICATION. (OCT

2015) 78

K.5 FAR 52.230-7 PROPOSAL DISCLOSURE--COST ACCOUNTING PRACTICE CHANGES. (APR

2005)

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO BIDDERS

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

1998) 82

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

L.3 52.233-2 SERVICE OF PROTEST. (SEP 2006)

L.4 AIDAR752.204-70 PARTNER VETTING PRE-AWARD REQUIREMENTS. (FEB 2012)

L.5 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

L.6 DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

L.7 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

L.8 MANAGEMENT, STAFFING AND ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY

L.9 TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING AND APPROACH

L.10 PAST PERFOMANCE

L.11 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COST PROPOSAL

L. 12 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF BRANDING AND MARKING PLANS: . 98

SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

M.1 GENERAL INFORMATION

M.2 EVALUATION FACTORS ............................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.

M.3 TECHNICAL PROPOSAL EVALUATION FACTORS ................ Error! Bookmark not defined.

M.4 PRICE/COST EVALUATION

M.5 DETERMINATION OF THE COMPETITIVE RANGE AND CONTRACT AWARD

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES/PRICES

B.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is to procure services as described in Section C. Statement of Work to implement the Yemen Continuous Learning and Evaluation (YCLE) activity.

B.2 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 Section F in accordance with the performance standards specified in Section E.

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

B.3.1 Base Contract Period

(a) The estimated cost for the performance of the work required hereunder, exclusive of fixed fee, if any, is {to be completed at time of award}. The fixed fee, if any, is {to be completed at time of award}. The estimated cost plus fixed fee, if any, is {to be completed at time of award}.

(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 {to be completed at time of award}. The Contractor shall not exceed the aforesaid obligated amount.

(c) Funds obligated hereunder are anticipated to be sufficient through {to be completed at time of award}.

B.3.2 Contract Option Periods (Year 4 and Year 5)

a. The estimated cost for the performance of the work for Option Year 1, exclusive of fixed fee, if any, is {to be completed at time of award}. The fixed fee, if any, is {to be completed at time of award}. The total estimated cost plus fixed fee, if any, is {to be completed at time of award}.

b. The estimated cost for the performance of the work for Option Year 2, exclusive of fixed fee, if any, is {to be completed at time of award}. The fixed fee, if any, is {to be completed at time of award}. The total estimated cost plus fixed fee, if any, is {to be completed at time of award}.

c. In the instance where a contract option period is exercised by the Government, the Contracting Officer will add the Base Contract Period estimated cost and fixed fee, and exercised Contract Option Period(s) estimated cost and fixed fee to arrive at a grand total estimated cost and fixed fee for the contract.

B.4 LINE ITEMS

The Contractor is not allowed to exceed any Contract Line Item nor is authorized to shift funding between Contract Line Items without prior written approval of the Contracting Officer. No amounts in excess of the amounts specified for each cost category will be billed against the Contract.

Item No Supplies/Services (Description) Amount

0001 Base - Direct costs.

Estimated Cost Fixed Fee Total Estimated Cost + Fee

0002 Base - Indirect Costs Estimated Cost Fixed Fee Total Estimated Cost + Fee Total Base CPFF

1001 Option 1 - Direct costs.

Estimated Cost Fixed Fee Total Estimated Cost + Fee

1002 Option 1 - Indirect Costs Estimated Cost Fixed Fee Total Estimated Cost + Fee Total Option 1 CPFF

2001 Option 2- Direct costs.

Estimated Cost Fixed Fee Total Estimated Cost + Fee

2002 Option 2 - Indirect Costs Estimated Cost Fixed Fee Total Estimated Cost + Fee Total Option 2 CPFF

Total Base plus Options

B.5 INDIRECT COSTS

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

Description Rate Base Type Period

TBD 1/ 1/ 1/

TBD 2/ 2/ 2/

TBD 3/ 3/ 3/

1/Base of Application:

Type of Rate: Provisional Period:

2/Base of Application:

Period:

3/Base of Application:

Period:

B.6 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE

Payment of the Fixed Fee will be made upon receipt of a proper invoice and will directly correspond to the percentage of allowable costs being paid. In accordance with FAR 52.216-8, Fixed Fee (JUN 2011), USAID will withhold 15% of the total fixed fee or $100,000, whichever is less until the required conditions under the referenced clause have been met.

B.7 COST REIMBURSABLE

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

[END OF SECTION B]

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 PURPOSE

The Yemen Continuous Learning and Evaluation (YCLE) program provides rapidly deployed, robust, on-the ground, in-country oversight of USAID funded development activities implemented in Yemen. The YCLE Contractor supports the prudent use of U.S. taxpayer funds in an efficient and cost-effective manner, with a focus on: (1) Performance and Contextual Monitoring and Verification Services; (2) Evaluation Services; (3) Analysis and Reporting Services; (4) Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptive Management Services; and, (5) Program Support Services.

The overall goal of YCLE is to enable USAID/Yemen to become a more effective and adaptive development organization.

C.2 BACKGROUND

C.2.1 Yemen Context

U.S. Government (USG) staff were evacuated from Yemen in 2015 and have been unable to return.

In 2017, USAID re-started activities in the sectors of education, health, water, economic growth, conflict mitigation, peace-building and governance. These activities are overseen by geographically-dispersed USG personnel and implemented by various local and international partners. Currently, there are 17 activities with a combined value of $225 million. [See Attachment J.1: Current USAID Yemen Awards.]

The Mission’s non-presence status makes it difficult to oversee and monitor awards, particularly given the geographic dispersion of USAID Contracting Officer’s Representatives (CORs) and Agreement Officer’s Representatives (AORs).

The operating context in Yemen is dynamic. USAID implementing partners face many delays in starting, implementing, and measuring results that are common to USAID programming in conflict environments. USAID activities face delays in obtaining implementation approvals from Yemen’s separate controlling authorities across Yemen. Yemen scores as one of the least advanced countries globally, as reflected in Yemen’s FY 2019 USAID Country Roadmap. The Roadmap and other development indices show a country suffering from political, social, and economic upheaval after five years of ongoing conflict.

The politicized operating environment, conflict, and implementation delays in Yemen add additional layers of complexity to the programming environment. To responsibly implement development programming under these conditions, the Contractor must provide a wide range of services, including third-party monitoring of USG activities across Yemen. The Contractor must be able to provide a robust suite of monitoring, evaluation, and learning interventions to inform current and future USG programming in Yemen.

C.2.2 Strategy

In the absence of a Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS), USAID’s Yemen programming between 2017 and 2020 thus far has been guided by a strategy based on scenario planning and an implementation approach, the Yemen Programming Approach (YPA) located at https://www.usaid.gov/yemen/documents/usaid-yemen-programming-approach-2017-2020.

Revisions to the YPA are expected in 2019 for the next strategy period.

The YPA has two Objectives to achieve its goal of a Stronger Foundation for Durable Peace in Yemen:

Objective 1: Key citizen needs met through local and national systems

Objective 2: Yemen’s ability to manage conflict enhanced

USAID/Yemen contributes to the YPA goal of a Stronger Foundation for Durable Peace in Yemen through activities under Objective 1 in education, health, water and economic growth. Activities contributing under Objective 2 focus on governance, conflict mitigation, social cohesion, and citizen engagement.

Table 1. Yemen Programming Approach (YPA) Results Framework

The Mission will update its Performance Management Plan following approval of an updated Yemen Programming Approach - the Mission’s strategy document - in 2019. The YCLE Contractor must support implementation of the new strategy through provision of accurate and rapid assessments, performance management, evaluations, site-level monitoring, and learning products.

C.2.3 Programs Overview

USAID’s development assistance to Yemen addresses the underlying causes of instability in by supporting flexible and innovative programs to lay a stronger foundation for durable peace.

Programs focus on: (1) improving delivery of and access to essential social services, including health, education, and water; (2) improving lives and livelihoods through infrastructure rehabilitation, agricultural productivity enhancement, entrepreneurship promotion, and support to key financial and economic sector institutions; and, (3) promoting inclusive decision-making among civil society, and encouraging communities to address sources of conflict. USAID envisions that its present and planned partnerships with the Republic of Yemen Government, other donors, and civil society will continue to ensure that assistance programs prevent the collapse of key Yemeni institutions, build community resilience, and support a broader transition to sustained peace and prosperity.

USAID Supported Activities include:

● Health: Programs focus on expanding access to high impact reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health interventions. These include training of health providers, increasing community engagement to build trust, and strengthening aspects of the underlying health system (such as improving health management information systems, improving governance at the district level, and piloting innovative financing schemes at the community level).

● Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH): Programs work to improve access to adequate WASH systems for vulnerable populations and increase their knowledge of hygiene practices. In addition, USAID is building the institutional capacity of public and private water and sanitation service providers while promoting innovative water-saving methodologies at household level.

● Democracy, Governance, Peace and Security: Programs focus on strengthening the ability of local institutions and organizations to meet citizens’ needs to mitigate conflict, foster social cohesion, and promote the peaceful resolution of differences at the community level.

It also builds the capacity of local actors, institutions and organizations to serve as neutral arbitrators and advocate for peace.

● Economic Growth, Agriculture, and Livelihoods: Programs enable Yemenis to improve their own economic and food security. In addition, USAID supports prioritized macroeconomic reforms needed to help stabilize a collapsing economy and reestablish a functioning trade regime in Yemen, including work with the Central Bank of Yemen and facilitating the flow of commercial goods and services to Yemen’s ports.

● Education: USAID continues to improve access to quality education and learning for primary school students. Programs include strengthening the education system, refurbishing schools, teacher training, and psychosocial support. Through these and planned interventions, USAID/Yemen’s education programming will continue to address the immediate needs of in-school and out-of-school children and the long-term need of rebuilding a functioning education system for the school-aged population.

● Early Recovery and Rehabilitation: USAID is helping Yemen to set the stage for longer-term development by supporting the restoration of maternal and child health services, improving nutrition through school feeding and rebuilding livelihoods.

C.3 SCOPE OF WORK

The purpose of the Yemen Continuous Learning and Evaluation (YCLE) program is to provide a wide range of services to USAID to enable it to effectively monitor program performance and operational context; evaluate the performance and results of USAID/Yemen activities; and, learn and adapt for improved effectiveness. This contract will result in strengthened monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems at USAID/Yemen and enhanced MEL capacity of local entities to improve accountability and increase the use of evidence for programming, learning and adapting.

The Contractor must support a comprehensive performance measurement, monitoring, and evaluation program, and provide technical guidance to USAID/Yemen and its implementing partners (IPs) to enable USAID/Yemen to fulfill its performance monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and information-sharing obligations as mandated in USAID’s Automated Directives System (ADS) and other Agency guidance.

Per recent USAID worldwide policy, the Contractor must be familiar with Journey to Self-Reliance (J2SR) and may be asked to contribute towards J2SR data collection or activities under the scope of this award.

YCLE will serve as USAID/Yemen’s centralized performance management support mechanism.

The Contractor must work collaboratively with the Mission’s staff and IPs to provide fast, flexible, robust, and rigorous monitoring, evaluation, learning, and related support under a single integrated contract. The YCLE Contractor must contribute to the U.S. Government’s goal of “laying a stronger foundation for a durable peace” in Yemen and support the continued alignment and adaptive management of all Mission activities by providing services across five components:

1. Performance and Operational Context Monitoring and Verification Services

2. Evaluation Services

3. Surveys, Analysis, Assessments, Data Management and Reporting Services

4. Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptive Management Services

5. Program Support Services

For all the services provided under each of these categories, the Contractor must work closely with the Program Office and technical teams to augment their M&E capacity, but not replace them in their overall leadership, management, and inherently governmental functions of the M&E process.

The Contractor must use flexible and adaptable systems and work plans in case of unanticipated changes. Should new M&E priorities arise during the course of this contract, the Contractor must recognize and adhere to adjustment of tasks in line with the overall M&E contract Statement of Work. In conducting work under this contract, the Contractor must seek input, technical contributions, and other pertinent work or information from relevant stakeholders, including the government, NGOs, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and/or other public or private organizations, consistent with and supportive of the nature of the work to be conducted. The Contractor is required—to the extent possible—to partner with local institutions and consultants in providing the services procured under this contract.

C.3.1 COMPONENT 1: PERFORMANCE AND OPERATIONAL CONTEXT

MONITORING AND VERIFICATION SERVICES

Since 2015, USG personnel have been restricted from travel to Yemen. As a result, the Mission has relied on third party monitors in Yemen to provide CORs/AORs with a source of independent monitoring and verification of data to inform management decisions and corrective actions. The Contractor’s third-party monitoring staff must be able to operate throughout the country regardless of the controlling authority.

The range of field monitoring services required under this Contract fall into the following two categories:

1) Third Party Monitoring, Verification and Reporting Services

2) Performance Management Support Services

In both cases, the following information will form the basis for monitoring efforts, including the Mission’s Results Framework and Performance Management Plan, Activity Monitoring & Evaluation Plans and Work Plans, and any quarterly and annual reports, in addition to the requirements of the COR/AOR or other stakeholder requirements.

The Contractor must develop a comprehensive approach to conducting third party monitoring and verification that will cover all USAID awards. The Contractor must use the latest information technology gathering tools using the “do no harm” principle with beneficiaries and partners. Due to Yemen’s sensitive operating environment, the Contractor must abide by strict data security protocols, appropriate data handling and collection protocols are to be used at all times. If any concerns arise about potential risks to beneficiaries, partners or third party monitors as a result of monitoring efforts, the Contractor must immediately communicate these to the Mission’s COR and Contracting Officer. The Contractor is responsible for providing regular and timely monitoring and verification reports to USAID that detail findings and recommendations. The Contractor must manage its third-party monitoring approach adaptively in response to the changing operating environment and opportunities to continuously improve how USAID envisions monitoring and oversight in Yemen.

In addition, the Contractor must utilize rigorous methods to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data obtained through monitoring activities. In addition, the Contractor is required to build a strong learning and utilization focus into its monitoring approach. The Contractor must include analysis of opportunities to increase efficiency and effectiveness of monitoring approaches.

Contractor tasks to support USAID/Yemen include, but are not limited to:

● Review USAID/Yemen’s project and activity-level M&E plans and recommend ways to address weaknesses, inconsistencies, and misalignment with indicators in the USAID/Yemen’s country-level Performance Management Plan (PMP).

● Support the development of the PMP, including a review of indicators and targets, Performance Indicator Reference Sheets (PIRs), the PMP learning agenda, evaluation questions, task calendar, and indicator tracking table.

● Assess baseline data collection plans and data that are already collected by USAID/Yemen, identify gaps, and propose a plan for collecting data as determined to be necessary in consultation with USAID to build a comprehensive set of baseline data for the PMP.

● Provide support for the planning and conduct of data quality assessments (DQAs).

● Provide support for the creation, use and maintenance of data management and geographic information systems (GIS) to enable efficient and coordinated management of data and information collected from activities and to provide ready access by USAID/Yemen to timely and relevant evidence on program and strategy effectiveness.

● Support monitoring of the operational context, recommend additional indicators as needed, compile quarterly data from a variety of independent sources, and develop data visualization tools to present trends and changes in the operational context to USAID staff and implementing partners.

C.3.1.1 Third Party Monitoring, Verification and Reporting Services In USAID programming locations characterized by limited or non-permissibility for USAID staff, USAID relies on third party monitoring to provide CORs/AORs with a source of independent monitoring data to inform management decisions and corrective actions. Under this Contract, the Contractor must provide on-the-ground monitoring, verification and reporting services for USG contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements in Yemen. The oversight, monitoring and reporting services provided under this contract will be independent and supplemental to that provided to USAID by implementing partners. All Contractor third party monitoring tasks must be done in close collaboration with USAID staff.

The expected range of third party monitoring services expected under this Contract fall roughly into two categories: (1) verification/activity oversight; and, (2) performance/outcome monitoring. In both cases, the Contractor’s approved activity implementation/work plan and activity M&E plan serve as the basis for monitoring efforts. However, the former is more concerned with compliance, implementation progress, and the timeliness and quality of inputs and outputs. The latter is more concerned with whether the inputs and outputs are achieving the intended outcomes and impacts, the soundness of the development hypothesis, and the relevance of the program to addressing underlying development needs and constraints. The Contractor will work with USAID/Yemen’s technical and program offices to design a work plan for the verification and monitoring needs for each activity. The COR will work with technical offices and the Contractor to maintain a tracker of monitoring assignments, which will be updated at least bi-weekly.

To preserve the role of CORs/AORs in managing activity performance, the Contractor shall not share monitoring findings directly with implementing partners, unless explicitly requested by USAID, nor shall the Contractor provide monitoring-related consultation, guidance or technical direction to USAID partners. It is ultimately the responsibility of CORs/AORs to communicate performance-related issues to partners and identify and discuss next steps. If disagreements about the Contractor’s monitoring findings arise that require clarification, USAID may convene meetings with the Contractor and/or partner to better understand discrepancies.

A. Manage Team of Third Party Monitors. The Contractor is responsible for the recruitment, hiring, and training of third party monitors. To conduct third party monitoring, the Contractor may hire staff or consultants directly or sub-contract with a local firm deemed capable of providing such services. The Contractor must maintain a staff of third party monitors in Yemen that have sector-specific knowledge and expertise across the range of technical sectors in which USAID works in Yemen. The Contractor must consider diverse options for fulfilling this requirement, such as engaging local accounting/audit firms or other potential partners. Ultimately the Contractor must be familiar with and able to work on USAID technical and programmatic data in addition to financial data, regardless of the nature of the subpartners (i.e. auditing firm vs. NGO with M & E background). The Contractor must ensure third party monitors are able to operate in all areas of Yemen where USAID operates.

While it is expected that the primary responsibility of firms or individuals hired as third party monitors will be to undertake third party monitoring, the Contractor may engage these firms/individuals in other tasks described in this SOW (e.g. supporting the design and implementation of surveys and assessments in Yemen), provided the Contractor deems that no conflict of interest exists.

B. Site Visits and Activity Oversight/Verification. The Contractor must conduct regular site visits in Yemen. Most site visits are expected to be coordinated in advance with the USAID implementing partner being monitored, but the Contractor may undertake spot visits at the direction of the contract COR. In cases in which an activity is operating in multiple locations, USAID may either specify which locations the Contractor should visit, select the sites in collaboration with the Contractor, or ask the Contractor to propose a methodology to select a sample of sites to visit.

Oversight and verification tasks to be undertaken during site visits may include assessing the implementing partner’s progress against timelines and benchmarks in implementation/work plans;

reviewing the existence of appropriate internal controls to ensure the delivery of services to intended beneficiaries; reviewing compliance with pertinent USG and USAID regulations, laws and policies, such as regarding branding and marking, environmental compliance, workplace environment; conducting checks of the timeliness and quality of activity inputs and outputs;

confirming the accuracy of data reported by partners in the mission’s performance management system; and other tasks as identified by the COR/AOR. Illustrative examples of oversight/verification activities include verifying the eligibility of listed beneficiaries for particular services or programs; ensuring that services are reaching eligible and intended beneficiaries;

gathering feedback on the quality and relevance of training and technical assistance programs;

verifying the proper and safe storage of commodities; verifying sub-contractor/grantee compliance with sub-contract/grant terms; and ensuring compliance with quality, environmental and safety measures for construction and rehabilitation programs.

In collecting information, the Contractor is responsible for proposing and implementing an appropriate mix of monitoring, verification and reporting methods. Examples of methods could include document review, beneficiary feedback surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, crowdsourcing, etc. In most cases during site visits, monitors will be expected to take GPS-, date-, and time-stamped digital photos. The Contractor will obtain consent from beneficiaries for use of photos is and when necessary. If due to security concerns or privacy considerations photographs are deemed inappropriate, rationale for not taking photos must be documented in the monitoring and verification report. The Contractor or USAID may recommend additional technologies and approaches to enhance monitoring.

Illustrative Contractor tasks include, but are not limited to the following:

● Construction and engineering quality verification.

● Attend implementing partner events to substantiate quality of output and triangulate data received.

● Conduct general health and potential family planning compliance monitoring.

● Verify project implementation and monitoring data, and develop useful reports for project managers.

C. Outcome Monitoring. The Contractor must support CORs/AORs in monitoring the outcomes of their activities in Yemen. Outcome monitoring tasks may include reviewing progress against the indicators and targets established in the activity M&E plan; conducting data quality assessments for a sub-set of output and outcome indicators; monitoring assumptions; examining the validity of the relationships as proposed in the activity results framework; and other tasks as identified by the activity COR/AOR. The Contractor is responsible for proposing and implementing an appropriate mix of data collection and analysis methods to answer information needs such as surveys, crowdsourcing, key informant and group interviews, focus group discussions, and/or other basic quantitative or qualitative methods.

D. Develop Tools and Templates. The Contractor must provide concrete monitoring tools and approaches for both verification/activity oversight and performance/outcome monitoring purposes.

In doing so, the Contractor must draw upon international best practices for third party monitoring in limited or non-permissive environments and be able to propose creative and innovative solutions to address challenges. The Contractor must provide recommendations regarding any suggested modifications in the monitoring methods to enhance monitoring tasks. Upon award of this Contract, the Contractor must work in collaboration with USAID to determine if in addition to the monitoring tasks proposed by CORs/AORs there should be any standardized monitoring tasks or practices across activities. If so, the Contractor must support the development of any standardized monitoring tools or checklists.

E. Reporting. The Contractor is responsible for providing regular and timely monitoring and verification reports to USAID that detail findings and recommendations. The timeframe of reports is expected to be bi-weekly, but this may be negotiated between USAID and the Contractor after award. The Contractor must, to the best of its ability, provide data to USAID that reflects the reality in the field, avoids systematic bias or distortion, is corroborated as feasible, and, when applicable, represents a generally representative beneficiary or stakeholder perspective. Any known data biases and weaknesses must be transparent in the reports the Contractor provides to USAID to enable CORs/AORs to more accurately weigh and interpret the information in their decision-making.

C.3.1.2 Performance Management Support Services The Mission uses M&E plans at the strategy, project and activity levels to measure progress toward achieving results. Working in close collaboration with the Program Office, the Contractor must support the Mission in performance management across the mission portfolio. This support includes identifying approaches to strengthen results measurement, support for the development of a strategy-level Performance Management Plan (PMP) and results framework (RF)—inclusive of identifying/negotiating the best necessary and sufficient indicators that support each RF level (bearing in mind “standard F indicators” we must report on per USAID funding requirements), and supporting the Mission in undertaking more systematic data and trends analysis and improving its ability to communicate results to different stakeholder groups.

Performance management is a responsibility of USAID staff, and the Contractor must not assume direct responsibility for any tasks deemed to be essential functions of the Program Office or technical office CORs/AORs. Rather, working in close collaboration with the Program Office, the Contractor must provide targeted performance management support to enable USAID staff to more successfully fulfill their performance management responsibilities.

A. Strengthening results measurement. The Contractor—working in collaboration with the Program Office and serving in an expert advisory role—must provide, as requested, advice on strengthening the measurement of key results (intended and unintended). The Contractor must be able to provide sector-specific quantitative and qualitative measurement recommendations. In addition to the standard and custom indicators traditionally used by USAID, the Contractor must be able to make recommendations that go beyond simple performance indicators and may be better suited to understand and communicate progress toward meeting multidimensional and complex results (e.g. sustainability, strengthened capacity, systems change). In cases in which there is a known time lag to achieve results (e.g., youth development and sustainable employment outcomes), the Contractor must provide recommendations to USAID to improve its ability to measure and communicate these results, such as by using tested and credible proxy indicators, through better contribution analysis, and/or evaluation approaches such as ex-post evaluation.

The Contractor must be able to provide recommendations on measurements that will be understood and compelling to a broad range of stakeholder audiences, including for non-technical experts (e.g.

easy to understand quantitative outcome measurements, better data on the economic impact of investments in the health or infrastructure sectors, etc.). In collaboration with the Mission’s gender advisor, the Contractor may also provide guidance to the Mission on strengthening the integration of appropriate gender-specific and gender-sensitive measurements in the portfolio. Cost-benefit rationalization and management burden should be considered when recommending particular measurement approaches.

In addition to performance measures, the Contractor may provide advice to the Mission on the selection of appropriate context indicators and guidance. In doing so, the Contractor must provide advice to the Mission on how to undertake context monitoring in such a way to monitor for triggers that can inform implementation decision-making.

B. Mission Performance Management Plan development. Upon the Mission updating its YPA, the Contractor must support the Mission in developing a strategy-level Performance Management Plan (PMP). Though the PMP is fundamentally a mission product and must have mission-wide support and stakeholder buy-in, the Contractor, in close collaboration with the Program Office, must play a critical support role. Possible Contractor tasks include: coordinating the PMP development process; conducting targeted workshops and information sessions with technical offices; supporting the Mission in reviewing the results framework to ensure that they are relevant to current or planned programming; identifying appropriate outcome measurements for higher level results; supporting baseline data collection for higher level indicators (Intermediate Results level and above); conducting data quality assessments for higher level indicators that are not the responsibility of a particular technical office; supporting the Mission in thinking through the rationale and reasonableness of targets; developing Performance Indicator Reference Sheets for higher level indicators; identifying strategy level evaluation questions; and developing a PMP learning plan, among other tasks identified by the Program Office. The Contractor must work with DO teams and IPs to complete, improve, and update the PMP to meet all criteria indicated in ADS

203.3.3 Performance Management Plans, in conjunction with the semi‐annual portfolio review process to reflect changes in strategy, targets and/or activities. The Contractor must recommend different methods of data collection, such as alternate data sources or undertaking studies to obtain the data.

Illustrative Contractor tasks include, but are not limited to the following:

● Assist with development and revision of a mission-wide strategy and project-level indicators and performance targets, which will eventually feed into the Mission’s Performance Management Plan and program design documents.

● Performance management-related, short-term advisory assistance to support Mission-wide strategic and performance planning and reporting.

C. Review of Project/Activity Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plans. As requested by the Contract COR, the Contractor may be required to review project and activity MEL plans. Contractor tasks may include: (1) reviewing results frameworks or logic models for plausible causal relationships between inputs, outputs, outcomes, and impacts; (2) reviewing appropriateness of performance indicators and any other non-performance indicator-based approaches to measure results; (3) reviewing inclusion of context indicators, as relevant and appropriate; (4) ensuring that Performance Indicator Reference Sheets have been completed for all performance and context indicators; (5) ensuring baseline, targets and actual values are recorded for all performance indicators and review reasonableness of proposed targets; (6) ensuring appropriate integration of evaluations and assessments; (7) assessing the integration of a project or activity learning approach;

and (8) ensuring compliance with USAID performance management policies, guidance, and procedures. The Contractor may be required to provide sector-specific advice to the Program Office and Technical Offices to strengthen MEL plans.

D. Develop MEL training plans for IPs (carried out in collaboration/consultation with CORs).

As requested by the Contract COR, the Contractor may be required to develop MEL training plans for IPs, in collaboration with the activity specific AORs and CORs. The Contractor must develop and implement a monitoring and training plan to improve the MEL capacity for current USAID IPs which will: consider their M&E needs; include appropriate methods for delivering the training; and, identify follow‐on actions to ensure the long‐term sustainability of M&E.

Illustrative Contractor tasks include, but are not limited to the following:

● Support IPs to improve their data identification, collection, analysis and reporting, especially focusing on new activities at their early stages. Help with indicator selection, especially in cross‐cutting areas where data needs to be aggregated to tell a larger story across the Mission portfolio of projects.

● Ensure identified indicators incorporate consideration of gender sensitivities, geographic focus, population segmentation, and similar cross‐cutting strategic issues of importance to USAID/Yemen.

● Provide standard definitions to promote greater comparability across all Mission activities so that results can be more easily aggregated.

● Help with indicator selection, especially in cross‐cutting areas where data must be aggregated to tell a larger story across the Mission portfolio.

● Work with IPs to establish baselines and develop challenging, yet attainable targets.

Review, analyze, and map implementing partner baseline and endline data, such as key actors.

● Identify potential common data collection techniques across projects and pilot selected ones, possibly using mobile technology or other innovative means.

● Train IP staff, especially new partners, on how to best collect and analyze data and monitor their own projects. Training content may include developing and using performance management tools, developing MEL plans, selecting indicators, developing scopes of work for evaluations, using performance information for accountability, outreach and decision‐ making.

E. Performance Data Analysis. The Contractor must support USAID/Yemen in analyzing secondary data to inform strategy, project and/or activity design. The Mission manages a multitude of performance data (e.g., performance indicator data submitted by partners in the mission’s performance management information system, evaluations and assessments, quarterly performance reports, additional analytical work undertaken by partners). The Contractor must support the Mission in more systematically analyzing the results of its programming across activities and across technical sectors to be able to better understand and communicate the impact of USAID programming in Yemen. Contractor support may entail conducting trends analysis of performance indicator data; analyzing data in order to aggregate results and better define impact across activities;

and, generating synthesized knowledge of findings, lessons learned, success stories and good practices.