Request_for_Information_-_Tayar_Nepal_-_Improved_Disaster_Risk_Management.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

ISSUANCE DATE: Friday, April 6, 2018

RFI CLOSING DATE: Friday, April 20, 2018

SUBJECT: Tayar Nepal - Improved Disaster Risk Management

REFERENCE: RFI No. 72036718R00005

Dear Prospective Respondents, The United States Government (USG), represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Nepal mission (USAID/Nepal) issues this RFI per the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) §§15.201(c)(7) and 15.201(e), respectively, to provide stakeholders an opportunity to review, comment, suggest, and enhance areas in the attached draft statement of work (SOW) for a new USAID/Nepal activity: Tayar Nepal - Improved Disaster Risk Management (Tayar Nepal). Per FAR 16.102(B) the USAID/Nepal mission intends to award a combination award consisting of a Cost Reimbursement Completion line item (CLIN 001) and a Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) type contract line item (CLIN 002) for the purpose of strengthening Disaster Risk Management capacity and institutions in Nepal. The anticipated period of performance is for five years: a three-year Base Period and a two-year Option Period. USAID/Nepal envisages a multi-phase process toward award of the final Tayar Nepal contract, including submission of concept papers, oral presentations, and a joint work-planning session after contract award.

USAID issues this RFI solely for information and planning purposes. This RFI does not constitute a request for proposals. USAID posts its competitive business opportunities on www.fbo.gov or www.grants.gov. It is the potential offeror’s/applicant’s responsibility to monitor these sites for announcements of new opportunities.

Nepal is prone to a myriad of natural disasters including floods, landslides, fires, earthquakes and disease outbreaks. Through Tayar Nepal, USAID/Nepal seeks to work in a manner that is inclusive, makes use of known best practices and technological interventions, and is adaptive to changing circumstances in order to support the Government of Nepal (GON) achieve its goal of more disaster resilient development.

USAID has revised its program cycle guidance to facilitate more adaptive, contextually-driven programming approaches, and the choice of a combination contract and a functional statement of work reflect this. Nevertheless, USAID/Nepal may significantly revise this proposed new activity and planned solicitation resulting from comments received and further stakeholder consultations. By issuing this draft for comment, USAID/Nepal aims to consult with a broad community of public and private sector actors concerned with improving governance in Nepal. USAID/Nepal requests http://www.fbo.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/

Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Request for Information your comments to help refine the SOW to ensure clarity, maximum development impact, coordination with existing and planned USAID and other development partner programs, and alignment with the Government of Nepal's priorities. While there are no limits on the length of submissions accepted, we value concise, issue-specific comments with reference to page and section numbers in the draft SOW.

RFI Submission:

All types of organizations and firms Qarge and small businesses) are strongly encouraged to provide information/ comments by the closing date noted on the cover page. Submission via email is required; phone calls or hard copy delivery will not be accepted.

Please send all responses to kathmanduoaaexchange@usaid.gov with the Subject Line stating "DRM RFI Response". Responses to this RFI shall neither constitute proposals nor will USAID accept any responses to form a binding agreement. It should be noted that responding to or providing comment on this RFI will not give any advantage to any organization in any subsequent procurement. Lastly, USAID/Nepal will not provide answers to any question submitted in response to this request. Responses may be used by USAID without restriction or limitation.

USAID seeks feedback on the following matters in particular:

1. Are T ayar Nepal's expected outcomes clear and realistic? How may USAID improve them?

2. Are the expected outcomes necessary and sufficient to achieve the proposed project purpose?

3. What suggestions do you have for ways to measure T ayar Nepal's outcomes and impacts?

4. Is the choice of a combination contract with task orders activated in the event of a natural disaster appropriate to support the GON in its response and recovery from these natural disasters? What challenges do you anticipate in planning, budgeting, and implementing such activities?

5. The intent of Tayar Nepal is to maximize the use of and strengthen the capacity of Nepali organizations and businesses to implement DRM activities in support of the GON. Do you feel that the SOW presents sufficient opportunities to use Nepali organizations and businesses?

Issuance of this RFI neither obligates the USG to issue a solicitation or award a contract nor commits the USG to pay for any costs incurred or information resulting from this request.

Respondents remain solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.

:m:~ <./IA. Ji d, Marva Butler ~ Contracting Officer

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Draft Statement of Work

C.1 STATEMENT OF WORK

Purpose: The objective of this five-year DRM Project is to strengthen disaster risk management capacity and institutions in Nepal in a way that is inclusive, makes use of known best practices and technological interventions, and is adaptive to changing circumstances. The support provided in this project will help the GON achieve its goal of more disaster resilient development.

Activity Scope: The Contractor will use a twofold approach that strengthens institutions and capacities at both the national and local levels. At the national level, the Contractor will implement activities that will strengthen DRM institutions, including the new NDMA, by demonstrating the benefits of an holistic, multi-hazard approach to disaster risk management policies and guidelines with the aim to better link central authorities and decisions to the communities that experience disasters. At the local level, the Contractor will implement activities that will enhance local DRM capacity by working with existing and new local bodies and communities to expand successful DRM initiatives, which are consistent with national level policies and guidelines while looking for opportunities to strengthen the public and private sectors, as well as civil society’s role in managing disaster risk. The project will also have a “shock response” component that allows the mission to potentially respond in the event of a natural disaster.

Development Hypothesis: The overall development hypothesis supposes that if national institutions adopt an approach to disaster risk management that addresses multiple hazards and encompasses mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery, while municipal level capacity is built to address disaster risk, Nepal’s resilience to natural disasters will be strengthened and the country will be well positioned for sustainable development.

Thus the DRM Project will consist of three key components: 1) Improving National Level Systems and Institutions; 2) Building Capacity at the Municipal Level and 3) Supporting National and Municipal level institutions to strengthen disaster response.

Collaborative learning and adaptive management will be key to the success of the DRM Project, given its broad and cross-cutting approach and uncertainty related to new governance structures.

Adaptive management refers to making adjustments in intervention tactics or design based on iterative learning, thereby customizing the intervention. As such, establishing implementation decision points/milestones will be necessary during the life of the activity. While the DRM Project may need to test an array of approaches, to ensure results, it will need to learn from its experience and quickly hone in on approaches that are getting results, drop those that are not, and adapt where indicated. Such an approach will also require a flexible monitoring system, across intervention components, private sector and public sector actors, and development partners.

Success of the DRM Project relies on the critical assumption that the GON will maintain a commitment to federalism, an interest in adopting a holistic disaster management approach and dedication to upholding its commitment to the Sendai Framework. The Contractor will frequently monitor the status of DRM legislation and policies through the use of regular Political Economy Analyses (PEA) throughout the life of the project. These PEAs will guide engagement at the national level as well as inform municipal level activities. PEAs will also track the developing and evolving role of provincial/state governments in disaster risk management.

C.1.1 PROGRAM COMPONENTS

C.1.1.1 COMPONENT 1: IMPROVING NATIONAL LEVEL SYSTEMS AND

INSTITUTIONS

At the national level, project activities will strengthen DRM institutions, including the new NDMA, by demonstrating the benefits of an holistic, multi-hazard approach to disaster risk management policies and guidelines with the aim to better link central authorities and decisions to the communities that experience disasters. While the DRM project will be open to opportunities with numerous GON entities engaged in the sector, a critical activity of the DRM project will be to support the establishment and institutional capacity building of the nascent NDMA.

Element 1: National level knowledge and understanding of good DRM practices enhanced

The Contractor will facilitate processes that bring national level actors together, by providing spaces for engagement, knowledge exchange, information/organizational development and technical support that will result in improved disaster management systems.

Expected outcomes:

● GON policies reflect a multi-hazard, holistic disaster management approach;

● Gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) issues are incorporated into GON policies related to DRM;

● National Disaster Management Authority is staffed, able to develop, promulgate, and implement DRM policies, procedures and systems to subnational government agencies and to effectively coordinate with other federal GON entities.

● National level disaster simulation exercises institutionalized with documented lessons learned; and

● A cadre of key disaster management stakeholders exhibit improved knowledge/understanding of the requirements for a functional DM system.

Illustrative indicators:

● Percentage of national level disaster management stakeholders participating in learning opportunities

● Percentage of disaster management stakeholders who retain improved DM knowledge/understanding

● Number of laws, policies, regulations, strategies or plans proposed, adopted, or implemented that reflect a multi-hazard, holistic approach to disaster risk management.

● Percentage of DRM-related laws, policies, regulations, strategies or plans proposed, adopted, or implemented that incorporate GESI issues

● Number of national level disaster simulation exercises successfully conducted with documented lessons learned

Element 2: Grants to Nepali, international organizations or the private sector generate unique, scalable approaches and/or cultivate champions

The Contractor will establish a grant mechanism in order to take advantage of opportunities that arise during implementation. These grants will be intended to generate unique approaches to supporting improved disaster risk management and to cultivate champions for DRM across the GON and broader Nepali society. The grants program will be guided by the results of the annual Political Economy Analyses and look to leverage areas of potential reform.

A strong awareness within the general public, government officials, the private sector and other stakeholders about disaster risks and the actions that can be taken to address them will be critical to the success of the DRM project interventions in Components 1 and 2. The Contractor will develop a comprehensive and targeted awareness and citizen engagement program.

Expected outcomes:

● DRM professionals better informed about the benefits of a multi-hazard, holistic approach to DRM.

● Innovative approaches that help establish a multi-hazard, holistic approach to DRM piloted.

● Information about the risks of disasters and how to address those risks disseminated among and used by the general public, the private sector, and government officials at the national and local level.

● Percentage of institutions or individuals that change practices due to new information about disaster risks.

● Percentage of new, pilot approaches that are taken up by the general public, private sector or government.

● Percentage of general population reporting improved understanding of disaster risk and possible risk reduction actions due to comprehensive information campaign.

● Percentage of professionals within academic institutions, GON ministries and other key stakeholders that retain knowledge about DRM.

C.1.1.2 COMPONENT 2: BUILDING CAPACITY AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL

At the municipal level, activities will enhance local DRM capacity by working with existing and new local bodies and communities to identify and implement successful DRM initiatives which are consistent with national level policies and guidelines while looking for opportunities to strengthen the public and private sectors, as well as civil society’s role in managing disaster risk.

USAID’s approach to building the capacity of municipalities in disaster risk management builds on years of experience piloting DRR and disaster preparedness activities in Nepal through USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). Many of these activities have been successful and could serve as guides to scale up and broaden impact.. With the institution of federalism and the creation of new policies to support federalism, USAID has an opportunity to transform the way that Nepal’s urban municipalities deal with disasters.

USAID anticipates working in 5-10 municipalities. USAID has developed a list of potential urban municipalities including those located in the USAID Zone of Influence, the earthquake zone, and municipalities outside the Kathmandu Valley that have demonstrated results from previous USAID-supported DRM-related activities.

The Contractor will propose a plan for finalizing program municipalities in conjunction with USAID and the GON during the year one workplanning process. Proposed criteria may include:

o Desire to participate and anticipated ownership of activities. The Contractor may propose holding consultations with potential program municipalities to gauge interest in DRM and may request applications from municipalities for participation in the project activities.

o Exposure to natural hazards. The DRM project will be implemented in municipalities that are at risk to a variety of natural hazards including flood, earthquake, landslide and fire.

Municipal selection criteria may include analysis of hazards based on existing information.

o Need for recovery activities. The DRM Project will work with municipalities that are actively engaged in reconstruction or recovery activities. These activities can be the result of the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, the 2017 floods, or other localized disasters that have required municipalities to take a major role in recovery.

o Overlap with other USAID activities, other USG projects, and complementary programs of other donors. The DRM project will attempt to work with municipalities that are also engaged through Sajedhari - Support to Federalism, USAID’s new local governance activity, with activities by other U.S. Government agencies and with complementary programs by other donors.

The Contractor will implement Component 2 in two phases. Phase I will support initial assessment and development of potential disaster mitigation/preparedness activities. Phase 2 will provide technical support for implementation of activities identified in Phase 1.

USAID anticipates that by the end of the project, the DRM Project will have developed models to enhance DRM capacity at the municipal level that can be replicated in other municipalities throughout Nepal.

Phase 1: Risk Sensitive Land Use Plans completed and additional DM activities identified.

In collaboration with municipal authorities, local community representatives and the private sector, the Contractor will provide technical assistance for the development of Risk-Sensitive Land Use Plans (RSLUPs) that are inclusive, clearly communicated to the public, and implementable by urban municipalities. The plans will not only form the basis for identifying additional project activities that can recognize and communicate risk, mitigate specific hazards, reduce vulnerabilities, and prepare communities for disasters, but they can also form the basis for economic development plans and other core functions of municipalities. Initial conversations with municipalities indicate that a number of locations are in the process of starting their own land use planning process. USAID will make use of existing land use data and plans, but it is anticipated that more in-depth risk information will need to be added for existing land use plans to be robust enough to reach expected project outcomes.

Using the RSLUPs as a basis, the Contractor will work with each municipality to go through an inclusive planning process to identify actions that will reduce vulnerabilities within the community.

Particular focus will be placed on including socially excluded, female-headed households and other vulnerable and marginalized populations in the development of these plans as these populations are traditionally excluded from decision making processes and are often the most vulnerable to natural disasters and least likely to be able to recover without external assistance. The GESI Analysis provides further detail on the vulnerabilities that women and other socially-excluded groups face, as well as how inclusive planning in the RSLUP process can mitigate some of these risks.

Expected Outcomes:

● Urban municipalities assess and map natural hazards using primary data collection as well as input from the general public and the private sector.

● Urban municipalities create and adopt risk-sensitive land use plans.

● Urban municipalities identify activities to undertake that reduce risk and vulnerabilities in the community using GON-established procedures such as the seven-step planning process.

● The unique needs of vulnerable populations, including socially excluded groups, are included in RSLUPs, and activities that address risk.

● RSLUPs serve as models for other municipalities in Nepal.

Illustrative Indicators:

● Number of municipal level risk assessments completed

● Number of RSULPs completed and officially endorsed by the municipal governments

● Number of activities identified to reduce risk & vulnerabilities in the community

● Percentage of RSLUPs that include input from socially excluded/vulnerable groups.

● Percentage of RSLUPs shared as models with at least one other municipality

● Percentage of general population in targeted municipalities aware of completed RSLUPs.

● Percentage of private sector and community representatives who participated in development of RSLUPs.

Phase 2: Disaster mitigation/preparedness or recovery actions completed that enhance the resilience of the municipality and serve a models for other municipalities in Nepal

The Contractor will deliver a package of technical assistance and capacity building activities based on the planning process in Phase 1 and designed around the needs of the municipality. Success of the approach depends on the assumption that urban municipalities are provided clear authorities during the roll-out of federalism, including the authority and resources to implement these proposed initiatives.

Activities conducted at the municipal level will have an emphasis on reducing the vulnerability of women, socially excluded groups, and persons with disabilities. Appropriate GESI-sensitive indicators and data disaggregated by sex, caste, ethnicity and age will be collected to identify gaps and adapt interventions as necessary to address the needs of the most vulnerable groups.

As part of Phase I activities, the Contractor will identify local institutions such as NGOs, private sector entities, community groups and local authorities for issuance of sub-awards to help carry out activities under Phase 2. These organizations will most likely require organizational capacity development.

Outcomes

● Urban municipalities reduce the risk from identified disasters

● Urban municipalities are better prepared for identified disasters.

● Urban municipalities take actions that lead to improved recovery post disaster

● Actions to reduce the vulnerability of women, socially excluded and persons with disabilities are incorporated into disaster mitigation, preparedness and recovery activities.

● Local governments and the private sector work together to address disaster risk.

● Value of private sector resources mobilized to address disaster risks

● Percent of activities identified to reduce risk completed

● Number of preparedness plans completed and tested through drills/simulation exercises with documented lessons learned.

● Number of actions taken by the municipalities to improve community recovery

● Percentage of activities as a result of this intervention that address the vulnerability of women, socially excluded and persons with disabilities.

C.1.1.3 COMPONENT 3: SUPPORT TO STRENGTHEN DISASTER RESPONSE

It is anticipated that at least one localized disaster, such as landslides, flooding or fire, will affect a participating municipality during the life of the DRM Project.

Thus, Component Three is a “shock response” component that will allow response in the event of a natural disaster occuring in the project area during the life of the project and enable USAID to strengthen the capacity of the GON and local institutions to respond. Under Component 3, the Contractor will only provide services that fall within the scope of work of this contract and that are based on Task Orders issued by USAID.

This component is not intended to supplant GON or other USG-provided humanitarian assistance in the wake of a disaster, but rather is intended to be used to assist the GON, particularly local authorities, in how they manage disaster response and early recovery. Specific activities will depend on the nature and scope of the disaster.

[END OF SECTION C]

[END OF REQUEST FOR INFORMATION NO. 72036718R00005]