KAWAS_Phased_Evaluation_Synopsis_Amendment_No._02.pdf

USAID/Nepal (KAWAS)

Synopsis Solicitation No. 72036719R00009

Amendment No. 02

I. SYNOPSIS COVER LETTER

The SYNOPSIS COVER LETTER is hereby DELETED in its entirety and REPLACED with the following:

SYNOPSIS ISSUANCE DATE: Thursday, September 26, 2019

DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF

QUESTIONS:

Monday, September 30, 2019; 15:00 PM Nepal Standard Time (NPT; 5:45 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC))

PROPOSED TECHNICAL CONCEPT

SUBMISSION DEADLINE (i.e., CLOSING RESPONSE DATE):

Tuesday, October 29, 2019; 15:00 PM NPT

ESTIMATED REQUEST FOR

PROPOSALS (RFP) ISSUANCE DATE:

Friday, November 08, 2019

SUBJECT:

Title 48 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Chapter 1 (Federal Acquisition Regulation) §5.207 Preparation and Transmittal of Synopses

REFERENCE:

USAID/Nepal Karnali Water Security Activity (KAWAS) Project Solicitation No. 72036719R00009

Dear Potential Offerors, The United States Government (USG), represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Nepal (USAID/Nepal) shall seek proposals from qualified organizations interested in providing technical services for the “USAID/Nepal Karnali Water Security Activity

(KAWAS)”

USAID shall conduct this procurement through a full and open competition per FAR Part 15 procedures for contracting by negotiation utilizing a best-value tradeoff basis (i.e., the competitive negotiation process where the government evaluates both cost/price and non-cost/price factors and awards the contract to the offeror proposing the combination of factors which offers the best value to the government) per FAR §15.101-1. Moreover, this synopsis, and subsequent request for proposals (RFP), contemplates a phased evaluation process. All types of organizations may compete under this synopsis and RFP.

The USAID/Nepal mission contemplates awarding a cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF) completion cost reimbursement type contract per the FAR §16.306(d)(1) for a five-year period (i.e., three-year base and two one-year options) from the date of award with a $24.8 million (M) total estimated cost.

USAID publicizes this synopsis to increase competition, broaden industry participation towards meeting the Government requirement, and to assist small business concerns, veteran-owned small business concerns, service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns, Historically

Synopsis

Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) small business concerns, small disadvantaged business concerns, and women-owned small business concerns to obtain contracts and subcontracts. Thus, USAID encourages the participation to the maximum extent possible of small business concerns in this activity as a prime or subcontractor. USAID also encourages submissions that include partnerships of teams – prime and subcontractors – with regional or local partners.

To facilitate a prompt response, offerors must submit all questions and requests for clarification concerning this synopsis electronically no later than Monday, September 30, 2019; 15:00 PM NPT to the following email address:

kathmanduoaaexchange@usaid.gov

If USAID receives substantive questions that affect the synopsis or necessitates changes to the closing date, time, or other aspects of the synopsis, USAID will amend this synopsis. USAID will issue and post any synopsis amendments on the GPE, the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website, located at http://www.fedbizopps.gov. Offerors are strongly encouraged to check the FBO website periodically as acknowledgement of any such amendments is required to accompany the offeror’s Proposed Technical Concept.

Offerors must format the Phase One Proposed Technical Concept subject line as follows:

72036719R00009 Karnali Water Security Activity (KAWAS) Project [OFFEROR’S NAME] Proposed Technical Concept Email: 1 of [XX]”

[END COVER LETTER]

II. PROPOSED TECHNICAL CONCEPT INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND

NOTICES TO OFFERORS

A. Section III.D – PROPOSED TECHNICAL CONCEPT PAGE AND

FORMATTING DIMENSIONS AND LIMITATIONS

Section III.D – PROPOSED TECHNICAL CONCEPT PAGE AND FORMATTING DIMENSIONS AND LIMITATIONS is hereby DELETED in its entirety and REPLACED with the following:

D. PROPOSED TECHNICAL CONCEPT PAGE AND FORMATTING

DIMENSIONS AND LIMITATIONS

The Proposed Technical Concept should address how the offeror intends to achieve objectives outlined under synopsis Section II above. Further, the offeror should put forth a specific, complete, and concise Proposed Technical Concept responsive to the instructions contained herein. Lastly, the Proposed Technical Concept should clearly demonstrate how the proposed approach will meet the KAWAS goals, objectives, and principles as well as fulfill the contractor’s implementation responsibilities.

mailto:kathmanduoaaexchange@usaid.gov http://www.fedbizopps.gov/

Synopsis

Below please find the Proposed Technical Concept page and formatting dimensions and limitations:

● Paper Size:

○ Letter or American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Letter (i.e., 8.5 by 11.0 inches or 215.9 millimeters (mm) by 279.4 mm); or

○ A4 (i.e., 8.27 inches × 11.7 inches or 210mm × 297 mm).

● Type Size: 12-point font; however, offerors may use 9-point Times New Roman or similar serif typeface for text boxes or tables.

● Font Style: Times New Roman or similar serif typeface

● Spacing: Single spaced

● Margins: 1-inch (25.4 mm) top, bottom, left, and right

● Page Limitation: Not to exceed 4 pages. USAID will not consider any pages that exceed the prescribed page limitation.

● Front Matter: Below please find the front matter that does not count against the 4-page Proposed Technical Concept corpus limitation:

○ Cover Page (no more than 1 full page);

○ Acronym List; and

○ Executive Summary (no more than 1 full page).

● Proposed Technical Concept Corpus: Below please find the requisite written texts that count against the 4-page limitation:

○ Technical Approach and Understanding (no more than 1 full page);

○ Integration Plan (no more than 1 full page);

○ Management Plan (no more than 1 full page); and

○ Staffing Plan and Key Personnel (no more than 1 full page).

● Required Annexes: Below please find the required annexes (i.e., end matter) that do not count against the Proposed Technical Concept corpus 4-page limitation, but each of which has its own page limitations:

○ Management Organogram (no more than 1 full page); and

○ Past Performance per synopsis Section III.E below.

Offerors must submit documents in MS Word or Portable Document Format (PDF or .pdf). DO NOT send files in ZIP file format electronically no later than Tuesday, October 29, 2019; 15:00 PM NPT to the following email address:

kathmanduoaaexchange@usaid.gov

Offerors must format the subject line for Proposed Technical Concept submissions as follows:

USAID/Nepal KAWAS Project 72036719R00009 OFFEROR’S NAME PROPOSED TECHNICAL CONCEPT EMAIL: 1 of XX

Use of smaller font sizes or alternative page format may result in removal of proposal material provided to the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) per AIDAR 715.303-70. The offeror must sequentially number each page and organize the Proposed Technical Concept according to

Synopsis the technical evaluation criteria listed in synopsis Section IV below. Whilst USAID will review the aforementioned Front Matter and Required Annexes, USAID will not evaluate Proposed Technical Concept corpus pages that beyond the 4-page limit per Section III.D above.

Proposed Technical Concepts must not reference cost data so that the technical evaluation may proceed strictly based on technical merit.

[END III.D]

[END SECTION III]

III. PROPOSED TECHNICAL CONCEPT PHASE ONE EVALUATION FACTORS

A. SECTION IV.E – PAST PERFORMANCE

Section IV.E – PAST PERFORMANCE is hereby DELETED in its entirety and REPLACED with the following:

E. PAST PERFORMANCE

Past performance is used to evaluate the quality of an offeror’s prior performance and is evaluated on the basis of how well the offeror performed the same or similar effort on past or current contract, task order, cooperative agreement, or grant and how that past performance is likely to affect the current effort.

Whilst USAID will not evaluate past performance in Phase One, USAID requests for offerors to please conform to the following instructions:

1. The Offeror must provide past performance information for itself and each major subcontractor (i.e., any whose proposed cost exceeds 20 percent of the offeror’s total proposed cost) in accordance with the following:

(a) List in an annex to the Proposed Technical Concept no more than five of the most recent and relevant awards (e.g., contract, task order, cooperative agreement, or grant) for efforts similar to work in the subject proposal for the offeror (i.e., prime contractor) and no more than two of the most recent and relevant awards for proposed major subcontractor (i.e., any whose proposed cost exceeds 20 percent of the offeror’s total proposed cost). The most relevant indicators of performance are contracts of similar magnitude and complexity to this requirement. The Offeror must also have record of past performance and demonstrated experience in undertaking and successfully managing performance-based contracts.

(b) The Offeror should demonstrate an understanding of creating healthy, resilient, and water secure communities at the watershed level through strengthened water and sanitation governance that improves water resource management, preferably in Asia.

Synopsis

Moreover, the Offeror should demonstrate experience with integration of various programmatic elements and funding sources.

(c) Provide for each of the contracts listed above a list of contact names, job titles, telephone numbers, email addresses and a description of the performance to include:

● statement of work or complexity/diversity of tasks;

● primary location(s) of work;

● term of performance;

● skills/expertise required;

● dollar value; and

● contract type (i.e., fixed price, cost reimbursement, etc.)

(USAID recommends that the Offeror alert the contacts that their names have been submitted and that they are authorized to provide performance information concerning the listed contracts if USAID requests it.)

2. If extraordinary problems had a negative impact on any of the referenced contracts, provide a short explanation and the corrective action taken (as required by FAR §15.305(a)(2)).

3. Describe any quality awards or certifications that indicate exceptional capacity to provide the technical assistance described in the statement of work.

4. Past performance information must comply with the Proposed Technical Concept page and formatting dimensions and limitations per synopsis Section III.D. However, submitted past performance information must not exceed 2 pages for each prime contractor or major subcontractor past performance reference. USAID will not consider any pages that exceed the prescribed past performance 2-page limitation.

As per synopsis Section IV above, USAID will not evaluate Past Performance for Phase One.”

[END IV.E]

B. SECTION IV.F – COST/PRICE

Section IV.E – COST/PRICE is hereby DELETED in its entirety and REPLACED with the following:

F. COST/PRICE

As per FAR §15.304(c)(1), “[p]rice or cost to the Government shall be evaluated in every source selection.” Moreover, per FAR §15.404-1(a)(1), given that the objective of proposal analysis is to ensure that the final agreed-to price is fair and reasonable, the contracting officer must evaluate the reasonableness of the offered prices. Cost analysis is a set of procedures used to determine the reasonableness of proposed costs to do contract work. Further, cost analysis is the review

Synopsis and evaluation of the separate cost elements and profit or fee in an offeror’s or contractor’s proposal to determine a fair and reasonable price or to determine cost realism.

For overall evaluation purposes, per FAR §15.304(e)(1), all evaluation factors other than cost or price, when combined, are significantly more important than cost or price factors. USAID will not rate the cost proposal and the relative importance of cost is substantially less than technical factors. Review of the cost proposal will include primarily cost realism, allowability, and reasonableness analyses. While cost is a factor, especially between closely ranked technical proposals, it is expected that the choice of Contractor for this work will be based on technical merit.

Whilst USAID will not evaluate the cost proposal for Phase One, Offerors must submit a summary budget for the five-year (i.e., three-year base and two one-year options) period of performance. The summary budget must reflect summary cost information for each of the major budget cost element for each contract year separately and provide the program total for the entire contract in the last column of the table. Submission of the Proposed Technical Concept does not require a detailed budget or budget narratives.

Table 5 below summarizes the illustrative distribution of overall Project funding by Objective across the three funding sources.

Table 5. Illustrative Project Funding by Objective and Type of funds.

Objective Budget and Source

Obj. 1 Drinking Water and Multiple Uses Systems

1.1 Drinking water supply

1.2 Multiple uses water systems

1.3 Social norm and behavior change

$15.0M WASH

$1.45M FtF

Obj. 2 Fecal Sludge Management

2.1 Safe management

2.2 Financial sustainability

$1.7M WASH

Obj. 3 Governance for WRM

3.1 Policy and regulations

3.2 Institutional capacity and governance

$5.0M WASH

$150,000 FtF $150,000 Environment/Biodiversity

Obj. 4 Conservation of water-related biodiversity

4.1 Catchment protection

$1.15M Environment/Biodiversity

$200,000 WASH

Total Life of Project budget by funding type

$21.9M WASH

$1.6M FtF $1.3M Environment/Biodiversity

TOTAL LIFE OF PROJECT BUDGET $24.8M

[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK]

Synopsis

1. COST PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS

Offerors must submit a separate (i.e., not with the Proposed Technical Concept) summary cost proposal for the complete five-year (i.e., three-year base and two one-year options) period of performance in a separate email. Further, offerors must submit summary cost proposal to include the cost elements per synopsis Section IV.F.2 as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet with workable calculations shown in the spreadsheet.

Offerors must format the subject line for Cost Proposal submissions as follows:

72036719R00009 Karnali Water Security Activity (KAWAS) Project [OFFEROR’S NAME] Cost Proposal Email: 1 of [XX]

2. COST PROPOSAL COST ELEMENTS

To undertake a meaningful comparison of cost, Offerors shall use the following standard cost elements organized as follows:

Direct Costs

Labor Costs Salary and Wages Consultants Fringe Benefits

Travel & Allowances Travel, Transportation, Per Diem and Miscellaneous (e.g., visas, inoculations, etc.) Allowances Other Direct Costs

Equipment and Supplies Subcontract Costs (for major subcontracts, ancillary budgets should be provided that include the same cost element, line item and annual breakdowns as required for the prime’s budget, as applicable)

Training (includes all types of training costs) Any Other Direct Costs

Total Direct Costs Indirect Costs

Overhead General and administrative (G&A) expenses

Total Estimated Cost Fixed Fee

TOTAL ESTIMATED COST-PLUS-FIXED-FEE

Table 6 below provides USAID’s recommended cost percentage allocation across the three funding sources.

Synopsis

Table 6. USAID’s Recommended Cost Percentage Allocation by Funding Type

Funding Source USAID’s Recommended Cost Percentage

Allocation

WASH/Water Directive 88.3 percent

FtF 6.5 percent

Environment/Biodiversity 5.2 percent

Moreover, the offeror must ensure that the proposed cost/price is consistent with the technical approach since USAID may use the cost/price as an aid to determine the offeror’s understanding of the technical requirements. Discrepancies may be viewed as a lack of understanding.”

[END IV.E]

[END SECTION IV]

IV. ATTACHMENT 2 – INTEGRATED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY

SEMI ANNUAL REPORT OCTOBER 2018 – MARCH 2019

This synopsis is hereby appended to include the following INTEGRATED WATERSHED

MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY SEMI ANNUAL REPORT OCTOBER 2018 – MARCH 2019

[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK]

's

INTEGRATED WATERSHED

MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY

SEMI ANNUAL REPORT

OCTOBER 2018 – MARCH 2019

April 2019

This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by Winrock International

INTEGRATED WATERSHED

MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY

SEMI ANNUAL REPORT

OCTOBER 2018 – MARCH 2019

COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT NUMBER: AID-OAA-L-16-00006

Submitted to:

United States Agency for International Development

Prepared by:

Winrock International

DISCLAIMER:

The authors’ views expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States

Agency for International Development or the United States Government.

Integrated Watershed Management Activity / First Year Annual Report

CONTENTS

Introduction

Authorization

Activity Purpose

Purpose of this Report

Activity Overview

Context

Theory of Change

Activity Accomplishments

Finalization of Integration and MEL Plans

Technical Meetings

Field Level Coordination Meetings

IWMA Update Meeting

Participated in USAID and Partners’ Events

Integration activities in progress

Regular follow up with partners

Lessons Learned and Success Stories

Major Challenges and Constraints

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning

Activity Management

Activity Finances

Integrated Watershed Management Activity / First Year Annual Report

LIST OF ACRONYMS

DJB Digo Jal Bikas

HB Hariyo Ban

IWMA Integrated Water Management Activity

KISAN Knowledge-based Integrated Sustainable Agriculture

LAPA Local Adaptation Plan of Action

MEL Monitoring Evaluation and Learning

NMEL Nepal Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

NSAF Nepal Seed and Fertilizer

Paani Program for Aquatic Natural resources Improvement

PAHAL Promoting Agriculture, Health and Alternative Livelihoods

SEED Social, Environmental and Economic Development (USAID/Nepal Office)

SERVIR HKH SERVIR Hindu Kush Himalaya

SWP Sustainable Water Partnership (a Leader with Associates cooperative agreement under which IWMA was awarded)

USAID United States Agency for International Development

Integrated Watershed Management Activity /Semi-Annual Report 1

INTRODUCTION

AUTHORIZATION

On February 15, 2018, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded a two-year associate cooperative agreement (February 2018 – February 2020) to Winrock International to implement the Integrated Watershed Management Activity (IWMA). The IWMA associate cooperative agreement is under the umbrella of the leader cooperative agreement of the Sustainable

Water Partnership (SWP), a five-year activity meant to promote water security and increase resilience to water security risks in basin, sub-basin, catchments, and communities. IWMA focuses on the two watersheds of lower Karnali and Rangun Khola.

ACTIVITY PURPOSE

The objective of Integrated Watershed Management Activity (IWMA) is to improve water security through better coordination and integration of USAID/Nepal’s Feed the Future, Environment and

Resilience activities. IWMA aims to improve coordination, cooperation, and collaboration among selected USAID-funded activities that focus on improving water security and sustainable watershed management. This activity itself is not directly implementing intervention at the field level but is rather focusing on developing an integrated plan and an associated MEL Plan that presents a roadmap for

USAID Partners to work together in water security related issues.

PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT

The present report is the semi-annual report, which covers the period from October 2018 to March

2019, as contractually required. It presents IWMA's progress and achievements against the goals and objectives presented in the work plan. This report includes the following sections:

• Activity overview

• Accomplishments against goals established in the Annual Work Plan

• Lessons learned and success stories

• Information on major challenges and constraints faced during the performance period.

• Quantitative and qualitative monitoring and evaluation

• Information on management of activity

• Information on the status of finances

Integrated Watershed Management Activity /Semi-Annual Report 2

ACTIVITY OVERVIEW

CONTEXT

USAID/Nepal’s Social, Environmental and Economic Development (SEED) Office has developed an

Integrated Watershed Management Framework with the objective of more effectively integrating their

Natural Resources Management (NRM), Feed the Future (FtF), and Food for Peace (FFP) programming around the importance of safeguarding water. SEED has identified five main tactics to implement this framework:

1) Identification of opportunities to integrate activities at the watershed level to more effectively address key water management-related issues

2) Site-level integration to support implementing partners to jointly plan and implement activities to maximize water and development outcomes

3) Leveraging and learning at the basin and national level

4) Wider donor engagement to enhance the implementation; and

5) Long-term planning to utilize learning and results to inform the next USAID/Nepal Country

Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS).

With its focus on water for productivity and water for ecosystems, SEED’s Integrated Watershed

Management Framework aligns well with SWP’s approach and process for improving water security.

SWP takes a risk-based approach for addressing water-related issues and defines water security as the adaptive capacity to safeguard the sustainable availability of, access to, and safe use of an adequate, reliable and resilient quantity and quality of water for health, livelihoods, ecosystems and productive economies.

THEORY OF CHANGE

Integration can be defined as the collaborative planning, design, implementation and monitoring of multiple activities across a geographic area to ensure the more efficient and effective delivery of appropriate benefits in relation to improving water security i.e. the availability of, access to, and safe use of an adequate, reliable and resilient quantity and quality of water for health, livelihoods, ecosystems & economies.

The goals of integration are to address holistically the various development needs of targeted populations, significantly improve health and livelihood outcomes in the most efficient way and achieve sustainable development impact.

Based on that definition, the theory of change for IWMA is that:

• IF there is a mechanism for improved coordination and planning among USAID implementing partners on activities that address water security and

• IF integration plans and MEL Plans are developed and effectively implemented by USAID

Activities to address water security challenges and needs identified in the pilot watersheds of

Lower Karnali and Rangun Khola;

• THEN

o USAID’s implementing partners will more effectively implement their activities to address local water security challenges/needs; and o Water security will be improved in the two pilot watersheds.

Integrated Watershed Management Activity /Semi-Annual Report 3

ACTIVITY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Finalization of Integration and MEL Plans

IWMA finalized the Water Security Integration and MEL Plans for Rangun Khola and Lower Karnali

Watersheds with inputs gathered from USAID, all implementing partners and USAID's Nepal

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Activity (NMEL) through individual meetings, coordination workshops, brainstorming meeting and emails. USAID has approved the two Integration and MEL Plans.

The Integration Plan describes the watershed and its major water security risks. It also presents a theory of change for the watershed and the associated underlying assumptions. It then presents the integration activity areas and the related activities for the watershed. It lays out the roles and responsibilities of the

USAID partners to implement the Plan. The Plan then presents a two-tier coordination platform, comprising of a common Central Water Security Integration Committee in Kathmandu and watershed level water security integration working groups in the field. The coordination platform will coordinate, facilitate and monitor the implementation of the integration and MEL plans for each watershed. Finally, it identifies some important water security related activities that are not yet addressed by any of the

USAID partners in the watershed.

The MEL plan aims to serve as a guide for MEL functions of IWMA at the watershed to monitor progress and performance. The MEL plan describes IWMA's methodology for monitoring, evaluating and learning from the activities as per the Integration Plan. It also presents the indicators to be monitored by

IWMA and has identified indicators that need to be monitored by USAID Partners. It also lays out the learning objectives and questions for the Activity.

Integrated Watershed Management Activity /Semi-Annual Report 4

Technical Meetings

IWMA organized two technical meetings on two water security related issues in the given period.

Technical Meeting on Water Source Protection and Efficient Water Management

IWMA organized a technical meeting on Water Source Protection and Efficient Water Management on

Wednesday, 28 November 2018 at Hotel Summit, Lalitpur. The objective of the technical meeting was to share experiences and plan specific integration activities of related to (1) Integrated Mapping of

Water Sources, (2) Water Source Protection Design Tools, (3) Spring Source Assessment Practices and

Experiences and (4) Efficient Water Use Technology. In total, 22 individuals representing USAID, PAHAL, IWMI, KISAN II, Paani, ICIMOD, NSAF, DJB, HB, NMEL and Winrock International participated in the event.

Mr. Suman Basnet started the program with an opening remark followed by introduction of participants.

Mr. Basnet and Ms. Resha Piya then made a brief presentation on project progress, highlighted meeting objectives and outlined detailed schedule. After that, representatives from DJB, Paani, PAHAL, KISAN II and HB presented their activities with a scope of integration among themselves.

DJB shared their experiences on water source protection and efficient water management. They focused on parameters, analysis on seasonal water requirement and project site of spring source mapping.

Similarly, Paani shared its experience of local water management in Rangun Khola. They presented their process of spring source mapping and assessment and significance of grant research as a mechanism of spring source conservation and protection. Paani suggested water source mapping, water source protection and spring source assessment might include sharing of data, information, maps, and methodology tools and using citizen scientists as possible areas of integration among partners.

PAHAL highlighted their project site, methodology of mapping and assessment, protection plan, technology demonstrations for farmers, methods of measuring seasonal discharge and construction of

MUS after identification. Likewise, KISAN II presented on activities such as irrigation, mapping of water sources, rapid assessment of groundwater before installation of shallow tube-wells, promoting households for plantation and use of cover/fence where irrigation schemes are installed, discharge calculation on spring source assessment and types of irrigation options and water management systems.

They also stressed information sharing among partners, building capacity of local government, coordination and collaboration to optimize resources for efficient water management, contribute in source mapping, designing source protection tools and water structure insurance initiatives.

HB shared their activities such as assessment and mapping of bio-physical conditions, stakeholder identification and consultations, participatory vulnerability assessment, identification and prioritization, joint monitoring with local communities. Further, they shared about Integrated Watershed Management

Plan being implemented since 2017 with full ownership of local bodies. HB added that sustainability is ensured through community mobilization and ownership of local government with own resources to implement the plan even after project closure. They mentioned that they see possibility of integration through knowledge sharing, technical design, local community mobilization and capacity building.

NSAF and SERVIR-HKH provided short remarks on their work and highlighted importance of sharing information for collaboration and integration.

Eight integration activities related to Water Source Protection and Efficient Water Management were identified by partners in the meeting. Additionally, partners who will lead and be involved in the

Integrated Watershed Management Activity /Semi-Annual Report 5 implementation of these integration activities, the process to carry out the integration activities, and timelines were also defined at the meeting.

A Report on Technical Meeting on Water Source Protection and Efficient Water Management was prepared.

Technical Meeting on Small Water Infrastructure Insurance:

IWMA organized a technical meeting on small water infrastructure insurance on Wednesday, 9 January

2019 at Hotel Summit, Lalitpur. The objective of the technical meeting was to share experiences on water infrastructure or similar insurances schemes and to facilitate discussion on insurance requirement on small water infrastructure insurance with insurance companies. In total, 15 individuals representing

KISAN II, PAHAL, NMEL, Himalayan General Insurance, United Insurance Co. (Nepal) Ltd, Prabhu

Insurance Ltd. and Winrock International participated in the event.

Mr. Basnet started the program with an opening remark followed with introduction of participants. Mr.

Basnet highlighted the need for insurance for small-scale water infrastructure. Representatives from

Himalayan General Insurance Ltd., Prabhu Insurance Ltd. and United Insurance Co. (Nepal) Ltd.

sequentially delivered their presentation. Mr. Ram Kumar Maharjan of Himalayan General Insurance Ltd.

listed the challenges associated with insurance, types of insurance and claim process. Mr. Samir Tamang of Prabhu Insurance Ltd. introduced the cashless policy that his insurance company offers. He then underlined Contractor All Risk (CAR) Insurance and risks associated with insuring small water infrastructure for short term projects along with general risks of insurance. Similarly, Mr. Bishnu Subedi of United Insurance Co. (Nepal) Ltd. outlined the documents required for insurance, fixation of insured sum and added few points on CAR.

After the presentations from insurance companies, Mr. Basnet summarized the presentations and facilitated a question and answer session between the insurance companies and USAID project partners.

The questions and answers session transitioned into a brainstorming session that included discussions on insurance policy for small water infrastructure, fire policy, registration of community users committee, premiums, insurance value, ratings, risks, property insurance and claimants. The project partners provided an estimation of type, size and number of technologies they have promoted in the meeting. Mr. Basnet encouraged insurance companies and partners to initiate one on one discussions to detail out their requirements and develop action items base on the discussion. The meeting identified the need for awareness raising programs on Small Water Infrastructure Insurance for partners’ field staff, working closely with targeted communities.

A Report on Technical Meeting on Small Water Infrastructure Insurance was prepared.

Field Level Coordination Meetings

IWMA organized field level coordination meetings on Tuesday, 19 February 2019 at Hotel Jai Laxmi in

Pashuram Municipality, Dadeldhura and on Wednesday, 20 February 2019 at Municipality Office in

Thakurbaba Municipality. The objectives of the meetings were to share information on IWMA and its implementation status to local representatives of implementing partners, to get updated status from partners on water security activities, review field level integration activities, opportunities and challenges and discuss on possible integration activities including GESI. 19 participants participated in Rangun Khola water field level coordination meeting and 13 participants participated in Lower Karnali watershed field level coordination meeting. Participants in the meetings were from USAID partners, their implementing partners NGOs, NMEL office and Winrock International.

Integrated Watershed Management Activity /Semi-Annual Report 6

Both meetings began with welcome remarks from the Senior Strategic Advisor of IWMA followed by his presentation on IWMA and its implementation status. Representatives from each partner shared their updates on their activities related to integration on water issues. Participants jointly identified possible integration activities related to water security in the watersheds in the meeting. NMEL representatives shared what and how NMEL is going to carry out a baseline study for IWMA and requested participants to provide necessary support to them. In addition, Ms. Resha Piya briefly informed participants the monitoring indicators for IWMA and shared indicators in hard copy to participants. Questions raised during meetings were responded by relevant participants.

The IWMA team also visited the partners’ demonstration sites, met the Mayor of Pashuram Municipality, and interacted with team members of KISAN II, Paani, SUAAHARA at their office in Nepaljung during field visit. The team visited Milan Debari village and interacted with community members where HB and

PAHAL are jointly working together to provide irrigation facility and other development support to the community. The team also went to see PAHAL's perma garden demonstration site managed by Kaipal

Taja vegetable farmers group at Alital Rural Municipality.

A Report on Field Level Coordination Meetings has been prepared.

IWMA Update Meeting

IWMA organized a meeting to update partners on Tuesday, 19 March 2019 at Winrock International’s office in Jhamshikhel Lalitpur. The aim of the meeting was to present partners on recent updates of

IWMA and discussions made during the field visit and field level coordination meetings carried out at

Ranugn Khola and Lower Karnali Watersheds. The participants discussed the implementation approaches and actions for integration activities that were identified in meetings in Kathmandu and at field.

Participated in USAID and Partners’ Events

The IWMA team participated in several events organized by USAID and partners in the reporting period. These events were:

(a) Ms. Resha Piya participated in an Activity Location Mapping Event and Training on the use of

USAID’s Common Unified Platform organized by NMEL on Thursday, 3 January 20191 at

NMEL’s office, Baluwatar. The purpose of the training was to increase data-driven decision-making abilities related to activities in democracy and governance, agriculture, natural resources management, energy, economic growth, health, education, and disaster risk management using

USAID/Nepal's GIS/Common Unified Platform. Information gathered, analyzed, and visualized through this platform will help USAID/Nepal, the US Embassy in Kathmandu, USAID

Implementing Partners, and select international development partner working groups conduct deeper analysis of development challenges and the impact of interventions; make more informed and timely policy decisions; facilitate information exchange; enhance donor/government coordination; contribute to MEL efforts; and support the communication of development results.

(b) Mr. Suman Basnet presented on IWMA, its implementation status, identified integration areas, lessen learned to date to USAID officials on Tuesday, 26 February 2019. Mr. Dilip Gautam, Ms.

Resha Piya and Mr. Badri Nath Baral also attended the event from IWMA. The presentation was

Integrated Watershed Management Activity /Semi-Annual Report 7 followed by a question and answer session and the IWMA team responded to questions and comments raised by the participants in the event.

(c) Mr. Suman Basnet and Ms. Resha Piya attended the SEED Partners Meeting held on Thursday, 21

March 2019 at the US Embassy. Mr. Basnet presented interesting findings of IWMA with other partners in the meeting and responded to question raised by the participants in the meeting.

Integration activities in progress

There are a number of integration activities already in progress. These are:

(a) Standard guidelines for spring source mapping: PAHAL, DJB and Paani are working together to develop standard guidelines for spring source mapping. The guideline is being prepared after reviewing the approaches that PAHAL, DJB and Paani are using as well as other relevant literature. DJB is leading this task while Paani and PAHAL are supporting DJB.

(b) Sharing of data on water resource assessment and mapping in Rangun Khola and Lower Karnali watersheds: Paani, PAHAL, HB and KISAN have agreed to share the data that each of the

Activities is generating on water resource assessment and mapping in these watersheds. Paani is taking initiative to consolidate all of this data in one document and again share it with the partners. The objective is for all four partners to be fully aware of what data is being generated by each partner and for them to exchange data that is relevant to them.

(c) HB and PAHAL are working together to provide financial and technical assistance for irrigation and related capacity building to the community of Milan Debari. HB had identified that there is need of irrigation in Milan Debari where they have been working with forest users’ group.

However, they did not have relevant expertise to support the construction of such a system.

Hence, after the IWMA workshop, HB and PAHAL came together to provide technical and financial assistance to the community. PAHAL provided financial support as well as technical expertise to design and support the construction of the irrigation infrastructure and trained the community to use perma garden technology, improved goat rearing and financial literacy.

Likewise, HB provided financial support to construct irrigation infrastructure and trained the community on forest management. Both PAHAL and HB successfully mobilized funds and participation from local government to develop the project.

(d) Paani organized a progress sharing meeting by grantee on Friday, 4 January 2019 at Paani office in Baluwatar. Grantees shared their working scope, objectives, methodology and updated progress of their activities to the participants in the meeting. Paani also invited SEED partners including representatives from DJB, KISAN II, NSAF, PAHAL, Paani, IWMA etc. in the meeting to provide them information and knowledge on what Paani Grantees are doing that is relevant to them. Hence, they can collaborate with Paani Grantees to implement the activities. There were 33 participants including SEED partners and Paani grantees in the meeting.

(e) Tedi Agrovet, located in Pashuram Municipality, is an agricultural input supplier (seed, fertilizers, pesticides, etc.) as well as a perma garden facilitator for the PAHAL project. They are also a

KISAN II grantee. KISAN II selected them because they had established a good working relation with PAHAL. The lead farmers of PAHAL and Village Model Farmers (VMF) of SUAAHARA are clients of Tedi Agrovet. Therefore, there is integration between PAHAL, KISAN II and

SUAAHARA activities. NSAF is also working with seed companies to develop nutrients rich seeds (vitamins A and Zinc rich) and disaster resistant seeds. As a result, there is an opportunity to link these seed companies with Tedi Agrovet, who sells these seeds to commercial village nursery growers supported by PAHAL and SUAAHARA.

(f) PAHAL, HB and KISAN II are working for Raute Community at Rangun Khola watershed.

PAHAL has supported 34 Raute households with multi use water systems and vegetable farming.

Likewise, the KISAN II grantee Tedi Agrovet is supporting them by providing necessary agriculture inputs and supports. HB is supporting them by building their capacity on financial

Integrated Watershed Management Activity /Semi-Annual Report 8 literacy and forest management. Hence, there is an opportunity for these partners to work in collaboration to support the Raute Community minimize duplication and increase effectiveness.

(g) PAHAL is using a display board installed at Pashuram Municipality to provide information on weather forecasts to farmers. Since these farmers are also KISAN II farmers, it will be appropriate to provide information on vegetable and crop market prices on the same display board. Hence, KISAN and PAHAL are under discussion on how they could work together to share information to farmers using the same information display platform.

(h) SUAAHARA conducts radio program to share, educate and interact with their farmers. Other implementing partners can also use the same program as their listeners are same farmers. There is an opportunity for partners to develop a radio program where they could share their knowledge on common topics from their different perspectives.

(i) Aurahi River is flowing along Lower Karnali watershed. Paani’s grantee is developing low cost flood early warning system on Aurahi River at Bardia. This technology is beneficial to communities residing along the river who are also supported by HB, SUAAHARA, KISAN and

NSAF. Hence, there is an opportunity for HB to build capacity of these communities for disaster preparedness with information from flood early warning systems to be installed by Paani’s grantee. Similarly, SUAAHARA, KISAN and NSAF could also create awareness on how to respond to the early warning system to their farmers located in these areas. In addition, HB could use the same technology developed by Paani’s grantee in their projects in other areas too.

(j) Rajapur Municipality has developed LAPA. There is opportunity for KISAN partners, SUAAHARA VMFs, NSAF cooperatives and HB partners to collaborate and work to implement the LAPA activities related to water security and other issues.

(k) NSAF has expertise in soil fertility testing and are developing organic fertilizers that are environment friendly and promote soil health. Farmers of HB, KISAN II and PAHAL all need information on soil fertility and organic fertilizers. To meet these needs, NSAF will collaborate with SUAAHARA, KISAN II and PAHAL to create awareness on fertilizer use and increase farmers’ access to these organic fertilizers to increase productivity. In addition, NSAF can share fertilizer use data collected by them to Paani so that Paani could incorporate data into their

Watershed Profile Report.

(l) HB is building capacity of the community on antipoaching while Paani is supporting biodiversity patrols with communities residing along the river bank. There is an opportunity for Paani and

HB to collaborate to build the capacity of communities, which are common to both projects, on antipoaching and biodiversity patrols.

(m) Most implementing partners are using local facilitators to implement their activities. They are given different names by different projects. Paani calls them “Citizen Scientists”, PAHAL calls them “lead farmers”, SUAAHARA call them “Village Model Farmers” etc. There is an opportunity for projects to choose the same person to implement their activities. This will minimize duplication as the beneficiaries of many projects are the same. The participants agreed to share name list of local facilitators in the meeting.

(n) Paani tests water quality and KISAN II requires irrigation water quality information to share to their farmers. There is an opportunity for Paani to support KISAN to test irrigation water quality.

Regular follow up with partners

IWMA is regularly following up with partners to encourage them to carry out integration activities and to get information on what and how they are doing these activities.

Integrated Watershed Management Activity /Semi-Annual Report 9

LESSONS LEARNED AND SUCCESS STORIES

The major lessons learnt during the reporting period regarding collaboration among USAID partners were:

(a) The success of integration activities largely depends on the added value of the specific activity as perceived by the participating USAID partners. Therefore, this should be a central criterion going forward in identifying specific activities to implement.

(b) It is useful to differentiate the role of IWMA as coordination and facilitation, with the responsibility for implementation resting with the respective USAID partners.

(c) Integration is successful and sustainable only when there is integration among local actors or local institutions.

(d) The integration activities carried out in these two watersheds on water security related activities are expanding beyond these watersheds to include additional partners and water security issues not found in the two watersheds.

Some of the successes during the reporting period were:

(a) Active participation and leadership from USAID/Nepal SEED office.

(b) Good participation of USAID partners in the implementation of the integration and MEL plans

(c) Implementing partners are working in collaboration in water security issues.

MAJOR CHALLENGES AND CONSTRAINTS

Some challenges and constraints faced during the reporting periods are:

(a) The existing activities of partners have defined scope and resources. Hence, there is limited opportunities for partners to include recommended integration activities into their workplan and allocate resources for implementation.

(b) Likewise, sub-awards of implementing partners have contracting constraints which limits flexibility to implement recommended integration activities.

(c) Some partners’ activities are phasing out shortly. Though there is possibility to implement recommended integration activities by partners, they are not able to initiate the activities due to time constraints.

(d) Lack of field level presence of IWMA and limited number of field visits budgeted for the activity has made it difficult for effective follow up and monitoring of the IWMA Integration and MEL

Plans.

Integrated Watershed Management Activity /Semi-Annual Report 10

MONITORING, EVALUATION & LEARNING

# Type Indicators

Target for Year 2

(Oct 2018 -

Sep 2019)

Results1 Comment

001 Custom # of tools developed or shared for managing water security risk 5 3

1) water source mapping integrated guidelines shared

(IWMI, Paani, PAHAL, KISAN)

2) Insurance companies' relevant policies for small water infrastructure shared

(Himalayan Insurance, United Insurance, Prabhu Insurance, PAHAL, HB, KISAN)

3) Paani shared climate data

(rainfall and temperature) with HB for use in Pantura sub-watershed

002 Custom

# of USAID Partners using tools developed under IWMA or by other USAID Partners on water security

5 2

1) Irrigation system design shared by PAHAL with HB in Milan Debari (RK)

2) HB using data on climate

(rainfall and temperature) for pintura sub-watershed shared by Paani

003 Custom

# of convening or collaborative events held among USAID

Partners

21 7

1) Technical meetings (water source & use, insurance - 2)

2) Field level coordination meetings (RK & LK – 2)

3) IWMA Update meeting

(KTM-1)

4) Interaction meetings in

Nepalgunj (KISAN, Paani, HB-CARE, SUAAHARA, WASHFin - 2)

The technical meetings which were initially planned separately, have been combined to make them more cost effective.

004 Standard

# of people educated on tools, approaches, and/or methods for water security, integrated water resource management and/or water source protection because of USG assistance (HL.

8.3-1)

10 4

4 people from Partners educated on water infrastructure insurance options (2 each from KISAN and PAHAL)

005 Custom

# of partnerships documented among USAID Partners in implementing water security measures

5 1

1) HB & PAHAL for Milan

Debari irrigation system

1 October 2018 to 31st March 2019

Integrated Watershed Management Activity /Semi-Annual Report 11

# Type Indicators

Target for Year 2

(Oct 2018 -

Sep 2019)

Results1 Comment

006 Custom

# of new tools being used by

USAID partners on water security

3 1

Irrigation system design shared by PAHAL with HB in Milan Debari (RK)

025 Custom

# of participants attended in orientation on grant program related to water security measures

20 0 Planned in second half of the reporting year

Integrated Watershed Management Activity /Semi-Annual Report 12

ACTIVITY MANAGEMENT

The staffing was as per the work plan:

Position Name

Senior Strategic Advisor Suman Basnet

WRM Specialist Dr. Dilip Gautam

M&E Specialist Resha Piya

Senior WRM Specialist Eric Viala

MEL Specialist Lauren Keller

Winrock country office in Kathmandu (REPSO) provided the needed technical, logistical and administrative support.

Contractual deliverables were prepared and submitted to USAID timely as described below:

Deliverable Due Date Status

First Annual Work Plan 60 days from award

Submitted 04/16

Received comments 05/31

Updated and resubmitted 06/15

Approved 07/05

Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Plan 60 days from award

Submitted 04/16

Updated and resubmitted 10/01

Second Annual Work

Plan Due August 31, 2018

Submitted 09/03

Received comments 09/17

Updated and resubmitted 10/01

First Annual Report Due October 31, 2018 Submitted: 10/31

ACTIVITY FINANCES

As of end of March 2019:

Staff $29,113.99

Travel & logistics $ 2,765.05

Trainings & Workshops $ 2,858.78

Consultants $ 41,389.50

Other direct costs $ 2,017.60

Total direct costs $ 78,144.92

Indirect costs $ 48,471.64

Grand total $ 126,616.56

Integrated Watershed Management Activity /Semi-Annual Report 1

U.S. Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov

Synopsis

[END ATTACHMENT 2]

[END SYNOPSIS AMENDMENT]

V. KAWAS PROJECT QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY OFFERORS AND

CORRESPONDING USAID RESPONSES

A. SECTION III – PROPOSED TECHNICAL CONCEPT INSTRUCTIONS,

CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

1. SECTION A – GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

(1) Question: Is it possible for a subcontractor to bid partnership being non-exclusive with two or more prime contractors for the KAWAS project.

USAID Response: Neither USAID nor the U.S. Government (USG) is a party to agreements between prime contractors and their proposed subcontractor candidates, local or otherwise.