SOL-72060519R00004.pdf

7. ISSUED BY CODE

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

SOLICITATION

9. Sealed offers in original and copies for furnishings 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 Kinshasa until 17:00 local time 09/17/2019

(Hour) (Date)

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.

11. TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

PART I - THE SCHEDULE PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSES

A SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM I CONTRACT CLAUSES

B SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACH.

C DESCRIPTION/SPECS./WORK STATEMENT J LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

D PACKAGING AND MARKING PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

E INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

K

REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER

STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS F DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

G CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA L INSTRS., CONDS., AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

H SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS M EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

OFFER (Must be fully completed by offeror)

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 calendar days (60 calendar days unless a different period is inserted by the offeror) from the date for receipt of offers specified above, to furnish any or all items upon which prices are offered at the set opposite each item, delivered at the designated point(s), within the time specified in the schedule.

13. DISCOUNT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT

(See Section I, Clause No. 52.232-8)

10 CALENDAR DAYS (%) 20 CALENDAR DAYS (%) 30 CALENDAR DAYS (%) CALENDAR DAYS(%)

14. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENTS

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

AMENDMENT NO. DATE AMENDMENT NO. DATE

15A. NAME AND

ADDRESS

OF OFFER-

OR

CODE FACILITY 16. NAME AND THE TITLE OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO SIGN OFFER

(Type or print)

15B. TELEPHONE NUMBER

15C. CHECK IF REMITTANCE ADDRESS IS

DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE - ENTER SUCH

ADDRESS IN SCHEDULE.

17. SIGNATURE 18. OFFER DATE

AREA CODE NUMBER EXT.

AWARD (To be completed by Government)

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

22. AUTHORITY FOR USING OTHER THAN FULL OPEN COMPETITION:

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

23. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN

(4 copies unless otherwise specified)

ITEM

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

26. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print) 27. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

28. AWARD DATE

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

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

Previous edition is unusable

STANDARD FORM 33 (REV,. 9-97)

Prescribed by GSA - Far (48 CFR) 53.214 (c)

SOLICITATION, OFFER AND AWARD

1. THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED ORDER

UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 7900)

RATING PAGE OF PAGES

1 123

2. CONTRACT NUMBER 3. SOLICITATION NUMBER

72060519R00004

4. TYPE OF SOLICITATION

SEALED BID (IFB)

X NEGOTIATED (RFP)

5. DATE ISSUED

07/19/2019

6. REQUISITION/PURCHASE NUMBER

REQ-605-19-000007

8. ADDRESS OFFER TO (If other than item 7)

10. FOR

INFORMATION

CALL:

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

AREA CODE NUMBER EXT.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

B.1. PURPOSE

B.2. CONTRACT TYPE AND SERVICES

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

B.4. CONTRACT BUDGET AND CEILINGS

B.5. INDIRECT COST

B.6. CEILING ON INDIRECT COST RATES

B.7. COST REIMBURSABLE

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/ SPECIFICATIONS

C.1. TITLE OF ACTIVITY

C.2. PURPOSE

C.3. BACKGROUND

C.4. USAID CARPE OVERALL FRAMEWORK

C.5. FABS THEORY OF CHANGE AND RESULT FRAMEWORK

C.6. CLIN 001 – TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

C.7. CLIN 002 – SUPPLEMENTAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

C.8. CROSS-CUTTING PRINCIPLES

SECTION D – PACKAGING AND MARKING

D.1. AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (JAN 1993)

D.2. BRANDING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND MARKING PLAN

SECTION E – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1. NOTICE LISTING CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

E.2. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

F.1. NOTICE LISTING CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

F.2. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

F.3. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

F.4. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

F.5. PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

F.6. AUTHORIZED WORK DAY/WEEK

F.7. REPORTS AND DELIVERABLES

F.8. PERSONNEL

F.9. IDIQ SUPPLEMENTAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ORDERING PROCEDURES

(APPLICABLE TO CLIN 002 ONLY)

SECTION G– CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

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

G.2. CONTRACTING OFFICER – CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE

G.3. CONTRACTOR’S PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT

G.4. PAYING OFFICE

G.5. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

[TBD]

G.7. ACCEPTANCE AND APPROVAL

G.8. CONTRACTING OFFICER'S AUTHORITY

G.9. TECHNICAL DIRECTION/RELATIONSHIP WITH USAID

SECTION H – SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

H.1. USAID-FINANCED THIRD-PARTY WEB SITES (AUGUST 2013)

H.2. USAID IMPLEMENTING PARTNER NOTICES (IPN) PORTAL FOR ACQUISITION (JULY

2014) 57

H.3. SUBMISSION OF DATASETS TO THE DEVELOPMENT DATA LIBRARY (DDL) (OCTOBER

2014) 58

H.4. USAID DISABILITY POLICY - ACQUISITION (DEC 2004)

H.5. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONNEL COMPENSATION

H.6. AUTHORIZED GEOGRAPHIC CODE

H.7. DEFENSE BASE ACT INSURANCE

H.8. LOGISTIC SUPPORT

H.9. LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

H.10. EXECUTIVE ORDER -- CLIMATE-RESILIENT INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

H.11. EXECUTIVE ORDER ON TERRORISM FINANCING

H.12. FOREIGN GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS TO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

H.13. PROHIBITION OF ASSISTANCE TO DRUG TRAFFICKERS

H.14. NONEXPENDABLE PROPERTY PURCHASES AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

RESOURCES

H.15. LIMITATION ON ACQUISITION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (APRIL 2018)

H.16. RESTRICTIONS AGAINST DISCLOSURE (MAY 2016)

H.17. CLOUD COMPUTING (MAY 2016)

H.18. ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY (APRIL 2018)

H.19. SECTION 508 OF THE REHAB. ACT OF 1978 AND FAC 97-27 “ELECTRONIC IT

ACCOUNTABILITY”

H.20. CONTRACTOR’S STAFF SUPPORT AND ADMINISTRATIVE AND LOGISTICAL

ARRANGEMENTS

H.21. ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS SYSTEM

H.22. EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION LIMITATIONS UNDER THE CONTRACT AND

SUBCONTRACTS

H.23. ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

H.24. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED FACILITIES OR PROPERTY

H.25. HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE-12 (HSPD-12) (SEPTEMBER 2006). 74

H.26. INHERENTLY GOVERNMENTAL AND CLOSELY ASSOCIATED FUNCTIONS

H.27. PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM

H.28. PERSONAL IDENTITY VERIFICATION OF CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL (JULY 2007)

H.29. PRESS RELATIONS

H.30. REQUESTS FOR CONSENT TO SUBCONTRACT

H.31. SUBCONTRACTING PLAN

H.32. SECURITY CONDITIONS

H.33. LIFE SUPPORT AND SECURITY SERVICES

H.34. TITLE TO AND CARE OF PROPERTY

H.35. USAID LEGAL AND POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

H.36. ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST

H.37. USAID/DRC COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH REQUIREMENTS

PART II – CONTRACT CLAUSES

SECTION I – CONTRACT CLAUSES

I.1. NOTICE LISTING CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

I.2. FAR 52.203-99, PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING WITH ENTITIES THAT REQUIRE

CERTAIN INTERNAL CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS (APR 2015) (DEVIATION 2015-02)

I.3. 52.204-1 APPROVAL OF CONTRACT (DEC 1989)

I.4. 52.216-18 ORDERING (OCT 1995) (APPLICABLE TO CLIN 002 ONLY)

I.5. 52.216-22 INDEFINITE QUANTITY (OCT 1995) (APPLICABLE TO CLIN 002 ONLY)

I.6. 52.216-24 LIMITATION OF GOVERNMENT LIABILITY (APR 1984)

I.7. 52.229-8 TAXES – FOREIGN COST-REIMBURSEMENT CONTRACTS (MAR 1990)

I.8. 52.244-2 SUBCONTRACTS (OCT 2010) - ALTERNATE I (JUN 2007)

I.9. 52.247-1 COMMERCIAL BILL OF LADING NOTATIONS. (FEB 2006)

I.10. 52.247-67 SUBMISSION OF TRANSPORTATION DOCUMENTS FOR AUDIT. (FEB 2006)

I.11. 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

I.12. 752.245-70 GOVERNMENT PROPERTY - USAID REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. (JUL 1997)

I.13. AIDAR 752.204-72 CONTRACTOR ACCESS TO USAID FACILITIES AND USAID'S

INFORMATION SYSTEMS (APRIL 2018)

I.14. 752.252-2 AIDAR CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (MAR 2015)

PART III – DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS, AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS

SECTION J – LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS

PART IV – REPRESENTATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

SECTION K– REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF

OFFERORS

K.1. NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

K.2. 52.203-98 PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING WITH ENTITIES THAT REQUIRE CERTAIN

INTERNAL CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS - REPRESENTATION (APR 2015) (DEVIATION

2015-02)

K.3. 52.204-8 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS. (OCT2018)

K.4. 52.209-5 CERTIFICATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS. (OCT 2015)

K.5. KEY INDIVIDUAL CERTIFICATION NARCOTICS OFFENSES AND DRUG TRAFFICKING 99

K.6. 52.209-7 INFORMATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS. (OCT2018)

K.7. 52.209-11 REPRESENTATION BY CORPORATIONS REGARDING DELINQUENT TAX

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

K.8. SIGNATURE

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO BIDDERS

L.1. NOTICE LISTING CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

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

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

L.4. 52.252-1 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE. (FEB 1998)

L.5. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

L.6. DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS .................................................................................105_Toc14339808

L.7. INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

L.8. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARATION OF THE COST/BUSINESS PROPOSAL

SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

M.1. GENERAL INFORMATION

M.2. TECHNICAL EVALUATION (SEE SECTION L.8.)

M.2.1. TECHNICAL APPROACH

M.2.2. MANAGEMENT APPROACH AND STAFFING

M.2.3. PAST PERFORMANCE

M.3. COST EVALUATION (SEE SECTION L.9.)

M.4. DETERMINATION OF COMPETITIVE RANGE

M.5. SOURCE SELECTION

M.6. CONTRACTING WITH SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

B.1. PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is to provide the services described in the Statement of Work (SOW) specified in Section C to implement the “USAID Forest and Biodiversity Support Activity

(FABS) activity”.

B.2. CONTRACT TYPE AND SERVICES

This is a FAR 16.102(b) combination award consisting of a Cost-Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF)

Completion type contract (CLIN 001) and a single-award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity

(IDIQ) type contract (CLIN 002) for the purpose of providing supplemental technical assistance.

Under the CPFF portion of the contract (TBD of the total estimated cost - CLIN 001) the

Contractor must furnish all personnel, materials, equipment, supplies, facilities, services (except as expressly set forth in this contract as furnished by the U.S. Government (USG)) and perform all activities necessary for, or incidental to, the performance of work described in Section C and other sections of the contract not specifically identified under CLIN 002 as the IDIQ

Supplemental Technical Assistance.

Under the IDIQ portion of the contract the Contractor must furnish additional supplemental technical assistance arising out of or related to the completion portion of the contract as required by USG-issued Task Orders. The services will be ordered in accordance with Section F.9 entitled, “IDIQ Supplemental Technical Assistance Ordering Procedures (Applicable to CLIN

002)” and the IDIQ clauses in Section I. As this CLIN is part of this contract and not a stand-alone award, the USG is not required to state or order any minimum number of person-days as otherwise provided in the FAR 16.504(a)(1). CLIN 001 contained in this contract provides sufficient consideration to make this a legally binding contract, and the USG has no obligation to fund or place orders under CLIN 002.

For the consideration set forth below, the Contractor must achieve the performance objectives and deliverables or outputs described in Sections C and F, and otherwise comply with all contract requirements.

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

The Total Estimated Cost (TEC) for CLIN 001 and CLIN 002 is [TBD].

(a) Estimated Cost and Fixed Fee for CLIN 001.

The Total Estimated Cost for this CLIN is [TBD], exclusive of fixed fee, if any. The Fixed Fee, if any is [TBD]. The estimated CPFF, if any is [TBD].

(b) Estimated Cost and Fixed Fee for CLIN 002

The Total Estimated Cost Ceiling of this CLIN is $4,200,000.00, exclusive of the associated

Maximum Fee of [TBD]. The Total Estimated Cost Ceiling and Maximum Fee is [TBD].

(c) Payment of Fixed Fee

CLIN 001: Payment of fixed fee will be made upon receipt of a proper invoice and must directly correspond to the percentage of allowable costs being paid. In accordance with FAR 52-216-8, Fixed Fee, the CO will withhold 15% of the total fee or $100,000, whichever is less until the required award conditions under the reference clause have been met.

CLIN 002: Payment of the corresponding fixed fee for each Task Order will be negotiated at the task order level upon receipt of a proper invoice and must directly correspond to the percentage of allowable costs being paid and the LOE furnished. In no event, the fixed fee of the Task

Orders under CLIN 002 can exceed the fixed fee under CLIN 001.

(d) Amount Obligated

CLIN 001: Within the estimated CPFF ,if any, specified in paragraph (a) above, the amount currently obligated and available for reimbursement of allowable costs incurred by the

Contractor (and payment of fee, if any) for performance hereunder is [TBD] (only applies to

CLIN 001). The Contractor must not exceed the aforesaid obligated amount nor will the USG be responsible for costs incurred should the Contractor do so.

Funds obligated hereunder are anticipated to be sufficient through [TBD].

(e) Level-of-Effort. In performing Government orders for Supplemental Technical Assistance under CLIN 002, the Contractor is obligated to provide up to a maximum of [TBD] person-days.

B.4. CONTRACT BUDGET AND CEILINGS

CLIN 001

Activity Costs $ TBD

Grants under Contract $6,500,000

Total Costs $ TBD

Fixed Fee $ TBD

Total Estimated Cost Plus Fixed Fee $ TBD

CLIN 002

Activity Costs $ TBD

Maximum Fee $ TBD

Total Ceiling $4,200,000

Total Estimated Cost Plus Fixed Fee CLIN 1 and CLIN 2 $ TBD

B.5. INDIRECT COST

The contract clause entitled “Allowable Cost and Payment (AUG 2018)”, FAR Subpart 52.216-

7, specifies that until final annual indirect cost rates are established for any period, the

Government shall reimburse the Contractor at billing rates established by the Contracting

Officer or by an authorized representative (the cognizant auditor), subject to adjustment when the final rates are established.

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] [TBD] 1/ 1/ 1/

[TBD] [TBD] 2/ 2/ 2/

[TBD] [TBD] 3/ 3/ 3/

1/ Base of Application:

Type of Rate:

Period:

2/ Base of Application:

3/ Base of Application:

B.6. CEILING ON INDIRECT COST RATES

(a) For each of the Contractor’s accounting periods during the term of this contract, the parties agree as follows:

(1) The distribution base for establishment of final overhead rates is .

(2) The distribution base for establishment of final G&A rates is .

(b) The Contractor will make no change in its established method of classifying or allocating indirect costs without the prior written approval of the Contracting Officer (CO).

(c) Reimbursement for indirect costs shall be at final negotiated rates, but not in excess of the following ceiling rates for each Fiscal Year (contractor’s FY):

Indirect Cost Type FY 17 FY 18 FY 19 FY20 FY 21

1. [TBD]

2. [TBD]

3. [TBD]

(d) The government is not obligated to pay any additional amount on account of indirect costs above the ceiling rates established in the contract. This advance understanding will not change any monetary ceiling, cost limitation, or obligation established in the contract.

B.7. COST REIMBURSABLE

Allowable costs 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]

THE REST OF THIS PAGE IS LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/ SPECIFICATIONS

C.1. TITLE OF ACTIVITY

USAID Forest and Biodiversity Support Activity (FABS Activity)

C.2. PURPOSE

This activity supports USAID’s Central Africa Regional Program for the Environment’s

(CARPE) Development Objective; the ecological integrity of the humid forest ecosystem of the

Congo Basin maintained. The purpose of this activity is to assist CARPE and other environmental stakeholders in the Congo Basin to implement strategies and actions that address the large-scale threats to biodiversity conservation and forest management.

FABS is designed to respond to the key needs in conservation management in central Africa and gaps in the CARPE program, which were identified through CARPE’s midterm evaluation and other analyses:

to build local capacity and partnerships in order to increase buy-in, benefit, scale and sustainability;

to undertake policy and economic analysis and improved policy implementation (this could be at local and provincial scales, not necessarily at the national level); and to improve communications, knowledge flow and learning across the program.

To address these needs, FABS must pursue policy reforms and institutional strengthening objectives directly on issues related to conservation and forest management while also building the capacity of local organizations to shape issues at a national and regional scale in central

Africa. FABS must focus on local organizations that are or should be at the forefront of policy analysis, reform and implementation and that are or could be providing complementary support for forest and wildlife protection. These organizations include the private sector, NGOs and industry associations (taken together, called Civil Society Organizations, or CSOs).

CSOs often have the greatest awareness of constraints to conservation and commercial practices since they are most affected by inappropriate or inadequate policies and policy implementation.

CSOs that specialize in analyzing and addressing wildlife poaching and trafficking from a regional perspective should occupy a pivotal position in the war on poaching and wildlife trafficking. However, few local organizations are addressing this work and those that do are not effective enough to have a substantial impact. It is essential that CSOs have a proactive, effective role in recommending, pursuing and monitoring policy reforms. Where possible, this role should be accomplished through business associations, networks and federations that aggregate the concerns of business and civil society with capacity to articulate and promote a pro-conservation agenda.

C.3. BACKGROUND

C.3.1. The CARPE Program

USAID has been investing in conservation and sustainable management of the Congo Basin for more than two decades. CARPE III began in 2012 under a Regional Development Cooperative

Strategy (RDCS, Attachment 15) which runs up to 2020 and builds on the investments, results and lessons learned from the first two phases. The objective of CARPE III is to maintain the ecological integrity of the humid forest ecosystem of the Congo Basin and to contribute to the goal of accelerating Central Africa’s transition to climate-resilient, low-emissions development through sustainable management of biodiverse forests. In CARPE III, USAID focuses its resources to increase opportunity for impact in nine carbon rich and biologically diverse landscapes, in addition to improving national and regional environmental policies and regulations and building capacity of public and private institutions. USAID-funded activities are currently implemented primarily in two countries – Republic of Congo (ROC) and the

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

In 2016, USAID commissioned a midterm evaluation of CARPE III to assess progress, uncover gaps and support forward programming. Full findings and recommendations from the evaluation can be found in Attachment 16. In addition, a field study by the ProLand project (Attachment

17) identified weaknesses in the program related to forest-based livelihoods and support for community forestry. The evaluation and assessments, as well as pause and reflect sessions carried out with staff and existing partners, identified a number of actions needed to strengthen

USAID’s CARPE:

Develop a stronger link between policy, capacity and landscape activities

Work with a broader range of partners with different skills and experience, including local partners and the private sector

Strengthen efforts to combat wildlife trafficking beyond protected areas (PA)

Ensure community development activities attain the scale and sustainability needed to provide sufficient incentives and pathways to mitigate threats to biodiversity and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

Clarify and strengthen the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for PA management

Put greater emphasis on institutionalization

Redefine climate change priority areas and policy focus where carbon density and risk of deforestation is greatest

Ensure there is effective collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) to better share data, stories and lessons across the program (Attachment 25)

Address bushmeat and fisheries overexploitation across sectors (health, agriculture, nutrition)

Support economic and business models for community forestry to provide needed incentive structures for sustainability

Move away from livelihoods approaches that have unclear links to conservation and climate change objectives

Based on this information, USAID concluded that new mechanisms were needed to enable

CARPE to achieve its objectives. FABS aims to fill identified gaps in environmental policy and capacity, broadens participation, and provides overall support and cohesion to the program, which is complex, challenging and needs to constantly adapt to changing threats and opportunities.

C.3.2. Problem Statement

Current efforts by USAID and others to conserve the forests and biodiversity of Central Africa struggle to have an impact at a sufficient large scale to win the battle overall due to: i. weak participation of a sufficiently broad range of partners, ii. a poor enabling environment, and iii.

the lack of continuous learning resulting in ineffective approaches.

The unique faunal biodiversity (including gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, forest elephants, okapi and pangolin) and the humid forests, wetlands and peatlands of the Congo Basin face a number of direct threats that are linked to underlying political economic structures and trends.

Key threats include:

Overhunting, especially for the commercial bushmeat trade

Overfishing and degradation of the waterways

Trafficking in wildlife, timber, minerals

Agricultural expansion (smallholder and increasingly industrial)

Deforestation and forest degradation for charcoal and in some areas fuelwood

Large-scale and artisanal mining

Commercial and artisanal (often illegal) logging

Uncontrolled forest fires

New roads in forest areas

Threats, Drivers and Opportunities/Strengths in Conservation and Climate Change (Attachment

18), depicts these threats and the political economic drivers underlying the threats, as well as some known strengths and opportunities that FABS can build on. FABS must focus on priority technical areas that are built on the major threats identified, particularly those that threaten not only biodiversity and forests but also the well-being and security of the population, as described below:

C.3.2.1 Wildlife trafficking and associated trade

Illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products, or wildlife trafficking, is one of the largest markets in the world for illicit goods, while poaching to fuel this trade globally threatens the survival of iconic species and contributes to insecurity for nations and regions, harming their economic development. While poachers are the face of the problem, violent criminal networks are behind illicit trade in many species, exploiting humans and nature for profit. This trade is a threat not only to biodiversity but to the security and stability of the population.

The region faces immense challenges in tackling this trade, including a high level of corruption and complicity in wildlife crimes, porous borders, the presence of foreign investors with links to demand countries, lack of coordination among law enforcement and customs agencies and a weak judiciary. To date, the major focus of CARPE’s approach to wildlife crime has been on strengthening the management of a network of Protected Areas (PAs) in the CARPE landscape, including building the capacity of eco-guards (rangers) to carry out law enforcement patrols, improving engagement with the surrounding communities, and developing the core park management systems. This focus has been most effective where NGO partners have taken over the management of protected areas through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) or delegated management agreements with the governments of the countries involved. Additional work, however, is required to ensure such arrangements are as effective and sustainable as possible.

Beyond PA management, CARPE has worked to develop the capacity for investigations and prosecution of wildlife crime within the judiciary in a few locations to address the trade downstream from its source. Although promising, these efforts must be vastly scaled up and mainstreamed into the justice system if they are to make an appreciable dent in the trade.

Additional efforts are also needed to tackle enabling factors for wildlife trade during transit on the roads, at ports and at airports. Tackling the corruption that underpins environmental crime, as well as other threats, requires approaches and tools that may be found within the democracy, rights and governance (DRG) sector; as such building partnerships with this sector is critical.

C.3.2.2 Overhunting and overfishing as threats to biodiversity and food security

Overfishing and overhunting are major threats to biodiversity in the DRC and the ROC, not only to the species being exploited but to the complex web of species that interact with the target species. Sound evidence shows how loss of species leads to reduced ecosystem services such as seed dispersal, pollination and nutrient cycling that impact agricultural and natural system upon which the population depends.

Depletion of fisheries and fauna also exacerbates an already dire food security situation. Despite abundant resources, the DRC is one of the most food insecure countries in the world. About 70 percent of the population in the DRC lack access to adequate food, while one out of every four children is malnourished (World Food Program 2012). Food security conditions in the DRC worsened in 2017 : nearly 7.7 million Congolese are experiencing acute food insecurity, a 30 percent increase from the 5.9 million reported in June 2016.

Protein scarcity from overexploitation of the preferred foods of bushmeat and fish is exacerbated by weaknesses in the animal husbandry sector such as lack of veterinary services, fear of theft of valuable animals and emphasis on use of domestic animals for savings and ceremonial purposes.

Solutions to these crises must be devised to address the open access nature of these resources and to make protein sources available that are culturally, economically and environmentally appropriate. While CARPE has worked to protect wildlife within PAs, little progress has been made in managing wildlife and fisheries outside of PAs and finding acceptable alternatives to bushmeat. Such efforts must require close collaboration between food security and conservation initiatives.

C.3.2.3 Open access forestland leading to unregulated extraction

Although still relatively low compared to other major forest areas, deforestation and forest degradation rates are increasing in the DRC. Unregulated artisanal logging and mining create pockets of deforestation that draw people into the forest and drive increased hunting pressure.

Failure to establish or enforce property rights within forestlands means that they become de facto open access areas even if they may be technically within the boundaries of a concession or customary territory.

Community Forestry Concessions (CFCs), established under the 2014 Community Forestry decree in the DRC, are a way to clarify rights and access to forests and forest products. CARPE partners are supporting CFCs around areas of high conservation value, but the process of establishing governance systems that ensure the equitable and sustainable management of community forests requires a long term effort and strategies to mitigate forms of elite capture and corruption that have plagued other community forestry efforts.

The possible lifting of the commercial forestry moratorium imposed by the Government of the

DRC in 2002 may present opportunities to professionalize forest extraction in line with sustainable practices and reduce open access. It may also speed up deforestation (and hunting pressure) and create conflicts with communities in and around concessions absent land reform.

However, any activities and outcomes related to forestry must comply with language in the annual U.S. Appropriations law that prevents the use of Biodiversity Funds “to support or promote the expansion of Industrial Scale Logging or any other Industrial Scale extractive https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms13106 https://www.usaid.gov/democratic-republic-congo/food-assistance https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms13106 activity into areas that were primary/intact tropical forests as of 12/31/2013.” Operating within these Agency policies concerning USAID involvement with the commercial timber sector, it is imperative that CARPE support best practices and address trends that could significantly address deforestation and forest degradation. Many areas remain for productive interventions around community forestry, forest governance, preventing illegal/unsustainable logging and improving forest management, among others.

C.3.2.4 Expansion of agriculture

Globally, habitat destruction and degradation driven by the agricultural sector, together with species overexploitation, are the greatest contributors to biodiversity and forest loss . However agriculture is the backbone of the rural economy and contributes to stability and security, particularly compared to illegal and extractive activities such as artisanal mining and logging. To meet its food security and economic needs, the DRC must dramatically increase agricultural output. The potential to do this is real, as the country contains over 20 million additional hectares of non-forested land suitable for agriculture, and the yields of the most common farming system are well below potential. However, improving farming practices and expanding production while minimizing the environmental impacts that other regions (e.g., the Amazon, Southeast Asia) have experienced will require a multi-sectoral long term effort.

The practice of shifting cultivation is seen by many actors (e.g., the national REDD+ strategy as a major driver of deforestation in the DRC. The distribution and rate of expansion of shifting cultivation are influenced by subsistence and market demands associated with demographic factors, including natural population growth and migration. It has expanded most rapidly in fronts along population-dense rural zones, out from urban centers, and along transportation routes . Therefore, improvements to the country’s road network may pose the greatest single risk to forests in the near term by changing access to markets.

“Sustainable intensification” approaches that promise higher yields with reduced deforestation face numerous hurdles. A limited number of areas in the country currently have the population density and market systems critical to intensification.

The government’s program for enabling agriculture on underused non-forestland targets capital-intensive agricultural systems, and thus is not going to change the practices of smallholders living in forested areas. There are a number of efforts to revitalize and/or expand cocoa and coffee, including by CARPE partners. While these crops have the potential to foster intensive, environmentally friendly, sustainable growth;

global experience shows that expansion of tree crops can drive deforestation as much as staple crop agriculture absent strong protection of forestland.

CARPE partners have invested in a wide range of agricultural intensification approaches across the Congo Basin, but have in most cases struggled to take these to a scale sufficiently large to have an impact on overall rates of deforestation and degradation. Additionally, there is a need to assess the impact of these agricultural activities on rates of deforestation and forest and land degradation given the risk of Jevons paradox

C.3.2.5 High demand for charcoal https://www.nature.com/news/biodiversity-the-ravages-of-guns-nets-and-bulldozers-1.20381 http://www.cafi.org/content/dam/cafi/docs/drc-documents/DRC_2014_national-redd-framework-strategy_drc_summary-for-decision-makers_2012.pdf https://news.globallandscapesforum.org/13233/slash-and-burn-main-threat-for-drc-forests-or-is-it/

Intensification by definition involves increasing labor or capital inputs to produce the same or more output in the same area. While intensification may be technically feasible it is not attractive to farmers unless there is a price incentive.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jevons_paradox

The harvest of wood for production of charcoal is one of the most important drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in the DRC and the ROC. While wood fuel is typically used by forest-dwelling communities, charcoal is predominantly consumed in urban and peri-urban areas of the country and is one of the major sources of energy. Urban and peri-urban households use charcoal to cook, heat water, and, in some areas, for heating. Currently, charcoal cannot be considered as a renewable energy source because it is not sustainably produced, and often leads to large-scale destruction and degradation of forests. There is a need to improve the sustainability of the charcoal value chain and to develop alternative energy sources that can replace the use of charcoal to reduce deforestation.

High demand for charcoal is driven by poverty—charcoal may be less expensive than alternatives and it can be packaged in small quantities to be affordable for poor households—as well as lack of access to affordable alternative energy sources and preference for foods cooked over charcoal. At the same time, charcoal takes advantage of an open access resource and its production and sale can be a major source of income for some individuals in impoverished rural communities and throughout the value chain. Charcoal production is so lucrative that militias also use it to fund their operations, notably the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda

(FDLR) in Virunga

CARPE partners in certain areas, including Virunga, have invested in improved cookstoves, development of woodlots and sustainable charcoal production, but there is a need for careful analysis to assess how effective these strategies are at addressing demand and sustainable supply of charcoal and reducing deforestation and forest degradation.

C.4. USAID CARPE OVERALL FRAMEWORK

Based on the threats to the forests and wildlife of the Congo Basin, the aspirations of its people, and on the experiences of implementing the CARPE program to date, FABS is designed to provide services to enable CARPE and its wide group of stakeholders to increase effectiveness and impact in achieving Biodiversity and Sustainable Landscapes (SL) objectives. The earmark requirements and the CARPE results framework to which FABS must contribute are outlined below.

C.4.1. Earmark Requirements

Overall, FABS is funded using congressionally earmarked biodiversity (approximately 70%) and SL (approximately 30%) funds. Specific Task Orders under CLIN 002 may be funded by biodiversity or SL earmarks, or by a combination of the two.

Healthy ecosystems and the services they provide depend on the maintenance of functioning ecosystem processes and the conservation of their biodiversity. USAID’s major emphasis in biodiversity conservation is to help maintain and manage wild biodiversity in situ, through targeted action addressing threats to biodiversity in forests, grasslands, wetlands, marine and coastal habitats.

C.4.1.a USAID’s Biodiversity Code requires that programs using earmarked biodiversity funds impact on areas of priority biodiversity and that biodiversity programming be based around an analysis of threats to biodiversity and the drivers that underlie these threats. Please refer to the USAID Biodiversity and Development Handbook for further information, including discussion of USAID’s Biodiversity Code.

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/democratic-republic-congo/2016-05-12/virungas-charcoal-cartel

For more information on USAID’s biodiversity programming see https://rmportal.net/biodiversityconservation-gateway.

http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00KKWS.pdf https://rmportal.net/biodiversityconservation-gateway https://rmportal.net/biodiversityconservation-gateway

C.4.1.b USAID’s Sustainable Landscapes

(SL) programming seeks to increase carbon sequestration and reduce GHG emissions from land use and land use change while promoting economic growth and development, and works at national, regional and other jurisdiction-wide scales, for maximum impact. SL funding prioritizes: (1) countries and regions with globally significant forests to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, such as the Congo Basin, which contains the second largest area of contiguous rainforest in the world and acts a globally important carbon sink; and (2) countries in which GHG emissions from land use are a chief source of emissions and unsustainable land management is a key constraint to development. SL programs aim to address the key drivers of deforestation and forest degradation at scale. SL programs that effectively mitigate deforestation and forest degradation as compared to business-as-usual are informed by an analysis of which areas have high (or increasing) rates of deforestation and forest degradation and the causes (drivers) for this deforestation and forest degradation, which tend to be multiple and locally based.

C.4.2. CARPE Regional Development Cooperation Strategy

FABS activities must support the goal of CARPE’s Regional Development Cooperation Strategy

(RDCS), 2012-2020: Central Africa’s transition to climate-resilient, low emissions development accelerated through sustainable management of biodiverse forests. CARPE’s RDCS

Development Objective (DO) and Intermediate Results (IR) are depicted below:

Implementation of CARPE III involves two distinct but interdependent projects: the Central

Africa Forest Ecosystems Conservation (CAFEC) and the Environmental Monitoring and Policy

Support (EMAPS). CAFEC focuses on sustainable forest management, wildlife conservation and REDD+ activities in CARPE’s nine carbon rich and biologically diverse natural forest landscapes, addressing IR 1 and IR 2. EMAPS improves national and regional environmental policies and regulations, builds capacity of public and private institutions to support conservation of forest and biodiversity, and boosts the quality and scope of conservation management, climate change mitigation efforts, and data collection, addressing IR 3 and IR 4.

FABS will fall under the EMAPS project, but in doing so will also emphasize strengthening implementation of CAFEC activities focusing on IR 1 and IR 2.

https://www.climatelinks.org/sustainable-landscapes https://www.climatelinks.org/sustainable-landscapes

C.5. FABS THEORY OF CHANGE AND RESULTS FRAMEWORK

C.5.1. Theory of Change

USAID requires that each activity using biodiversity funds develop an explicit Theory of

Change (TOC) and test and refine this theory through monitoring, evaluation and learning.

Many SL-Funded programs have also adopted this approach. The general TOC below must be refined by the Contractor and linked to a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) plan that will test the theory and the approaches used in the program.

Theory of Change (TOC): If Central African institutions that have a stake in the conservation and sustainable management of wildlife and forests have the resources, the technical support and capacity, and a favorable enabling environment, they will take action to reduce threats.

To elaborate,

1. Central African institutions can have customary or statutory management authority and diverse purposes such as community development, private sector enterprise or advocacy and empowerment;

2. Having a stake means that livelihoods, local economies, territorial claims, cultural or national identity are tied to the continued existence of healthy forests and wildlife populations;

3. Resources and capacity include financial resources, constituencies (supporters, backers), training, access to information, technical assistance and learning fora, political voice, authority and legitimacy; and

4. Threat reduction will be achieved largely through improving enabling governance and economic conditions (or reducing perverse policies and practices) that drive deforestation and forest degradation, trafficking, overharvesting, overhunting and overfishing.

Assumptions underlying this TOC include:

Institutions and organizations, in particular civil society and private sector, have the legitimacy and mandate to act;

The political will exists, or can be generated, to allow these results to be achieved;

Capacity building and mutual learning will spur action;

Stability and security are sufficient to allow for capacity building and retention of capacity; and

Organizations supported are able to provide sufficient benefits and incentives to constituents and stakeholders to motivate them to act and/or change behavior.

C.5.2. Results Framework

FABS’s three activity IRs will contribute primarily to IRs 3 and 4 of CARPE’s RDCS, while also strengthening activities addressing IRs 1 and 2. FABS must therefore increase the effectiveness of CARPE and its stakeholders in addressing the drivers of biodiversity and forest loss. Collectively, FABS’s IRs focus on: ensuring the effective participation of a broad range of stakeholders; strengthening the policy and regulatory environment; and institutionalizing effective approaches to threat reduction through innovative approaches and by strengthening

Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA). Each result, in different ways, will help ensure not only that USAID achieves its long term objectives for CARPE, but also that this impact reaches the scale needed to address the drivers of biodiversity loss and deforestation and forest degradation in the Congo Basin, and must be sustainable beyond the life of CARPE itself.

FABS Results Framework

These IRs are mutually reinforcing, together providing the “necessary and sufficient” framework to achieve FABS’ objective and, along with other CARPE activities, to accelerate progress toward achievement of CARPE’s goal and objectives.

C.6. CLIN 001 – TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

This CLIN covers the Technical Assistance part of the contract and represents 80% of the total requirement. To achieve the three activities IRs, FABS must provide a range of support and technical assistance services addressing the threats to biodiversity and forest conservation described in C.3.2 above. Each IR is described below, along with a non-exhaustive set of major deliverables under each.

C.6.1. IRs and Deliverables under CLIN 001

IR 1 Leadership and participation of diverse local organizations and the private sector strengthened

CARPE has struggled to build the capacity of local organizations to a level where they can substantially carry on initiatives to sustainably protect biodiversity and manage forests in the

Congo Basin. In addition, private sector involvement in CARPE’s initiatives has been limited.

Reasons for this gap include the difficult investment climate in the region and the lack of concerted effort to identify opportunities and engage private sector partners. Under IR 1, FABS must not only build the capacity of individual local organizations, it must foster greater participation of organizations and the private sector in policy and development fora, and support networks that have the potential to increase the scale of impact and sustainability of CARPE’s efforts.

Consistent with USAID’s goals and objectives, in developing these partnerships, FABS must pay special attention to activities that seek to reduce gender barriers and promote women’s empowerment and gender equality. FABS must also strengthen the ability of vulnerable populations (indigenous persons, youth and other marginalized groups) to engage in conservation and forest management. The updated CARPE gender analysis (Attachment 19) summarized in section C.9 below recommends approaches and entry points for engagement as well as lessons from the years of CARPE activity with these populations.

Major sub-objectives and illustrative deliverables under this IR include, but are not limited to, those outlined below. Offeror will propose a complete set of objectives and products to support the proposed theory of change.

Effective networks and alliances for forest conservation in Central Africa strengthened

Forest conservation in Central Africa requires the broad participation of a diverse range of stakeholders. The Congo Basin Forest Partnership

(CBFP) is one such network at the broad level of the whole Congo Basin. CBFP was established in 2002 by an initiative of then U.S.

Secretary of State Colin Powell and is supported by a rotating facilitation currently chaired by

Belgium. FABS will examine CBFP and other potential networks as mechanisms for broad participation in achieving CARPE’s goals, in particular in DRC and ROC. FABS must then develop and implement measures to strengthen the effectiveness of such alliances for CARPE, and assist USAID staff and partners to apply best practices for building and managing such alliances. Particular attention should be given to non-traditional stakeholders and in alliances aimed at tackling the underlying factors (such as corruption) that drive threats to the forests and biodiversity of the Congo Basin.

Small grants and capacity building program established

A small grants program (Grants Under Contract - GUC) should be operational within 8 months of FABS inception, along with a parallel capacity building program for national and local organizations that strengthens the participation and effectiveness of these organizations working on CARPE objectives. These programs should be based on the institutional capacity assessment, building on the 2011 analysis (Attachment 20), a synthesis of information and recommendations from the midterm evaluation (Attachment 21), ProLand studies (Attachment 17), DRC-CARPE

118-119 Final analysis (Attachment 22).

Increased private sector involvement in CARPE

To encourage private sector investments that support CARPE’s objectives, FABS must develop and implement strategies for effective outreach to private corporations and other partners pursuing the triple (social, ecological and economic) bottom line. With national and local host country private sector, this may require a mentoring and capacity building program specifically tailored such enterprises. Partnerships should be developed with private sector actors for specific initiatives that will support CARPE’s objectives (such as eco-tourism, sustainable charcoal or alternative fuel production, agricultural activities that minimize forest degradation and clearance, etc.). Beyond that, FABS must encourage the participation of private sector in networks and fora focused on forest conservation in the Congo Basin (such as the private sector college of the

Congo Basin Forest Partnership - CBFP).

Increased participation of local organizations in forest and biodiversity conservation in

Central Africa

FABS must also expand the range of partners to include more local organizations and non-conservation organizations. This will help CARPE achieve sustainability by aligning with http://pfbc-cbfp.org/home.html organizations and activities that are more integrated with the local economic and social fabric of society. Through GUCs and other approaches, local organizations have increased participation and impact with CARPE focal areas, such as strengthening CWT networks and systems locally, nationally and regionally; supporting improved relationships between protected areas and local communities, including indigenous peoples, and; building the capacity of community-based organizations (CBOs) to advocate for effective forest governance under community forestry and develop viable and equitable management plans.

IR 2 Policy, regulatory and enabling environment improved

Working with existing and new CARPE partners, including those supported under IR 1, FABS’s

IR 2 must identify constraints in the policy and regulatory framework, and provide targeted support to address these. These policies and regulations may be situated at any level of governance, and may include formal policy and informal standards, as well as other elements of the enabling environment. To be effective, these measures must not only need to be developed, but also put into practice where feasible. Priority must be put on those policies with the greatest potential to improve the enabling environment for CARPE’s objectives at scale and those that pose the biggest risk of increasing threats to biodiversity and forests.

Major sub-objectives and illustrative deliverables under this IR include, but are not limited to, those outlined below.