72062319R00001_-_EAA_-_Amendment_2.pdf

RFP # 72062319R00001 USAID/Kenya and East Africa Evaluation, Assessments, and Analyses (EAA) IDIQ

Issue Date: April 12, 2019 Closing Date: May 30, 2019 at 5:00am Nairobi, Kenya Time

Subject: Request for Proposal (RFP) # 72062319R00001 – USAID/Kenya and East Africa

Evaluation, Assessments, and Analyses (EAA) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity

(IDIQ)

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking proposals for “Evaluation, Assessments, and Analyses (EAA)” for USAID/Kenya and East Africa as described in the attached Request for Proposals (RFP). USAID anticipates the award of up to five Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contracts resulting from this solicitation.

This procurement is a total small business set aside in accordance with FAR part 19.5. The NAICS code for this procurement is 541990. In support of USAID’s interest in expanding the number and sustainability of development partners, USAID encourages proposals from potential new partners.

USAID discourages the use of exclusive agreements with international or regional/local organizations or individuals as this limits USAID’s ability to receive the best services.

Please refer to Section L for information regarding proposal requirements. Offerors should take into account the expected delivery time required by the email transmission method, and they are responsible to ensure that proposals are received at USAID by the due date and time as specified above.

Failure to comply with the submission date will deem any submission unacceptable and it will not be reviewed or evaluated. Faxed proposals are not acceptable, nor will they be reviewed or evaluated.

Section L of the RFP sets forth all instructions for the preparation and submission of required proposal contents. Section M states the criteria by which proposals will be evaluated. Oral explanations or instructions given before award of the contract will not be binding.

This RFP in no way obligates USAID to award a Contract nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal. Award of a Contract under this RFP is subject to availability of funds and other internal USAID approvals.

This RFP can be viewed and downloaded from www.fedbizopps.gov. USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes. Further, be aware that amendments to solicitations are occasionally issued and will be posted on the same website from which you downloaded the solicitation. USAID advises to regularly check the above website for amendments.

http://www.fedbizopps.gov/

Sincerely, ___________/s/__________ Nya Kwai Boayue Regional Contracting Officer USAID/Kenya and East Africa/Office of Acquisition and Assistance

SOLICITATION, OFFER, AND AWARD 1. THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED ORDER

UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 350)

RATING

PAGE OF PAGES

2 |

2. CONTRACT NUMBER

3. SOLICITATION NUMBER

72062319R00001

4. TYPE OF SOLICITATION

SEALED BID (IFB)

NEGOTIATED (RFP)

5. DATE ISSUED

April 12, 2019

6. REQUISITION/PURCHASE NO.

REQ-623-19-000015

7. ISSUED BY CODE 8. ADDRESS OFFER TO (If other than Item 7) USAID/Kenya and East Africa/Office of Acquisition and Assistance United Nations Avenue, Gigiri Nairobi, Kenya

Same as Item 7

NOTE: In sealed bid solicitations “offer” and “offeror” mean “bid” and “bidder”

SOLICITATION

9. This is not a sealed bid solicitation. Please refer to the solicitation for submission instructions.

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.

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

INFORMATION EMAIL:

Mr. Ketan Sood AREA CODE

NUMBER

EXT.

ksood@usaid.gov

11. TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

PART I - THE SCHEDULE PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSES

X A SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM 2 X I CONTRACT CLAUSES 62

X B SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COST 7 PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACH.

X C DESCRIPTION/SPECS./WORK STATEMENT 12 X J LIST OF ATTACHMENTS 71

X D PACKAGING AND MARKING 22 PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

X E INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE 23 K REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS 72

X F DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE 24 AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

X G CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA 32 L INSTRS., CONDS., AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS 85

X H SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS 37 M EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD 103

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 price 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 AMENDMENT NO. DATE AMENDMENT NO. DATE

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

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

AND OFFER (Type or print)

ADDRESS

OF

OFFEROR

15B. TELEPHONE NUMBER 15C. CHECK IF REMITTANCE 17. SIGNATURE 18. OFFER DATE

AREA CODE

NUMBER

EXT.

ADDRESS IS DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE

- ENTER SUCH ADDRESS IN

SCHEDULE.

AWARD (To be completed by Government)

19. ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS NUMBERED

20. AMOUNT

21. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION

Please see REQ-623-19-000015

22. AUTHORITY FOR USING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION:

10 U.S.C. 2304(c) (1) 41 U.S.C. 253(c)( )

23. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS

SHOWN IN (4 copies unless otherwise specified)

ITEM

See Section

G.5

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

Same as Item 7

Please see Section G.5

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.

NSN 7540-01-152-8064 STANDARD FORM 33 (Rev. 9-97) PREVIOUS EDITION NOT USABLE Prescribed by GSA – FAR (48 CFR) 53.214(c)

PART I – THE SCHEDULE 7

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS 7

B.1 PURPOSE 7

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE AND SERVICES 7

B.3 MINIMUM OBLIGATED AMOUNT 7

B.4 MAXIMUM CONTRACT CEILING 7

B.5 FIXED FEE CEILING (COST TYPE TASK ORDERS ONLY) 7

B.6 LABOR 8

B.6.1 IDIQ Management 8 B.6.2 Unburdened Ceiling Daily Rates 8 B.6.3 Subcontractor Rates 10

B.7 INDIRECT COSTS AND ADVANCED UNDERSTANDING ON INDIRECT COST CEILINGS 11

B.8 CEILING RATE CHANGES 11

B.9 REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE SERVICES 11

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK 12

C.1 PURPOSE 12

C.2 BACKGROUND 12

C.3.1 Technical Services to be Provided 16 C.3.2 Technical Skills Required 17 C.3.3 Quality Control 18 C.3.4 Planning and Conducting EAAs 18 C.3.5 Technical Assistance in Evaluation Capacity Building 19 C.3.6 Synthesize Evaluation Lessons and Analyze Policy 20 C.3.7 Expected Task Order Services 20

SECTION D – PACKAGING AND MARKING 22

D.1 AIDAR 752.7009 – MARKING (JAN 1993) 22

D.2 BRANDING POLICY 22

D.3 BRANDING STRATEGY AND MARKING PLAN 22

SECTION E – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE 23

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 23

E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE 23

E.3 RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL 23

SECTION F – DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE 24

F.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 24

F.2 PERFORMANCE PERIOD 24

F.3 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE 24

F.4 PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND STANDARDS 25

F.5 REPORTS AND DELIVERABLES OR OUTPUTS 25

F.6 ORDERING PROCEDURES 26

F.6.1 General/Fair Opportunity 26 F.6.2 Task Order Limitations/Award Types 30

F.7 KEY PERSONNEL 31

SECTION G – CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA 32

G.1 AIDAR 752.7003 – DOCUMENTATION FOR PAYMENT (NOV 1998) 32

G.2 CONTRACTING OFFICER 33

G.3 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR) 33

G.4 CONTRACTOR’S PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT 33

G.5 PAYING OFFICE 34

G.6 PAYMENT AND INVOICING INSTRUCTIONS 34

G.7 CONTRACTOR'S PAYMENT ADDRESS 34

G.8 TECHNICAL DIRECTION/RELATIONSHIP WITH USAID 34

SECTION H – SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS 37

H.1 AAPD 16-02 – RESTRICTIONS AGAINST DISCLOSURE (MAY 2016) 37

H.2 AAPD 16-02 – MEDIA AND INFORMATION HANDLING AND PROTECTION (APRIL 2018) 37

H.3 AAPD 16-02 – SKILLS AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR PRIVACY AND SECURITY

STAFF (APRIL 2018) 39

H.4 AAPD 16-02 – SECURITY REQUIREMENTS FOR UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

RESOURCES (APRIL 2018) 39

H.5 AAPD 16-02 – CLOUD COMPUTING (APRIL 2018) 44

H.6 ADS 302.3.5.19 – USAID-FINANCED THIRD-PARTY WEB SITES (NOV 2017) 50

H.7 ADS 302.3.5.21 – SUBMISSION OF DATASETS TO THE DEVELOPMENT DATA LIBRARY (DDL)

(OCT 2014) 51

H.8 ADS 302mas – ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: PRECLUSION FROM FURNISHING

CERTAIN SERVICES AND RESTRICTION ON USE OF INFORMATION (SEP 2018) 53

H.9 AUTHORIZED GEOGRAPHIC CODE 53

H.10 AIDAR 752.231-72 – CONFERENCE PLANNING AND REQUIRED APPROVALS (AUG 2013) 53

H.11 DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION 54

H.12 ELECTRONIC PAYMENT SYSTEM 55

H.13 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE 56

H.14 EXECUTIVE ORDER ON TERRORISM FINANCING 57

H.15 FOREIGN GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS TO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES (JAN 2002) 57

H.16 GENDER CONSIDERATION 57

H.17 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED FACILITIES OR PROPERTY 58

H.18 INSURANCE AND SERVICES 58

H.19 LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS 60

H.20 LOGISTIC SUPPORT 60

H.21 STANDARDS OF CONDUCT – IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES 60

H.22 USAID DISABILITY POLICY – ACQUISITION (DEC 2004) 60

PART II – CONTRACT CLAUSES 62

SECTION I – CONTRACT CLAUSES 62

I.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 62

I.2 AIDAR 752.245-70 – GOVERNMENT PROPERTY—USAID REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

(OCTOBER 2017) 65

I.3 FAR 52.203-19 – PROHIBITION ON REQUIRING CERTAIN INTERNAL CONFIDENTIALITY

AGREEMENTS OR STATEMENTS (JAN 2017) 67

I.4 FAR 52.216-18 – ORDERING (OCT 1995) 67

I.5 FAR 52.216-19 – ORDER LIMITATIONS (OCT 1995) 68

I.6 FAR 52.216-22 – INDEFINITE QUANTITY (OCT 1995) 68

I.7 FAR 52.217-9 – OPTION TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT (MAR 2000) 69

I.8 FAR 52.222-35 – EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR VETERANS (OCT 2015) 69

I.9 FAR 52.222-36 – EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES (JUL 2014) 69

I.10 FAR 52.252-2 – CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998) 70

PART III – LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS 71

SECTION J – LIST OF ATTACHMENTS 71

SECTION K – REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF THE OFFEROR 72

K.1 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 72

K.2 FAR 52.204-8 – ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS (OCT 2018) 72

K.3 FAR 52.204-20 – PREDECESSOR OF OFFEROR (JUL 2016) 76

K.4 FAR 52.209-5 – CERTIFICATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (OCT 2015) 77

K.5 FAR 52.209-7 – INFORMATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (OCT 2018) 79

K.6 FAR 52.209-13 – VIOLATION OF ARMS CONTROL TREATIES OR AGREEMENTS –

CERTIFICATION (JUN 2018) 80

K.7 FAR 52.209-11 – REPRESENTATION BY CORPORATION REGARDING A DELINQUENT TAX

LIABILITY OR A FELONY CRIMINAL CONVICTION (FEB 2016) 82

K.8 INSURANCE – IMMUNITY FROM TORT LIABILITY 83

K.9 AGREEMENT ON, OR EXCEPTIONS TO, TERMS AND CONDITIONS 83

K.10 SIGNATURE 84

SECTION L – INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS OR RESPONDENTS 85

L.1 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 85

L.2 FAR 52.252-1 – SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998) 85 L.3 FAR 52.215-1 – INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS: COMPETITIVE ACQUISITION (JAN 2017) 85

L.4 FAR 52.216-1 – TYPE OF CONTRACT (APR 1984) 89

L.5 FAR 52.233-2 – SERVICE OF PROTEST (SEP 2006) 89

L.6 GOVERNMENT OBLIGATION 89

L.7 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS 90

L.8 DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS 91

L.9 FORMAT AND PRESENTATION 91

L.10 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL 91

L.11 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COST/BUSINESS PROPOSAL 95

L.12 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE BRANDING IMPLEMENTATION AND

MARKING PLAN 100

L.13 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST 102

SECTION M – EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD 103

M.1 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 103

M.2 GENERAL INFORMATION 103

M.3 TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA 103

M.4 COST/PRICE EVALUATION 106

M.5 DETERMINATION OF COMPETITIVE RANGE 106

M.6 SOURCE SELECTION 106

ATTACHMENT J.4 – COST TEMPLATE 108

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this Contract is to provide services that fall within the Scope of Work (SOW) specified in Section C for Evaluation, Assessments, and Analyses (EAA) for USAID/Kenya and East Africa. USAID Task Order Contracting Officers (TOCOs) will request the work through the issuance of Task Orders during the ordering period as specified in Section F of the Contract.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE AND SERVICES

This is an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) type Contract. The Government will issue Task Orders that are Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) (term or completion), any Fixed-Price (FP) type, or a combination. The Contractor must perform the services set forth in Task Orders at prices consistent with Section B of this Contract.

B.3 MINIMUM OBLIGATED AMOUNT

As required by FAR 16.504(a)(1), the minimum amount of services to be ordered under this IDIQ is $10,000.00. USAID shall be required to order, and the Contractor shall be required to furnish, the minimum amount of services. Following this initial obligation, individual Task Orders will obligate funds to cover the work required under that Task Order.

B.4 MAXIMUM CONTRACT CEILING

This is a multiple award Indefinite Quantity Contract (IDIQ) with an overall shared ceiling price of $37,750,000.00. The maximum aggregate dollar value of Task Orders awarded to all holders may not exceed the Contract ceiling. This ceiling is not being subdivided among the number of awardees nor is it being multiplied by the number of awardees.

B.5 FIXED FEE CEILING (COST TYPE TASK ORDERS ONLY)

NOTE: The ceiling on fixed fee does not apply to Fixed-Priced Task Orders.

(a) For each cost-reimbursement Task Order issued under this IDIQ, the TOCO and Contractor agrees to negotiate a set dollar amount for fixed fee. In negotiating the fixed dollar amount for fee, the TOCO must consider the policies and factors for establishing fee in FAR 15.404-4 as well as any applicable USAID policy on establishing a fixed fee amount. In no event, however, may the amount of fixed fee in any individual Task Order exceed _._% [Offeror to propose rate] of the Task Order’s estimated cost, excluding fee. The fixed fee ceiling applies to the Prime Contract and all cost reimbursement Subcontracts.

(b) The Total Estimated Cost Plus Fixed Fee for each Task Order must be negotiated in accordance with the terms of this Contract.

Fixed Fee Payment: For any cost-reimbursement Task Order issued under this Contract, The Government shall pay the Contractor for performing this Contract the fixed fee specified in the Schedule in accordance with FAR 52.216-8.

B.6 LABOR

B.6.1 IDIQ Management

The Contracting Officer has determined that a full-time Technical Manager is not necessary or required to administer the basic IDIQ. However, the Contractor must provide an IDIQ Program Manager to serve as the central contact point for the IDIQ. Contractors will not be authorized to bill USAID directly for IDIQ Program Manager costs under this IDIQ contract. The Contractor must utilize a centralized management structure that allows for recovery of IDIQ management costs as part of its indirect costs through Task Orders.

B.6.2 Unburdened Ceiling Daily Rates

(a) The Task Order rates must not exceed the Ceiling Daily Rates (CDR) set forth in the table below.

Each CDR for personnel listed below is “unburdened” and must only include salary costs or consulting rates of the individual providing the services.

The CDR for employees must not include the following:

(1) Payroll costs (fringe benefits, FICA, allowances, differentials, etc.);

(2) Indirect Costs applicable to labor; and

(3) Profit or fee, if any.

The CDRs set forth below are fixed for the Contract period and is for a productive eight (8) hour day, and apply to all Subcontractors set forth in clause 52.244-2 in Section I. If a new Subcontractor is proposed for a specific Task Order on other than a fixed-price basis, the CDRs set forth below will apply, and the Subcontract is subject to consent by the TOCO in accordance with FAR Part 44.

Actual salaries for all personnel will be negotiated under Task Orders and final approval is provided by the TOCO. The ceiling rates presented below do not constitute approval of final salary rates above the Contractor Salary Threshold (CST) (see Automated Directives System (ADS) 302sar for the CST – https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/302sar.pdf) and Local Employee Compensation Plans (LCP).

Rates may be burdened separately in proposals responding to Requests for Task Order Proposals (RFTOPs). Rates must be provided for senior and mid-level staff in each labor category.

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/302sar.pdf

(b) An annual escalation rate of _._% for expatriate staff [Offeror to propose escalation rate, not to exceed 3.0% for expatriate staff] to the remaining Contract years (Year 2 – Year 7) will establish the proposed unburdened CDR for the life of the IDIQ. For the Task Orders beyond the period of performance of IDIQ the unburdened CDR for Year 5 will apply without any additional escalations.

[The Contractor must provide rates for the following positions as part of their cost proposal.

The table below has been provided separately as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet for ease of submission – see Section J.3]

The minimum qualifications for each USN and TCN labor category are specified below:

● Senior Expatriate: Must have a relevant Master’s Degree and at least ten years of related experience (or Bachelor’s Degree and at least 15 years of relevant experience)

● Mid Expatriate: Must have a relevant Master’s Degree and at least seven years of related experience (or Bachelor’s Degree and at least ten years of relevant experience)

The minimum qualifications defined for staff shall be strictly followed in the selection and payment of personnel via the Task Order system. In exceptional circumstances, only the CO has the authority to waive these requirements upon recommendation of the Task Order Contracting Officer Representative (TOCOR).

(c) Notes

• Note 1: The Unburdened Ceiling Daily Rates apply to any Task Order(s) that are awarded under this Contract.

• Note 2: The Unburdened Ceiling Daily Rates apply to expatriate labor (the Prime

Contractor, subcontractor, TCNs, and consultant salaries). CCN labor is governed by the Local Compensation Plan limitations as further provided in note 3 below.

• Note 3: Locally Hired National Personnel or Other Non-U.S. Expatriate Rates:

o All locally hired national personnel and other non-U.S. expatriates must be paid in accordance with AIDAR 722.170. Unless otherwise authorized by USAID, the compensation for CCN and TCN labor must not exceed the prevailing compensation paid to personnel performing comparable work in the cooperating country as determined by USAID and must be paid in the currency of the cooperating country.

o Salaries for individual locally-hired personnel and other non-U.S. expatriates under this Contract and any resulting subcontract must be in accordance with AIDAR 752.7007, Personnel Compensation (July 2007), and should be based upon a combination of factors including the prevailing compensation paid to personnel performing comparable work in the cooperating country as determined by USAID and consideration of the individual's education, work experience and recent relevant salary history.

• Note 4: For TCN positions, Mission Director waivers to pay TCNs in line with US

Nationals must be obtained at the Task Order Level where applicable in accordance with

AIDAR 722.170.

• Note 5: For CCN positions, rates will be reviewed at the Task Order level by the TOCO, and must be supported with sufficient documentation, and may not exceed the prevailing Local compensation rate for the respective country where the Task Order will be issued.

• Note 6: If Junior-level personnel are required under TOs, they must be proposed at rates below the unburdened CDR for Mid-level personnel. Junior level personnel must have a Bachelor’s Degree.

B.6.3 Subcontractor Rates

The unburdened CDRs for the prime Contract apply to subcontracts.

B.7 INDIRECT COSTS AND ADVANCED UNDERSTANDING ON INDIRECT COST CEILINGS

Note: Indirect rates are only applicable to cost reimbursement Task Orders.

Pending establishment of revised provisional or final indirect cost rates, allowable indirect costs must be reimbursed on the basis of the following negotiated provisional or predetermined rates and the appropriate bases for Prime Contractors. [Additional Indirect rates may be added as applicable]

Offeror Overhead Rate %

G&A Rate %

[TBD]

[Offeror to propose additional indirect cost as applicable]

[TBD]

[Offeror to propose additional indirect cost as applicable]

PRIME [TBD] [TBD] [TBD] [TBD]

B.8 CEILING RATE CHANGES

The ceiling rates are fixed for all Contract years; however, the Contractor may submit a proposal reducing the labor rates and/or indirect rates at any time during the life of this Contract. The Government will review these proposals and determine if the revised rates are realistic and in the best interests of the Government. If the rates are accepted, the Government will modify the Contract by incorporating the new rates into the Contract.

B.9 REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE SERVICES

Per FAR 16.504(a)(1), the Contractor shall furnish any additional services ordered by USAID under this Contract so long as the cumulative amount of all orders does not exceed the maximum amount in Section B.4.

[END OF SECTION B]

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 PURPOSE

Tasks to be assigned under this Evaluations, Assessments, And Analyses (EAA) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract will include designing and implementing both quantitative and/or qualitative evaluation studies, assessments, and analyses; knowledge management; and developing and delivering trainings to USAID staff, USAID implementing partners, community organizations, and national and regional government partners to support USAID EAA needs. Trainings will also build the capacity of local monitoring and evaluation (M&E) specialists to lead future activities.

C.2 BACKGROUND

According to the USAID Evaluation Policy under the Automated Directives System (ADS) Chapter 201, USAID evaluations have two primary purposes: learning to improve development outcomes and accountability to stakeholders. In addition, evaluations are to be conducted in a manner that ensures credibility, transparency, and the generation of high quality information and knowledge. In this process, and through this IDIQ, the USAID/KEA/Strategic Planning and Analysis (SPA) Office provides leadership for the Mission’s efforts to promote learning through evaluation, performance monitoring, knowledge management, and research. Bringing these elements together will advance the following overarching objectives:

● Design evaluations with a focus on learning;

● Design evaluations within the context of the journey to self-reliance;

● Highlight evaluations as a means to contributing to the overall knowledge base of the Mission and

USAID at-large;

● Inform adaptive management and course corrections;

● Ensure that knowledge derived from evaluations and other sources, both internal and external, is utilized to inform programming and strengthen policy and strategic decisions at all levels;

● Commit to sharing Mission knowledge products widely;

● Build the capacity of USAID staff, partner Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) specialists and local partner institutions.

● Intentionally and systematically involve external stakeholders, including but not limited to, program participants, implementing partners, host country and regional government entities, and other development partners in the EAA process.

The Missions buying into this award implement a range of activities that cut across multiple sectors:

Kenya and East Africa:

USAID/KEA manages a bilateral and regional portfolio of approximately $560 million per year.

USAID/KEA is helping Kenyans achieve the objectives outlined in the Kenyan Vision 2030 goals and implement a constitutional reform agenda, with a focus on devolution. At the East Africa regional level (East Africa), USAID/KEA is working with regional intergovernmental organizations (RIGOs) – the East African Community (EAC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) – and with regional private sector and civil society groups to implement solutions to regional development challenges.

Kenya Bilateral Mission

● Health, Population, and Nutrition (HPN): HPN works with the Government of Kenya (GOK) to reduce the burden of preventable diseases, such as HIV/AIDs, tuberculosis and malaria, and promote healthy families through investments in maternal and child health, family planning, water and sanitation. These programs seek to strengthen health systems by improving health policy and human resources and to expand the availability and quality of and access to health services. At the regional level, USAID/KEA programs help protect communities from infectious diseases and strengthen health systems at cross-border areas.

● Education and Youth (EDY): EDY is working with the GOK and other partners to enhance future opportunities for Kenyans by supporting a national early grade reading program and enriching social, economic and civic opportunities for youth, orphans and vulnerable children.

● Democracy, Governance, and Conflict (DGC): DGC helps advance the devolution agenda, assists with constitutional and electoral reform and implementation, supports the oversight and legislative role of Parliament, strengthens the voice and advocacy capacity of civil society and civic groups, promotes peace building at the national and local levels, and fosters efforts to counter violent extremism (CVE). At the regional level, USAID/KEA helps RIGOs track and mitigate cross-border conflict and CVE.

● Environment (ENV): ENV supports activities in the areas of biodiversity conservation, combating wildlife crime and climate resilience to improve the protection and conservation of wildlife and their habitat. Working with national and regional government institutions, and local communities, the aim is to strengthen policies, improve natural resource management practices, enhance economic growth, and thus sustain people’s livelihoods and resilience, while conserving important biodiversity for sustainable development.

● Economic Growth and Integration (OEGI): OEGI’s efforts at the bilateral level in Kenya support agricultural market systems through implementation of agriculture/food security/resilience, clean energy, water, sanitation and hygiene, and trade, investment, and financial inclusion programs. At the regional level, USAID/KEA works to reduce barriers to trade, help businesses to increase exports under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), increase private sector investment, promote agricultural development and streamline border processes within the region.

● Food for Peace (FFP): FFP provides relief and builds resilience among the most vulnerable populations in Kenya. In the arid and semi-arid land (ASAL) counties, food-insecure Kenyans receive U.S. in-kind food assistance or cash transfers for food in exchange for work on improving community assets, such as rehabilitating local roads or irrigation systems. FFP resources support providing supplementary nutrition products for children under five years of age and pregnant and lactating women in areas with the highest levels of acute malnutrition. FFP also supports the treatment of severe acute malnutrition in the ASALs and among refugee populations. FFP supports refugees living in the Dadaab and Kakuma camps, and their host communities, through direct distributions, education on maternal and child health, and livelihoods training. FFP also provides refugees with cash-based transfers for food, support for local procurement of cereals and pulses, and a pilot program to develop refugee-managed milling and fortification operations.

East Africa Regional Mission

● The USAID East Africa Regional Mission1 includes the following countries: Burundi, Democratic

Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. USAID supports regional institutions, including the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and their member states to address issues that require collaboration between countries.

● EAC: Since 2009, USAID has worked with EAC to build their capacity and support our shared objectives to: reduce barriers to regional trade; enhance power capacity; improve environmental conservation, joint management of natural resources and action on climate change; and harmonize health and agricultural policies and standards.

● COMESA: Since 2009, USAID has provided $25.4 million in direct funding to COMESA to build the capacity of COMESA and support our shared objectives to: remove barriers to regional trade, investment and food security; harmonize sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards, promote regional seed trade, promote the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program; and promote renewable and clean energy sources.

● IGAD: Since 2009, USAID has provided support to IGAD to build its capacity and support our shared objectives to: promote peace and security; strengthen health policies and systems for cross-border populations; strengthen systems to respond to risks related to climate change and drought; coordinate regional resilience efforts; promote regional trade in livestock; and provide a platform to counter violent extremism.

Somalia Bilateral Mission:

USAID/Somalia is implementing $319 million in programming to increase Somalia’s stability by fostering good governance, supporting economic recovery and reducing the appeal of extremism.

*The Somalia Office is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

● Democracy, Stabilization and Governance (DSG): DSG focuses on supporting the federal government, the emerging states and communities to strengthen state-society relations, promote inclusive processes and establish governance mechanisms through creating enabling conditions through stabilization of key communities; strengthening effective, accountable, and representative governance institutions; and increasing political participation and trust in political processes.

● Social Services (SS): SS focuses on improving access to equitable and quality education and health services in communities Somalia-wide through strengthening institutions to improve the

1 For more information about the East Africa Regional Mission, please visit https://www.usaid.gov/east-africa-regional https://www.usaid.gov/east-africa-regional https://www.usaid.gov/east-africa-regional quality of service delivery as well as direct service delivery. Other activities link humanitarian and development interventions with a greater shift towards improving quality and institutional strengthening as these geographic areas become more stable.

● Economic Growth (EG): EG focuses on addressing constraints to inclusive economic growth and capitalizing on Somalia’s assets through a two-pronged approach that both strengthens the enabling environment for growth through systemic interventions and expands economic opportunities through targeted sectoral interventions. Sectoral interventions focus on value chains with the highest potential for growth within the field crop, horticulture, livestock, fisheries, and renewable energy sectors.

Democratic Republic of the Congo Bilateral Mission:

The goal of USAID/Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is to support the DRC’s long-term transition to more effective and empowering development. To achieve this goal, USAID invests in three objectives:

selected national-level institutions more effectively implement their mandates; lives are improved through coordinated development approaches in select regions; and the foundation for durable peace is strengthened in Eastern DRC. USAID/DRC’s technical focus includes Health and Social Services;

Education; Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance; Economic Development and Food Security; and Peace and Security.

Djibouti Bilateral Mission:

Djibouti is a key strategic partner to the United States in the Horn of Africa. USAID re-established its office here in 2003 and has since provided development assistance for basic health services, basic education, and democracy and good governance. With the growing importance of the US/Djibouti relationship and given tremendous need, USAID is also planning various new Economic Growth initiatives in partnership with the Government of Djibouti (GoDj).

Rwanda Bilateral Mission:

Since 2003, USAID/Rwanda has worked in close partnership with the Government of Rwanda (GoR) to advance the objectives outlined in its Vision 2020 and Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategies. Over the last 10 years, annual funding to USAID/Rwanda has increased from about $48 million in 2004 to over $128 million in 2016. USAID/Rwanda’s current programs focus on four key areas:

health, economic growth, education, and democracy and governance.

South Sudan Bilateral Mission:

The magnitude of the humanitarian, social and political crisis spurred by violence that erupted in South Sudan in December 2013 has drastically changed the context for development. In response, USAID redirected its assistance, shifting from state-building to more directly assisting the people of South Sudan. To respond to this crisis, USAID has increased humanitarian assistance and support for fundamental human needs, including access to water, health, and education services. USAID continues to support civil society and independent media to ensure that diverse voices are heard, and supports activities in conflict mitigation, trauma awareness, and reconciliation.

Uganda Bilateral Mission:

USAID began its assistance to Uganda immediately after its independence in 1962, recognizing the country’s potential as a “bread basket” of Africa, with its rich natural resources, and significant rural population. Priorities have evolved over the past five decades, and we remain committed to improving Ugandans’ livelihoods. Today, our wide-ranging work supports U.S. policy objectives in peace and security, democracy and governance, health and education, economic growth, and humanitarian assistance.

For more information on programs in these countries, please visit (https://www.usaid.gov/where-we-work/africa).

C.3.1 Technical Services to be Provided

The Contractor must provide services to enable USAID/KEA to implement studies, including performance evaluations, impact evaluations, evaluation case studies, meta-evaluations, cross-sector and multi-country evaluations. The Contractor must also provide other evaluative studies, baseline, midline and endline sector assessments and studies, and analyses (e.g., internal data, macroeconomic, public financial management, policy, cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness, diagnostic, etc.).

The Contractor must also provide services and continued support to USAID/KEA efforts to strengthen evaluation capacity across the Mission by providing training, technical assistance, preparation of guidance, handbooks, newsletters, model products, data visualization, and other tools and knowledge products for USAID staff managing and using evaluations. These services and support may include evaluability assessments, planning for, designing and implementing studies and evaluations (including logistics), assistance on evaluation utilization and dissemination, assistance on joint evaluations with other international donors, and assistance in developing post evaluation action plans.

The Contractor must provide technical assistance that includes evaluation expertise in the breadth of development fields in which USAID works including economic growth, agriculture, food security, trade and investment; population and health, nutrition, water sanitation and hygiene; environment, natural resources, wildlife trafficking; education, and training, youth and workforce development; democracy, human rights, governance; conflict mitigation, post conflict reconstruction and countering violent extremism; human capacity development, humanitarian assistance, and cross-cutting programs (resilience, conflict management, private and voluntary cooperation, transition initiatives, post-conflict reconstruction, urban programs, gender and development). In addition, expertise may also be requested in the areas of evaluation methodology (including complexity-aware approaches and other cutting edge evaluation methodologies), design, and EAA training, as well as engaging and training implementing partners and host country government partners. The Contractor must provide access to high quality evaluation expertise and technical assistance, which will be used to undertake evaluations at the level of particular activities and interventions, of broader program and strategic objectives, and/or at the country level, as well as for cross-sector, multi-country evaluations, mid-term, final, or impact evaluations and other related results-oriented program planning.

Local Engagement

The Contractor must strive to recruit local sectoral expertise, and local evaluation specialists that will be called upon over the life of the IDIQ. The Contractor must seek to partner with international and/or in-https://www.usaid.gov/where-we-work/africa https://www.usaid.gov/where-we-work/africa country institutions, implementing partners, and national and regional government entities to support USAID EAA needs. During the performance of task orders, the contractor should seek to develop and build the capacity of local monitoring and evaluation specialists to lead future activities.

Promoting Learning in the Journey to Self-Reliance

The Contractor must work with the respective technical teams to capture the perspectives of local actors and local subject-matter experts, and interweave their insights into evaluation design, findings, recommendations, and action planning. Perspectives may also be sought from other non-Mission/non- CDCS and non-bilateral programs funded by USAID/Washington such as Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance/USAID’s Office of American Schools and Hospitals Abroad-funded partnerships. Findings from evaluations will be disseminated to promote collaborative learning with local and regional governmental and civil society partners. This co-creation approach to evaluative work is intended to increase local ownership of findings, recommendations, and follow-up action planning.

Advancing Collaboration Collaboration is embedded in the EAA design and will be a key element of each Task Order issued under the EAA IDIQ. The contractor must work to ensure that key stakeholders meet and mutually agree on realistic timelines and a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities. In some instances, USAID/KEA will require the contractor, after selection through fair opportunity, to engage in a collaborative evaluation process with the USAID technical office lead and other selected stakeholders to finalize the evaluation approach.. The Contractor is expected to facilitate stakeholder meetings, to solicit feedback on evaluation design, dissemination of findings, and collaboration on recommendations.

C.3.2 Technical Skills Required

The services under this IDIQ require expertise in a range of traditional, innovative, and state-of-the-art research designs, methods and analysis using qualitative and quantitative approaches, as well as experimental, quasi-experimental and non-experimental designs. Additional services may include data collection and synthesis, report writing, data visualization, and planning for use and dissemination of evaluation findings among multiple stakeholders. The IDIQ also requires skills in cost-benefit analysis, assessments, and EAA capacity building.

Expertise in designing and delivering training for adult learners will also be required. While work may focus on specific sectors, it may also cut across sectors and technical areas, such as gender, youth, resilience, and countering violent extremism (CVE). It may also engage different audiences such as USAID staff and international and/or local implementing and government partners. Much of the work will be focused on USAID development activities and the change they make in the region, countries and communities where they are implemented to enable countries’ journey to self-reliance (J2SR)2. In addition, the contractor may be asked to provide expertise in evaluating and assessing humanitarian assistance programs. The contractor must demonstrate an ability to draw on the skills and capacity to perform data analysis addressing a broad range of development issues.

2 To learn more about the Journey to Self-Reliance, visit https://selfreliance.usaid.gov/.

https://selfreliance.usaid.gov/

C.3.3 Quality Control

The Contractor must conduct systematic management and technical review of all deliverables that include establishing quality standards, and train technical staff to provide rigorous oversight of all tasks contracted under the IDIQ. Performance must meet USAID regulations and meet general quality standards.

C.3.4 Planning and Conducting EAAs

The Automated Directives System (ADS) defines evaluation as the systematic collection and analysis of information about the characteristics and outcomes of programs, projects and activities as a basis for judgments, to improve effectiveness, and/or inform decisions about current and future programming.

An evaluation is distinct from an assessment, which may be designed to examine country or sector context to inform project design, or an informal review of projects/activities. USAID evaluations are grouped into two categories: performance and impact evaluations.

Given the nature of USAID project designs and implementation strategies, performance evaluations are the most common type of evaluation conducted. It is estimated that the large majority of the evaluations to be supported through this IDIQ mechanism will be requested by KEA and will be performance evaluations.

According to the ADS, performance evaluations focus on descriptive and normative questions: what a particular project/activity has achieved (either at an intermediate point in execution or at the conclusion of an implementation period); how it is being implemented; how it is perceived and valued; whether expected results are occurring; and other questions that are pertinent to program design, management and operational decision-making. Performance evaluations often incorporate before-after comparisons, but generally lack a rigorously defined counterfactual.

ADS 201 states that each Mission must conduct an impact evaluation, if feasible, of any new, untested approach that is anticipated to be expanded in scale or scope through U.S. government foreign assistance or other funding sources (i.e., a pilot intervention). Pilot interventions should be identified during project or activity design, and the impact evaluation should be integrated into the design of the project or activity. If it is not feasible to effectively undertake an impact evaluation, the Mission or Washington Operating Unit must conduct a performance evaluation and document why an impact evaluation was not feasible.

ADS 201 further indicates that impact evaluations measure the change in a development outcome that is attributable to a defined intervention; impact evaluations are based on models of cause and effect, and require a credible and rigorously defined counterfactual to control for factors other than the intervention that might account for the observed change. Impact evaluations, in which comparisons are made between program participants that are randomly assigned to either a treatment or a control group, provides the strongest evidence of a relationship between the intervention under study and the outcome measured.

Contractors shall design and implement impact evaluations using experimental or quasi-experimental designs. Contractors must have the capacity to plan and manage the logistics associated with executing the evaluations, including but not limited to arranging plane, train, rental cars, visas, etc., including to remote areas.

In addition, ADS 201 also states that each Mission must conduct at least one “whole-of-project” performance evaluation within their CDCS timeframe. Whole-of-project performance evaluations examine an entire project, including all its constituent activities and progress toward the achievement of the project purpose.

For all evaluations, sufficient level of effort must be included for team planning meetings at the beginning of the evaluation as well as for sufficient team preparation prior to field work. Evaluation planning should utilize a change management approach, include mitigation and response plans for Task Order performance challenges. Sufficient time must be budgeted for data collection and analysis, and adequate level of effort will also be included for drafting quality reports and presentations of findings, conclusions, recommendations, and knowledge products.

The ADS requires USAID’s substantial involvement in all evaluation steps.3 Additionally, all evaluations be made publicly available through the Development Experience Clearinghouse. In complex environments, in some instances, reports may be designated Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) or higher.

As scopes of work require, teams may be asked to draft a public version of the report as well in which the most sensitive information has been removed. The ADS also requires the public sharing of all evaluation data sets. Unless otherwise noted, all data sets developed under the IDIQ must be submitted to https://mft.usaid.gov. Also, see Executive Order, Making Open and Machine Readable the New Default for Government Information, of May 9, 2013.4

C.3.5 Technical Assistance in Evaluation Capacity Building

Evaluation capacity building, both individual and partner system level, is an intentional process to increase individual motivation, knowledge, and skills, and to enhance a group or organization’s ability to conduct or use performance monitoring and evaluation. Contractors holding the IDIQ may be tasked to build and enhance the evaluation capacity of local evaluation specialists/organizations, USAID staff, community organizations, and implementing and government partners, using a coaching/mentoring/facilitating approach.

This may include training or advising on the following: evaluability assessments, managing evaluations, innovative methodologies and analysis techniques, selecting appropriate evaluation and analysis methods, developing and selecting indicators, collecting evaluation data, assuring data quality, and data analysis and dissemination of findings, data visualization, tracking evaluation recommendations and improving partner monitoring and evaluation systems. Delivery methods may include, but are not limited to, face-to-face training, distance learning, compact disc- and web-based instruction, print and web materials, learning about evaluation methods, disseminating evaluation methods and approaches.

The USAID CDCS and RDCS guidelines call for Missions to describe a plan for building local capacity for monitoring and evaluation, including improving the capability of USAID staff, local government, and local partners, for providing data needed to monitor and evaluate progress. In most cases, supporting this plan will require the provision of technical assistance to staff, local institutions and individuals to support USAID’s development objectives in the respective country/region. Contractors will demonstrate the ability to partner and work with international and/or local firms, government and USAID staff on EAAs.

3 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1870/201.pdf, page 122 4 http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/05/09/executive-order-making-openandmachine-readable-new-default-government https://mft.usaid.gov/ https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1870/201.pdf http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/05/09/executive-order-making-openandmachine-readable-new-default-government http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/05/09/executive-order-making-openandmachine-readable-new-default-government

Partnerships between USAID, contractors, international and local institutions will be established with a goal towards directly engaging with local institutions to implement task orders for EAA.

C.3.6 Synthesize Evaluation Lessons and Analyze Policy

As mentioned earlier, a key purpose of evaluation is learning. The ultimate aim is to contribute to a clearer understanding of “what works” in achieving the Agency and Mission’s goals, in both the short and longer term, and to improve the effectiveness of USAID investments globally with a focus on J2SR.

Contractors must have the capacity to review, analyze, and synthesize evaluation reports, produced under this award or other, to inform policy and strategy implications for USAID consideration.

Therefore, contractors must also have the capacity to develop innovative approaches to plan and implement meetings in support of evaluation synthesis and learning, as USAID positions itself as a thought leader in international development.