72066818R00002_PCEPS_Solicitation_20180924.pdf

PART I - THE SCHEDULE 9

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS 9

B.1 PURPOSE 9

B.2 CONTRACT TYPES AND SERVICE 9

B.3 ESTIMATED COST, FIXED FEE AND OBLIGATED AMOUNT 9

B.4 BUDGET 9

B.5 INDIRECT COSTS 11

B.6 COST REIMBURSABLE 12

B.7 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE 12

B.8 MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT AND CANCELLATION CEILING 12

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT 13

C.1 TITLE OF ACTIVITY 13

C.2 ACTIVITY GOALS AND APPROACHES 13

C.3 SCOPE OF CONTRACT 13

C.4 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE 14

C.5 BACKGROUND 14

C.6 PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES, ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS 16

C.7 GUIDING PROGRAMMATIC AND OPERATIONAL APPROACHES 21

C.8 MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING 24

SECTION D - PACKAGING AND MARKING 28

D.1 752.7009 MARKING (JAN 1993) 28

D.2. BRANDING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND MARKING STRATEGY PLAN 28

GENERAL GUIDANCE 28

SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE 31

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 31

E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE 31

E.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP) 31

SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE 33

F.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 33

F.2 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE 33

F.3 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE 33

F.4 REPORTS AND PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES OR OUTPUTS 33

F.5 DELIVERY SCHEDULE FOR REPORTS/PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES 39

F.6 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS 41

F.7 AUTHORIZED WORK DAY / WEEK 42

F.8 KEY PERSONNEL 42

F.9 TECHNICAL APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS 45

F.10 AIDAR 752.7005 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE DOCUMENTS (SEP 2013) 45

SECTION G - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA 48

G.1 752.7003 DOCUMENTATION FOR PAYMENT (NOV 1998) 48

G.2 ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACTING OFFICE 49

G.3 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR) 49

G.4 TECHNICAL DIRECTIONS/RELATIONSHIP WITH USAID 49

G.5 PAYING OFFICE 51

G.6 ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA 51

G.7 INVOICING INSTRUCTIONS 51

SECTION H - SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS 53

H.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 53

H.2 FOREIGN GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS TO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES (JAN 2002) 53

H.3 DEFENSE BASE ACT (DBA) INSURANCE FOR 2015-2020 53

H.4 AUTHORIZED GEOGRAPHIC CODE 54

H.5 LOGISTIC SUPPORT 54

H.6 CONSENT TO SUBCONTRACT 54

H.7 AIDAR 752.229-71 REPORTING OF FOREIGN TAXES (JULY 2007) 55

H.8 AIDAR 752.222-70 USAID DISABILITY POLICY (DEC 2004) 56

H.9 752.7007 PERSONNEL COMPENSATION (JULY 2007) 56

H.10 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONNEL COMPENSATION 56

H.11 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENT 57

H.12 MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES 57

H.13 752.7032 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL APPROVALS AND NOTIFICATION 58

REQUIREMENTS (APR 2014) 58

H.14 NONEXPENDABLE PROPERTY AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES 59

H.15 LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS 59

H.16 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND MANAGEMENT 59

H.17 ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS SYSTEM 60

H.18 BUSINESS CLASS TRAVEL 61

H.19 USAID IMPLEMENTING PARTNER NOTICES (IPN) PORTAL FOR ACQUISITION (JULY 2014) 61

H.20 752.231-72 CONFERENCE PLANNING AND REQUIRED APPROVALS (AUG 2013) 62

H.21 SUBMISSION OF DATASETS TO THE DEVELOPMENT DATA LIBRARY (DDL) 63

(OCT 2014) 63

H.22 ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY (MAY 2016) 65

H.23 USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY NOTIFICATION (MAY 2016) (DEVIATION NO. M/OAA-DEV-FAR- 16-1c) 65

H.24 CLOUD COMPUTING (MAY 2016) 67

H.25 EXECUTIVE ORDER ON TERRORISM FINANCING (FEB 2002) 73

H.26 PROHIBITION OF ASSISTANCE TO DRUG TRAFFICKERS 73

H.27 EXCHANGE VISITORS AND TRAINING 73

H.28 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED FACILITIES OR PROPERTY 74

H.29 PERSONAL IDENTITY VERIFICATION OF CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL (JULY 2007) 77

H.30 HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE-12 (HSPD-12) (SEPTEMBER 2006) 77

H.31 SECURITY AND EVACUATION 79

H.32 HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND SANCTIONS PROGRAM IN SOUTH SUDAN 80

SECTION I - CONTRACT CLAUSES 80

I.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 80

I.2 752.242-70 PERIODIC PROGRESS REPORTS (OCT 2007) 84

I.3 752.225-70 SOURCE AND NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS (FEB 2012) 84

I.4 752.245-70 GOVERNMENT PROPERTY—USAID REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 85

OCTOBER 2017 85

I.5 52.203-19 PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING WITH ENTITIES THAT REQUIRE CERTAIN INTERNAL

CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS (APR 2015) 87

I.6 752.7038 NONDISCRIMINATION AGAINST END-USERS OF SUPPLIES OR SERVICES (OCT 2016) 88

I.7 52.229-8 TAXES - FOREIGN COST-REIMBURSEMENT CONTRACTS (MAR 1990) 88

I.8 52.232-40-ACCELERATED PAYMENTS TO SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTORS 89

I.9 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998) 89

I.10 752.231-71 SALARY SUPPLEMENTS FOR HG EMPLOYEES (OCT 1998) 89

I.11 752.7027 PERSONNEL (DEC 1990) 90

I.12 752.7034 ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND DISCLAIMER (DEC 1991) 91

PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS 92

SECTION J - LIST OF ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND REFERENCED BY LINK 92

PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS 94

SECTION K - REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS 94

K.1 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 94

K.2 52.204-8 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS (JAN 2018) 94

K.3 INSURANCE - IMMUNITY FROM TORT LIABILITY 98

K.4 52.204-3 TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION (OCT 1998) 98

K.5 52.209-2 PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING WITH INVERTED DOMESTIC 99

CORPORATIONS—REPRESENTATION (NOV 2015) 99

K.6 52.209-5 CERTIFICATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (OCT 2015) 99

K.7 52.209-7 INFORMATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (JUL 2013) 101

K.8 52.230-1 COST ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOTICES AND CERTIFICATION (OCT 2015) 102

K.9 52.230-7 PROPOSAL DISCLOSURE--COST ACCOUNTING PRACTICE CHANGES (APR 2005) 105

K.10 52.209-11 REPRESENTATION BY CORPORATIONS REGARDING DELINQUENT TAX LIABILITY OR A

FELONY CONVICTION UNDER ANY FEDERAL LAW (FEB 2016) 105

K.11 52.203-18, PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING WITH ENTITIES THAT REQUIRE CERTAIN INTERNAL

CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS OR STATEMENTS –REPRESENTATION (JAN 2017) 106

K.12 52.215-6 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE (OCT 1997) 107

K.13 52.222-22 PREVIOUS CONTRACTS AND COMPLIANCE REPORTS (FEB 1999) 107

K.14 52.222-25 AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COMPLIANCE (APR 1984) 107

K.15 52.222-56 CERTIFICATION REGARDING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS COMPLIANCE PLAN (MAR 2015) 108

K.16 52.209-13 VIOLATION OF ARMS CONTROL TREATIES OR AGREEMENTS-CERTIFICATION (JUNE 2018) 108

K.17 52.227-15 REPRESENTATION OF LIMITED RIGHTS DATA AND RESTRICTED COMPUTER SOFTWARE. (DEC 2007) 110

K.18 AUTHORIZED NEGOTIATORS 111

K.19 SIGNATURE 111

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS 112

L.1 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 112

L.2 52.216-1 TYPE OF CONTRACT (APR 1984) 112

L.3 52.232-38 SUBMISSION OF ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER INFORMATION WITH OFFER (JUL 2013) 112

L.4 52.233-2 SERVICE OF PROTEST (SEP 2006) 113

L.5 SUBMISSION/DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS 114

L.6 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL 115

L.7 COST PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS 122

SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD 130

M.1 GENERAL INFORMATION 130

M.2. TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA 130

M.3 COST PROPOSAL EVALUATION 133

M.4 DETERMINATION OF THE COMPETITIVE RANGE AND CONTRACT AWARD 133

M.5 SOURCE SELECTION 134

M.6 CONTRACTING WITH SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND DISADVANTAGED ENTERPRISES 134

ATTACHMENT J-1: ACRONYMS 135

ATTACHMENT J.2: BUDGET TEMPLATE 136

ATTACHMENT J.3: IDENTIFICATION OF GEOGRAPHIC CODE 137

ATTACHMENT J.4: CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEE BIOGRAPHICAL DATA SHEET-FORM No. AID 1420-17 138

ATTACHMENT J.5: PAST PERFORMANCE INFORMATION (PPI) 139

ATTACHMENT J.6: GENDER EQUALITY POLICY 140

ATTACHMENT J.7: INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION 141

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 Statement of Objectives (SOO) specified in Section C for the Promoting Civic Engagement and Peace (PCEP) Activity.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPES AND SERVICE

This is a performance based Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) completion type contract. For consideration as set forth below, the Contractor will provide the performance objectives or outputs described in

Section C and F, in accordance with performance standards specified in Section E.

B.3 ESTIMATED COST, FIXED FEE AND OBLIGATED AMOUNT

(a) The estimated cost for the performance of the work required hereunder, exclusive of fixed fee, if any, is $TBD. The fixed fee, if any, is $TBD. The estimated cost plus fixed fee, if any, is $TBD.

(b) Within the estimated cost plus fixed fee (if any) specified in paragraph (a) above, the amount currently obligated and available for reimbursement of allowable costs incurred by the Contractor (and payment of fee, if any) for performance hereunder is $TBD. The Contractor must not exceed the aforesaid obligated amount in accordance with the Limitation of Funds Clause, FAR 52.232.22.

(c) Funds obligated hereunder are anticipated to be sufficient through TBD.

B.4 BUDGET

Contract

Line

Item

Description Total

CLIN 0001 PCEP Program – Base Period (Years 1-2)

CLIN 0001A Direct Costs $TBD

CLIN 0001B Grants Under Contract (GUC) $9.0 m

CLIN 0001C Rehabilitation/Construction $3.0 m

CLIN 0001D Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) $3.0 m

CLIN 0001E Indirect Costs $TBD

CLIN 0001F Total Fixed Fee $TBD

CLIN 0001 Total: $TBD

(Total of CLIN 0001 A-F)

Item

Description Total

CLIN 0002 PCEP Program – Option Period 1 (Year 3)

CLIN 0002A Direct Costs $TBD

CLIN 0002B Grants Under Contract (GUC) $4.5.0m

CLIN 0002C Rehabilitation/Construction $1.5

CLIN 0002D Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) $1.5M

CLIN 0002E Indirect Costs $TBD

CLIN 0002F Total Fixed Fee $TBD

CLIN 0002 Total:

(Total of CLIN 0002A-F)

$TBD

Item

Description Total

CLIN 0003 PCEP Program – Option Period 2 (Year 4)

CLIN 0003A Direct Costs $TBD

CLIN 0003B Grants Under Contract (GUC) $4.5.m

CLIN 0004C Rehabilitation/Construction $ 1.5 m

CLIN 0003D Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) $1.5m

CLIN 0003E Indirect Costs $TBD

CLIN 0003F Total Fixed Fee $TBD

CLIN 0003 Total:

(Total of CLIN 0003A-F)

Option Period Three: (Year 5)

Item

Description Total

CLIN 0004 PCEP Program – Option Period 3 (Year 5)

CLIN 0004A Direct Costs $TBD

CLIN 0004B Grants Under Contract (GUC) $4.5.0m

CLIN 0004C Rehabilitation/Construction $1.5M

CLIN 0004D Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) $1.5m

CLIN 0004E Indirect Costs $TBD

CLIN 0004F Total Fixed Fee $TBD

CLIN 0004 Total:

(Total of CLIN 0004A-F)

Total Estimated Cost: TBD

B.5 INDIRECT COSTS

1. For the Prime Contractor:

The contract clause entitled “Allowable Cost and Payment (JUN 2013)”, FAR Subpart 52.216-7, specifies that the indirect cost rates shall be established for each of the Contractor’s accounting periods which apply to this contract. 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:

Period:

3/ Base of Application:

Period:

[To be determined]

Note: The Contractor is allowed to recover allowable and applicable indirect costs (i.e., overhead, G&A, etc.) consistent with FAR Part 31 and its approved Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA).

B.6 COST REIMBURSABLE

The U.S. dollar costs allowable will be limited to reasonable, allocable and necessary costs determined in accordance with FAR 52.216-7, Allowable Cost and Payment (June 2013), FAR 52.216-8, Fixed Fee

(June 2011), and AIDAR 752.7003, Documentation for Payment.

B.7 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE

Payment of fixed fee will be made upon receipt of a proper invoice and shall directly correspond to the percentage of allowable cost being paid. In accordance with FAR 52.216-8 fixed fee, the Contracting

Officer (CO) will withhold 15% of the total fee or $100,000 whichever is less until the required awards conditions under the reference clause have been met.

B.8 MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT AND CANCELLATION CEILING

This contract is considered non-severable, and is therefore a multi-year contract as defined in FAR

17.103. Therefore, this contract is subject to the requirements of FAR 17.106.

a. Performance under this contract during the second and subsequent years is contingent upon the appropriation of funds. All program years except the first are subject to cancellation. Cancellation shall occur by the dates specified below if the Contracting Officer:

1. notifies the Contractor that funds are not available for contract performance for any subsequent program year or

2. fails to notify the Contractor that funds are available for performance of the succeeding program year.

b. Cancellation Ceiling:

This is a CPFF type contract where the Contractor is authorized to be reimbursed for all costs which are allowable in accordance with FAR 52.216-7, “Allowable Costs and Payment.” Therefore, the

Contractor will not incur any costs which would have been amortized over the life of the contract should the contract be cancelled.

The Government’s liability for cancellation charges shall not exceed $[AMOUNT TO BE

COMPLETED BY Contracting Officer and not be 0$]. This amount will be reduced in accordance with FAR 17.106-1(c)(1) at the conclusion of each program year, as follows:

Contract Year 2: (At the beginning of Contract Year 2) Amount: $______

Contract Year 3: (At the beginning of Contract Year 3) Amount: $______

Contract Year 4: (At the beginning of Contract Year 4) Amount: $______

Contract Year 5: (At the beginning of Contract Year 5) Amount: $______

Note: The appropriate Contract year needs to be filled prior to award.

End of section B

SECTION C – STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

C.1 TITLE OF ACTIVITY

USAID Promoting Civic Engagement and Peace Activity (PCEP)

C.2 ACTIVITY GOALS AND APPROACHES

PCEP is designed to be USAID/South Sudan’s primary vehicle for flexible and creative conflict mitigation, peacebuilding, and civil society strengthening initiatives in South Sudan. It takes into account lessons learned from over ten years of USAID Democracy & Governance and Conflict

Mitigation programming across South Sudan.

The purpose of PCEP is to empower citizen actors across a wide range of contexts and populations in

South Sudan to advance peace, stability, and dialogue through local solutions, civic participation, and increased access to information in South Sudan. This will help to mitigate conflict, advance reconciliation efforts, and bolster civil society actors and organizations at local and national levels.

PCEP will help USAID/South Sudan progress toward its overall goal to “build a foundation for a more stable and socially cohesive South Sudan” by empowering citizen and community actors who have been deeply affected by the current conflict. PCEP also strives to better integrate conflict mitigation, peacebuilding and civil society programming in order to strengthen the ability of citizens to connect with local peacebuilding efforts and encourage more effective engagement in local and national peace and political processes.

C.3 SCOPE OF CONTRACT

PCEP will advance its purpose through four objectives to be achieved at both local and national levels:

1. Local actors are building cross-line interdependence and intra-community cohesion to promote peace processes and peaceful co-existence;

“Cross-line” will mean, but not be limited to, geographic borders (county, state, national, etc.), ethnic groups (including both inter- and intra-tribe/clan differences), political groups, age cohorts and gender. “Interdependency” will be understood as a strengthening of mutual interests between and across groups in conflict.

2. Civil society actors are advocating for peace, justice, reconciliation, and reform; participating in political and civic processes;

3. Key partner(s) are providing trauma awareness and trauma healing services to communities; and

4. Print, radio, and other media are providing accurate, fair and thorough information to mitigate the destructive impact of rumor and misinformation.

The contractor will achieve the four objectives primarily through providing small grants and technical support to community-based actors, local and national civil society organizations, faith based groups, and media organizations. The contractor will have the capacity to provide rapid support to respond to unfolding events or potentially unforeseen U.S. Government priorities in South Sudan.

C.4 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance of this contract is a two (2) year base period with three (3) one-year option periods from the effective date of award.

C.5 BACKGROUND

Protracted civil war has torn the fabric of South Sudan society and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. One third of the population is displaced, half is food insecure, and the economy has collapsed. Gender-based violence is widespread. Political and military leadership from both the government and the opposition show little interest in, or ability to, govern for the benefit of all South

Sudanese. The political environment has become increasingly zero-sum. South Sudan has become a violent kleptocracy where leaders exert economic and political power to support a vast network of patronage, sideline opponents, and enrich themselves. As a result, South Sudan’s political, economic and service delivery systems barely function. It is ranked the world’s most fragile country in the 2018 Fund for Peace Fragile States Index.

Consensus is that long-term change in South Sudan and resolution of the root causes of conflict will require development of an inclusive and open national political environment, and, possibly, generational transition. Although prospects for this development have dimmed due to the continued civil war and protracted political crisis, the U.S. and the international community continue to obtain favorable results at the sub-national level and by supporting civil society and credible local public sector actors (within

U.S. law and policy) who demonstrate a genuine desire to assist their constituents. This support has included investment in civil society and non-governmental institutions that promote a social and political climate -- especially at the local level -- in which these actors can thrive and act on the needs of society, rather than for personal or sectarian advancement. Targeted integrated assistance to these identified good performers and organizations (within U.S. law and policy) is likely to improve the lives of many South Sudanese and, through the promotion of information sharing and consensus building, identify promising “next generation” leaders and local groups, and highlight successful experiences and practices.

In response to the deteriorating security context from the December 2013 conflict, and exacerbated by the July 2016 violence in Juba, USAID/South Sudan conducted a series of strategy review sessions to develop an appropriate programmatic response. As a result, emphasis shifted from state-building activities to recovery and nation-building efforts to help South Sudanese overcome the current crisis and develop strategies and mechanisms for preventing or mitigating future conflict. This emphasis brought more attention to the sub-national and community levels and helped the Mission tap into local support for minimizing conflict and building a more socially cohesive country. Regardless of what happens with national-level peace negotiations in the near future, this approach is still valid because local communities and civil society actors will continue to lead efforts to heal wounds, repair social fabric, and attempt to stabilize the country.

The Mission goal, as stated in the Operational Framework illustrated below, is to build the foundation for a more stable and socially cohesive South Sudan. Transitional Objective One supports South

Sudan’s recovery from current and past crises and aims to build community and household resilience.

Transitional Objective Two, which provides the theoretical foundation for PCEP, focuses on enabling peace and reconciliation processes that can lead to increased stability across the country. In short, the overall vision of the Operational Framework is to improve prospects for peace in South Sudan by strengthening resilient and conflict-resistant communities. The implicit community focus of this priority does not rule out supporting new peace processes, formal and credible broad dialogue processes, or the existing Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS). It acknowledges, however, the current limitations of ARCSS and the Transitional Government of National Unity. While holding the door open to what, at this juncture, may be only aspirational hope for progress at the national level, this revised strategy simultaneously invests in the future generation of leaders and citizen groups, improves the lives of South Sudanese and – importantly – advocates more effectively for investment in

South Sudan beyond humanitarian interventions.

USAID/South Sudan Operational Framework

Goal: Build the foundation for a more stable and socially cohesive South Sudan.

C.6 PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES, ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS

To empower citizen actors across a wide range of contexts and populations in South Sudan to advance peace, stability, and dialogue through local solutions, civic participation, and increased access to information, the offeror must address each of the following four objectives:

Objective 1- Local actors are building cross-line interdependence and intra-community cohesion to promote peace processes and peaceful co-existence.

Activities supporting this objective mitigate conflicts from escalating by providing targeted support to peace actors, community-level leaders/groups and influencers, and constituent-responsive authorities who are engaged in, or wish to be engaged in, peace-building, conflict mitigation, and reconciliation.

Intermediate Result 1.1: Improved capacity of a wide range of local actors to engage constructively and to successfully mitigate perceived conflict issues.

The offeror must identify opportunities within and across communities to manage disputes non-violently, promote peace messages, and strengthen the tools and resources needed to build trust and find solutions to problems. Activities must (a) support emerging political processes and conflict resolution and mitigation activities, economic development in support of conflict mitigation activities, and (b) advance conditions for improved citizen participation, accountability, and long-term stability through capacity building of actors working on such issues.

Intermediate Result 1.2: Increased mutual interdependence resulting from infrastructure and livelihoods projects.

The offeror must promote beneficial interdependence and understanding of the value of maintaining positive and peaceful co-existence. The offeror may identify and propose light infrastructure projects that provide immediate employment, or small-scale activities that increase economic livelihood opportunities. The offeror must implement these activities in partnership with local partners experienced in supporting livelihoods and/or vocational training. The offeror must ensure its approach encourages and supports buy-in from constituent-responsive actors and maximizes linkages to, and synergies with, parallel, longer-term initiatives to promote sustainability by other donors or implementers.

Illustrative Activities: The following are indicative examples and are not mandatory activities. The successful Offeror must establish a distinct package of actions to deliver the results being sought.

• Provide technical assistance and support to launch and manage community peace and reconciliation processes between communities in conflict;

• Provide cross-border market-based activities and livelihoods skills training that encourages groups in conflict to cooperate, including quick employment for rehabilitation of community centers, clinics, etc.;

• Support community dialogues focusing on seasonal migration of pastoralists; and

• Support citizen-led coalitions or CSO umbrella organizations to participate in peace and conflict advocacy, monitor compliance, and/or support the creation of such bodies.

Expected Results:

• Targeted communities able to resolve conflict non-violently;

• Social cohesion and intra- and inter-communal relations restored; and

• Intercommunal cooperation and economic interdependence established.

Illustrative Performance Indicators: The following indicators are indicative examples and not mandatory. The successful offeror must identify custom indicators that cost effectively demonstrates that results are being achieved.

• % change of target population reporting a willingness to engage in community dialogue

(disaggregated by gender);

• % change of local communities reporting increased trust in local peace processes (disaggregated by gender);

• % change of target population participating in peace, coexistence, and political processes

(disaggregated by gender);

• Number of groups reporting positive involvement in new commerce-based activities and employment opportunities;

• % change in targeted population reporting knowledge of peace and conflict advocacy and monitoring efforts from citizen-led coalitions and/or CSO umbrella organizations (disaggregated by gender); ; and

• (F Indicator) PS.6.2-4 Number of people participating in USG-supported events, trainings, or activities designed to build mass support for peace and reconciliation. (disaggregated by gender);

Objective 2: Civil society actors are advocating for peace, justice reconciliation, and reform; and participating in political and civic processes.

As the civil war continues in South Sudan, civil society actors are increasingly undertaking peace messaging, peacebuilding, and reconciliation activities. They have also become key participants in and observers of a range of peace processes, including formal ones organized by the East African region and international community. While this action may be distracting from more traditional good governance, reform, and accountability efforts initiated prior to the eruption of the civil war in 2013, many dynamic organizations at the local, state, and national level are capable of operating on both tracks. Furthermore, they are focusing on activities that resonate with South Sudanese from all communities, particularly youths, women, and traditionally marginalized groups. Amidst the displacement and violence of the conflict, they are also mindful of strategies and initiatives that can positively contribute to long-term, sustainable civil-society development.

Intermediate Result 2.1: Civil society and faith- based organizations, individuals and groups work together for effective peacebuilding, civic education, and reconciliation activities that resonate socially and culturally.

The offeror must identify and appropriately support South Sudan civil society actors, as their individual specialties and capacities allow, to undertake activities covering this spectrum of potential programming.

In this context, USAID considers faith-based organizations and church groups -- at both local and national levels -- to be part of civil society, and recognizes they have often played an integral part in peacebuilding, advocacy, and citizen engagement in South Sudan. The offeror will design activities ranging from peacebuilding efforts in response to emergencies to civic education campaigns focusing on long-term development and governance issues. The offeror will have the flexibility to support civil society in addressing issues that local actors deem to be most critical and at local or national levels.

Intermediate Result 2.2: Citizen actors participate in processes supporting transitional justice and enhancing communities’ perceptions of justice that assist formal and informal peacebuilding efforts.

The offeror must identify and assist civil society actors to establish formal and informal civil liberty advocacy, transitional justice, and rule of law initiatives that are relevant over the life of the project.

Illustrative Activities: The following are indicative examples and are not mandatory activities. The successful offeror must establish a distinct package of actions to deliver the results being sought.

• Community dialogues, advocacy campaigns, reconciliation initiatives, music, film and a diverse array of sports activities;

• Dialogue, cultural, media, and sporting events that brings South Sudanese of diverse backgrounds together peacefully;

• Peace, reconciliation, dialogue, and civic-engagement messaging that arises during the project implementation period;

• Activities that bring together large numbers of youth, women and minority groups to promote peace, reconciliation, dialogue, and civic engagement;

• Civic-engagement fora and civic-awareness campaigns on issues such as reform, good governance, reconciliation, and accountability;

• Civilian monitoring of peace agreement(s) and peace processes;

• Innovative systems to effectively and safely document and collect information on violations of civil liberties;

• Capacity building of individuals, organizations, networks and initiatives working to expand civil liberties; and

• Civil liberties actors’ participation in regional and international meetings.

• Targeted civil society groups able to address citizen-identified issues and problems;

• Peace, reconciliation, and reform efforts understood by citizens;

• Youth, women, and minority group involved in civil society initiatives; and

• Strong formal and informal transitional justice efforts and processes established.

mandatory. The successful offeror must identify custom indicators that cost effectively demonstrates that the results are being achieved.

• % change of new partnerships among citizens, civil society, media and community leaders;

• % change of youth, citizens, and minority groups participating in political and civic processes

(disaggregated by gender);;

• % change of targeted audiences reporting awareness of peace, reconciliation, dialogue, and civic engagement messages (disaggregated by gender); ;

• % change in citizen actors reporting that advocacy and initiatives working on civil liberties are meaningful (disaggregated by gender); and

• (F) DR.4.2-2 Number of civil society organizations receiving USG assistance engaged in advocacy interventions

Objective 3: Key partner(s) are providing trauma awareness services to communities.

Decades of conflict in South Sudan have created an acutely distressed society. Trauma deepens the personal and social cost of ongoing violence and prolongs conflict, often turning victims into perpetrators and undermining all dispute resolution mechanisms. USAID desires to provide practical tools and appropriate trauma awareness activities, enmeshed in and responding to local communities’ needs. Through this project, communities will begin to understand how trauma and distress have perpetuated historical tensions. They will begin bridging these divides, paving the way for reconciliation.

Intermediate Result 3.1: Stakeholders recognize signs of trauma and distress and are able to approach intra- and inter-community engagement and dialogue with increased sensitivity.

Illustrative activities: The following are indicative examples and are not mandatory activities. The

• Train individuals to engage communities on trauma awareness;

• Support traditional and innovative community-based trauma awareness initiatives; and

• Produce and disseminate materials promoting trauma awareness, in partnership with other organizations working in this sector on the ground as necessary and feasible.

• Community support mechanisms providing assistance to identified victims of trauma established and or supported;

• Citizens’ awareness of trauma signs improved and the use tools to manage trauma increased; and

• Individuals and communities able and willing to participate meaningfully in peace building efforts.

mandatory. The successful Applicant must identify custom indicators that cost effectively demonstrates

• % change in targeted population reporting knowledge of signs of trauma (disaggregated by gender);

• % of change in populations use of tools to manage trauma (disaggregated by gender); and

• Number of citizens participating in trauma awareness activities and services (disaggregated by gender);

Objective 4: Print, radio, and other media are providing accurate, fair and thorough information to mitigate the destructive impact of rumor and misinformation.

The project must promote access to reliable and trustworthy information for communities in critical areas, to mitigate political manipulation and misinformation that could lead to further tensions and conflict. Information can be disseminated through both traditional and non-traditional media, the latter including informal citizen journalism efforts and initiatives that bring civil society organizations, concerned citizens, and independent media outlets together in the interest of peace and reform. The offeror must identify and vet existing and promising new independent media outlets for support, including national and community radio stations as needed. This activity will be flexible enough to complement other possible USG-funded activities working on media-based activities.

Intermediate Result 4.1: Community members access independent media outlets and participate in peaceful and purposeful debate, and are able to resist misinformation, disinformation and hate speech.

Illustrative activities: The following are indicative examples and are not mandatory activities. The

• Support programming on independent national and community radio stations;

• Support media houses, journalist unions, and media advocacy bodies to work on issues such as protection of journalists, media sector analysis, creation of a fair media legal environment, free speech, and strengthening of private investment in the media sector;

• Create new or enhance existing citizen journalism, media technology innovation, and media literacy efforts;

• Disseminate information on peace processes;

• Provide physical infrastructure investments in community-based radio stations and/or other local media outlets; and

• Promote and encourage civil debate and counter hate speech.

• Citizen able to access independent information and professional journalism

• Media sector principles, such as protection of journalists, free speech, and fair media legal environment, valued and protected by relevant stakeholders

• Civil society and advocacy movement linked with media houses, journalists’ unions, and media advocacy bodies; and

• Citizens have access to accurate, timely and unbiased information on peace processes.

mandatory. The successful Applicant must identify custom indicators that cost effectively demonstrates

• Number of media programs on independent national and community radio stations supported with USG assistance;

• % change in targeted audiences noting increased positive attention to media sector issue

(disaggregated by gender);

• % change in targeted audiences reporting improved awareness of information disseminated on peace processes (disaggregated by gender); and

• (F Indicator) DR.5.3-1 Number of non-state news outlets assisted by USG.

C.7 GUIDING PROGRAMMATIC AND OPERATIONAL APPROACHES

Adaptability and Flexibility

Assuming the continued volatility of the South Sudan operating context and the likelihood of project implementation in a politically sensitive context, offerors will be rated on the degree of flexibility and adaptability demonstrated in their submitted proposals. USAID/South Sudan requires offerors to have the capacity to maintain situational and contextual awareness, while developing and aligning interventions in a fluid political and policy context.

Conflict Sensitivity

In conflict environments such as South Sudan, USAID programming cannot exacerbate existing tensions and conflict, nor endanger target communities. The offeror must anticipate and mitigate risks while identifying opportunities to consolidate and capitalize on emerging peace processes.

The offeror must incorporate conflict sensitivity principals during the design and implementation phases of activities.

Geographic Focus

Offerors must submit proposals demonstrating their contextual understanding of the complex and fluid nature of conflict endemic across South Sudan. Offerors may propose up to five (5) field office locations, with the headquarters office to be located in Juba. The successful offeror’s approach will maximize efficiency and cost savings in the field through innovative operations. At the same time, the placement and location of field offices must demonstrate the strategic importance of a particular geographic area towards supporting peace processes and enlarging the space for civil society at both the local and national levels.

Sustainability

USAID considers sustainability to be achieved when host country partners and beneficiaries take ownership of development processes and maintain results beyond the life of the activity. Sustainability is strengthened by programs that respond to local priorities and are implemented by local stakeholders.

In order to incorporate sustainability into activity design, the offeror must ensure that there is local demand and ownership for all activities. The offeror must identify stakeholders who are committed to carrying on activities after USAID support ends and must assist these stakeholders to develop strategies to leverage additional local or international resources. Activities implemented by the offeror are expected to undergo a sustainability analysis. If an activity is determined to be unsustainable, the offeror must inform USAID of potential negative impacts of the activity’s end during the design phase, and provide a risk mitigation plan detailing how activities will be handled in cases where there are negative or detrimental impacts to target beneficiary communities.

Clustering, Layering and Sequencing of Activities

The offeror’s approach must apply the concepts of “clustering, layering and sequencing” in its identification and design of activities. USAID/South Sudan defines clustering as activities grouped together by theme and/or geographic location that are mutually supportive. Layering occurs when separate activities contribute to common outputs and outcomes and/or build other synergies that multiply or increase impact towards the overall program objectives. Lastly, sequencing of conflict-mitigation and civil society strengthening activities must be used by the offeror so that activities exploit gains leveraged from past or current programs, building on these successes where opportunities exist.

The offeror should consider, as appropriate, piloting activities to test and build skills, potentially followed by larger grants to expand successful pilots to more communities.

Gender, Youth and Other Marginalized Groups

The successful offeror must identify, analyze and describe how different groups experience conflict, peace processes, and civic engagement in South Sudan. This analysis must inform offeror design activities to promote inclusion of these groups in conflict mitigation, peacebuilding, media and civil society strengthening activities. Such approaches must be carefully tailored to target marginalized populations including gender, youth, disabilities, ethnic minorities, internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, and other human rights abuses like forced marriage. Where appropriate, activities must also emphasize aspects of prevention and protection in relation to strengthening the position of such groups in South Sudanese society. Additionally, strategies for involving these groups in dialogue at all levels must be prioritized, given the importance of inclusive and genuine dialogue in PCEP’s objectives.

PCEP GRANTS UNDER CONTRACT (GUCS) PROGRAM

The primary mechanism for achieving the objectives outlined in PCEP will be a grants-under-contract

(GUC) program. The successful offeror will implement community-driven activities to build trust, strengthen inter-intra communal relations, support livelihoods, promote social cohesion and strengthen civil engagement in South Sudan.

Grants Under Contract ($30 million over 5 years (base plus option years)[1][2]

The Government requires Offerors to dedicate the following percentages of GUC funds to each objective:

· Objective 1: Conflict Mitigation – 40%

· Objective 2: Civil Society – 30%

· Objective 3: Trauma Awareness – 10%

· Objective 4: Media – 20%

The offeror will implement a GUCs program whereby small, in-kind, and fixed amount award (FAA) grants will be issued to local and international partners and stakeholders in support of the four PCEP objectives on an ongoing basis. To assist in the development of local capacities and to ensure locally driven solutions, the offeror must incorporate organizational and functional capacity building as a key element of these GUCs when appropriate. Additionally, such capacity building will be of a short, medium, or long-term nature, as appropriate. As it is difficult to determine in advance the types of grants and partners most relevant to stability in a rapidly evolving context, the offeror will be expected to develop implementation guidelines that stress adaptability, flexibility and collaboration with USAID and local stakeholders.

Illustrative GUCs activities:

• In-kind rehabilitation and construction grants to traditional and other authorities who have no suitable workplace and are therefore unable to carry out their functions;

• Logistical and technical support to local peace dialogues to ensure all relevant stakeholders are included and follow-up support to facilitate implementation of the outcomes, either through further dialogue or through more-tangible support to meet identified needs;

• In-kind support for cultural events promoting peace and social inclusion;

• Capacity building for peace groups and civil society organizations to encourage effective operation to mitigate and prevent violent conflict and to advocate for issues that are relevant to their work; and

• Information dissemination by expanding access to radio networks and broadcasts, developing content, or working through local networks to generate and provide accurate and independent information that is relevant to mitigating and preventing conflict;

The offeror must identify and support small grants to: (i) leverage parallel internationally and nationally funded activities; (ii) create viable local projects that improve the quality of life for residents while serving as models for follow-on adaptation and implementation in other locations; and (iii) where feasible, link and feed project-supported small grants into longer-term initiatives to maximize prospects for sustainability.

Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM)

The conflict in South Sudan varies by geography and season and is influenced by domestic and regional events. Conditions on the ground change quickly, with inter- and intra-communal tensions, in addition to military/militia buildup, likely to flare into violence at any moment. At the same time, emerging opportunities to consolidate peace and support civil society can develop rapidly, including opportunities that are unforeseen and/or urgent priorities for U.S. Government policy in South Sudan. Given the volatile and fluid situation on the ground, offerors must develop a mechanism for rapid, flexible response to address such opportunities, including those that are within the scope of PCEP but that might not fit discreetly into one of the four PCEP objectives. This mechanism must be part of the grants program, however it should be considered as a set aside component of the grants program. In the RRM, the offeror must use a streamlined clearance, design and implementation process for timely and appropriate reaction to events, threats of violence and opportunities as they occur in South Sudan.

C.8 MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING

Activity monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) must emphasize the systematic process of collecting and analyzing performance data and other information to track progress toward planned results. The purpose of monitoring, evaluation and learning practices is to apply knowledge gained from evidence and analysis to improve development outcomes and ensure accountability for the resources used to achieve them.

Monitoring and evaluation is used to influence decision making and resource allocation and to make programmatic changes as needed. USAID relies on the best available information to rigorously and credibly make choices, plan effectively, manage adaptively, and learn systematically.

Activities must have an approved Activity MEL Plan in place before major implementation actions begin. Key components of the Activity MEL Plan typically include:

• The activity’s monitoring approach documented, including relevant performance indicators of activity outputs and outcomes and context indicators;

• Plans for collaborating with any external evaluations planned by USAID;

• Any proposed internal evaluations;

• Learning activities, including knowledge capture at activity close out;

• Estimated resources for these monitoring, evaluation and learning activities that are a part of the implementing partner’s budget; and

• Roles and responsibilities of the contractor and sub-contractors for all proposed monitoring, evaluation and learning actions.

During implementation, three sources will provide feedback to the management cycle: 1) the Monitoring

Evaluation and Learning (MEL) system of PCEP, 2) a mission Third Party Monitoring activity and 3) A joint annual performance management review of the activity, which the contract will require before option years can be exercised.

Performance monitoring is the ongoing and systematic collection of performance indicator data and other quantitative or qualitative information to reveal whether implementation is on track and whether expected results are being achieved.

It includes monitoring the quantity, quality, and timeliness of activity outputs within the control of

USAID or its implementers, as well as the monitoring of project and strategic outcomes that are expected to result from the combination of these outputs and other factors. Performance monitoring data are analyzed to inform judgments about the outputs and outcomes of activities as a basis to improve effectiveness and/or inform decisions about current and future programming. One way that USAID analyze performance is by comparing actual results achieved against the expected results and targets initially set at the beginning of an activity. This analysis is critical in determining the progress made in achieving the expected results identified in an activity logic models and to confirm or refute assumptions and hypotheses and/or adaptively manage as necessary.

Context monitoring is the systematic collection of information about conditions and external factors relevant to the implementation and performance of an activity. This includes information about local conditions that may directly affect implementation and performance (such as non-USAID projects operating within the same sector as USAID projects) or external factors that may indirectly affect implementation and performance (such as macro-economic, social, or political conditions). Context monitoring must be used to monitor assumptions and risks identified in an activity logic model. Context monitoring data are analyzed to form judgements about how actors and conditions outside the control of

USAID may affect programming, and may also reveal the unintended consequences of USAID programing. USAID uses this information to make management decisions and inform management actions about implementation, including when and how USAID needs to engage with other donors working in the same context.

The Activity MEL Plan must include as many or as few performance indicators as necessary to ensure that progress toward expected results is sufficiently tracked, while also being cost effective by eliminating redundant indicators. The Contractor must propose a number of performance indicators with a balance between the quantity and quality of indicator data needed for management decision making and reporting; and the management and financial resources required to collect and analyze those indicators. Some recommended indicators include:

● % change of target populations reporting a willingness to engage in community dialogue

● % of change of new partnerships among citizens, civil society, media and community leaders

● % change in targeted populations reporting knowledge of sign and trauma (disaggregated by gender);

● % change in targeted audiences noting increased positive attention to media sector issues

Evaluation is the systematic collection and analysis of information about the characteristics and outcomes of activities conducted as a basis for judgments to improve effectiveness, and timed to inform decisions about current and future programming.

The purpose of evaluations is twofold: to ensure accountability to stakeholders and to learn to improve development outcomes.

USAID is planning to conduct an external final performance evaluation of the activity between six and twelve months before the activity ends. The purpose of this evaluation will be to provide evidence of achievement of activity goals as outlined in the Performance Work Statement, measuring USAID’s attribution and identifying how sustainable USAID’s results were.

Some recommended evaluation questions include:

1. To what extent has USAID and other stakeholders’ dollar amount investment contributed to outcomes of increased citizen empowerment to help mitigate conflict, advance reconciliation efforts, and bolster civil society actors in South Sudan?

2. To what extent have USAID’s investments contributed to achieving sustainable results

(including unintended results of USAID’s efforts.

3. To what extent have USAID conflict mitigation and civil society programs been integrated through PCEP to strengthen the overall efforts of citizens and community actors to contribute to peace in

South Sudan?

4. How have external factors influenced outcomes and affected the sustainability of the results?

5. To what extent is conflict mitigation, civil society, and media engagement in South Sudan likely to continue, be…