95332419Q0076_RFQ_-_Indpendent_Evaluation_Services,_Niger_Climate-Resilient_Agriculture_Activity_(CRA).pdf

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS

OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

1. REQUISITION NUMBER PAGE 1 OF

2. CONTRACT NO. 3. AWARD/EFFECTIVE

DATE

4. ORDER NUMBER 5. SOLICITATION NUMBER 6. SOLICITATION ISSUE

DATE

7. FOR SOLICITATION

INFORMATION CALL:

a. NAME b. TELEPHONE NUMBER (No collect calls)

8. OFFER DUE DATE/

LOCAL TIME

9. ISSUED BY

13b. RATING

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

CODE

15. DELIVER TO 16. ADMINISTERED BY CODE

18a. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY CODE 17a. CONTRACTOR/

OFFEROR

CODE

FACILITY

CODE

CODE

TELEPHONE NO.

17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH ADDRESS IN

OFFER

18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK

BELOW IS CHECKED

RFQ IFB RFP

SEE ADDENDUM

19.

ITEM NO.

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

21.

QUANTITY

22.

UNIT

23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA 26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Govt. Use Only)

28. CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND RETURN

DELIVER ALL ITEMS SET FORTH OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND ON ANY

ADDITIONAL SHEETS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED

29. AWARD OF CONTRACT: REF.

DATED . YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION

(BLOCK 5), INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH ARE

SET FORTH HEREIN, IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

30a. SIGNATURE OF OFFEROR/CONTRACTOR

30b. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print) 30c. DATE SIGNED

31a. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (SIGNATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER)

31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO FURNISH AND

OFFER

13a. THIS CONTRACT IS A

RATED ORDER UNDER

DPAS (15 CFR 700)

SEE SCHEDULE

12. DISCOUNT TERMS

ARE ARE NOT ATTACHED

ARE ARE NOT ATTACHED

27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA

27b. CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-5 IS ATTACHED. ADDENDA

11. DELIVERY FOR FOB DESTINA-

TION UNLESS BLOCK IS

MARKED

10. THIS ACQUISITION IS UNRESTRICTED OR SET ASIDE: % FOR:

SMALL BUSINESS

HUBZONE SMALL

BUSINESS

SERVICE-DISABLED

VETERAN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS

WOMEN-OWNED SMALL

BUSINESS (WOSB)

ECONOMICALLY

DISADVANTAGED

WOMEN-OWNED SMALL

BUSINESS (EDWOSB)

8 (A)

NAICS:

SIZE STANDARD:

95332419Q0076

Maxwell, Regina E

202-521-7272 08/21/19 10:00 AM

See Schedule

See Schedule

953324

See Schedule

07/22/2019

MCC-HQ

Millennium Challenge Corporation, Contracts and Grants Management Division, 1099 Fourteenth St NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC, 20005-3550, US maxwellre Typewritten Text 541690

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 3/2005) BACK

19.

ITEM NO.

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

21.

QUANTITY

22.

UNIT

23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

32a. QUANTITY IN COLUMN 21 HAS BEEN

RECEIVED INSPECTED ACCEPTED, AND CONFORMS TO THE CONTRACT, EXCEPT AS NOTED:

41a. I CERTIFY THIS ACCOUNT IS CORRECT AND PROPER FOR PAYMENT

32b. SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

REPRESENTATIVE

32c. DATE

41b. SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF CERTIFYING OFFICER 41c. DATE

42a. RECEIVED BY (Print)

42b. RECEIVED AT (Location)

42c. DATE REC'D (YY/MM/DD) 42d. TOTAL CONTAINERS

40. PAID BY

32d. PRINTED NAME AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

REPRESENTATIVE

32e. MAILING ADDRESS OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE 32f. TELPHONE NUMBER OF AUTHORZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32g. E-MAIL OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

33. SHIP NUMBER 34. VOUCHER NUMBER 35. AMOUNT VERIFIED

CORRECT FOR

PARTIAL FINAL

37. CHECK NUMBER

38. S/R ACCOUNT NO. 39. S/R VOUCHER NUMBER

36. PAYMENT

COMPLETE PARTIAL FINAL

See Schedule

95332419Q0076

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Listing of Incorporated Purchase Requisitions Section B - Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs Section C - Description/Specifications/Work Statement Section D - Packaging and Marking Section E - Inspection and Acceptance Terms Section F - Delivery or Performance Section G - Contract Administration Data Section H - Special Contract Requirements Section I - Contract Clauses Section J - List of Documents, Exhibits, and other Attachments Section K - Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offerors Section L - Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors Section M - Evaluation Factors for Award

Listing of Incorporated Purchase Requisitions

Incorporated Purchase Requisition Numbers:

Section B - Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs

Item Number Base Item Number

Supplies/Services Quantity Unit

0001 Base Period: Niger CRA Evaluation

Contract Type:Time and Materials Unit Price

Other Direct Costs Extended Price

Description:

Tasks 1-2

Period of Performance:

Estimated 12 Months

Purchase Requisitions

IDC Type: Not Applicable

Supplies/Services Quantity Unit

1001 Option Period 1: Niger CRA Evaluation

Contract Type:Time and Materials Unit Price

Other Direct Costs Extended Price

Description:

Tasks 3-7

Period of Performance:

Estimated 18 Months

Purchase Requisitions

Option:

Option Time Date: 10/1/20 Option Time Duration: 546 Option Time Units: Days IDC Type: Not Applicable

Item Number Base Item Number

Supplies/Services Quantity Unit

2001 Option Period 2: Niger CRA Evaluation

Contract Type:Time and Materials Unit Price

Other Direct Costs Extended Price

Description:

Tasks 7 and 16-17

Period of Performance:

Estimated 14 Months

Purchase Requisitions

Option:

Option Time Date: 4/1/22 Option Time Duration: 425 Option Time Units: Days IDC Type: Not Applicable

Item Number Base Item Number

Supplies/Services Quantity Unit

3001 Option Period 3: Niger CRA Evaluation

Contract Type:Time and Materials Unit Price

Other Direct Costs Extended Price

Description:

Tasks 7-11

Period of Performance:

Estimated 18 Months

Purchase Requisitions

Option:

Option Time Date: 6/1/23 Option Time Duration: 548 Option Time Units: Days

Supplies/Services Quantity Unit

4001 Option Period 4: Niger CRA Evaluation

Contract Type:Time and Materials Unit Price

Other Direct Costs Extended Price

Description:

Tasks 7, 12-15, 18-21

Period of Performance:

Estimated 30 Months

Purchase Requisitions

Option: 1 Option Time Date: 12/1/24 Option Time Duration: 911 Option Time Units: Days

Clauses incorporated by reference

None

Clauses incorporated by full text

Section B, Continued

B.1. FAR 52.216-1 -- Type of Contract (APR 1984)

The Government contemplates award of a Time-and-Materials (T&M) contract resulting from this solicitation.

B.2. Funding Type

This contract will be funded, at the time of award, with no-year Due Diligence funding. As such, funding obligated to this contract may be used during the life of the contract.

B.3. Limitation of Funds -- Incrementally Funded Contracts

In accordance with clause MCC 52.232-72, "Limitation of Funds -- Incrementally Funded Contracts," funds in the amount of [TBD] have been allotted to this contract. It is contemplated that funds now obligated under this contract will cover the work to be performed until [TBD]. If the contractor considers the funds obligated under this contract to be insufficient to cover the work to be performed until the date specified herein, or another date agreed to by the parties, the contractor shall notify the contracting officer in writing and indicate the date on which it expects expended funds to approximate 75 percent of the total amount obligated. The notice shall state the estimated amount of additional funds required to continue performance through the date for which incremental funds are provided.

The Contractor shall not perform work on the contract which exceeds the total amount actually allotted by the Government to the contract. The Government is not obligated to reimburse the Contractor for costs incurred in excess of the total amount allotted by the Government to this contract. The contractor assumes the risk for any increased costs beyond what the Government obligates.

B.4. Labor Rates and Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

Labor rates at the inception of a contract period will carry through as "fixed-price" without adjustment for the life of that contract period.

Hours by labor category and pricing under ODCs are estimates only and may be increased/decreased as necessary for successful completion of the contract requirements and as approved by the COR/PM. However, the contractor's expenditures at any given point shall not exceed the total ob ligated amount or the total ceiling price for this contract as specified below.

Using the template below, Offerors must include all proposed labor categories, fully-burdened hourly rates and Other Direct Costs (ODCs) for each contract period identified above.

PRICING SUMMARY PER CONTRACT PERIOD**

Base Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Option 4 TOTAL

Total Labor Hours

Total Labor Costs

Total ODCs $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ -

Total Est. Cost $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ -

**Include all tasks – optional and non-optional – in the summary table.

Base Period (Tasks 1-2) – Period of Performance TBD (est. 12 months)

Item # Description(3) U/I Qty Rate Total

LABOR

0001 hr.

hr.

hr.

hr.

Total Labor Hours - -

Labor Sub-Total

ODCs(1)(2)

ODC Sub-Total

Total Estimated Value (Base Period)

Option Period I (Tasks 3-7) – Period of Performance TBD (est. 18 months)

Item # Description(3) U/I Qty Rate Total

LABOR

1001 hr.

hr.

hr.

hr.

Total Labor Hours - -

Labor Sub-Total

ODCs(1)(2)

1001 Subcontract(s) – Baseline Data

Collection

(Task 4)

Lot 1 $200,000.00 $200,000.00

ODC Sub-Total

Total Estimated Value (Option Period I)

Option Period II (Tasks 7 & 16-17) – Period of Performance TBD (est. 14 months)

Item # Description(3) U/I Qty Rate Total

LABOR

2001 hr.

hr.

Optional Task 16 hr.

Optional Task 17 hr.

hr.

Total Labor Hours - -

Optional Tasks Labor Sub-Total

Labor Sub-Total (All Tasks)

ODCs(1)(2)

Optional Task 16

Optional Task 17

Subcontract(s) – Baseline Data

Collection (Optional Task 17)

Lot 1 $300,000.00 $300,000.00

Optional Tasks ODC Sub-Total

ODC Sub-Total (All Tasks)

Optional Tasks Total Estimated Value (Option Period II)

Total Estimated Value – All Tasks (Option Period II)

Option Period III (Tasks 7-11) – Period of Performance TBD (est. 18 months)

Item # Description(3) U/I Qty Rate Total

LABOR

3001 hr.

hr.

Optional Task 8 hr.

hr.

Optional Task 9 hr.

hr.

Optional Task 10 hr.

hr.

Optional Task 11 hr.

Total Labor Hours - -

Optional Tasks Labor Sub-Total

Labor Sub-Total (All Tasks)

ODCs(1)(2)

Optional Task 8

Optional Task 9

Subcontract(s) – Interim Data Collection

(Optional Task 9)

Lot 1 $300,000.00 $300,000.00

Optional Task 10

Optional Task 11

Optional Tasks ODC Sub-Total

ODC Sub-Total (All Tasks)

Optional Tasks Total Estimated Value (Option Period III)

Total Estimated Value – All Tasks (Option Period III)

Option Period IV (Tasks 7, 12-15, 18-21) – Period of Performance TBD (est. 30 months)

Item # Description(3) U/I Qty Rate Total

LABOR

4001 hr.

hr.

Optional Task 18 hr.

hr.

Optional Task 19 hr.

hr.

Optional Task 20 hr.

hr.

Optional Task 21 hr.

Total Labor Hours - -

Optional Tasks Labor Sub-Total

Labor Sub-Total (All Tasks)

ODCs(1)(2)

4001 Subcontract(s) – Final Data Collection

(Task 13)

Lot 1 $300,000.00 $300,000.00

Optional Task 18

Optional Task 19

Subcontract(s) – Endline Data

Collection (Optional Task 19)

Lot 1 $300,000.00 $300,000.00

Optional Task 20

Optional Task 21

Optional Tasks ODC Sub-Total

ODC Sub-Total (All Tasks)

Optional Tasks Total Estimated Value (Option Period IV)

Total Estimated Value – All Tasks (Option Period IV)

TOTAL COST SUMMARY (ALL TASKS)

Description(3) U/I Qty Rate Total

LABOR

hr.

hr.

hr.

hr.

Total Labor Hours - -

Labor Sub-Total

ODCs(1)(2)

Subcontract(s) – Data Lot 1 $500,000.00 $500,000.00

Collection (Non- Optional Tasks)

Subcontract(s) – Data Collection (Optional

Tasks)

Lot 1 $900,000.00 $900,000.00

ODC Sub-Total

Total Estimated Cost

NOTE (1): MCC anticipates approximately $1,400,000.00 worth of data collection subcontracting costs for which the requirements are unknown at this time. To be fair to all vendors providing a quotation, a plug number is utilized for data collection subcontracting costs in the respective periods in which data collection is expected to occur. However, if you believe this plug number is inadequate, please advise during the Question and Answer period of the solicitation. "Data Collection Subcontract(s)," as used in the tables above, refers only to the direct cost of subcontracting a data collection firm (excluding any associated indirect costs such as subcontract handling fees). It does not include any prime contractor labor associated with overseeing/managing the data collection effort; this time should be incorporated into the level of effort proposed under the respective Labor CLIN. Subcontracting costs for data collection are subject to the requirements of FAR 52.244-2, Subcontracts.

NOTE (2): If applicable, offerors shall specify their proposed indirect rates and costs (e.g., General and Administrative (G&A) and/or Subcontractor Handling). Indirect costs must be presented as a separate line item. ODCs shall not include profit/fee.

NOTE (3): A job description shall be included for each labor category proposed. The job description must identify essential and non-essential tasks that are assigned to a specific position. It must also identify reporting relationships and shall also describe required qualifications, minimum requirements, working conditions and desirable qualifications.

B.5. Optional Tasks and Basis of Estimate

The following tasks are listed as Optional:

Ø Task 8 – Revise Interim Evaluation Materials for Grants Facility Sub-Activity Ø Task 9 – Supervise Data Collection for Grants Facility Sub-Activity Ø Task 10 – Develop Interim Report for Grants Facility Sub-Activity Ø Task 11 – Disseminate Interim Report for Grants Facility Sub-Activity Ø Task 16 – Update evaluation plan and evaluation design report to include ICRIPs Sub-Activity Ø Task 17 – Undertake Baseline data collection for the ICRIPs Sub-Activity Ø Task 18 – Revise Endline Evaluation Materials for ICRIPs Sub-Activity Ø Task 19 – Supervise Endline Data collection for ICRIPs Sub-Activity Ø Task 20 – Develop Final Report and Data Documentation Package for ICRIPs Sub-Activity Ø Task 21 – Disseminate Final Results for ICRIPs Sub-Activity

Please use the price charts in Section B.4 to identify proposed labor and ODC costs for each of the optional tasks.

The determination of whether the optional tasks will be pursued is expected to be made at the time option periods are exercised. The price of the option period exercised will include only those optional tasks which MCC chooses to pursue. At its discretion and based on operational needs, MCC may exercise an optional task during an option period.

(End of SECTION B)

Section C - Description/Specifications/Work Statement

Clauses incorporated by reference

None

Clauses incorporated by full text

Section C, Continued

C.1. Introduction

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a U.S. Government corporation whose mission is to provide assistance that will support economic growth and poverty reduction in carefully selected countries that demonstrate a commitment to just and democratic governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizenry. For more information on the MCC, please visit www.mcc.gov.

The MCC model is centered around four core principles: good governance, country ownership, a focus on results, and transparency. MCC Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) has two objectives, stemming from the MCC core principles:

Accountability, which refers to MCC's obligation to report on activities and attributable outcomes, accept responsibility for them, and disclose these findings in a public and transparent manner and Learning, which refers to MCC's efforts to better understand the causal links between its interventions and changes in poverty and income. The MCC's Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Policy can accessed here: https://www.mcc.gov/resources/doc/policy-for-monitoring-and-evaluation.

C.2. Scope

Provide Independent Evaluation Services in support of the Niger Climate-Resilient Agriculture Activity (CRA) Activity.

This independent evaluation is expected to assess the Facility Sub-Activity and its two funding windows. The evaluation may study the interaction of the MCC-funded components of the PASEC project with those funded by the World Bank in those communes where MCC work is being conducted. However, the evaluation is not currently intended to cover the 46 communes funded exclusively by the World Bank. Additionally, this contract will assess how the Grants Facility and PSP Fund components of CRA contribute to Climate-Resilient Communities Project (CRC) outcomes in the intervention areas.

If executed, the independent evaluation shall also assess the ICRIPs component of the Activity, including how the component was implemented and whether the component helped contribute to the CRC outcomes in the intervention areas.

C.3 Background

Niger Compact Background

Compact Structure: The Government of Niger and the Millennium Challenge Corporation, on behalf of the United States Government, signed a Compact Agreement for a US $437 million grant on July 29, 2016. The 5-year Compact entered into force on January 26, 2018 and will end in January 2023. (Entry into force is the commencement of the MCC's Compact five-year effectiveness period.) A Millennium Challenge Account entity, Millennium Challenge Account-Niger ("MCA-Niger" or "MCA"), is responsible for implementing the Compact program. MCA-Niger has been established as a legal entity in Niger and is governed by a public-private Board of Directors accountable to the President of the Republic of Niger. The Compact consists of two projects: the Irrigation and Market Access Project (IMAP) and the Climate-Resilient Communities Project (CRC). The subject of this statement of work is the Climate-Resilient Agriculture Activity (CRA Activity) under the CRC Project.

IMAP and other activities under the CRC Project are being evaluated through separate evaluations.

CRC Project Structure: The CRC Project has a budget of $96.5 million and will be implemented in coordination with the World Bank. The objectives of this Project are to increase incomes for small-scale agricultural- and livestock-dependent families in eligible communes and livestock corridors in rural Niger by improving crop and livestock productivity, sustaining natural resources critical to production, and increasing market sales of targeted commodities. Except where otherwise specified under the specific components below, MCC will fund CRA activities in 16 eligible communes in 6 departments. The sixteen eligible communes include:

1. Dosso Department: Tessa, Mokko, Tombo Koirey I, Tombo Koirey II, and Kargui Bangou;

2. Dakoro Department: Dan Goulbi and Sabon Machi;

3. Guidan Roumdji Department: Chadakori and Guidan Roumdji;

4. Birni N'Konni Department: Konni and Tsernauoua;

5. Malbaza Department: Malbaza and Doguerawa;

6. Kollo Department: Koure, Libore, and N'Dounga.

The Climate-Resilient Communities Project consists of the following activities:

1. Regional Sahel Pastoralism Support (PRAPS) Activity ($45 million). This activity will support pastoralist groups and enhance regional integration by improving livestock health, upgrading water and rangeland resources along major transhumance Livestock Corridors and modernizing local livestock market infrastructure. This activity will be covered under a separate evaluation.

2. Climate-Resilient Agriculture (CRA) Activity ($51.5 million). This activity, the subject of this SOW, will support sustainable increases in productivity and farm incomes in eligible communes by strengthening the resiliency of farmers and agro-pastoralists to the impacts of climate. The sub-activities under the CRA Activity include a) the Integrated Climate Resilient Investment Plans (ICRIPs) Sub-Activity and b) the Grants Facility Sub-Activity that includes two windows – CRA Grants and the Private Sector Partnerships. With the exception of the Private Sector Partnerships funding window, the CRA Activity will be executed in coordination with the World Bank-funded Climate Smart Agriculture Support Project (PASEC). The PASEC project targets 62 communes in all seven regions of Niger with four different interventions, however in the 16 eligible communes listed above, the MCA CRA Activity will implement two interventions (ICRIPs and Grants Facility). Where there is overlap in geographic location, the CRA Activity and PASEC Project will work together to ensure they do not fund similar investments.

MCC will extend the CRA Grants Facility component to two communes in Dosso-Gaya which are also being targeted by MCC for a large-scale irrigation intervention under IMAP. Firms with direct or indirect commercial/business links to any of the 46 communes targeted by the Niger Compact (including both projects) are eligible to receive a grant under the Private Sector Partnerships.

CRA Activity Interventions: Specifically, the CRA Activity will include:

a. Integrated Climate Resilient Investment Plans (ICRIPs) Sub-Activity. This Sub-Activity will include funding to support preparatory public consultations and to implement commune-level Integrated Climate Resilient Investment Plans (ICRIPs) in each of the 16 eligible communes. Each of the 16 ICRIPs will identify investments for financing that were prioritized by the communes with the input of farmers' groups, herders, women's and youth groups, other civil society and community based groups, and entrepreneurs in a range of areas (e.g. irrigation, erosion control measures, and marketing infrastructure) to achieve one or more of the following objectives: (1) improving soil fertility and water management of rain-fed crops; (2) improving water control and increases in small and medium scale irrigation schemes; (3) support for livestock integration; (4) value chain consolidation and improved market access; and (5) improved agroforestry and natural resource managements. MCC will implement this component in 16 communes while the World Bank will implement this in 46 additional communes.

b. Grants Facility (Facility) Sub-Activity. This Sub-Activity will promote climate resiliency of private enterprises by disbursing $10.5 million in grants through two in-take windows: (i) CRA Grants and (ii) Private Sector Partnerships.

i. CRA Grants. This funding window will support productive assets and investment needs, integrated with the provision of business development services to target beneficiaries in eligible communes and target cooperatives and producer / processor groups, women's and youth groups, and micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises. Funding will focus on five categories (1) irrigation and irrigated production (including post-harvest and storage); (2) rain-fed production (including post-harvest and storage); (3) livestock integration; (4) agro-processing and sale; and (5) input supply.

The business development services will support (i) initial outreach and demand targeting; (ii) business plan and grant proposal development for Applicants who pass an initial (short-list) screening; and (iii) business advisory support for Applicants during grant implementation. Eligible communes include the same 16 communes targeted by the first component, plus two additional communes in the Dosso-Gaya perimeter, which is also being targeted by MCC for large scale irrigation under IMAP. It is expected that between 65-75 grants will be awarded in two application rounds.

ii. Private Sector Partnerships (PSP). This funding window will assist organizations and/or projects in addressing specific challenges in mobilizing additional private capital needed to catalyze increased private sector investment in agriculture, focusing on three priority sectors: (1) fertilizer and input supply distribution; (2) agriculture processing domestic and international markets; and (3) solar energy for processing and irrigation. Targeted PSP Applicants will differ from CRA Grant Applicants in that they will be established firms with a track record and demonstrated ability to raise the required co-financing and implement larger projects within a 24-month timeline. Firms that have direct or indirect business or commercial ties to any of the communities, cooperative groups, or farmers in the 46 communes targeted by the Compact are eligible for selection. However, priority will be given to the 18 communes also targeted in the CRA Grants funding window.

For more information on the design of the CRA Activity, including the program logics refer to Attachment J. CRA Program Logic.

CRA Economic Analysis: The CRA Activity is expected to foster economic growth and reduce poverty by increasing agro-pastoralist and farmers' income by increasing production, both through increases in area cultivated and yield. The economic rate of return (ERR) for the Facility Sub-Activity was not calculated at Compact signing. Rather, each grant that is approved under either funding window must meet the ERR hurdle rate of 10% with a 10 year time horizon. The per-project ERRs will be calculated during both the application and proposal development process using a CBA model developed in collaboration with MCC. Additionally, a percentage of the facility management costs will be pro-rated to each of the grants. Therefore, as long as each grant has a 10% ERR, both funding windows will pass this hurdle rate as well. The beneficiary analysis for the Facility Sub-Activity will be calculated once the selected grants are known.

An ERR of 16% has been estimated for the ICRIPs Sub-Activity, developed based on anticipated increases in productivity through increases in area cultivated and yield as a result of infrastructure improvements. Each sub-ICRIP must also pass the 10% hurdle rate in order to be approved. The ICRIPs Sub-Activity of the CRA Activity is expected to reach 25,736 individual beneficiaries, which is derived from the estimated 3,217 households that will benefit from small-scale irrigation in the 16 eligible communes.

SOW Objective: This statement of work is requesting independent evaluation services for the Facility Sub-Activity and its two funding windows: CRA Grants and PSP. Additionally, evaluation services of the ICRIPs Sub-Activity of the CRA Activity is included as optional tasks that may be executed at the COR's discretion. All technical and cost project proposals should include estimates for all tasks. (Please refer to Section M for more details about the evaluation criteria.)

Further information on the sub-Activities of the CRA Activity is provided below.

Overview: Facility Sub-Activity

CRA Grants "window":

Introduction: Available evidence suggests that private sector financing for agribusinesses is scarce in rural Niger, particularly for the groups targeted by this intervention (cooperatives and producer / processor groups, women and youth groups, MSMEs and SMEs). The CRA Grants funding window aims to address the under provision of services and stimulate and incentivize private sector investment through two mechanisms: (i) the provision of grants; and (ii) business development services. The CRA Grants funding window will be implemented by the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF), an independent US government agency, which specializes in awarding small enterprise development grants in Africa. Building on USADF's existing policies and procedures, a CRA Grants Facility Operations Manual (CRA Grants Manual) was developed and adjusted for the parameters and objectives specific to the CRC Project under which the Facility Sub-Activity and this funding window falls. USADF's implementation and oversight responsibilities start with community outreach and end with close out of the grants. As USADF will have operations in country post-Compact, they will continue to monitor and support grantees and projects for several years. The complete CRA Grants Manual will be provided to the winning bidder.

Provision of Grants: The CRA Grants funding window aims to award approximately 65-75 grants over two grant cycles, totaling $7,500,000 awarded. Grant sizes may range from $10,000 to no more than $250,000 and a minimum of one grant should be awarded in each of the 16 eligible communes and the two communes in the Dosso-Gaya perimeter. To ensure funding is still available by the second grant round, a maximum of $6,000,000 will be awarded during the first round.

$1,500,000 is reserved for the second round of funding primarily to create synergies with IMAP by encouraging cooperatives within Dosso-Gaya, which may not be prepared to apply during the first round, to apply for grants.

Grants will be awarded after a two-step process that includes shortlisting at the Application stage followed by Business Development Services (BDS) and full proposal/project development support. At both stages (Application and Proposal) projects will be selected through a competitive process on the basis of profitability, sustainability, and the number of beneficiaries. During the first screening, projects will be screened to ensure they meet grant requirements in terms of geographic scope, eligible applicants and eligible project categories. During the second step, projects expected to have the greatest impact on local communities and beneficiaries, to maximize returns on the grant investments being made, and to demonstrate a clear pathway to further growth beyond the current project life will be prioritized.

Eligible Applicants include organizations engaged in some form of productive or value-addition activity and must belong to one of the following three categories: (i) cooperatives and producer / processor groups; (ii) women or youth groups; or (iii) micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises. To facilitate greater social inclusion in access to agricultural entrepreneurial and commercial activities, the Facility aims to award a minimum of 20% of the total value of grants awarded to women or youth groups. To ensure applications are received from every commune and from women groups in particular, the USADF will develop an Outreach and Community Engagement Plan.

The following five project categories will be eligible for funding:

1. Irrigation and irrigated production (including post-harvest and storage);

2. Rain-fed production (including post-harvest and storage);

3. Livestock integration, including integrated fish farming;

4. Agro-processing and sale;

5. Input supply.

Additionally, all selected projects must comply with at least one of the three criteria identified by the PASEC framework to determine if activities address the overall objective of climate resilience – (i) whether they augment productivity (or reduce productivity losses); (ii) whether they support resilience through income diversification; and/or (iii) whether they mitigate environmental or climate risk impact. Refer to Section J. List of Eligible Activities for CRA Grant Funding for an illustrative (but not exhaustive) list of the types of projects that may be awarded grants by the Facility.

Co-financing requirement: Each project must be, in part, co-financed by the Applicant. Co-financing is a way to introduce and/or foster a progressive taking of some additional risk by Applicants needed to grow their business while minimizing the risk to the Facility and MCC. Co-financing may be provided either through self-financing, via working capital or in-kind contributions, or through credit. The CRA Grants funding window will facilitate credit applications for co-financing with interested finance institutions. Ultimately, the co-financing component of the CRA Grants funding window aims to establish a business relationship between grantees and financial institutions, allowing the grantees to seek further funding and continue to grow after the grant is completed.

The amount of co-financing required will vary based on the size of the grant and the type of grantee and is summarized in the table below.

Co-Financing/Cost-Share Contribution Requirements

Grant Size Farmer Groups, Associations, Cooperatives

Women's Groups and Youth Groups

MSMEs

$100,000-$250,000 15% (of which 8% to be cash and/or other financing)

10% (of which 5% to be cash and/or other financing)

30% (of which 10% to be cash and/or other financing)

$50,000-$100,000 10% 8% 20% (of which 5% to be cash and/or other financing)

$10,000-$50,000 8% 5% 8%

Business development services: Although capital investments are necessary to support the growth of agribusinesses and cooperatives, it is not sufficient to ensure that the investment yields the expected outcome. To facilitate proper business administration and financial management and strategic planning, the CRA Grants funding window will also provide grantees with Business Development Services (BDS). For example, BDS will help the firm in determining the appropriateness of an investment, the timing, and the amount, as well as help Applicants with financial, HR and strategic management and guide them through regulations and legal issues. While BDS is expected to occur during (i) pre-grant market analysis and grassroots research; (ii) application and project development; and (iii) project implementation, the majority of the support will come during the project development phase for those Applicants that are short-listed. Additionally, supplemental technical capacity building may be included in grant budgets for Applicants to hire staff or contractors or to attend training offered by third parties if it is deemed necessary to successfully implement their project.

ERR requirements: USADF will calculate a stand-alone ERR for each proposed project. A preliminary ERR will be calculated after the initial project assessment is received and prior to selection shortlisting. A final ERR will be calculated before final selection and grant award. Projects selected under the Facility for grant award and formal Grant Agreement must meet an ERR threshold of 10% over a 10-year time horizon.

Selection process: Prior to the grant selection, USADF will conduct Outreach and Community Engagement in all 18 targeted communes to ensure a sufficient number of Applicants. Grant selection is expected to take place over two rounds. At the start of each round, all potential grantees will submit an application, after which USADF will conduct an initial assessment to prioritize applications, followed by site visits and other due diligence efforts and a shortlisting of Applicants. A committee will review all applications and select a sub-set of Applicants for full proposal development. With the help of BDS, Applicants will continue to develop their proposals. Finally, the project will be submitted for approval, a final ERR will be calculated, and if approved, a grant agreement will be signed. In total, the selection and award process is expected to take ten to eleven months. Grant agreements for the first round will be signed between September and December 2019. Grant agreements for the second round will be signed in 2020.

Implementation: During project implementation, direct disbursements will be made based on projected needs and on a quarterly basis. All grantees are required to prepare training plans, performance indicators, and targets, which must be submitted along with disbursement requests each quarter. Grant payments will be disbursed based upon the grantee's projected requirements and satisfactory completion of activities and achievement of project objectives. After project implementation, each grant agreement must go through a closeout process, which will reconcile the use of USADF funds with project programmatic results. During the closeout process, USADF must verify that all funds were used for purposes specified in the grant agreement; review the financial status of any income-generating activities and the achievement of the project goal and purposes; and plan for the sustainability of the enterprise. Grantees may engage in project activities up to the end of the Compact on January 25, 2023 and may be reimbursed for work done prior to that date up to 60 days after compact closeout.

No implementation may be conducted after January 25, 2023. The expected timeline is provided below.

Step Description Timing

Step 1 Launch RFA Jan 17, 2019

Round 1 Applications due March, 11, 2019

Step 2 Initial Screening by CPC ("go/no go" checklist); Scorecard Screen 1 March 11 - 18, 2019

Step 3 Assessment Team DD; Field Work including Prelim ERR and ESS Pre- screening

March 18 - April 22, 2019

Short-list submitted to MCA; Scorecard Screens 2-4 April 23, 2019

Step 4 USADF Selection Committee Review and Recommendations for Proposal Development; Final ERR verified; Scorecard Screen 5

April 29 - May 06 2019

Step 5 Project Development (BDS Phase 2); Updated/Final ERR May - Nov 2019

Step 6, 7 USADF Committee Proposal Approval; MCA-Niger NO August - Dec 2019

Step 8 Negotiation and Signing of Grant Agreements Sept 2019 - Dec 2019

Launch Round 2 RFA By Mar 2020

Steps 2-8 Round 2 process – all steps as above March 2020- Jan 2021

The evaluation firm contracted under this assignment shall be responsible for assessing both the effectiveness of the CRA Grants funding window design, including the eligibility criteria, selection process and ERR requirement, and Business Development Services (BDS), and whether a subset of the selected projects achieved their targeted objectives. At least one project from each of the three (3) Eligible Applicant categories and each of the five (5) potential project categories that receive funding shall be evaluated.

Private Sector Partnerships (PSP) "window":

Introduction: The PSP funding window aims to address the specific challenges in mobilizing private capital and increased private sector investment in the agriculture sector through provision of grants to established firms with demonstrated experience in one of three key sectors. PSP differs from the CRA Grants in that (1) the targeted firms will likely be more established than those under the grants facility; (2) all selected firms will be required to leverage a matching amount of financing (minimum 1:1); and (3) all grants will be provided for projects that address specific challenges in mobilizing additional private capital.

Provision of Grants: The PSP funding window aims to award between 3 and 5 large grants of between $500,000 and $1 million. Targeted Applicants will include Nigerien private businesses (with a minimum Nigerien ownership of 51%) and consortiums with international and/or regional firms that include a Nigerien organization as the Lead Applicant/grantee. All Applicants must have direct or indirect commercial or business ties to any of the communities, cooperatives, or farmer groups in one of the 46 communes being targeted by the Compact. However, priority will be given to firms operating in the 18 communes that are eligible for CRA Grants. Grantees will be selected through a competitive process on the basis of financial sustainability, technical feasibility, market impact, pro-poor impact, and eligibility. Only Applicants that can credibly demonstrate ability to meet co-financing requirements and with projects that can be successfully completed by July 2022 (to allow for orderly closeout prior to Compact end date) will be selected.

Eligible Applicants include firms operating in one of the following three sectors: (1) fertilizer and input supply distribution; (2) agriculture processing domestic and international markets; (3) solar energy for processing and irrigation. These sectors have been selected as they have been identified as subsets of the broader agriculture sector that have experience challenges with mobilizing capital but that present both significant investment opportunities for the private sector and demand for financing.

Additionally, the three sectors have been selected to assist the Compact in meeting its objectives. Specifically,

1. Fertilizer and Input Supply Distribution – in support of the Compact-supported fertilizer reform, promotion of private companies in the fertilizer sector and input supply distribution in the 46 communes where the MCA Compact is active.

2. Agriculture Processing Domestic and International Markets -- in order to help beneficiaries in the 46 Communes where MCA is active improve access to markets, targeting firms wanting to expand and diversify their supply chains for either export, import substitution and/or further processing.

3. Solar Energy for Processing and Irrigation -- in order to facilitate and encourage increased small-scale value added processing in the 46 communes where the MCA Compact is active, targeting firms wanting to expand their markets to new areas of Niger.

Co-financing requirement: Grant awards provided through the PSP funding window will be in the form of a matching (1:1) cash grant to an Applicant for the purpose of sharing in a minimum of half the total cost of the project. It is further expected that the Applicant will provide no more than 20% of the total project cost through in-kind services. The minimum grant size will be $500,000 and the maximum $1 million, with the total size/value of projects to be in the $1 million range and higher. Applicants that are able to leverage greater than 1:1 co-financing will be prioritized with the total size of the project.

Business development services: Differing from the CRA Grants funding window, business development services will not be provided to recipients of PSP grants. Rather, project proposals are expected to be well developed by the firm prior to selection. Additionally, the selected firms will not be eligible for further capacity building during the implementation of the grant. Therefore, it is expected that selected firms will have already been established and have the processes in place to meet the contracting, budgeting, and reporting requirements of the PSP funding window as outlined in the PSP Operations Manual (also to be provided at time of award of contract).

ERR requirements: As part of the application process, Applicants must provide data that will allow MCA-Niger to calculate an ERR, using the ERR template developed in collaboration with MCC. All selected projects must meet an ERR threshold of 10% over a 10 year time horizon.

Selection and Implementation process: Prior to the grant selection, MCA will issue a Request for Expressions of Interest (EOI) followed by a Call for Concept Notes, targeting interested partners in the three focus sectors. MCA-Niger, with oversight from MCC, shall review the concept notes and select a short list of the most competitive concepts and present to the MCA-Niger Selection Committee for final approval Applicants that are approved during the short-listing process will then be asked to fully develop and submit their proposals. Qualified proposals and lead firms will be awarded grants by February 2020, allowing approximately 28 months for implementation. In the case of the PSP funding window, MCA-Niger and its CRA Grants Team will act as the "facility manager" – USADF will have no role in implementation and/or oversight of the 3 – 5 PSP grants/projects. The PSP window will have its own operations manual that will differ in some areas from the CRA Grants Operation Manual – including but not limited to selection and award process, evaluation criteria and disbursement and payment terms.

All projects must be completed by July 2022 to ensure an orderly grant closeout. General expected timeline is provided below.

Key Milestones Timing

EOI Launch April 30th

EoI Submissions due May 30th

Call for Concept Notes (CNs) and Short listing June - Aug, 2019

Launch RFP, Select and Award Grants Aug 2019 – Feb 2020

Grant Implementation (28 Months) Feb 2020 – June 2022

Close Out Grant Agreements March– Aug 2022

The evaluation firm contracted shall be responsible for assessing both the effectiveness of the PSP funding window and design, including the eligibility criteria (notably the leverage requirement), selection process and ERR requirement, and whether the selected grantees achieved their targeted improvements. A minimum of one project per each target sector will be evaluated and/or a minimum of three projects in total.

Overview: ICRIPs Sub-Activity

Introduction: Each of the 16 eligible communes will develop and submit to MCA an Integrated Climate Resilient Investment Plan (ICRIP). Each ICRIP will be developed based on existing communal development plans and will include a summary of sub-ICRIPs – small public investments that will (i) generate public goods and commercial opportunities; (ii) benefit vulnerable populations; and (iii) be implemented at the commune level. Ultimately, the ICRIP proposals, when executed, are designed to promote climate resiliency within the communes.

Community consultations: The ICRIPs will be developed following a community-driven consultative process based on each commune's previously drafted communal development plans (CPDs). Early in implementation, a consultant shall be selected to develop the ICRIPs and facilitate the selection of each commune's sub-ICRIPs. The consultant shall do so by holding public consultations with a wide range of community stakeholders, including: farmers, pastoralists, women, youth, cooperatives and other producer groups, and other civil society groups or community groups. The consultant shall lead discussions on the challenges related to agricultural production in the commune due to climate risks, guiding communities to identify interventions that can mitigate these challenges. The consultation sessions should aim to incorporate the perspectives of many different community groups, notably women, youth, and vulnerable groups. Ultimately, the projects put forward by the community ought to be gender-sensitive, socially inclusive, and environmentally friendly projects.

Development and approval of ICRIPs: After completing community consultations, the consultant shall prepare the draft ICRIP for the commune. Each ICRIP will contain a (1) contextual analysis; (2) analysis of the agricultural sector in the region; (3) summary of the consultative process; (4) justification and rationale for the proposed plan; (5) identification of sub-ICRIPs and

(6) the consultations report.

For each of the proposed sub-ICRIPs, the consultant shall include (1) a description of the proposed project; (2) a description of its geographic location, include size of area affected by the project, current land use, and physical descriptions; (3) preliminary engineering considerations, including site-specific risks and estimated costs; (4) timetable for implementation; (5) a description of anticipated benefits; (6) expected number of beneficiaries, disaggregated by sex and age level; (7) potential social and environmental risks; and (8) a justification for the prioritization.

Sub-ICRIPs will be selected based on the following criteria:

1) Alignment with the CRA objective of strengthening climate resilience in the commune;

2) Relevance to the specific challenges identified by the communes regarding climate shocks and climate resilience;

3) Proposed management of good/asset by the commune (sustainability);

4) Number of women and youth beneficiaries; and

5) Environmental benefits

All sub-ICRIPs put forward must pass an eligibility pre-screening. Projects with major environmental or social impacts, including resettlement, should be eliminated during the screening. Those projects with less severe environmental risks may be included but will receive prioritization point deductions for the risks.

After the report has been drafted, it will be submitted to the MCA for review. After said review, the ICRIP will then be shared with the commune's authorities (bureau du maire and COFOCOM) for their validation and approval. Residents in the communes that participated in consultations will be informed of the results and provided a full explanation of the selection process. The consultant will incorporate feedback from the commune authorities before submitting a final version of the ICRIP to the MCA.

The implementation of the consultations and the development of ICRIPs and sub-ICRIPs will be done in two phases. First, a pilot ICRIP shall be prepared in one commune in each of the four departments (total of four pilot communes). The Consultant and MCA will evaluate the pilot process, apply lessons learned from the four pilot communes, and modify the approach as needed and agreed with MCA. After each of the four pilot ICRIPs have been approved and this reassessment has been completed, the consultant may proceed with developing ICRIPs for each of the remaining 12 communes.

Potential sub-ICRIPs: The sub-ICRIPs shall focus on promoting climate resiliency in one or more of the following categories:

(1) Improving soil fertility and water management for rain-fed crops;

(2) Improvement of water control and increase of small and medium irrigation systems

(3) Support for the integration of animal and plant production systems;

(4) Consolidation of agricultural value chains and access to improved markets, and

(5) Improvement of agroforestry and management of natural resources.

All sub-ICRIPs will be public or quasi-public investments.

Examples of potential projects that may be considered as a sub-ICRIP include: dredging pools; pond creation; promotion of alternative energy sources; conservation agriculture; compost production; development of new perimeters for small irrigation;

rehabilitation of small irrigated areas; equipment and initial stock of livestock feed; corridors and vaccination parks; drilling of pastoral wells; management of classified forests and eco-farms; promotion of non-timber forest products; creation of parks or nurseries; alternative home energy promotion.

The value of all sub-ICRIPs for one commune shall not exceed approximately $2,000,000. Communes may choose to contribute additional funds or other resources; however, this is not a requirement to receive funding.

Implementation: After approval of ICRIPs and sub-ICRIPs, the MCA will engage consultant firms to carry out feasibility studies (in case of infrastructure sub-ICRIPs) or further technical studies for natural resource management interventions. After studies or design is complete, the MCA will manage the procurement to hire consultants, firms or organizations to carry out the implementation processes. Depending on the nature of the sub-ICRIP, implementation is expected to be done by construction firms, civil society organizations in the commune, or other service providers (depending in the intervention).