RFP A1 - SI THP CCPS Pre-Proposal Conference Presentation (12 Apr 2022).pdf

Solomon Islands Threshold Program Cross‐Cutting Program Support (CCPS) Services

Pre‐Proposal Conference April 12, 2022

1. Opening Remarks

2. Introduction to MCC and the Solomon Islands Threshold Program

3. Discussion of Cross-Cutting Program Support (CCPS) procurement

a. Overview

b. Procurement details

c. Explanation of main activities in Statement of Work

4. Questions

5. Closing Remarks/Next Steps

Agenda

• Please mute your phones while MCC is presenting. Unmute yourself (or “raise your hand” virtually) to ask a question.

• Please send private questions directly to Kamille Green via the Webex chat function.

• MCC will not transcribe the content of the webinar discussion.

However, a copy of the PowerPoint presentation will be posted to SAM.gov.

• It is the offeror’s responsibility to monitor the SAM.gov Contract Opportunities site for amendments and other communications regarding this solicitation.

Housekeeping Items

• Information provided in these slides and in the corresponding webinar is for the purpose of enhancing industry’s understanding of MCC’s requirement and shall not be considered or interpreted as changing the terms and conditions of the written solicitation.

The RFP and any subsequent amendments will be the governing documents and communications for this procurement.

• This event is being recorded. However, the recording will not be shared/posted publicly.

• Webinar attendee list, with contact information, will be posted to SAM.gov.**

Disclaimers

Jacqueline Naranjo, Contracting Officer, Contracts & Grants Management Division Kamille Green, Contract Specialist, Contracts & Grants Management Division Nilan Fernando, Director, Threshold Programs Division Brad Cunningham, Economist, Economic Analysis Division Matt Kuniholm, Senior Program Officer, Environmental and Social Performance

Division Anne Pizer, Director, Monitoring & Evaluation Division Stevan Dobrilovic, Director, Sector Operations Division Nadia Bitar, International Attorney, Office of the General Counsel Brian Finkelstein, Assistant General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel

Team Introductions

Introduction to MCC and the Solomon Islands

Threshold Program

• MCC is a U.S. Government agency that assists foreign countries in reducing poverty through economic growth.

• MCC has successfully partnered with 29 countries on 38 hundred-million-dollar grants totaling more than $14 billion. Investments from these grants have lifted millions from poverty.

• For more information, please visit: https://www.mcc.gov/

What is MCC?

Solomon Islands Threshold Program Objectives

MCC identified two constraints to economic growth in Solomon Islands: insecure land access and unsustainable natural resource management (NRM). MCC saw both the tourism and NRM sectors as opportunities for growth and seeks to address these constraints through the following two projects:

Accessing Land for Tourism Investment Facilitation Project (ALTIF)

ALTIF aims to improve access to land to increase tourism investment in Solomon Islands, which is expected to deliver jobs and productivity gains, increased purchases of local products and services, and foreign exchange benefits.

Forest Value Enhancement Project (FoVEP)

FoVEP aims to generate more reliable and sustainable benefits from Solomon Islands’ forest resources, providing an alternative to current environmentally damaging logging practices.

ALTIF Project

Sub-Activity 1: Land Identification

Sub-Activity 2: Investment Facilitation

Sub-Activity 3: Facilitated Governance Reform (FGR)

• Identify the location of land parcels with potential for tourism investment

• Educate and support investor and community on social license issues

• Facilitate and assist investor and landowner in agreeing on and maintaining social license

• Facilitate investment process for all registered land parcels marketed to investors

• Build capacity of SIG institutions to facilitate and realize new investments in tourism

• Establish a Tourism Investment Task Force to improve coordination, capacity, and decision-making among SIG institutions

• Support to the Tourism Investment Task Force to identify and prioritize activities and efforts to streamline the investment process

• Provide support to working teams to address issues as they arise

• Make technical assistance available as needed

Blended Finance (Optional) ALTIF FGR

FoVEP Project

Sub-Activity 1: Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES)

Sub-Activity 2: Facilitated Governance Reform (FGR)

• Facilitate preparatory tasks for implementing PES.

• Use the Nakau Framework Methodology to facilitate tasks necessary to meet PES requirements.

• Implement market facilitation tasks to increase potential return from the sale of PES credits while managing risks associated with market fluctuations.

• Continually monitor PES projects.

• Build community capacity to utilize PES program benefits long-term to diversify livelihoods in the community.

• Convene three reform teams at both national and sub-national levels to facilitate incremental policy and institutional reform to promote good governance of the forestry sector in participating project areas.

FoVEP FGR

Discussion of Solomon Islands Cross-Cutting Program Support (CCPS)

Procurement

Overview of CCPS Activities

A. Facilitated Governance Reform – ALTIF and FoVEP

B. Active Program Monitoring Hub

C. Communications

D. Administrative Support

Optional Blended Finance

Optional Program Closure

Objective: Execute four cross-cutting programmatic activities: FGR, Active Program Monitoring Hub, Communications, Meeting and Admin Support, in addition to two optional tasks: Blended Finance and Program Closure. There is expected to be a degree of synergy across the activities, meaning that none of the activities will be fully independent. The CCPS contract will support both the ALTIF and FoVEP Projects as well as other cross-cutting tasks related to the Program.

Program Procurement Approach

Activity 1: Land Identification

Activity 2: Investment Facilitation

Activity 3: Facilitated Governance Reform (FGR)

Activity 1: Payment for Ecosystem Services

Activity 2: Facilitated Governance Reform (FGR)

Communications

Administrative Support

Optional Program Closure Task

ALTIF Project FoVEP Project Other (M&E, Program Admin., Communications)

- Public International Organization*

- International Non-Governmental Organization*- Community Engagement Partner

- Public International Organization*

Program Monitoring Hub

- Data Quality Review**

- Independent Evaluator**

The procurement in red is the focus of this solicitation

* Note: These opportunities are not open for competitive bid

** Note: These requirements will be competitively procured under MCC’s M&E BPA in 2022 or later.

Cross-Cutting Program Support (CCPS) Contractor: ALTIF and FoVEP FGR, M&E, Comms, Admin Support

- Optional Blended Finance Task

Overview of CCPS

Role of CCPS Need For Coordination With Other Implementing Partners

The CCPS Contractor will play the lead role in executing the cross-cutting activities of the program:

activities that relate to both the ALTIF and FOVEP project, as well as cross-cutting activities that relate to MCC’s overall programmatic engagement in Solomon Islands. The execution role of each of the activities is described in the draft SOW.

Program implementation will require close coordination among the six Program Implementation and Evaluation Partners. Elements and specific activities of each project, and the Threshold Program as a whole, will overlap and implementing contractors/partners will need to cooperate and coordinate as they complete the tasks associated with their activities.

A. FGR Activities (ALTIF) Facilitation for the Tourism

Investment Task Force

• Organize and facilitate regular meetings of task force that provides authorizing environment for working level activities

• Perform additional problem definition and solution development as needed

Coaching for Working-Level Teams

• Facilitate the progress of working-level teams

• Organize, facilitate, and convene regular meetings as appropriate

• Assess team progress, identify issues, and problem solve

Communication Between Task Force and Working Level team

Ensure that actionable information from each working-level team flows up to the Task Force as necessary, and that the priorities and decisions from the Task Force are clear to working-level teams

Record and Document Progress Provide Additional Resources to Teams

Make resources available to working level teams in order to overcome obstacles that arise. These resources may come in the form of targeted training, specific technical expertise, data collection, studies, etc.

Coordinate with Other Implementors

Other implementors will play important roles in identifying problems and proposing solutions that may be taken up by the Task Force or working level teams. It will be important to coordinate well with these entities.

Maintain well organized documentation of progress in order to facilitate adaptation of the program based on thorough qualitative review

A. FGR Activities (ALTIF) – Technical Assistance

Process for approving ad-hoc technical assistance to be provided by the CCPS under the FGR activities. An illustrative process could be:

A need for technical assistance is identified by:

‐ Teams working under the tourism task force with the assistance of the CCPS contractor ‐ Any member of the Tourism Task Force ‐ PIO and/or MCC

Tourism Investment Task Force reviews, and provides recommendation

‐ During quarterly meetings ‐ In writing if necessary and appropriate

MCC receives request from the Task Force and provides approval for CCPS contractor to provide the resources

A. FGR Activities: FoVEP Facilitation for the FoVEP Task

Force

• Organize and facilitate regular meetings of task force that provides authorizing environment for working level activities

• Perform additional problem definition and solution development as needed at the task force level

Coaching for Working-Level Teams

• Facilitate the progress of working-level teams

• Organize, facilitate, and convene regular meetings as appropriate

• Assess team progress, identify issues, and problem solve

Communication Between Task Force and Working Level team

Ensure that actionable information from each working-level team flows up to the Task Force as necessary, and that the priorities and decisions from the Task Force are clear to working-level teams.

Record and Document Progress Provide Additional Resources to Teams

Make resources available to working level teams in order to overcome obstacles that arise. These resources may come in the form of targeted training, specific technical expertise, data collection, studies, etc.

Coordinate with Other Implementors

Other implementors will play important roles in identifying problems and proposing solutions that may be taken up by the Task Force or working level teams. It will be important to coordinate well with these entities.

Maintain well organized documentation of progress in order to facilitate adaptation of the program based on thorough qualitative review.

A. FGR Activities: FoVEP – Working Teams

B. Active Program Monitoring Hub

In order to support ALTIF and FoVEP reform objectives, the contractor is expected to consolidate performance monitoring information in order to fully understand the program’s objectives and, eventually, to deploy active monitoring efforts to track how the program’s various efforts are contributing to the FGR reform objectives.

Theory of Change and Performance Mapping

• Define indicators to be monitored in collaboration with project teams.

• Ensure that monitoring indicators are relevant to project management needs

Compilation of Threshold-wide M&E Plan

• Work with Implementation Partners to compile a THP-wide M&E Plan

• The goal is to understand and document reform objectives of each Implementation Partner, and not only prescribe rigid performance indicators

Field Monitoring and Observation

• Establish a program of proactive field monitoring and observation at relevant project sites

Quarterly Reporting

• Produce a quarterly program monitoring report which compiles both the qualitative observations and challenges in implementation of the Threshold program as well as observed progress on key performance indicators

C. Communications

Analysis and Strategy

• Analyze media/social media landscape.

• Develop communications strategy & timeline at program & project levels.

• Review/advise project-level stakeholder engagement and comms strategies of implementation partners.

• Coordinate high-level program outreach/ messaging with implementing partners.

Relationship Management

• Strengthen and maintain ties with media organizations in Solomon Islands and region.

Media Monitoring

• Monitor/analyze and report on relevant media coverage.

Program Messaging

• Ensure all comms adhere to MCC’s branding guide.

• Develop program editorial content (e.g., op-eds, radio, video, newsletter).

Outreach, Guidance, and Other

• Identify and coordinate speaking opportunities for key individuals.

• Plan & manage public outreach events.

• Provide strategic counsel & guidance related to public perception.

• Conduct public communications in English and Pijin.

Social Media

• SIG is managing social media for the program.

Provide SIG with content input, advice, and other support as needed.

• Routinely analyze social media outreach to track audience, efficacy, & reach of communications materials. 20

As-need/Optional Comms Tasks

• Create and disseminate content related to regional communications.

• Develop and execute rapid response campaigns as needed. Coordinate with MCC, SIG, and other implementation partners on messaging and message dissemination.

D. Meeting and Administrative Support

Non-FGR Meeting and Event Support

• Assist with selection and formation of the Futures Circle.

• Provide meeting support to conduct the planning and execution of non-FGR-related meetings: 1+ annual Advisory Council meetings, 2+ annual Solomon Futures Circle meetings, and 20 public outreach events and additional meetings per year.

• meetings and/or events may take place in Honiara or in a province of SI.

• Most meetings will have 15-20 people; public events may include more.

• Support includes inviting and coordinating participants, booking meeting space and necessary travel and accommodations, facilitating meetings, recording notes and key takeaways from the meetings, and obtaining refreshments.

Domestic and International Travel Administration

Administer travel budget for 1) domestic travel for SIG officials and working-level teams and 2) international travel associated with participation in MCC College events for up to 5 people/year throughout the 4-year project period.

Website Development

Develop and pay fees for hosting a secure website for the Program. Maintain the website throughout the four-year term. Create record of website in final month of the program.

E. Blended Finance (Optional Task)

MCC has allocated grant funding for blended finance to support investors. The CCPS Contractor will be involved in identifying and structuring the blended finance instrument and under this optional task disbursing the blended finance funding from MCC to the investor.

Infrastructure Grants

• Likely a milestone-based grant to investor for quasi-public infrastructure.

• Used for mini-grids, wharfs, water supply, etc.

• Grant agreement to be drafted and may signed between MCC and investor with consultancy as a party (TBD)

Financial Products

• Potential financial products include:

• The purchase of guarantees for investor debt provider.

• Interest rate buy-down or cost for tenor extension.

• The purchase of political risk insurance.

• Costs associated with currency hedging.

F. Program Closure (Optional Task)

Closure Phase

• The closure phase will fall outside of the term of the grant agreement and will last up to 90 days.

• During this period, MCC may only expend funding for:

• Goods, works, or services delivered, handed over, or otherwise completed under or in furtherance of the Program during Option Period 3, provided that an invoice for such expenditures is submitted within 60 days after such date; and

• Closure Expenses that are invoiced and paid prior to the end of Option Period 4.

• Closure Expenses may include expenses for final invoices and settlement of claims related to work completed during Option Period 3; closing of accounts; preparation of final reports; financial and performance audits; disposition of assets; M&E activities conducted during the Option Period 4;

public outreach to disseminate results; moving and storage services; legal services for closure-related activities; retention and safeguarding of records; and compensation for limited staff and consultants conducting closure activities.

• Closure Expenses may not include expenditures primarily incurred to undertake or continue activities that should have been completed during prior option periods.

Solomon Islands Leadership and Participation

ALTIF Project

• Tourism Investment Task Force* Frequency: Quarterly

• Working Groups (Land and Investment) Frequency: Weekly or every other week

FoVEP Project

• FoVEP Task Force*

Frequency: Quarterly

• Forest Governance Accountability

Reform Team Frequency: Monthly

• Forest Management Reform Team Frequency: Twice per month

* These two Task Forces will sit underneath the Advisory Council

Overall Program

• Solomon Futures Circle (non-Government)

Frequency: Twice per year and ad-hoc, as needed

• Advisory Council (Government) Frequency: Annual and ad-hoc, as needed

Structure and Coordination

Partner’s relationship to MCC and other implementation partners:

MCC’s Resident Threshold Director, who will be based out of Honiara, will play a central role in managing the CCPS Contractor. CCPS will also coordinate closely with other implementing partners: the PIO and the Community Engagement Partner supporting ALTIF and the NGO supporting FoVEP.

Encourage partnering among firms and NGOs:

Each programmatic activity requires a distinct skillset and organizational capacity. Organizations which lack strong proficiency in each of the programmatic activities are encouraged to consider subcontracting and teaming arrangements to fulfill all requirements.

• Overall:

• Key: Program Manager

• Key: In-Country Representative (may be any team member based in Honiara)

• FGR:

• Key: Lead Facilitator

• Recommended: Co-Facilitators

• Monitoring:

• Key: None

• Recommended: Monitoring Officer (could be combined with FGR Co-Facilitators)

• Meeting/Administrative Services:

• Key: None

• Recommended: Administrative Assistant and Website Developer

• Communications:

• Key: None

• Recommended: Communications

Specialist and Communications Assistant

• Blended Finance (Optional Task):

• Key: None

• Recommended: Blended Finance

Consultant

Key Personnel

Note: Please refer to Section H, which details Key Personnel requirements and level of effort (LOE) estimates.

Price Details: Contract Line‐Item Numbers (CLINs) and ‘Plug Numbers’

• X001: Facilitated Governance Reform – ALTIF (Tasks 1-8)

Plug numbers for technical assistance

• X002: Facilitated Governance Reform – FoVEP (Tasks 1-2, 9-14)

Plug numbers for technical assistance

• X003: Active Program Monitoring (Tasks 15-18)

• X004: Meeting and Administrative Support (Tasks 19-22)

Plug numbers for SIG travel costs

• X005: Communications Support (Tasks 23-30)

• X006: Blended Finance (Optional – Task 31, Option Periods 1-3)

Plug numbers for maximum funding disbursement amounts

• 4001: Closure Period (Optional – Task 32)

“Plug Numbers:”

Estimated dollar figures provided to offerors for contract activities that may vary widely in scope; offerors may use these figures to capture uncertainties for price proposal purposes.

• Unexpended funds from one period automatically carry over into following periods.

• If approved, funding may be reallocated among CLINs with the same funding source.

• Funding cannot be reallocated from one funding source to another without a contract modification.

Price Details: Funding Sources

Funding Source Activity(ies) Supported CLINs Land Project (ALTIF) ALTIF FGR 0001, 1001, 2001, 3001

Blended Finance (Optional) 1006, 2006, 3006 Forest Project (FoVEP) FoVEP FGR 0002, 1002, 2002, 3002 Monitoring & Evaluation Active Program Monitoring Hub 0003, 1003, 2003, 3003

Program Closure (Optional) 4001 Program Administration Meeting and Admin Support 0004, 1004, 2004, 3004

Communications 0005, 1005, 2005, 3005 Program Closure (Optional) 4001

Price Details: Total Budget Estimates, Past & Present

• February 2021 (CCPS Industry Day): $3.5M–$5M

• May 2021 (Draft SOW on SAM.gov): $4.5M–$6.2M

• Since the above estimates were provided, the statement of work has evolved further (including, but not limited to, the inclusion of the blended finance option, expansion of Communications activities, etc.).

• MCC does not intend to provide a top-line budget estimate for the solicitation.

Questions

• Attendee list, Q&As, and all written event materials will be posted on SAM.gov by next week. (If you do not want your contact info shared, email greenkd@mcc.gov and naranjoj@mcc.gov by Thursday, April 14th)

• It is the vendor's responsibility to monitor SAM.gov for any updates to the solicitation.

• Additional questions may be submitted to the following POCs by April 14th at 2pm:

Jackie Naranjo (naranjoj@mcc.gov) and Kamille Green(greenkd@mcc.gov)

Closing Remarks and Next Steps

April 2022 Solicitation Issued

Mid‐April 2022 Pre‐Proposal Conference

Late April

Proposals Due

May – July

Proposal Evaluations

July/August

Contract Award

~2 weeks after release of solicitation

~1 month after release of solicitation

References

• 30 December 2020: RFI for Communications and Meeting Support

• 7 January 2021: RFI for Facilitated Governance Reform (FGR)

• 24 February 2021: Industry Day for the Solomon Islands

Threshold Program (draft SOW posted with event announcement)

• 6 May 2021: Draft SOW for Cross-Cutting Program Support

(CCPS) Services

• 24 November 2021: Draft SOW (Updated) for CCPS Services

• 1 April 2022: Solicitation for Solomon Islands THP CCPS Services https://sam.gov/opp/d1d0559281fe4c58baf8340e73859b02/view https://sam.gov/opp/be93bf778fa8490e9a9ad85201bd63c4/view https://sam.gov/opp/207614047a264a18944cec0f06c193f2/view https://sam.gov/opp/96d4d627b68b43bfa2d5d077f45bf745/view https://sam.gov/opp/8e19dd99aa884023968c96d7b3615b83/view https://sam.gov/opp/79ada77d78f44c1f81b2b88f421d5741/view

Link to Solicitation on SAM.gov https://sam.gov/opp/79ada77d78f44c1f81b2b88f421d5741/view