e-Commerce_cold_chain_SOW.docx

U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service

Statement of Work Cochran Fellowship Program on Cold Chain for E-Commerce (China) Asia Region

BACKGROUND

Since 1984, the U.S. Congress has made funds available to the Cochran Fellowship Program for training agriculturalists from middle-income countries, emerging markets, and emerging democracies. Training opportunities are for senior and mid-level specialists and administrators working in agricultural trade and policy, agribusiness development, management, animal, plant, and food sciences, extension services, agricultural marketing, and many other areas. Individuals selected for Cochran trainings come from both the public and private sectors. All training occurs in the United States. Training programs are designed and organized in conjunction with U.S. universities, USDA and other government agencies, agribusinesses, and consultants. The Cochran Fellowship Program, which is part of the United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service, has provided U.S.-based training for over 17,500 international participants from 125 countries worldwide.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Cochran Fellowship Program’s Asia region is requesting the design and delivery of a training program for six (6) Cochran Fellows from China, including: (4) directors and owners of importer businesses, (1) senior logistics director of an import business, and (1) secretary-general for a transportation and logistics trade group.

Chinese E-commerce has emerged as a robust importer and distributor of perishable products from the United States. Frozen products such as seafood and pork, and fresh produce including cherries and pears have seen major successes on Chinese E-commerce platforms in recent years. U.S. products have a competitive advantage in this market because they have a reputation for superior quality and safety. This program should provide the fellows with a detailed understanding of best practices for managing perishable foods in storage and delivery, so that foods arrive to end consumers in superior condition. The program should provide the fellows with an in-depth understanding of supply chain management for perishable foods in E-commerce, so as to facilitate the growth of U.S. perishable product exports to China. The program should demonstrate the variety of U.S. foods available and inform U.S. food suppliers about how they can provide U.S. high value-added products to Chinese customers using e-commerce channels. The program should include visits and meetings with U.S. e-commerce companies. In addition to e-commerce operations, the program should cover the supply chain of agriculture including production, processing, transportation, and sales and marketing. Products of interest include dairy products (mainly fluid milk and milk powder), fresh fruits, meat, seafood, dried fruits and nuts, and packaged foods. There should be meetings with major consolidators, private label manufacturers, and midsized food manufacturers. The goal of the program is to increase exports of U.S. food products to China.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The contractor will ensure that the Fellows develop competencies in the areas noted below. In your proposal, please clearly identify which learning objective(s) is addressed in each of your proposed activities.

1. Understanding dynamics of the supply chain management, logistics, warehousing, and cold chain management industry in the U.S

2. Understanding of U.S. e-commerce retail operations, platform options, and logistics systems

3. Understanding of the quality and safety of U.S. food products from farm to consumer

4. Understanding how U.S. companies can provide Chinese customers with “direct to consumer” services

5. Gain knowledge in supply chain of food products for dairy, fresh fruits, meat, seafood, nuts, and packaged foods

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

This consecutive 2 week training program should be provided during August - September 2017. Proposals of duration less than the full 2 weeks will be considered, if the training provider is able to thoroughly cover the material in a shorter time.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

· The host institution shall propose the place(s) of performance in their Technical Proposal.

· The host institution will be reimbursed for travel and subsistence expenses based on GSA’s Joint Travel Regulation.

DELIVERABLES:

· Provide a thumb drive of the training highlights to each Fellow and the Cochran Fellowship Program;

· Ensure that each Fellow completes the Cochran Training Program Evaluation; and

· Development of an Action Plan by each Fellow, in accordance with the Action Plan template. The Action Plan identifies goals and outlines specific steps or activities which each Fellow will perform upon return to China. An Action Plan generally includes steps, milestones, measures of progress, responsibilities, assignments, and timeline. The contractor shall provide a copy of each fellow’s Action Plan to the Cochran Fellowship Program.

· A brief final report (format at the discretion of the offeror).

· NEW: A pre-training questionnaire to determine Fellows’ baseline knowledge of the learning objectives stated above. (Template and examples will be provided)

· NEW: A post-training questionnaire to determine the knowledge gained in each of the learning objectives stated above. (Template and examples will be provided)

· NEW: Analysis of the pre and post training questionnaire. (Template and examples will be provided)

· NEW: A six-month follow up questionnaire to determine how the fellows are using the knowledge gained during the training and progress on their Action Plans. (Templates and exapmles will be provided)

· NEW: Analysis of the six-month follow up questionnaire. (Note: all questionnaires and analysis must be conducted in the U.S., No international travel will be approved for the evaluation process)

· All deliverables, excluding the six month follow up questionnaire, are due four weeks after the completion of the training.

· The six month follow questionnaire is due seven months after the completion of the training program

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED ITEMS:

· The Fellows’ subsistence expenses will be paid by USDA (per diem allowance)

· Emergency Medical Insurance

· Certificates of Eligibility for J-1 visas

HOST INSTITUTION SHALL PROVIDE:

· Secure and guarantee lodging during the entire program

· Ground transportation in applicable cities, except Washington, DC

· Domestic airline tickets if applicable