Country Risk - Sector Report Requirements RFQ.docx

U.S. International Development Finance Corporation Country Risk/Country Industry Reports RFQ 77344421Q0011 Questions due by January 8, 2021 Responses due by January 15, 2021 at 12pm EST Background:

As the U.S. Government’s development finance institution, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) mobilizes U.S. private capital to help solve critical development challenges and in doing so, advances U.S. foreign policy. Because DFC works with the U.S. private sector, it helps U.S. businesses gain footholds in emerging markets, catalyzing revenues, jobs and growth opportunities both at home and abroad. DFC achieves its mission by providing investors with financing, guarantees, political risk insurance, and support for private equity investments.

Country Risk Reports/Country Sector Reports - Online Information System DFC’s Information Center requires commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) web-based information system(s) providing access to two types of worldwide country intelligence. We are looking for service(s) that can provide:

1) country reports with an overview of the political and economic risk situation in the country

2) country-based sector/industry reports that provide an overview of the issues and risks associated with the key industries in a particular country.

In order to achieve the diversity of country and industry/sector coverage that we require, we anticipate that this solicitation will result in multiple awards.

The DFC Information Center is part of the Federal Library & Information Network (FEDLINK). If your service(s) is available through an existing FEDLINK contract, please indicate that and include relevant information in your proposal.

The award will be for five (5) years: Base Year (2021) and four (4) option years.

Information that is mandatory for you to include in your proposal for this solicitation is marked by an arrow. Please make sure that all mandatory information is included in your proposal.

General System Requirements:

· Multiple world regions/countries available on a single search platform/interface.

· We require any service we select to cover multiple world regions and countries within those regions. DFC’s focus is on emerging market countries in Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, Asia Pacific, Central/South Asia, Middle East and Europe. A list of countries where DFC is operational is available on the DFC’s website (https://www.dfc.gov/what-we-offer/eligibility/where-we-work ). Those are the countries of greatest interest to us. (Note: we are not operational in China and have no real need for this information.)

· Intranet accessible reports:

· The country intelligence system(s) will be used by DFC Information Center staff to respond to questions from all DFC departments.

· Access via IP authentication - DFC staff will also have access to the country intelligence system(s) via the DFC Intranet. We estimate that of the 350 DFC employees there would be potentially between 50-60 unique users each month.

· Technical Requirements:

· Available 7 days a week with minimal downtime.

· Menu driven and interactive access to all country and industry information.

· Access to a Help Desk or other interactive search assistance. Access to subject specialists to provide search guidance beyond the scope of the Help Desk.

· Ability to open, print or save the search results in appropriate formats such as spreadsheets, Word documents or PDFs.

· Ability to set up alert messages where appropriate.

· Training support in the form of online training sessions (off-the-shelf or live), customer- oriented on-site training, and/or off-site training seminars.

· Upon request the Vendor will provide quarterly usage statistics indicating the number of sessions, number of documents downloaded, and the broad category of information accessed i.e. country report, country forecast, industry report etc.

Content Requirements:

· Country Reports -- Required Features: Each basic country profile will cover the general topics below. (We recognize that country data collection policies differ and that certain topics may not be appropriate for all countries.)

· Highlights of key events/changes within the country over the past month or quarter.

· Economic overview including economic policy analysis, performance and macroeconomic fundamentals.

· Political analysis including political structure, internal/external political issues and key events impacting these areas.

· Inclusion of appropriate statistical data and charts including economic growth, interest rates/currency/exchange rates, capital flows/foreign debt and wages/prices.

· Reports refreshed on a regular cycle. (We recognize that depending on the country, updating cycles may vary.)

Highly Desired Country Report Features: In addition to the above requirements we would also be interested to see the following information available in the reports: (We recognize that not all vendors include all of these features in their basic country reports.)

· Investment climate overview including attitudes to foreign investment, infrastructure quality, labor conditions and information on bureaucracy and corruption.

· Analysis of major political and economic risk issues in the country

· Analysis covering regulatory issues and tax law impact

· Country forecasts covering a minimum range of 5 years out. (Please clearly indicate if this is part of your Country Report product or if it is a separate product.)

· Overview reports at a regional and/or global level.

· Country Risk Ratings: In addition to information in the country reports as stated above, we are interested in a product(s) that will provide us with a country risk score/ranking/rating based on a number of risk factors such as political risks including expropriation and stability of government, economic risks including factors such as interest rates and inflation, infrastructure as it impacts business and investment within the country, labor risk including potential for strikes, turmoil risk, currency risk including currency convertibility and legal/regulatory risks.

· Map of the country

Additional Highly Desired Features: We would also be interested in having these features as part of the service you offer. Please indicate if your service provides any of these features as part of your regular offering, or whether these are separate products:

· Analysis of key events/changes outside of the regular country report format on a weekly/monthly/quarterly basis.

· Interactive statistics database that allows individual users to build custom reports (please indicate generally which statistics are included, e.g., macroeconomic indicators, forecasts, etc.)

· You must include in your proposal a list of the DFC countries that you 1) do not cover or 2) you do not provide a full country report for within the product. If you cover all of the DFC countries, please clearly state this in your proposal.

· You must include a sample Country Report for Egypt. You can provide this report in a PDF format or via a link to your online system.

· Country Industry/Sector Reports: In addition to country risk reports we seek a product(s) that will provide access to basic industry information for a given country.

· The industries of strong interest to us include

· Agribusiness

· Banking and financial services

· Energy (conventional and renewable)

· Healthcare

· Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

· Infrastructure

· Mining/metals

· Oil & gas (upstream and downstream)

· Power

· Real estate (housing and commercial)

· Tourism

· Transport/logistics (including shipping/ports)

· Water

· Industry/sector report content – each sector report will contain

· Overview of the industry within the country

· Forecast for the sector

· Production data

· Industry potential

· Current issues within the industry

· Investor risk within the industry

· Industry information must be accessible by country and within the report itself searchable by keyword.

· If you are proposing industry reports in your proposal, you must include a sample Country industry/sector report for the Egyptian telecommunication sector with your proposal. You can provide this report in a PDF format or via a link to your online system.

INSTRUCTION TO VENDORS

December 28, 2020 The International Development Finance Corporation is issuing the competitive request for quotes forthe purpose of entering into a Firm-Fixed Price contract. This solicitation may result in multiple awards.

Questions:

If you have questions, please submit your inquiries via email no later than January 6, 2021 by 4:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.

Due Date:

The due date for responses is January 15, 2021 @ 4:00 pm via email @ Jason.Jamula@DFC.gov

Period of Performance:

The period of performance is one (1) base year plus four (4) option years from the award of the contract by DFC.

Place of Performance:

International Development Finance Corporation ATTN: Jason Jamula 1100 New York Ave.

Washington, DC 20527

Proposal Instructions:

1- All proposals must address the General System/Technical requirements.

2- Select and clearly state in your proposal which of the two content options you are proposing:

3- Proposal must address the Content requirements of the option you selected.

4- Country List:

5- Sector Report List:

a. If you are proposing Option 2 (Country Reports/Country Risk/Country Sector), you must include a table/list of Sectors available.

b. Proposal must include a table/list of the country sector reports for which your service provides a full sector reports and for which you provide only abbreviated sector reports.

6- Sample Country Report:

7- Sample Industry Report:

8- Proposal – Pricing:

Evaluation Criteria:

Basis for Award:

Award will be based on the following criteria:

1- The Offeror's understanding of and ability to meet the General Systems Requirements outlined in the Requirements section of the solicitation.

2- The Offeror’s understanding of and ability to meet the Technical Requirements outlined in the Requirements section of the solicitation.

3- The Offeror's understanding of and ability to meet the Content Requirements described in the Requirements section of the solicitation.

4- Access to all requirements using single platform.

5- General Systems/Technical and Content requirements will carry equal weight in the evaluation or proposals.

Corporate Experience, Background and Past Performance:

6- Offeror shall provide a brief overview (1 page or less) of their company including corporate history and their experience.

Past Performance:

The Offeror shall submit three (3) completed past performance evaluation forms with their proposal. The evaluation forms are to be filled out by three (3) institutions/libraries currently (or recently) using the Contractor’s technical services and reference+ personnel. Evaluations forms must be sent back by the evaluating institution/organization to the Contracting Officer who is assigned to this solicitation.

o Past performance evaluations must meet the following criteria mix. Note – a single institution/library can meet more than one criterion:

o At least one (1) of the past performance evaluations must be from special libraries or government libraries (federal, state or local).

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This purchase order is for the acquisition of commercial services. The following terms and conditions, and special requirements (if any) are applicable to this order.

FAR CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

FAR 52.252-2 - Clauses Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998):

This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this address: https://www.acquisition.gov/?q=browsefar

FAR 52.204-13 System for Award Management Maintenance (Oct 2016) FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items (Oct 2018) FAR 52.232-39 Unenforceability of Unauthorized Obligations (Jun 2013)

FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders (Jan 2020)

The following subparagraphs of FAR 52.212-5 are applicable:

FAR 52.204-25 Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment.

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause— Backhaul means intermediate links between the core network, or backbone network, and the small subnetworks at the edge of the network (e.g., connecting cell phones/towers to the core telephone network). Backhaul can be wireless (e.g., microwave) or wired (e.g., fiber optic, coaxial cable, Ethernet).

Covered foreign country means The People’s Republic of China.

Covered telecommunications equipment or services means–

(1) Telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities);

(2) For the purpose of public safety, security of Government facilities, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure, and other national security purposes, video surveillance and telecommunications equipment produced by Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, or Dahua Technology Company (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities);

(3) Telecommunications or video surveillance services provided by such entities or using such equipment; or

(4) Telecommunications or video surveillance equipment or services produced or provided by an entity that the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence or the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, reasonably believes to be an entity owned or controlled by, or otherwise connected to, the government of a covered foreign country.

Critical technology means–

(1) Defense articles or defense services included on the United States Munitions List set forth in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations under subchapter M of chapter I of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations;

(2) Items included on the Commerce Control List set forth in Supplement No. 1 to part 774 of the Export Administration Regulations under subchapter C of chapter VII of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, and controlled-

(i) Pursuant to multilateral regimes, including for reasons relating to national security, chemical and biological weapons proliferation, nuclear nonproliferation, or missile technology; or

(ii) For reasons relating to regional stability or surreptitious listening;

(3) Specially designed and prepared nuclear equipment, parts and components, materials, software, and technology covered by part 810 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to assistance to foreign atomic energy activities);

(4) Nuclear facilities, equipment, and material covered by part 110 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to export and import of nuclear equipment and material);

(5) Select agents and toxins covered by part 331 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, part 121 of title 9 of such Code, or part 73 of title 42 of such Code; or

(6) Emerging and foundational technologies controlled pursuant to section 1758 of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. 4817).

Interconnection arrangements means arrangements governing the physical connection of two or more networks to allow the use of another's network to hand off traffic where it is ultimately delivered (e.g., connection of a customer of telephone provider A to a customer of telephone company B) or sharing data and other information resources.

Reasonable inquiry means an inquiry designed to uncover any information in the entity's possession about the identity of the producer or provider of covered telecommunications equipment or services used by the entity that excludes the need to include an internal or third-party audit.

Roaming means cellular communications services (e.g., voice, video, data) received from a visited network when unable to connect to the facilities of the home network either because signal coverage is too weak or because traffic is too high.

Substantial or essential component means any component necessary for the proper function or performance of a piece of equipment, system, or service.

(b) Prohibition.

(1) Section 889(a)(1)(A) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) prohibits the head of an executive agency on or after August 13, 2019, from procuring or obtaining, or extending or renewing a contract to procure or obtain, any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system. The Contractor is prohibited from providing to the Government any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system, unless an exception at paragraph (c) of this clause applies or the covered telecommunication equipment or services are covered by a waiver described in FAR 4.2104.

(2) Section 889(a)(1)(B) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) prohibits the head of an executive agency on or after August 13, 2020, from entering into a contract, or extending or renewing a contract, with an entity that uses any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system, unless an exception at paragraph (c) of this clause applies or the covered telecommunication equipment or services are covered by a waiver described in FAR 4.2104. This prohibition applies to the use of covered telecommunications equipment or services, regardless of whether that use is in performance of work under a Federal contract.

(c) Exceptions. This clause does not prohibit contractors from providing—

(1) A service that connects to the facilities of a third-party, such as backhaul, roaming, or interconnection arrangements; or

(2) Telecommunications equipment that cannot route or redirect user data traffic or permit visibility into any user data or packets that such equipment transmits or otherwise handles.

(d) Reporting requirement.

(1) In the event the Contractor identifies covered telecommunications equipment or services used as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system, during contract performance, or the Contractor is notified of such by a subcontractor at any tier or by any other source, the Contractor shall report the information in paragraph (d)(2) of this clause to the Contracting Officer, unless elsewhere in this contract are established procedures for reporting the information; in the case of the Department of Defense, the Contractor shall report to the website at https://dibnet.dod.mil. For indefinite delivery contracts, the Contractor shall report to the Contracting Officer for the indefinite delivery contract and the Contracting Officer(s) for any affected order or, in the case of the Department of Defense, identify both the indefinite delivery contract and any affected orders in the report provided at https://dibnet.dod.mil.

(2) The Contractor shall report the following information pursuant to paragraph (d)(1) of this clause

(i) Within one business day from the date of such identification or notification: the contract number; the order number(s), if applicable; supplier name; supplier unique entity identifier (if known); supplier Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code (if known); brand; model number (original equipment manufacturer number, manufacturer part number, or wholesaler number); item description; and any readily available information about mitigation actions undertaken or recommended.

(ii) Within 10 business days of submitting the information in paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this clause: any further available information about mitigation actions undertaken or recommended. In addition, the Contractor shall describe the efforts it undertook to prevent use or submission of covered telecommunications equipment or services, and any additional efforts that will be incorporated to prevent future use or submission of covered telecommunications equipment or services.

(e) Subcontracts. The Contractor shall insert the substance of this clause, including this paragraph (e) and excluding paragraph (b)(2), in all subcontracts and other contractual instruments, including subcontracts for the acquisition of commercial items.

(End of clause) IPP-001. Electronic Invoicing and Payment Requirements - Invoice Processing Platform (IPP).

Payment requests must be submitted electronically through the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) system or any successor site using the “Bill to Agency” of U.S. International Development Finance Corporation-DFC.

“Payment request” means any request for contract financing payment or invoice payment by the Contractor. To constitute a proper invoice, the payment request must comply with the requirements identified in FAR 32.905(b), “Content of Invoices” and the applicable Payment clause included in the contract, or the clause 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions.

Commercial Items included in commercial item contracts. The IPP Homepage can be accessed at: www.IPP.gov. New suppliers to IPP should contact DFC contracting officer. DFC will set up the supplier in IPP. The Contractor Government Business Point of Contact (as listed in SAM) will receive two registration emails from IPP with log in instructions prior to the contract award date, but no more than 5-7 business days after contract award date.

Contractor assistance with enrollment can be obtained by contacting the IPP Production Helpdesk Monday through Friday 8:00-6:00 EDT (except federal holidays) via email at: IPPCustomerSupport@fiscal.treasury.gov or by phone at (866) 973-3131.

If the Contractor is unable to comply with the requirement to use IPP for submitting invoices for payment, the Contractor must submit a waiver request in writing to the Contracting Officer with its proposal or quotation. ONLY the Contracting Officer may authorize alternate procedures in writing in accordance with Treasury procedures.

Invoicing Frequency The DFC hereby agrees to allow for a single invoice, annually, for all services

(End of Custom Clause)