ENCL 1_1131PL20RDM21165 - Performance Work Statement (PWS) Algeria DM.pdf

SECTION D – ANY CONTRACT DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS OR ATTACHMENTS

D.1. PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

DEFINITIONAL MISSION FOR ALGERIA: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

D.1.1. OVERVIEW

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is a foreign assistance agency that delivers its program commitments through grants and contracts. The projects supported by USTDA activities represent strong and measurable development priorities in the host country and offer opportunities for the sale of U.S. goods and services. Requests for USTDA assistance are made by either public or private sector project sponsors for implementation in developing and middle income countries.

D.1.2. SCOPE OF WORK

USTDA requires services under this non-personal services Definitional Mission (“DM”) contract to support its decision-making relative to the funding of activities to support Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector development, including the digitization of administrative services, the development of data centers, expansion of broadband infrastructure, including fiber optic cables, and the establishment of cloud infrastructure in Algeria.

The Contractor shall provide project reports (“Project Reports”) for at least three (3) Activities for USTDA funding consideration and one final report (“Final Report”) in cumulation to USTDA. USTDA reserves the right to make the final determination on which activities merit consideration for the Project Reports.

Each Project Report and the Final Report, unless otherwise directed by USTDA, shall be labeled clearly on every page as “Business Confidential” and shall be treated accordingly per sections D.11, “Confidentiality,” and D.12, “Intellectual Property.”

The purpose of the Final Report is to:

1. Assess and provide a recommendation on whether USTDA should provide funding for the proposed feasibility study(ies), technical assistance, pilot project(s), or other activity(ies), hereinafter referred to as “activity(ies)”;

2. Develop terms of reference and budgets for at least three (3) Activities for USTDA funding consideration.

o If Contractor is having difficulty meeting this requirement, the Contractor must discuss the findings of the mission with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) in advance of writing the draft Final Report.

o The Contractor shall obtain the COR’s written approval before developing any activity beyond the three (3) activities.

3. Provide supporting analysis for the recommendation on each Activity in a Project Report that analyzes all the relevant issues. The requirements for the Project Reports are further detailed in section D.1.7, Project Reports.

4. In addition, the Contractor shall assess the potential of the relevant market sector in the host country for U.S. suppliers of goods and services each Project Report and in the Final Report.

5. The Contractor shall include all Project Reports in a cumulative Final Report to USTDA.

The Contractor will not be paid for reports that are not approved or completed.

The actual number of deliverables/reports against this contract is dependent on the success of the Definitional Mission and availability of projects. Therefore, not all deliverables may be required or be possible and the figures provided for the Project Reports are not-to-exceed ceiling figures and not actual figures. The Contractor shall only invoice for work/deliverables actually completed. Any unexpended funds will be de-obligated from the contract at close-out.

Foreign Language Requirement

The Contractor is required to be proficient in the French language at the general professional proficiency level, at a minimum (Level 4 or above on the Interagency Language Roundtable scale). The resumes of the Contractor’s proposed personnel shall indicate their respective French language proficiency levels, as appropriate.

D.1.3. USTDA FUNDING CRITERIA

The Contractor’s recommendations shall be based upon USTDA funding criteria, which are that the Project(s) must:

a) Be likely to receive implementation financing;

b) Have a procurement process that provides “equal access” to U.S. companies;

c) Represent an opportunity for sales of U.S. goods and services that is many times greater than the initial investment of USTDA assistance;

d) Be a development priority of the Project Sponsor and host country where the Project is located and have the endorsement of the U.S. Embassy in that host country; and

e) Involve U.S. companies that are facing market entry problems and/or strong competition from foreign companies which often receive subsidies and other support from their governments.

To execute this requirement, the Contractor shall:

(1) Meet with USTDA’s Middle East, North Africa, Europe & Eurasia (MENA/EE)

Regional Director (RD) and Country Manager (CM), as well as USTDA’s Office of Program Monitoring and Evaluation (OPME) team to discuss the DM objectives and execution strategy;

(2) Connect with relevant U.S. companies interested in ICT projects in Algeria via conference calls, webinars, and/or in-person meetings;

(3) Connect with prospective grantees and other stakeholders via conference calls, webinars, and/or in-person meetings;

(4) Connect with national and municipal financing bodies, including local banks and financing institutions such as the EBRD, the World Bank, the AfDB and IFC via conference calls, webinars, and/or in-person meetings;

(5) Conduct initial meetings with stakeholders, prior to travel, to begin the identification and evaluation of at least three (3) project opportunities;

(6) Travel to Algeria, on two (2) separate trips, for at least ten (10) business days during each trip, to meet with potential project sponsors and other relevant parties including Algérie

(7) Identify and evaluate at least three (3) project opportunities and provide recommendations for USTDA funding;

(8) Develop Terms of Reference and budgets for each recommended USTDA activity;

(9) Assess the anticipated impact of each recommended project opportunity, clearly identifying the relevant development impact indicators and anticipated outcomes, as well as the U.S. export potential, anticipated financing sources, and the likelihood of successful implementation;

(10) Conduct a climate resilience screening for each recommended project opportunity; and

(11) Provide a full analysis and recommendations to USTDA in a Final Report.

D.1.4. CLIMATE RESILIENCE SCREENING

Per Executive Order (EO) 13677, USTDA is required to consider climate resilience in its international development work. The Agency has determined that in order to be compliant with the EO, climate resilience screenings must be conducted at the project scoping stage for all feasibility studies (FS) and technical assistance (TA) activities. Accordingly, the Contractor shall conduct a climate resilience screening utilizing the guidance provided in Attachment VII.

D.1.5. PROJECT PROFILE

Over the past several years, Algeria has invested in developing its ICT sector. For example, in 2013, the Authority for Regulation of Post and Electronic Communications (ARPCE) introduced the E-Algeria digital initiative. The goal of the initiative was to improve ICT options for business, government, and citizens; provide access to more equipment and networks for consumers; and deliver agile telecommunications infrastructure to strengthen innovation. It is estimated that 15% of Algerian companies are engaging in digitization efforts. In 2018, Djezzy, one of the three telecom operators in Algeria, successfully migrated all of its customers to a digital business support system, which allows the operator to conduct most customer service functions, such as billing and pricing, digitally. In the public sector, Algeria’s water distribution company is utilizing ICT applications to enhance the management, control and maintenance of its networks. To further support digitization efforts, the Algerian government recently created the National Digitization Agency (ANN). The ANN leads Algeria’s efforts in adopting technologies to support the emergence of a digital economy.

Over the years, Algeria has made significant strides in expanding broadband infrastructure and thereby increasing access to internet. According to ARPCE, the internet penetration rate increased from 46.9% in 2015 to 71.2% in 2016. To further improve connectivity in the country, Algérie

Telecom launched the Idoom Fibre package in 2018, a high-speed internet product which is part of the Fiber-To-The-Home/ Businesses (FTTx) project. The goal of the project is to deliver high-speed internet of up to 100 mbps to households and 1 gbps to private businesses. Algeria currently has 172,000 km of fiber optics installed and is planning to expand fiber optic connectivity into the interior of the country as well as improve bandwidth capacity

In January, members of the MENA/EE Team traveled to Algeria and met with Algérie Telecom to discuss opportunities for USTDA ICT engagement in Algiers. Algérie Telecom’s CEO outlined the Telecom’s priorities, which include the expansion of broadband infrastructure, including the development of internet data centers. Algérie Telecom plans to expand its installed fiber optic network cable and end-to-end capabilities through FTTx, thereby bringing internet capabilities to the interior of the country and remote locations, such as oil and gas facilities. Algérie Telecom also seeks to construct fixed-location and modular data centers.

During a roundtable meeting with U.S. ICT companies, the companies highlighted the Algerian government’s plans for digitization and e-government activities. Several government ministries have already begun modernizing and digitizing their records, including the tax authority. These are large undertakings, which are expected to require various consultative and solutions-based service.

Recently, members of the MENA/EE Team and U.S. Embassy representatives held conference calls with several U.S. ICT companies in Algeria to discuss ICT priorities. The companies confirmed that the Algerian administration and private sector entities continue to prioritize the aforementioned topics of the DM, despite the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis.

The DM would focus on ICT development and recommend potential USTDA projects to support digitization and expansion of broadband infrastructure, including fiber optic cables and data centers. The proposed DM would initially connect with relevant U.S. companies interested in ICT projects in Algeria and prospective grantees and other stakeholders via conference calls and/or webinars. Due to the ongoing COVID travel restrictions, it is expected that this period of remote contact may extend for many months. The DM will be expected to develop projects to the greatest extent possible during this period. When travel restrictions are lifted, the proposed DM would travel to Algeria on two (2) separate trips, for at least ten (10) business days each, to meet with relevant stakeholders, including Algérie Telecom, the ANN, government ministries such as the ICT Ministry, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Health, and other relevant entities. The recommendations would include Terms of References (TOR) and budgets for at least three (3) activities related to ICT development. It is expected that at least one of these activities would be fully developed prior to travel to Algeria.

D.1.6. METHODOLOGY:

In the course of carrying out this DM, the Contractor must take the following steps:

D.1.6.1. NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT AND KICKOFF Upon award, the Contractor shall be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement. To the extent that the work under this contract requires that the contractor be given access to confidential information or proprietary data from the Government or other companies, the Contractor agrees to treat such information and data as confidential and to use the information only for the contemplated purpose. After signing the Non-Disclosure Agreement, the Contractor shall contact USTDA’s COR to schedule a meeting or call to discuss details of the Contract assignment. The COR shall provide the Contractor with names and addresses of the potential project sponsor(s), other pertinent entities to contact in the United States and overseas, and any other relevant details or proposals that may impact the design and/or evaluation of the proposed activity(ies).

After reviewing these materials, contact the assigned COR to discuss initial observations and raise any questions or concerns about the proposal and the Project.

D.1.6.2. PRE-CALL AND PRE-VISIT REPORT

No less than one week prior to commencing initial virtual meetings/conference calls with host country stakeholders, the Contractor shall provide the Contracting Officer (CO) and the COR a pre-call written report containing:

a) Strategy for engaging stakeholders virtually;

b) A list of stakeholders to be contacted;

c) A list of questions and agenda to be utilized for virtual meetings/conference calls; and

d) U.S. company interest in the project(s) and information about the sector in the host country, in general.

No less than one week prior to each departure to the host country, the Contractor shall provide the Contracting Officer (CO) and the COR a pre-visit written report containing:

a) The proposed schedule or itinerary;

b) Preliminary strategies or findings on viability of the project(s);

c) Financing options;

d) U.S. company interest in the project(s) and information about the sector in the host country, in general;

e) Summaries of proposed activity(ies) for USTDA’s funding consideration to support the project(s) identified;

f) A list of contacts to be made during the visit;

g) A pre-visit checklist of issues, information and questions to be utilized during the visit;

and

h) A preliminary version of Attachment VIII (in Excel format), which will provide substantive comments on U.S. company interest in the project(s) and in the host country in general. Please note that the “comments/quotes” column is of particular importance.

The Contractor is expected to provide substantial detail regarding the contact person’s interest or lack of interest in the project(s) discussed.

D.1.6.3. COMMUNICATION WITH U.S. EMBASSY/CONSULATE IN HOST

COUNTRY

Communications with U.S. and foreign embassy officials prior to the award of this contract and completion of the kickoff meeting with USTDA in relations to the requirements of this contract is strictly prohibited.

D.1.6.4. HOST COUNTRY VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT AND TRAVEL

Prior to travel to the host country, the Contractor shall set up virtual meetings/conference calls to connect with relevant Algerian project officials, interested U.S. companies, and with the U.S.

Embassy in execution of this DM. It is the Contractor’s responsibility to arrange all meetings.

The Commercial or Economic Section staff will be as supportive as possible and will assist the Contractor in arranging initial meetings with host country officials. The Contractor shall coordinate with the Commercial and/or Economic Sections in scheduling virtual meetings/conference calls for briefing. The Contractor shall include the Commercial and/or Economic Sections in all virtual meetings/conference calls and communications with relevant Algerian project officials and stakeholders and copy the U.S. Embassy team on all planning emails with stakeholders. The Contractor shall commence scheduling virtual meetings/conference calls within 30 days of the contract award, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the COR.

The Contractor shall travel to the host country to meet with relevant project officials and with the U.S. Embassy in execution of this DM. The Contractor shall contact the Commercial and/or Economic Sections upon arrival and prior to departure for briefing and debriefing meetings. It is the Contractor’s responsibility to arrange all meetings. The Commercial or Economic Section staff will be as supportive as possible and may be able to assist the Contractor in arranging some initial meetings with host country officials. The Contractor is also responsible for arranging its own logistics for the visit (e.g. lodging, transportation, interpretation services, etc.). In some instances, the USTDA Contractor may find it useful to purchase the Gold Key or Business Facilitation Services offered at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. In some cases, the Contractor may need to contract with a local entity to assist with trip logistics and/or for interpretation services. However, substantive technical work may not be subcontracted to local entities.

Contractor’s travel shall commence after consultation with the COR when travel restrictions are no longer in place, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the COR.

The Contractor is required acquire of the following travel insurance coverage for personnel traveling overseas in support of this requirement:

• Defense Base Act (DBA) Insurance and Medical Evacuation Insurance (for Contractors when they perform work overseas).

D.1.6.5. CONTACTS

The Contractor shall submit a list of individuals contacted during the Definitional Mission, and include at a minimum mailing addresses, phone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses, and a substantive summary of key comments that support the Contractor's recommendations. The list shall be submitted in Excel format and in accordance with to the specifications outlined in Attachment XIII, “U.S. Company Contacts” and Attachment I, “Definitional Mission: Final Report Requirements.”

D.1.6.6. DEFINITIONAL MISSION TIPS

The Contractor is encouraged to review the Definitional Mission tips on USTDA’s website via the following link to better understand USTDA’s expectations for this Definitional Mission:

https://www.ustda.gov/business-opportunities/small-business-info/dm-proposal-tips

D.1.7. DELIVERABLES

The Contractor shall provide verbal updates to the COR on a regular basis. The deliverables may also take the form of information, advice, opinions, alternatives, analyses, evaluations, recommendations, Final Reports, or other oral or written work products needed for successful performance. The Contractor shall respond in a timely manner to reasonable requests for updates and information from the COR.

The Contractor shall provide the following reports to USTDA:

(a) One Project Report for each project selected by USTDA for a Project Report. The Contractor shall submit each Project Report to the COR on a rolling basis. Each Project Report will be treated as business confidential and must conform to the guidelines established in this PWS.

(b) Final Report. The Final Report shall consist all of the Project Reports, inclusive of the Required Budget in individual Microsoft Excel files, that have been approved by USTDA must conform to the outline found in Attachment I and provide the requested information and analysis, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by USTDA. Further Final Report requirements are detailed in section D.1.7.2, Final Report.

Unless otherwise agreed to by USTDA, the Contractor shall submit all reports under this Contract to the COR on or about forty-five (45) calendar days upon return from final travel. If it is anticipated that Project Report(s) cannot be provided within this timeframe, the Contractor shall immediately contact the COR to discuss the reasons for the delay.

https://www.ustda.gov/business-opportunities/small-business-info/dm-proposal-tips

D.1.7.1 PROJECT REPORT

For each Project Report, the Contractor shall develop and prepare a report that complies with and satisfies all elements in the following PWS components:

a) PWS Section D.1.3. USTDA Funding Criteria

b) PWS Section D.1.4. Climate Resilience Screening

c) PWS Attachment I. Project Report Outline, including Attachment V (Required Budget Format) and Attachment VI (Task Completion

Schedule)

d) PWS Attachment II. Impact on U.S. Labor

e) PWS Attachment III. USTDA Nationality Requirements

f) PWS Attachment VII. Guidance on Climate Resilience Screening

g) PWS Attachment VIII. U.S. Companies Contacted During the Course of the

Definitional Mission

Additionally, the Contractor shall collect, review, and analyze all necessary information acquired from the following sources:

a) Proposal and supporting documentation provided by Project Sponsor(s) and related project parties; and

b) Meetings (including conference calls) with prospective Grantees, interested U.S.

companies in the relevant sectors, as well as project finance sources.

Prior to initiating a Project Report, the Contractor shall obtain an official letter of interest/commitment from the Grantee demonstrating their commitment to the Project and working with USTDA and the selected U.S. Contractor on the Activity. If a letter cannot be obtained, the Contractor shall discuss and receive written approval from the COR prior to initiating the Project Report. Project Reports will not be approved by USTDA unless the official letter or written approval from USTDA authorizing the Project Report is included.

Following the completion of all Project Reports, the Contractor shall submit to USTDA a Final Report, which compiles all of the Project Reports that have been approved by USTDA. The Final Report submission shall also include the Required Budget Format for each Project Report in individual Microsoft Excel documents.

D.1.7.2 FINAL REPORT

The Contractor shall submit a DM Final Report that includes a complete description of the mission detailing the following:

(a) All projects reviewed during the course of the mission;

(b) All Project Reports, including the TOR and budgets the Contractor has developed in coordination with the Project Sponsor and U.S. firm for each project;

(c) Summaries of all meetings held in the U.S. and overseas for each Project Report;

(d) List of all persons attending the meetings and their contact information for each Project Report; and

(e) A brief explanation for any activity(ies) or project(s) that were reviewed and were not recommended for USTDA funding.

If it is anticipated that the Final Report cannot be provided within three (3) weeks following final travel to the Host Country, the Contractor shall immediately contact the COR to discuss the reasons for the delay. The COR may also request the Contractor to provide portions of the Final Report before the submission of the entire Final Report.

Upon direction from the COR, the Contractor shall submit electronic copy of Final Report(s) to USTDA. No hardcopy submissions will be accepted. All reports must be paginated, clearly labeled, and submitted electronically in Adobe PDF format to USTDA via the following email:

finalreports@ustda.gov

The email subject line must include the title of the definitional mission and the project number so that it is easily identifiable. Any copies of Project proposal materials must be returned to USTDA with the submission of the Final Report.

Upon government acceptance of the Final Report, the Contractor shall submit an invoice, to

USTDA.

D.1.8. QUALITY CONTROL AND PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT

D.1.8.1. Quality

The deliverables shall be grammatically and factually correct in all respects, internally consistent, and all statements and tables shall be clear and easily understood by a competent reader, and contain no typographical errors. The Contractor is responsible for quality control actions necessary to achieve quality in the delivery of the required services, which may include the services of a professional editor. The COR will reject any deliverable that does not conform in all respects to the Contract requirements, including but not limited to, the written quality of the Final Report. The Contractor shall correct all deficiencies at no additional cost to the Government.

D.1.8.2. Performance Assessment

During the course of contract period, the COR will track Contractor’s performance. At the end of the performance period, the COR will assess the Contractor’s performance in accordance with FAR 42.15 and report to the Contracting Officer for submission to the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS).

The COR will consider all pertinent information during the preparation of the Contractor’s performance assessment. The Contractor will be afforded the opportunity to identify factual errors. The COR’s assessment is not subject to negotiation and the COR will not engage in discussions with the Contractor. Any errors identified by the Contractor will be addressed by the Reviewing Official. A copy of the final performance assessment will be available in the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS).

D.1.9. CONFIDENTIALITY

The proposal of the U.S. firm is a proprietary document and should not be distributed without permission from USTDA and the U.S. firm. The Contractor shall treat any proposal and supporting information submitted by the U.S. firm as business confidential in its entirety, unless otherwise stated in writing by the U.S. firm. The Contractor shall not include any business confidential information in the Public Market Report and shall include the following confidentiality certification in the final invoice:

“I hereby certify that the Public Market Report contains no business confidential information.”

D.1.10. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

This Contract is funded by the United States Government. All intellectual property generated and/or delivered pursuant to this Statement of Work shall be subject to appropriate federal acquisition regulations which entitle the Government to unlimited rights to technical data developed exclusively with Government funds. The Government may: (1) use; (2) disclose; (3) reproduce; (4) prepare derivative works; (5) distribute copies to the public; (6) perform publicly;

and (7) display publicly, the “data” in any manner and for any purpose, and have or permit others to do so (i.e., the Government may sublicense these rights to another contractor). See FAR 52.227-14(a).

D.1.11. IMPARTIALITY

It is essential that the DM be conducted with complete impartiality and objectivity and that the Contractor and its Subcontractors not obtain an unfair competitive advantage in USTDA-funded activities resulting from this Contract. In accordance with the principles of FAR Subpart 9.5 and USTDA policy, the Contractor and its Subcontractors, if any, for this Contract shall be ineligible to compete for, as a prime or subcontractor or otherwise, USTDA-funded activities that result from this Contract, unless USTDA through its Office of Acquisition Management, shall have granted a waiver, based upon FAR 9.503, that preclusion of the Contractor or its Subcontractors from the follow-on activity would not be in the Government’s interest. This restriction shall remain in effect for three (3) years from the termination of this Contract or until the awarding of a USTDA-funded feasibility study resulting from this contract. The Contractor is responsible for including this restriction in all subcontracts under the Contract.

D.1.12. COORDINATION WITH OTHER CONTRACTORS

The government may award other contracts for additional work not prescribed in this contract. The

Contractor shall fully cooperate with such other contractors in performance of the requirement herein, and as directed by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor shall not commit or permit any act, which will interfere with the performance of work by any other USTDA Contractor.

D.1.13. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

The Period of Performance for this Contract shall be 24 months from the date of the Contracting Officer's signature on the Contract.

D.1.14. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:

The places of performance shall be in Algeria, and at the Contractor’s facility.

D.2. ATTACHMENTS

ATTCH/ TITLE

EXHIBIT

I Project Report Outline II Impact on U.S. Labor Statement III USTDA Nationality Requirements IV Required Budget Format V Task Completion Schedule VI Budget Narrative Requirements VII Guidance on Climate Resilience Screening VIII U.S. Companies Contacts

Attachment I – 1

Attachment I

Project Report Outline: Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation

A. Executive Summary.

The Contractor shall provide an executive summary of its findings and recommendations.

B. Project Description.

The Contractor shall hold meaningful discussions with appropriate contacts to determine how USTDA’s funding can be used most effectively to support the implementation of the project(s) identified in the host country.

The Contractor shall provide a brief description and history of the project (the “Project”). The Contractor shall describe the proposed technology from the U.S. firm to be used in the Project.

The Contractor shall gauge the interest of potential project financiers and potential U.S. suppliers and assess whether the proposed USTDA activity(ies) will help accomplish the project(s) goals.

The Contractor shall provide relevant information to potential project sponsors regarding USTDA’s evaluation criteria, timeline, and due diligence requirements. The Contractor shall describe whether the proposed U.S. solution is technically viable and/or commercially available.

If the Contractor finds the proposed U.S. solution is not technically viable and/or commercially viable, the Contractor shall discuss these issues with USTDA program staff before providing a recommendation.

The Contractor shall describe relevant issues to the Project [e.g. host country and/or other stakeholders, sector, Project location, source of raw materials, infrastructure requirements, proposed technological approach, legal and regulatory framework (licenses, permits, etc.), implementation schedule, economic fundamentals (estimated capital cost, operating costs, interest expense, taxes, expected revenues, etc.), the specific objectives of the proposed activity, how the proposed USTDA activity supports the Project implementation process, and any other variables or issues the Contractor deems critical as part of a thorough activity/Project evaluation.]

C. Project Sponsor’s Capabilities and Commitment.

This section describes the Project sponsor’s commitment and capabilities to undertake the activity and the subsequent Project. The purpose is to understand the experience of the Project sponsor and any previous work undertaken by the Project sponsor in the sector. This section should also include a discussion of any potential risks of working with the Project sponsor that could delay Project implementation. This can take many forms but should at a minimum address the applicable points below:

• A thorough description of the host country Project sponsor, including its structure, capabilities, operations, and decision-making ability pursuant to the Project, and

Attachment I – 2

• An assessment of the Project sponsor’s commitment and ability to implement the Project (e.g. the Project sponsor’s previous experience, current commitments, responsiveness, business activities, and government mandate).

D. Implementation Financing.

This section describes the Project sponsor’s plans to secure financing to implement the Project.

This can take many forms but should at a minimum address the points below:

• An assessment of the overall cost estimate of the Project;

• For Projects involving potential equity investment, the Project’s proposed debt-equity structure to ensure that it corresponds to the requirements of the prospective lenders (this aspect is critical to USTDA’s decision making); and

• A review of the financing options for Project implementation.

The Contractor is required to contact officials from the potential financing institutions, including, where appropriate, multilateral lending institutions, Export Import (Ex-Im) Bank, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), and private/commercial sources, to ensure that the Project sponsor(s) has adequately explored all financing options. The Contractor shall provide names and phone numbers of contacts at the potential financing institutions and summarize their comments. The Contractor must determine the most likely source(s) of implementation financing for the Project. The Contractor must ensure that the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the activity fulfill the requirements of the most likely financing source(s).

E. U.S. Export Potential.

This section describes the U.S. export potential that may result if the Project is implemented.

The purpose is to estimate the U.S. export potential in order to justify USTDA funding for the activity. This can take many forms but should at a minimum address the points below:

The Contractor shall provide a best estimate of potential procurement of U.S. goods and services for Project implementation. This estimate should be supported by a breakdown by category and dollar value of goods and services likely to be imported for the Project and an illustrative list of potential U.S. suppliers of the goods and services for those goods and services listed as likely U.S. exports. The Contractor shall include U.S. content in their evaluation of U.S. exports, including an analysis of U.S. manufacturing and services sourced from the United States that would most likely be used for the Project. The Contractor shall cross-check the U.S. firm’s estimates of U.S. export potential with independent relevant sources, such as:

- USTDA program staff and USTDA’s evaluations data;

- The U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration;

- Industry and trade associations; and

- Outreach with other U.S. suppliers in the sector.

Attachment I – 3

The Contractor shall describe how procurements are typically conducted: 1) in the sector; 2) by the Project sponsor; and 3) in the host country. The Contractor shall confirm whether there are local content requirements or procurement restrictions in this sector or for the Project and whether a local provider/distributor will be or is likely to be involved in Project implementation.

The Contractor shall also list any import licensing requirements or permits needed by U.S.

companies to participate and supply goods for the Project. The Contractor shall also identify any U.S. companies already working with the Project sponsor or working in the respective sector in the host country.

The Contractor shall provide a report that summarizes its discussions with U.S. companies that provide goods or services for the Project, and their level of interest in the Project should also be included. The Contractor shall take note on not only the U.S. company’s general interest in the relevant sector or country, but also interest in the specific Project. The Contractor shall analyze how competitive the U.S. company’s goods or services would be if the Project reaches the implementation stage. To ensure no one is given unfair advantage to compete for USTDA’s funding or the Project implementation, the Contractor should be sensitive to disclosing information about the proposed USTDA activity.

The Contractor shall submit a complete list of U.S. companies and other entities contacted, with the name and contact information of individuals interviewed and their responses.

F. Foreign Competition and Market Entry Issues.

This section describes foreign competition and market entry issues in the host country. The purpose is to demonstrate why USTDA funding may be needed in order to level the playing field for U.S. companies. This can take many forms but should at a minimum address the points below.

The Contractor shall provide a discussion of the foreign competition for goods and services likely to be procured for Project implementation by category. The Contractor shall include a discussion of U.S. industry competitiveness in each category, taking into account geographic factors, host country industry capabilities, technology and licensee issues, past procurement tendencies of the Project sponsor, and how the procurement is likely to be conducted. Where relevant, the Contractor shall discuss the extent to which market entry issues impede exports and trade and how the activity will help overcome these obstacles.

G. Evaluation Strategy.

This section describes the strategy by which the Project, if implemented, should be evaluated.

The purpose is to concisely describe the baseline goals and objectives of the Project, along with any potential risks or timeline hindrances, so the actual implementation results can be evaluated accordingly. This can take many forms but should at a minimum address the points below:

• Goals and objectives:

o Clearly define the goals of the Project and identify what will constitute success

Attachment I – 4

Ex: For trade capacity building or legal project, any change in law as result of Project o Identify key sources for information needed to determine if USTDA’s activity attained its objective o Identify potential methods of measurement for evaluation specific to the Project

• Process and Timeline:

o What is the step-by-step process the Project will follow to be implemented, following USTDA’s funding?

o What is the anticipated Project development timeline? This may change, but it is important to know what the original goal is as it will influence USTDA’s evaluation effort.

o How are procurements typically conducted in the sector for this host country?

o Will there be local content requirements?

o Will a local provider/distributor be involved?

o Will there be one big procurement or several smaller ones? Will other entities be involved if the procurements are small?

• Risks:

o Identify potential difficulties in measuring results and ways to mitigate those difficulties o Is any regulation needed before the Project can be developed (e.g. power purchase agreement standards)?

o Are there other entities that must authorize/approve implementation? List them according to their priority in the approval chain.

• Key Leads:

o Are there US companies that already have business with the Project sponsor or in the sector? If so, what is USTDA’s added value for these companies’ ability to pursue additional business?

o Are there any companies short-listed for procurements? If so, are they short listed via direct sales, distributor, etc.?

H. Developmental Impact.

The COR shall identify at least one viable and quantifiable Development Impact Measure that will result from the Project being implemented based on the recommendations of the USTDA activity. The Contractor shall provide the following information for each indicator identified by the COR for each activity: 1) current status, prior to USTDA’s activity and Project implementation (Baseline); 2) anticipated outcomes should the Project be implemented, based on the recommendations of the USTDA activity; 3) the anticipated timeline for the realization of these outcomes; and, 4) how such information can be measured and what sources could be utilized to determine whether the outcome was realized.

Attachment I – 5

I. Impact on the Environment.

The Contractor shall provide a statement regarding the likely consequences the proposed Project may have on the environment. The Contractor shall ensure that the TOR for the activity includes, at a minimum, a preliminary review of the Project’s impact on the environment, with reference to local requirements and requirements of potential financing source(s) of the Project.

The Contractor should identify potential negative impacts and discuss the extent to which they can be minimized or mitigated.

The Contractor shall conduct a climate resilience screening utilizing the guidance provided in Attachment VII and, based on climate resilience screening results, provide details, including rationale, on whether (a) an in-depth analysis is recommended; (b) an in-depth analysis is not recommended; or (c) whether or not the climate resilience screening has indicated that a proposed Project should not move forward. If in-depth analysis is recommended, the Contractor shall propose language for the TOR (see section O, #4).

J. Impact on U.S. Labor.

The Contractor shall provide an assessment of the impact of the Project on U.S. labor. The Contractor shall address the legislative prohibitions on the use of Foreign Assistance funds described in Attachment II and any implication such prohibitions may have on the activity and/or Project.

K. Qualifications.

The Contractor shall provide a review of the capabilities of the U.S. firm submitting the proposal and the qualifications of the proposed U.S. firm’s personnel.

L. Justification.

The Contractor shall provide an explanation of why USTDA’s grant funding is needed, including a description of how the Project would support U.S. government policy priorities and promote trade, how USTDA's participation would add value to the Project's development, and how the success of the Project would be measured in terms of trade capacity and development impact.

M. Recommendations.

The Contractor shall provide analysis and recommendations as to whether or not the Project meets USTDA’s basic funding criteria as defined in Section 3 in the Definitional Mission Performance Work Statement.

If the recommendation is that USTDA should fund the activity, but in a phased approach or only if certain outstanding issues are resolved or conditions met, those phases, issues or conditions should be clearly delineated and discussed in the recommendation.

Attachment I – 6

N. Contacts.

The Contractor shall provide a list of individuals contacted during the Definitional Mission and fill out Attachment VIII. The list shall include the address, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail address of each individual.

O. Terms of Reference.

For Contractor shall be responsible for submitting to USTDA a Terms of Reference (“TOR”) and budget for the activity that conforms to USTDA’s requirements. This work shall entail working with the U.S. firm and the proposed Project sponsor to develop the TOR and budget for the activity using the U.S. firm’s and Project sponsor’s draft proposal as a basis. The TOR, which must be approved by the Project sponsor and the U.S. firm, should include, at a minimum, the following:

1. Purpose and objective of the activity. This section will contain a concise statement describing the activity.

2. A technical assessment. This section will include relevant background information and analysis that is pertinent to the technical feasibility of the Project (e.g. site selection, gap analysis, data collection, comparative analysis, parameters for pilot project implementation, baseline indicators and key performance indicators, a review of any previous reports or studies related to the Project, and an assessment of technologies to be used in pilot project implementation).

3. An economic analysis of the Project. This section will include a detailed analysis on all of the costs associated with the implementation of the Project, and relevant additional economic analyses relevant to the viability of the Project. This section shall provide all relevant information pertaining to the economic analysis of the Project (e.g. a cash flow analysis, analysis of market conditions, raw material availability, supply agreements, off-take agreements, competing alternative methods of achieving the same or similar Project objectives). This analysis should also include the internal rate of return under a variety of different assumptions (e.g.

different interest rates, depreciation, licensing fees, and import duties).

In addition, in order to provide the Project sponsor with sufficient information to responsibly implement, manage, and maintain the Project for the duration of the investment, this section will provide a Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) as part of the overall Project cost estimate. The LCCA shall examine the total initial capital costs to plan, design, develop, and build the Project, and also shall include a detailed analysis of the costs associated with the medium-term and long-term operation of the Project, which includes maintaining the facilities, equipment, and other assets financed as part of the Project. Such costs include, but are not limited to, warranties, operation, maintenance, acquisition, installation, refurbishment, and disposal costs that could be encountered throughout the life of the Project.

4. A financing plan for the Project. This section shall provide an analysis on the different types of financing (e.g. equity, debt) available for Project implementation.

Attachment I – 7

This section will assess whether or not potential public and private financing organizations (e.g. the World Bank, relevant regional multilateral development banks, Ex-Im and OPIC) are interested in providing financing for Project implementation. This section shall include a financing plan and a financing strategy, including several approaches to securing financing for the Project based on discussions with the Project sponsor, potential lenders and potential financiers. This section shall outline the rationale for the financing plan and financing strategy and shall take into account a number of relevant factors (e.g. timing, interest rates, and potential financing terms). This section shall also provide a recommendation for the most effective financing sources for the Project.

This section shall include a sensitivity analysis of the return on investment (ROI). The sensitivity analysis shall account for the cost recovery indicators based on different assumptions for key Project variables, such as electricity tariffs, sales volumes, capital and operating cost estimates, and interest rates and investment requirements.

If sources of financing are not yet confirmed, this section shall identify the potential sources of financing. The U.S. firm, with the Project sponsor’s express permission, shall contact the potential sources of financing to assess the likelihood of receiving financing from such sources. This section shall outline the sources including, but not be limited to, bilateral financing institutions, multilateral financing institutions, international financing institutions and local and regional commercial banks.

This section shall also identify any and all Project risk factors and including a risk avoidance/reduction plan for each factor by means of insurance and bonding or other means. The plan shall meet the requirements of the potential financing sources, including host country sources, multilateral financiers, international financing institutions and others.

5. An appropriate preliminary environmental analysis of the Project. This section shall include a preliminary review of the Project’s anticipated impact on the environment with reference to host country requirements and those of potential financiers (e.g. the World Bank). This review would identify potential negative impacts, discuss the extent to which they can be mitigated. The U.S. firm shall develop plans for a full environmental impact assessment if and when the Project moves forward to the implementation stage. This includes the identification of steps that will need to be undertaken by the Project sponsor subsequent to the activity’s completion and prior to Project implementation. Based on the Contractor’s climate resilience screening, if an in-depth analysis for the Project is needed, then the Contractor shall propose language detailing how the U.S. firm should complete such an in-depth analysis for the Project (see Attachment VII).

6. A review of regulatory issues and the legal framework related to the Project.

This section shall include a discussion of the relevant regulatory structure needed, including an assessment of any regulations that would impact the Project's viability, a prognosis to move forward, and a need for additional regulations. Unless otherwise

Attachment I – 8 specified, this review shall include a review of current and proposed regulations, permitting requirements, licensing requirements, legal framework, construction approvals, foreign participation regulations, regulations that impact environmental requirements, and any other regulatory issues that may have a significant impact on the Project. This section shall identify policy and/or legislative actions that could either act as potential barriers to the implementation of the Project or would be necessary for implementation of the Project. This section shall also review any pending or potential regulatory actions that may impede Project implementation. If the Project does not meet all requirements, the U.S. firm shall identify methods to overcome those deficiencies.

7. An analysis of key host country development impacts. This section of the TOR shall detail the anticipated host country impacts of the Project. This task shall incorporate the baseline information gathered by the Contractor, and provide clear instructions to the Project sponsor and U.S. firm to update this baseline information to accurately reflect new projections based on the analysis of Project feasibility and recommendations set forth in other tasks. The Contractor shall draft task language along the following lines: The Contractor shall work closely with the Project sponsor during this task to ensure that the projected development impacts are viable and measurable. The Contractor shall provide quantitative and qualitative assessments of the potential impact of implementing the Project, with specific attention to the following indicators: improved digital communication access and improved data management and security, among others to be proposed by the Contractor and ultimately approved by USTDA. For the qualitative assessment, the Contractor shall provide narrative descriptions of how the implementation of the Project is anticipated to impact each of the above indicators. For the quantitative assessment, the Contractor shall provide a baseline measurement and anticipated outcome for each of the above indicators. The assessment shall clearly articulate the anticipated timeline for the realization of these outcomes, how such information can be measured, and what sources could be utilized to determine whether the outcome was realized. The Contractor may propose alternate indicators, as appropriate, based on the results of the technical analysis with USTDA approval.

Deliverable: The Contractor shall provide a report of all work performed under this Task, including, but not limited to, an assessment…