GHRC RFI Jan 2025.pdf

RFI # 7200AA25RFI00007

SOLICITATION TYPE: Request for Information (RFI) Notification

RFI Number: 7200AA25RFI00007

ISSUANCE DATE: Friday January 3, 2025

DUE DATE: Friday January 17, 2025 at 4:00 PM EST

SUBJECT: Global Health Risk and Capacity (GHRC)

TARGET ORGANIZATIONS: Alaska Native Corporations (ANC)

RESPONSE EMAIL ADDRESS: GHRC@usaid.gov

Pursuant to FAR Part 10, FAR 15.201(e) the United States Government, represented by the U.S.

Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking input from eligible Alaska Native Corporations (ANC) 8(a) Participants to implement the Global Health Risk and Capacity (GHRC) activity. The purpose of this activity is to provide services to USAID health programs in support of the Agency’s goals around localization, direct funding for local organizations, and USAID activities employing ‘best practices’ in locally led development. See attachment III for details of the Description of Services.

Please note the following:

● This Request for Information (RFI) is NOT a Request for Proposal (RFP) and in no way commits USAID to issue an RFP or to make an award.

● Responding to this RFI will NOT give any advantage to or preclude any Alaska Native Corporations from any RFP that may be subsequently issued to any/all interested parties.

● All responses and response contents to this RFI will be considered as Market Research information for planning purposes only and will not be binding on the parties. All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary; the United States Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the United States government.

No proposals will be accepted or considered at this stage. USAID may choose to publish the RFP through www.sam.gov. It is the potential offeror’s responsibility to monitor this site for the release of any solicitation.

Thank you for your interest in the subject request for information.

http://www.sam.gov/

Sincerely, Simone Cho Contracting Officer

Attachment I – Instructions

RFI Response Requirements and Instructions

All submissions shall be made by the closing date and time noted on page 1 of this RFI. Only submission via email is required; no hard copy delivery will be accepted. E-mail submissions shall be sent to GHRC@usaid.gov by the due date on Friday January 17, 2025 at 4:00 PM EST.

All Alaska Native Corporations (ANC) Interested parties are encouraged to submit a response to this inquiry. All submissions must be via email, and should be in the following format:

Email Subject Line: USAID GHRC RFI - Organization Name File Attachment: USAID GHRC- Organization Name

Submitted documents and correspondence must be in the English language and MS/word format (software versions 2008 or newer). The contents must be on A4 or 8x11 size paper, single spaced, with 12-point font, Calibri with one-inch margins on all sides. Responses should be no more than Five (5) pages total with up to one page summarizing your organization’s capacity to support the USAID/GH objectives and four pages to respond directly to some or all of the questions in Attachment II. Content of cover emails will not be considered part of the submission or page count.

Submissions will receive an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt. USAID asks respondents not to send any additional information other than what is requested above and to adhere to the page limits mentioned.

USAID intends to identify an Alaska Native Corporations (ANC) who is eligible to receive an award of up to $25 million. Only the eligible parties are invited to answer the questions and provide feedback on items listed below. The predominant NAICS code is contemplated to be 541611 - Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services, Small Business Size $24.5 Million. An organization that is not considered an Alaska Native Corporations (ANC) under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this RFI.

The Government will not review any information, including attachments, more than the five (5) pages, unless otherwise stated in this section. We look forward to your responses to this RFI.

mailto:GHRC@usaid.gov

Attachment II - Questions

Organization Name:

Unique Entity Identifier(UEI):

Address:

Point of Contact:

Email:

Similar Current ot Past Performance Contracts:

Question 1: Has your organization completed work in the objective areas - if so, where, and when? - include responses below summarizing your organization’s capacity to support the USAID/GH objectives Response:

Question 2:Are the background and objectives clear and realistic? Do you believe that the market can deliver services across all objective areas? Why or why not?

Response:

Question 3: What would be key challenges for the creation of or greatest barriers to successful implementation of the GHRC mechanism?

Response:

Question 4: What resources can be leveraged to improve, sustain, and further improve upon work in these four objective areas, particularly to reduce the perpetual capacity development cycle for local organizations?

Question 5: Do you have any other general feedback on the objectives given your organization’s specific expertise?

Question 6: Does your firm currently have a contract under the GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) that is relevant to the SOWs objectives? If so, which one(s).

Attachment III -Description of Services

3.1 Purpose

USAID/GH is seeking services in support of the transition of direct health program implementation to local implementing partners. The purpose of this requirement is to provide services to USAID health programs in support of the Agency’s goals around localization including 25% direct funding to local organizations, and 50% of all USAID activities employing ‘good practices’ to support locally led development practices. USAID Health programs supported by GHRC shall include: HIV, maternal and child health, nutrition, malaria, family planning, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, health systems strengthening, emerging and pandemic diseases, and other health areas that shall arise. This contract shall support USAID Missions and Washington Based Operating Units (OU) abilities to manage local awards to non-government, government partners, and other partners, as well as local organizations’ abilities to successfully manage USAID funding and comply with USAID regulations. USAID has prioritized the following countries for implementation, but reserves the right to revise the OUs throughout the contract, due to availability of funds and Mission interest: 1) Haiti, 2) Guatemala, 3) the Philippines, 4) Burma, 5) Kazakhstan, 6) Angola, 7) Cameroon, 8) Côte d’Ivoire, 9) the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 10) Malawi, 11) Namibia, 12) Madagascar, 13) Mali. All countries where USAID implements health programs could buy-in to the contract. Please review the USAID/Global Health website for more information https://www.usaid.gov/global-health.

The contract has three Objectives:

(i) Support USAID OUs’ engagement with local partners1

(ii) Support capacity strengthening of USAID funded local health partners through technical assistance to individual organizations or government entities

(iii) Support capacity of USAID funded local health partners through global activities that promote knowledge exchange

To ensure the success of this effort, the GH Bureau needs a centrally managed mechanism to support USAID/Missions planning to increase work with local partners and locally led development.

3.2 Background

The sustainability and long-term success of development assistance requires local ownership and the strong capacity of local actors to produce development outcomes. To that end, USAID has set targets for increasing its direct funding to local partners as well as encouraging activities to be locally led. USAID envisions expanding the share of its programs that are locally led, in which a diverse group of local actors define priorities, design projects, drive implementation, measure and evaluate results, and more fully own and sustain efforts to save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance, reduce corruption, address climate change, work to prevent

1 Local partners shall include local prime partners and local sub-award organizations that have the potential to become USAID prime partners.

https://www.usaid.gov/localization https://www.usaid.gov/global-health conflicts, respond to global pandemics, and emerge from humanitarian crises (see USAID’s Localization Vision & Approach). USAID’s principles for local capacity strengthening are instilled in the Agency’s new Local Capacity Strengthening (LCS) Policy. The Policy establishes an Agency-wide vision based on a shared commitment to a set of seven mutually reinforcing principles around two themes of effective programming and equitable partnerships that are intended to guide USAID’s humanitarian assistance and development programming.

GH has led USAID’s work with local partners and is committed to meeting or exceeding USAID’s targets. For instance, The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the United States Government’s (USG) initiative to help save and improve the lives of those impacted by HIV/AIDS globally. In 2018, the Department of State’s Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy announced a directive to shift 70% of all PEPFAR funding to local partners. Responding to this directive over the past three years, USAID shifted $322 million in annual approved programming to local organizations and partner governments, representing a 72% increase from global FY18 baseline funding levels to local organizations of $449 million. USAID expects to meet PEPFAR’s 70% global local partner funding goal by FY 2025, reaching approximately $1 billion in funding to local partners through direct awards. More recently, PEPFAR announced its National Capacity Building Agenda in 2022 as a way to operationalize strengthening support for programmatic and financial sustainability among local and indigenous partners and institutions to implement, manage and sustain HIV/AIDS impacts, including those gained through the PEPFAR Program.

Furthermore, as Missions expand their localization strategies beyond human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) programming, GHRC shall be well positioned to support broader localization efforts, implement PEPFAR’s National Capacity Building Agenda, and integrated health programming by local organizations and partner governments.

USAID strives to continue to build upon PEPFAR’s progress by supporting local partners in other health areas. The mechanism shall allow for, and encourage, health buy-ins from other USAID GH Missions globally and Washington-based OUs to support the local partner transition for health programs beyond HIV.

3.3 Objectives

As noted above, the GHRC requirement shall include the following Objectives:

(i) Support USAID OUs’ engagement with local organizations,

(ii) Support capacity strengthening of USAID funded local health partners (both government and non-governmental) and

(iii) Support the capacity of USAID local health partners through global activities that promote knowledge exchange.

Across all Objectives, the Contractor(s) are expected to comply with all USAID rules and regulations, applicable regulations as outlined in 2 CFR 200, AIDAR, and the FAR; as well as https://www.usaid.gov/localization https://www.usaid.gov/localization https://www.usaid.gov/local-capacity-strengthening-policy statutory, regulatory practices of the country where support might be requested. When possible across all Objectives, the Contractor(s) is expected to leverage local and/or regional consultants and expertise. For all objectives, Contractor(s) will engage with local partners as directed by USAID (which may include local organizations, government partners, local universities, civil society organizations, faith-based organizations etc.).

3.3.1 OBJECTIVE I: Support USAID OUs’ engagement with local organizations and government partners

The Contractor(s) shall support USAID in leveraging existing or conducting new partner surveys and risk assessments, capacity assessments, and/or capacity performance monitoring of locally and regionally based partners, and government partners.

Performance Deliverables for Objective 1:

● The Contractor(s) shall document detailed risk assessments (for example using, Non-U.S.

Pre-Award Survey (NUPAS), Fixed Amount Award Checklist or government risk assessment tools) findings, and present results and clear and concise actionable next steps to both USAID Mission staff and individual health funded local partners in a timely manner. Presentation may occur in-person or virtual depending on USAID’s need.

● The Contractor(s) shall create a database to track, analyze, and report on partner capacity growth and risks from assessments conducted and the types of interventions conducted to strengthen capacity (ie. disaggregated by type - mentorship, supervision, coaching etc.).

● The Contractor(s) shall conduct landscapes to provide an overview of local partner capabilities to perform and provide quality health services within the USAID-present country and with possible exploration of regional abilities based on USAID discretion.

Results from the surveys shall be shared with Mission teams in a timely manner in the form of a detailed report and presentation.

● The Contractor(s) shall provide translation support for USAID solicitations, work plans, proposals, concept notes, or other project documents based on the discretion of USAID.

3.3.1.1 Sub-Objective 1.1: Landscape of local partner capabilities The Contractor(s) shall support USAID OUs to survey potential local and regional and government partners, including conducting analysis of local partners’ technical skills and geographic scope, and ability to implement USAID health programs in specific countries and regions. This type of landscape shall be done to help inform market research. Surveys may also be conducted on a set of existing partners to examine areas of particular interest such as scope and size of the organization, presence of key policies, staff salaries, diversity, relationship with and feedback from the population they serve among other topics. Specific scopes and objectives shall be outlined by participating Missions.

https://www.usaid.gov/about-us/agency-policy/series-300/references-chapter/303sam https://www.usaid.gov/about-us/agency-policy/series-300/references-chapter/303sam https://www.usaid.gov/about-us/agency-policy/series-300/references-chapter/303mak

3.3.1.2 Sub-Objective 1.2: Conduct risk assessments

The Contractor(s) shall support USAID in conducting risk assessments of potential local, regional, or government partners. For example, the Contractor(s) shall be asked to perform risk assessments (such as NUPAS, and NUPAS Plus, and Public Financial Management Risk Assessment Framework (PFMRAF), and/or other government risk assessments, among other specific types of institutional assessments. Assessments shall be done in person and/or virtually as needed and may be tailored by the contractor. In discussion with USAID, contractors may use assessments previously conducted by other donors/projects to inform assessments. Results from the risk assessments shall be used to inform USAID-developed Special Award Conditions or milestones for awards or contracts with local organizations and governments.

In undertaking a risk assessment the Contractor(s) shall be expected to employ best practices and tools for local partner engagement. For example, GHRC Contractor(s) would be expected to (1) explain USAID’s risk assessment process to local organizations or partner governments, (2) approach risk from a spirit of mutual partnership (3) work to develop trust and transparency with the local entity being assessed, (4) share and review assessment results with the organization and (5) to the extent possible, help the local entity understand how they might address strengths and weaknesses uncovered by the assessment, regardless of USAID funding outcome. Risk assessments of potential government partners might require additional competencies and contextual awareness in engaging and communicating findings to partner governments counterparts.

3.3.1.3 Sub-Objective 1.3 - Capacity assessments

The Contractor(s) shall support USAID in measuring and conducting capacity assessments of potential local, regional, or government partners. For example, the Contractor shall be asked to perform organizational capacity assessments (OCA) and Integrated Technical Organizational Capacity Assessment (i-TOCA) or other capacity assessment. Results from capacity assessments shall inform approach to capacity strengthening activities as outlined under Objective 2.

As noted in the risk assessment section 3.3.1.2, in undertaking a capacity assessment the Contractor(s) shall be expected to employ best practices and tools for local partner engagement. For example, GHRC Contractor(s) would be expected to (1) approach capacity assessment from a spirit of mutual partnership (2) work to develop trust and transparency with the local entity being assessed, (3) share and review assessment results with the organization and (4) to the extent possible, help the local entity understand how they might address strengths and weaknesses uncovered by the assessment, regardless of USAID funding outcome. Capacity assessments of potential government partners, might require additional competencies and contextual awareness in engaging and communicating findings to partner governments counterparts. The Contractor(s) shall be expected to create an interactive capacity dashboard that can be shared with USAID to support the tracking of partner results and technical assistance provided to strengthen partner capacity.

3.3.1.4 Sub-Objective 1.4: Reflect USAID’s commitment to collaboration, learning, and adapting in the context of capacity strengthening

The Contractor’s commitment to collaboration will be demonstrated by its ability to systematically solicit input and participation from USAID, USAID Implementing Partners (IPs), potential IPs, and local organizations or communities receiving or providing capacity strengthening services during capacity assessment, development of performance solutions plans, and delivery of performance solutions. “Learning and adapting” will be demonstrated in deliberate and reported efforts to ensure that USAID and the Contractor(s) is continuously learning from ongoing work on the ground as well as elsewhere in the world and applying learning to improving practices and methodologies.

This may include supporting USAID Health Offices to develop feedback plans for gathering input from local partners during design, implementation, and/or monitoring and evaluation of health programs.

“Collaboration” is inclusive of collaborative methodologies that elevate local voice, and ensure that USAID and USAID funded activities are responsive to local actors, marginalized populations, and underserved local communities. Under this sub-objective, Missions and Washington-based OUs shall access support from the GHRC Contractor to support engagement with local partners and/or host partner governments, for example around work-planning, project evaluation, or other related convenings involving work with local partners. The Contract(s) shall work collaboratively with USAID staff to support this activity.

3.3.1.5 Sub-Objective 1.5: Translation Support

As needed to support capacity strengthening, the Contractor shall provide translation services for USAID including translation of relevant contractual documents as well as translation services for meetings. Contractor(s) shall be asked to support local partners by providing translation support for USAID solicitations, work plans, proposals, concept notes, or other project/activity documents.

3.3.2 OBJECTIVE II: Support capacity strengthening of USAID funded local health partners through technical assistance to individual organizations and government entities

The Contractor(s) shall be expected to provide services that strengthen the capacity of local organizations and governments in accordance with their own organizational needs, as well as the need for compliance and oversight of USG funds.

Capacity strengthening activities performed under Objective II shall be based on findings derived from a prior risk or capacity assessment. Strengthening support under Objective II is envisioned to be provided through short or long-term technical assistance to individual organizations and government partners. The Contractor(s) may collaborate with other USAID Headquarters-based mechanisms to support capacity strengthening depending on the need of the activity and the request by USAID. This may include collaborating with other mechanisms to provide technical capacity support for objectives not aligned with GHRC’s scope. Assistance to local or regional expertise should leverage local or regional expertise to the fullest extent possible. Entities eligible for capacity strengthening under this mechanism include, but are not limited to: partner government entities; potential prime local or regional entities; current prime partners local or regional entities; community based organizations, indigenous non-governmental organizations (NGOs), non-US universities, and local private sector entities with which USAID is partnering;

parastatals; and other local or regional organizations that USAID shall identify. International organizations (such as U.S.- or European-based entities), including NGOs, contractors and Public International Organizations are not eligible for capacity strengthening services under Objective II of this contract although they shall be subject to oversight services as outlined under Objective

III.

Local communities, governments and participants in capacity strengthening interventions are best placed to determine the success (or not) of any LCS interventions. Local organizations may have distinct capacity strengthening needs from those of government entities. To meet goals outlined in Objective II, it shall be essential for the Contractor(s) to establish routine feedback mechanisms which allow for continual feedback from local organizations and government/s receiving technical assistance from GHRC.

Performance Deliverables for Objective 2:

● The Contractor(s) shall create individualized Capacity Strengthening Plans for local organizations receiving technical support as agreed upon by both USAID and the local organization. Deliverables may include capacity support to help local organizations achieve their own organizational objectives as well as activities to help mitigate risks identified through a risk assessment.

● The Contractor(s) shall provide USAID Missions with reports centered on the capacity and technical assistance dashboard that shows progress towards the deliverables outlined in the aforementioned work plan as well as regular check-in with each USAID Mission team.

The timeframe for reporting and check-ins shall be determined by USAID.

● The Contractor(s) are expected to provide regular updates to the local partner on their individual progress against deliverables as outlined in the aforementioned work plan. The timing and recurrence of these updates shall be agreed upon by the local partner.

This Objective is broken down into the following sub-objectives:

3.3.2.1 Sub-Objective 2.1: Governance and Leadership

The Contractor(s) shall be expected to provide services to local entities in governance and leadership. Services should help local organizations develop new and/or modify existing Board or governance arrangements, improve the ability to set and achieve strategic ambitions for the organization, supervise organizational effectiveness, executive leadership, and plan for financial sustainability. For governments, services shall include strengthening leadership and management expertise within national health programs, including through embedded advisors.

3.3.2.2 Sub-Objective 2.2: Human Resource Management

The Contractor(s) shall provide services relevant to a local organization or government’s human resource management systems. Support to local government and non-governmental partners shall include, but is not limited to:

● Setting up systems and policies to ensure administration of payroll

● Policies to improve the openness and transparency of recruitment and hiring processes

● Performance management review systems

● Retention and Promotion policies

● Staff professional development

● Staff health/wellness programs to prevent burn out

● On-boarding and off-boarding practices and orientations

● Staff compensation and benefit packages

● Salary market surveys

● Advising on appropriate staffing structures

● Travel Policies and management

● Policies to reduce workplace-related sexual harassment, discrimination, and gender-based violence

● Policies to promote workplace safety and health standards

● Whistleblower protection Policies

● Ethics training

● Legal expertise to ensure compliance with local labor.

3.3.2.3 Sub-Objective 2.3: Financial Management

The Contractor(s) shall provide services relevant to improving comprehensive financial management skills for local partners and governments including budget planning and execution, cash management, indirect costs, financial reporting, among other skills. These skills shall help support organizational sustainability, ensure cost recovery in the implementation of projects, as well as promote better allocation of resources, cost effectiveness and efficiency, and develop systems that prevent, detect and address potential fraud, waste or abuse. The Contractor(s), working through certified public accountants, auditors or similar service providers, shall support organizations in the following financial management areas:

Budget Planning & Cash Management

● Develop budget forecasting and request monthly advances from USAID

● Use of financial management software/systems

● Develop best practices in cash management

● Fixed asset/inventory management

● Internal Process for vouchers and invoices

● Development of internal controls

● Value Added Tax (VAT) compliance

● Adherence to accounting policies and practices consistent with applicable host government laws and standards and the requirements of agreements with USAID

● Improve the use of mobile money and other innovations to reduce the use of cash in environments where banking systems do not reach field locations or end users

Indirect costs

● Assess indirects costs

● Develop an organizational ‘Cost Principles’ Policy for direct and indirect costs

● (if needed) Help organizations to understand the difference and the calculation of the de minimus vs. Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreements (NICRA) and/or help submit proposals for NICRA

● Help organization plan for indirect cost recovery

Reporting

● Best practices in submitting invoices, SF-425 forms or other financial statements to USAID

● Accountability/transparency in reporting finances to Board

Audit Systems

● Ensure conduct of an annual financial audit

● Help organizations set up a process to review and address audit findings

● Record keeping; auditing of purchasing and billing processes; adherence to accountability and transparency policies and practices consistent with government

3.3.2.4 Sub-Objective 2.4: Compliance

The rules and regulations, laws and policies of working with the US Government are complex and prime implementing organizations not only need to have systems to be compliant, but they have to be able to shift and adjust as policies and regulations are updated or changed. Contractor(s) under GHRC shall be asked to help local organizations or government partners set up effective compliance structures that can effectively detect and address compliance risks in the areas of finance, procurement, organizational policies, programming, among others. Contractor(s) shall be asked to provide training, specialized technical assistance, webinars or workshops with tailored follow-up support to help local organizations understand required USAID and USG policies.

3.3.2.5 Sub-Objective 2.5: Procurement systems

Contractor(s) shall provide capacity strengthening for procurement operations and procedures. Capacity support in this area shall include but is is not limited to: promoting open and competitive procurements, improved contract administration procedures and practices (including for public or partner government entities), use and respect for anti-corruption, anti-fraud and conflict of interest provisions; adherence to procurement policies and practices consistent with partner government regulations and standards and the requirements of agreements with USAID.

3.3.2.6 Sub-Objective 2.6: Data

Local and government partners’ successful implementation of USAID awards is highly dependent on a partner's ability to effectively collect, verify, and analyze programmatic data; communicate program updates to USAID through standard reporting processes; and course correct as needed. For USAID/PEPFAR funded partners, success is also measured by achievement against quarterly Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (MER); annual Expenditure Reporting (ER); and Human Resources for Health (HRH) indicators. GHRC Contractor(s) shall be expected to provide services to USAID funded local health organizations and government partners to help improve systems for data collection, analysis, and reporting to USAID and communities. In this regard, activities the Contractor(s) shall be expected to support include, but are not limited to:

Data collection & quality assurance

● Improve organizational systems and processes that collect and verify data;

● Support organizations in developing routine data quality assessments (DQAs) and continuous quality improvement processes;

● Support development and use of Performance Indicator Reference Sheets (PIRS);

● Support follow up actions requested from DQAs;

● Support civil society organizations (CSOs) engaged in community led monitoring efforts in proper data collection and assurance process;

● Help ensure organizational data platforms are interoperable with national and

USAID data systems.

Data security

● Help ensure organizations have appropriate encryption and data security processes in place;

● Ensure organizations have adequate data storage and backup plans;

● Ensure organization have policies in place for working with sensitive health data and personally identifiable information (PII);

● Train partner staff on secure handling and processing of sensitive data

Data analysis & visualization

● Support organizations in increasing their data analysis and visualization skills for presentation and reporting;

● Train partners on use of visualization/analytic platforms like PowerBI, Tableau, ArcGIS, or other programs to review and visualize program data;

● Provide support for procurement of software and hardware needed for effective data management and analysis.

Reporting

● Train partners in submitting high quality MER, ER, and HRH data to PEPFAR data systems, including Data for Accountability, Transparency, and Impact Monitoring

(DATIM);

● Ensure proper reporting of data into national and sub-national health information systems (if applicable).

3.3.2.7 Sub-Objective 2.7: Award management

All USAID funded local organizations implementing health programs must develop strong and transparent communication strategies with their USAID Agreement Officer Representative (AOR) or Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and good award management practices to ensure successful award completion. To help support local organizations and government partners for this sub-objective, GHRC Contractors shall support partners with:

● Development of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan including the development of project specific indicators, objectives, results frameworks, and outcomes and intermediate results.

● Submission of annual work-plans and other documents, including routine narrative-based and financial quarterly reports;

● Development of successful communication practices and norms between the local partner and their USAID AOR/COR including submission of required reports and regular updates on project performance;

● If needed, development of Performance Improvement or Corrective Action Plan, to address various implementation or programmatic challenges.

3.3.2.8 Sub-Objective 2.8: Sub-award/contract management

Increasingly local organizations receiving funding as a prime awardee are also granting funding to sub-awardees or sub-contractors to implement objectives of a USAID award or contract. From Board and Executive leadership through to the lowest level of finance or program staff, local organizations and governments that are disbursing and managing sub-awards under USAID agreements must be fully cognizant of and capable of managing the risks associated with sub-award management. The Contractor(s) shall be requested to help organizations and governments with the development of:

● Providing technical services, through trainings and other approaches, to staff on best practices for managing sub-awards

● Conducting subaward/contract risk assessments to evaluate risk of working with a particular organization

● Developing sub-granting/contracting management and compliance systems

● Developing internal controls/ organizational policies for approving new sub-grants/contracts

● Ensuring flow down of provisions

3.3.2.9 Sub-Objective 2.9: Communications and organizational sustainability

With an increased emphasis of donors working with local partners, their business acumen, communication skills, sustainability and overall viability is essential. The Contractor(s) shall provide technical assistance in a broad range of organizational sustainability activities including proposal development, business development plans, resources mobilization, communication and advocacy.

● Organizational Development- To improve business viability and sustainability for local entities, the Contractor(s) shall provide local organizations with services in market analysis and business plan development, establishment of new business systems and resources (i.e. proposal templates.), proposal development, as well as explore means outside of USG donors, such as programmatic income, social enterprise development, venture philanthropy, and other innovative financing methodologies to support organizational sustainability.

● Communication and Advocacy- To create awareness and build the reputation of local organization experts in their field among clients and donors the Contractor(s) shall be asked to support them in communication and advocacy services. This should include the development of branding and marketing strategies, creation or updating of their online presence, creation of marketing materials, effective and ethical storytelling, and the forming of media and advocacy strategies with associated activities. In addition, the Contractor(s) shall be required to support local partners to improve upon their ability to craft informative and compelling narrative reports, success stories, and effective presentations for donor audiences and other key non-financial reporting mechanisms for program implementation

3.3.2.10 Sub-Objective 2.10: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Integration

Contractor(s) will support the USG’s efforts to advance DEIA for underserved communities across and within local organizations by identifying and providing recommendations to mitigate barriers that underserved groups face as recipients of USAID global health assistance. This analysis will likely require technical assistance and/or capacity strengthening to interrogate organizational structures, systems, policies, and processes, as well as procurement practices. Activities supported by the Contractor(s) could include:

● Conducting a comprehensive gender analysis,which might include the intersectionality of gender with age, gender identity, race, ethnicity, ability status, sexual orientation, religion, etc.

● Developing or strengthening gender equality policies

● Reviewing and providing action plans for updating organizational charts and budgets

● Ensuring partner data includes appropriate indicators that increase the visibility of underserved communities such as indicators that include, sex-, ability status-, and age-disaggregation

● Identifying and building the capacity of local organizations’ Gender, Inclusive Development, or DEIA focal points

● Identifying opportunities to create, facilitate, or lead co-creation activities with representatives from underrepresented groups or organizations that support them. These co-creation activities may include the following resources:

○ Safety/Security-sensitive and Trauma-Informed Engagement with Marginalized Communities,

○ Stakeholder Engagement in the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Process,

○ Engaging Stakeholders resources available in the CLA toolkit, and

○ Consent forms

3.3.3 OBJECTIVE III: Support capacity of USAID-funded local health partners through global activities that promote knowledge exchange

The Contractor would help strengthen the capacity of local organizations through global activities including training, webinars, and global and/or regional convenings of local organizations and government entities

Performance Deliverables for Objective 3:

https://www.usaid.gov/equity https://www.usaid.gov/equity https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2022-12/Marginalized_Groups_PDF.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2022-12/Marginalized_Groups_PDF.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/environmental-procedures/environmental-compliance-esdm-program-cycle/social-impact-assessment/pdf https://www.usaid.gov/environmental-procedures/environmental-compliance-esdm-program-cycle/social-impact-assessment/pdf https://usaidlearninglab.org/resources/evaluation-stakeholder-participation-planning-matrix

● The Contractor(s) shall be expected to host webinars for local organizations on USAID, Department of State, PEPFAR, and other Global Health technical areas reporting requirements, policies, and practices. Webinars shall be hosted in multiple languages apart from English including but not limited to French, Spanish, and Portuguese.

● Contractor(s) shall be expected to support the planning, organizing, and provide logistical support for at least one USAID global or regional Local Organization Meeting and one Government to Government (G2G) meeting annually.

● The Contractor(s) shall be expected to host or strengthen an existing Community of Practice for local and government partners on topic areas agreed upon by the partners.

This should serve as a space for local knowledge sharing and networking apart from

USAID.

3.3.3.1. Sub-Objective 3.1: Hosting convenings for local, regional, and government partners

The Contractor(s) shall be expected to help plan, organize, and provide logistics and curricula support for virtual and/or in-person USAID GH-hosted Local Organization Meeting/s which shall convene USAID local, regional and/or government partners. In addition, the Contractor(s) shall be called on to provide specific and specialized support for government partners. Such activities shall include, but are not limited to the organization, logistics support and facilitation of G2G Workshops with Partner Governments, and G2G Global or Regional Cross OU Sharing/Learning Seminars.

3.3.3.2. Sub-Objective 3.2: Knowledge sharing

The Contractor shall be asked to help facilitate/establish knowledge sharing platforms for learning exchanges between partners and countries, such as develop and deliver webinars consistently throughout the lifetime of the project focused on USAID, PEPFAR, and other technical reporting and policy requirements for new and existing partners, as well as other relevant topics as requested by USAID. Resource and knowledge sharing shall also be shared through communication platforms including the Contractor(s)’s website and newsletter.

3.4. Data Governance

This section outlines the data governance expectations of this contract. Activities implemented by this contract shall entail the contractor having access to data from the U.S. Government GH programs. Due to the potential sensitivities associated with this data,the contractor, per direction and guidance from the USAID’s COR, is expected to maintain strict confidentiality and appropriate safeguards--e.g., storing data on a secure or encrypted drive--in place at all times when handling this data and related information. Contractor staff working with these data shall sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDAs) per project requirements. The USAID COR shall provide the necessary guidance to the contractor to ensure compliance with USAID data governance policies. No data generated or handled by this contract shall be disclosed, used, or published outside the purview of the approved activity unless the USAID COR has provided written authorization, or as required by law.

3.5. Monitoring, Evaluation Plans

The Contracting Officer shall monitor and evaluate the contractor’s overall performance under GHRC with the assistance of the COR. The M&E Plan (see Section 4.5) shall be developed by the contractor in consultation with the COR. The contractor’s performance shall be evaluated based on the completion of specific tasks as outlined in Section 4.4, 4.5, and 4.6 of this RFP and M&E Plan, adherence to the work plan, and reports submitted to the COR.

M&E of the activity’s progress towards achieving goals and objectives is critical to successful implementation. This activity shall be results-focused and the contractor must track indicators related to gender equity and female empowerment. The Contractor shall monitor, track, report on, and evaluate the quality and impact of all activities. The Contractor must be innovative and creative in its effort to capture, document, and report all the outcomes of USAID assistance, while strengthening and using relevant national, provincial, and district level reporting systems. The Contractor’s M&E Plan must include indicators and targets that contribute to the achievement of outcomes outlined in this Contract.

3.6. Transition Of Work

The incoming Contractor will take over any incoming requests for activities within defined scope currently carried out by the ASAP II contract currently implemented with IntraHealth International. The ASAP II Contracting Officer will arrange with the incumbent contractor to transfer Government-owned Property (if applicable) as well as information, plans and documentation and/or any other knowledge transfer to the new Contractor.

(End of Draft SOW)