SOW.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

Education Consulting Services (Technical Vocation Education and Training)

A. Introduction The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a U.S. Government corporation whose mission is to provide assistance that will support economic growth and poverty reduction in carefully selected developing countries that demonstrate a commitment to just and democratic governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizenry. For more information on the MCC please visit www.mcc.gov.

The MCC has a requirement for a project assessment/implementation expertise related to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs in MCC affiliated countries. The MCC will obtain the required services through a competitive procurement to provide professional consulting services for education projects.

B. Background MCC’s overriding objectives are to promote economic growth and a significant reduction in poverty in our partner countries. MCC does not take it for granted that programs that stimulate growth will invariably reduce poverty. MCC looks at the likely distributive effects of projects and, to the extent that data are available to perform such an analysis, identifies the beneficiaries and estimates the impact on poverty reduction. Ultimately, MCC seeks significant and measurable increases in incomes of large numbers of poor people and significant reductions in poverty.

MCC analyzes the likely impact on economic growth of its programs by analyzing whether they are consistent with international and country evidence on drivers of economic growth and by use of economic rate of return (ERR) analysis. The essence of such an analysis is a straightforward comparison of costs and benefits, where the costs are the MCA grants, other front-end project development costs, and associated project life cycle operating and maintenance costs, and the benefits are increases in incomes in recipient countries.

C. Scope The consultant shall support MCC’s Senior Director of the Human and Community Development (HCD) Practice Group and members of MCC country teams in their efforts to assess aspects of pending Compact or Threshold proposals for workforce development and/or with oversight of Compact or Threshold implementation once the agreement is signed.

For program development, the consultant will be expected to provide technical support to ensure proposed components, activities and tasks of the Education Quality Sub-Activity are well-aligned, reflect best practice in TVET programming, are implementable within a five-year period, and reflect a strong sustainability plan. For oversight of program implementation, the consultant will then provide support to ensure the successful launch of the program.

D. Tasks The Consultant shall assist MCC in reviewing the design and implementation planning and oversight in MCC eligible countries. The Consultant shall provide services to MCC on an as needed basis, as required. To support MCC in the flexible and timely manner needed to meet the evolving needs of Compact development and negotiation, technical directives under this statement of work will be issued and the Consultant deployed each time the Consultant’s services are needed over the course of this contract. No additional tasks shall imply any additional costs to the Government beyond the amount allowed for in the initial call order; however, this call order may be amended to reflect additional costs associated with implementation planning and oversight requirements in additional countries. The consultant’s specific assignments may include the following:

Project Assessment and Development

· Conduct a literature review of best practices in workforce development and youth employability programming, focusing on trends in the assigned country and similar resource contexts.

· Conduct a feasibility assessment of proposed MCC-Eligible country TVET projects and/or special studies such as skill gap analysis, analysis of quality and quantity of education and training systems, of labor market information systems, quality assurance systems, certification and qualification programs, school-to-work and active labor market programs.

· Assess barriers to effective workforce development which might present a risk to the proposed program, including policy and regulatory environment, and resource allocation.

· Assess project alternatives which might yield a stronger economic return, enhance poverty reduction efforts, and improve project sustainability.

· Ensure a strong program logic underlies the proposed project.

· Identify opportunities to leverage activities of foreign donors and other sponsors in related areas.

· Draft project or project activity descriptions, and financial plans, for inclusion in the Investment Memorandum, Board or Compact documents.

· Collaborate with government counterparts to develop Terms of Reference for in-depth baseline and project design studies, and review subsequent deliverables.

· Conduct institutional capacity assessment, as requested, to contribute to Implementing Partner Agreement development and other government capacity building efforts.

· Evaluate the final project design to ensure it enhances private sector engagement in sector governance and facilitates access to productive opportunities for women and other marginalized groups.

· Review and comment on proposed project evaluation design and M&E plans.

· Work with MCC counterparts and other consultants to prepare the Program Implementation Plan.

· Provide detailed written reports of findings and compilation of documents to MCC.

· Make public presentations on workforce development-related issues as requested.

Project Oversight

· Become intimately familiar with the Project, Project Activities, and Sub-Activities including budgets, schedules, implementers, beneficiaries and related parties.

· Coordinate with the relevant government agency, civil society, private sector, donor, and Project Management Unit staffs to facilitate Activity Oversight operations.

· Review MCA contractor deliverables.

· Conduct risk assessments, as requested, on specific Project Activities or Sub-Activities.

· Evaluate progress of a Project, Project Activities, and Sub-Activities.

· Provide detailed and comprehensive written reports on progress of a Project, Project Activities, and Sub-Activities to the Managing Director or Director of a Country Project.

· Make verbal presentations to local MCC office, Embassy and MCC Washington on project progress as requested.

· Assist an eligible country in developing appropriate modifications or alternatives to the proposed program should an assessment determine that is required.

E. Conflict of Interest The consultant would be precluded from bidding on work and services (design, assessment, construction and supervision) to be procured by the local MCA accountable entity or using funds advanced under a Compact in the relevant country, unless the consultant submits a mitigation plan sufficient to ameliorate any conflict of interest pursuant to the rules applicable to the procurement process.

F. Deliverables Specific deliverable will be agreed upon as tasks are assigned. They may include:

· A work plan that includes specific activities, methodologies, site visits, time frame, and estimated duration of each activity, prior to commencing work

· Periodic written and verbal reports on findings and recommendations resulting from meetings, discussions, and field research in the assigned country.

· Presentations on key findings, issues for further examination, and recommendations for Compact activities to MCC and government/MCA counterparts.

· Inputs to Concept Assessment reviews, Investment Memos, Terms of Reference Program Implementation Plans and other formal project documents, as relevant to the assigned country program.

Acceptance criteria:

· The deliverables will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

· Thoroughness and timeliness in complying with all of the elements in the tasks specified.

· Quality and clarity of analyses and work produced.

· Timeliness and efficacy of communications with relevant counterparts at MCC, MCA, and other relevant organizations.

· All reports are to be submitted in English in hard and electronic copy (in MS Word), with tables, data and calculations in MS Excel.

G. Period and Place of Performance This contract shall have a base period of five years with an estimated level of effort of 1,500 hours per year. All work will be completed between the dates of award. The estimated level of effort required to complete the tasks included in this technical directive is indicated in the following table. MCC anticipates this level of effort but does not guarantee this level of effort as it may increase or decrease.

The consultant will work from its home office and/or MCC headquarters and in any MCC eligible country.

H. Timing and Reporting All formal communication with MCC, including reports, will be submitted to the COR/PM. The COR/PM for this requirement will be identified via separate correspondence. The COR/PM will have technical responsibility for monitoring the contractor’s performance. The COR/PM will review and evaluate the contractor’s performance, and also will coordinate any communications with relevant counterparts and other donor agencies and organizations. Any changes in the terms of the Call Order will be made in writing and approved by the Contracting Officer. No representation of the COR/PM shall serve as a basis for an alteration in the general scope of this Call Order or of the terms and conditions of the Call Order unless confirmed in writing by the Contracting Officer. The contractor must communicate with the Contracting Officer on all matters that pertain to the Contract terms. Proceeding with the work without proper contractual coverage could result in nonpayment for that work.

I. Subcontracting The consultant is authorized to subcontract data collection, data preparation, social and gender analysis, and related services as needed. The overall costs for subcontracting shall not exceed 25% of the consultant’s total negotiated unloaded direct labor cost.

J. Other requirements:

International travel may be required. The Consultant may be requested to mobilize on a short notice and will be expected to deliver high quality finished products in a timely manner.

K. Qualifications of Consultant The Consultant shall possess the following qualifications:

· Advanced degree in education, economics, international development, or closely related field

· Minimum 15 years of professional experience in education related issues in developing countries; especially in labor markets and workforce development

· Experience performing project and sector policy appraisal and analysis

· Ability and experience interacting with high-level government officials

· French and/or Spanish proficiency is desirable

· Familiarity with MCC and our processes is desirable