Request For Information (RFI) USAID DR MEL and Support Services Platform.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

A. RFI TITLE: USAID/DR MEL and Support Services Platform

B. RFI NUMBER: 72051724RFIMSSP

C. ISSUANCE DATE: September 19, 2024

D. RFI RESPONSE DUE DATE: October 18, 2024

E. SUBMIT RESPONSES TO: svasquez@usaid.gov and fcanaanlachapelle@usaid.gov

The United States Government, represented by the United States Agency for International Development

(USAID) through the Mission in the Dominican Republic, is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to solicit information and potential interest from organizations to provide USAID/Dominican Republic (DR)

Mission with a flexible, streamlined, and total integrated MEL and Support Services Platform solution.

USAID/DR envisions the possibility of a seven-year program with a total estimated cost of $20 million over the period of the award.

The information contained within the RFI is intended solely as a thought piece; ideas may change significantly during the activity’s design and approval process. In addition, this RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal, a Request for

Quotation, an Invitation for Bids, a Solicitation, or an indication that USAID/DR will make an award from this RFI. Note that responding to this RFI will not give any advantage to any firm or organization in any subsequent procurement and will not lead to an organizational conflict of interest. Responses will strictly be held confidential. USAID will not provide answers to anything submitted in response to this request.

USAID posts its competitive business opportunities on www.sam.gov or www.grants.gov. It is the potential offeror’s/applicant’s responsibility to monitor these sites for announcements of new opportunities. Interested parties are also encouraged to monitor the USAID Business Forecast

(https://www.usaid.gov/business-forecast) for updates on potential opportunities. Responses to this RFI may be used by USAID without restriction or limitation.

All information received in response to this RFI marked “Proprietary” will be protected and handled accordingly. Respondents are responsible for adequately marking proprietary information contained in their response. Responders are solely responsible for any and all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. USAID will not pay for information received in response to this RFI. Responses to this RFI cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract or award.

Responses to this RFI must be submitted by email to Ms. Selines Vasquez, svasquez@usaid.gov and Ms.

Farah Canaan, fcanaanlachapelle@usaid.gov no later than the date and time shown above.

Please include RFI Number 72051724RFIMSSP in the subject line. Responders will not receive individualized feedback. All inquiries concerning this RFI must be directed only to the email address identified above. Hard copy submissions will not be accepted nor will phone inquiries be entertained.

mailto:svasquez@usaid.gov mailto:fcanaanlachapelle@usaid.gov https://www.usaid.gov/business-forecast mailto:svasquez@usaid.gov mailto:fcanaanlachapelle@usaid.gov

Thank you for your assistance and interest in USAID/Dominican Republic.

Sincerely, Chadwick Mills

Contracting Officer

USAID/Dominican Republic

Regional Office of Acquisition and Assistance

SECTION I: RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS

USAID/DR seeks to collect feedback on the following questions in relation to the Requirements

Document Description (Section III). When preparing your response to the following questions, please ensure comments are concise and specific to the question asked. Please do not submit requests for funding or proposals/applications in response to this request as they will not receive a response.

The Objective of this RFI is to refine USAID’s MEL and Support Services Platform Activity with inputs from stakeholders to further explore what this Activity can achieve in terms of its outlined objectives. In addition, the RFI will be used to ensure best practices that can help streamline the award process of the

Activity. The RFI will be used to validate or edit our Draft Statement of Work.

A. Response Format

1. Capabilities Statement

A cover page not to exceed one (1) page, that includes:

A. Organization name and address, including point of contact name and contact information;

B. Organization’s Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) - if available;

C. Organization type (e.g., non-governmental organization, social enterprise, civil society organization);

D. Business size and status ((8(a), veteran owned, service-disabled veteran owned, Historically

Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone), small disadvantaged business, women-owned small business and economically disadvantaged woman owned);

E. Brief statement that indicates the organization’s interest in applying as a prime. If a team or consortium is envisioned, please provide the names of the potential partner organizations.

A capability statement not to exceed five (5) pages, that demonstrates the organization’s ability to undertake the activities identified in Section III, including addressing:

● Please describe the type of services/support that you provide relevant to the work described in

Section III.

● What experience does your organization have in working in the geographical area of focus?

● Does your organization have experience hiring staff and/or consultants in Dominican Republic and/or the region? If yes, how many staff and/or consultants have you hired in the Dominican

Republic?

● Please describe how long you would anticipate for project mobilization (i.e., from award date to first consultant hired)? What factors specific to your organization will expedite project mobilization?

2. Questions and comments on Section III-requirements description not to exceed three (3) pages

Procurement/Characteristics of the Award

This Activity is intended to include a broad range of specialized technical assistance including: 1)

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) services; and 2) translation, logistical, and facilitation assistance in the execution of internal and external activities for the Mission.

1. USAID anticipates this activity to be implemented under one contract. Is there a particular challenge with the anticipated approach? Please explain.

2. Which risk factors have you identified for this activity and how would you mitigate them?

SECTION II. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Please send responses to this RFI via email to the addresses listed on the cover page by the closing date listed.

The responses must comply with the following:

● No more than nine pages in length (including cover page).

● Font: Calibri.

● Size: 10 pt.

● Submitted via Microsoft Word or PDF formats.

USAID values concise, issue-specific comments. We appreciate that respondents support their approaches/claims with research and citations and to consider local communities, women, youth, and other marginalized and/or under-represented groups in their responses.

To expedite USAID’s review and in consideration of your time, please adhere to the page limits specified above. Any pages beyond the nine requested may not be reviewed. Responses should be submitted in

English. Please number each page consecutively and please relate your responses to each question included in Section I of this RFI.

Please be reminded that you will only receive an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of your response. No feedback or debrief will be provided on comments received. Phone calls or hard copy responses will not be accepted.

SECTION III. REQUIREMENTS DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION

The following is a description of the anticipated services to be acquired by purchase under a contract, which will be solicited and awarded in accordance with the FAR.

Services The implementer will provide USAID Dominican Republic with a broad range of specialized technical assistance to 1) support Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) services; and 2) deliver translation, logistical, and facilitation assistance in the execution of internal and external activities for the Mission.

Nine categories of specialized technical assistance services are needed by the USAID/Dominican Republic Mission:

1. Performance Monitoring. Required services include maintaining and updating the preferred Mission reporting platform, execute field visits and prepare periodic reports, as required by the Mission.

2. Geographic Information System. Required services include collection, input and analysis of mapped data as required by the Mission.

3. Research, Assessments and Data Analysis. Required services include baselines, surveys, cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses, as required by the Mission.

4. Performance and Impact Evaluations. Required services include executing performance and impact evaluations in accordance with USAID’s evaluation policy as required by the Mission.

5. Learning Services. Required services include collaboration with local academia and groups to develop networks and communities of practice, mid-course stocktaking sessions, pause and reflect sessions, and others as specified by the Mission.

6. Knowledge Management. Required services include organizing and promoting easy access and dissemination of Mission datasets and documentation, developing briefers and success stories among other learning materials for dissemination as specified by the Mission.

7. Capacity Building. Required services include paid or unpaid internships with local students, MEL, CLA and other training sessions as specified by the Mission.

8. Translation. Required services include event design, production and interpretation in common spoken languages (Spanish and Haitian Creole), as specified by the Mission.

9. Facilitation Assistance. Required services include logistics support, coordination preparation, and compilation of facilitation notes and document outcomes as specified by the Mission.

[END OF REQUEST FOR INFORMATION]