RFI 7200AA24RFI00014 RAD.pdf

MARKET RESEARCH Purposes only

From: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Planning, Learning and Resource Management (PLR)

To: GSA Advantage Contract Holders

Subject: Request for Information - 7200AA24RFI00014 for PLR Research and Analytics for Development (RAD) Contract

Issuance Date:

Closing Date:

Closing Time:

April 11, 2024

April 22, 2024

5:00 PM EST

The U.S Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Policy, Learning, and Resource Management (USAID/PLR), Office of Learning, Evaluation and Research (LER), Agency Learning and Evidence team is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to provide comments, opinions, and recommendations and demonstrate capacity on the approaches for the information in the document below.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code applicable to this notice has been determined to be 541611. This RFI is a preliminary call for expressions of interest to provide services for the activity currently titled “USAID/PLR Research and Analytics for Development (RAD).” This is NOT a solicitation for work or a request for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations, and shall not be construed as an obligation on the part of USAID.

This RFI is structured with background information about the expected objectives and illustrative activities of the PLR RAD Contract, then questions, and finally details on how to respond with a capabilities statement. Interested organizations are encouraged to identify their interest and capability to respond to the objectives and capability statement requirements described below and by responding to the questions.

In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by USAID to form a contract. This posting is strictly to gather “market research” information only. Responses to this RFI are strictly voluntary and USAID will not reimburse respondents for information provided in response to this RFI. This RFI is to solicit information and potential interest from organizations to provide technical and advisory services, depending on demand, at the Mission, Operating Unit, Bureau, Independent Office, and Agency-wide levels.

USAID will not pay respondents for any information provided in response to this RFI. Issuance of this RFI does not constitute a commitment on the part of the Government to issue a solicitation, make an award, or to be responsible for any costs associated with responses to this RFI. Any future solicitations of funding opportunities will be announced on the Federal Business Opportunities website at www.sam.gov or at www.grants.gov at a later date. Please note that issuance of this RFI does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. Government, nor will it give an advantage to any organization in a subsequent procurement. This document is to obtain information on the possible activity only. There will be no responses to any questions submitted in response to this request, and any such submission will be held confidential. Proprietary information should not be sent.Responses must be in writing and shall adhere to the instructions as outlined below.

Submission Instructions and Response Format:

Interested parties are invited to submit an electronic copy of your response in Microsoft Word as a single email attachment to: dewalker@usaid.gov with a copy to pwesner@usaid.gov . The email subject line must contain the following, “ Contractor Name - Response to RFI #7200AA24RFI00014 for the PLR RAD Contract” in order to ensure consideration. Please submit your response via email by April 22, 2024, at 5:00 PM EST.

Responses must be in English, no more than five (5) pages in length (not including cover page, references, and tables/charts) total typed, 11-point Times New Roman font, single-spaced with one-inch margins on the electronic equivalent of 8.5 x 11-inch paper, with each page numbered consecutively. Also include the:

a. Organization name and address;

b. Point of contact name and contact information;

c. Size and type of organization, including if applicable U.S. small business or other status;

d. Brief statement that indicates the organization’s interest in applying as a prime or subcontractor, if applicable.

Thank you for your interest in USAID’s activities. Submission via email is required; phone calls or hard copy delivery will not be accepted. The submission must be in English.

Sincerely, Nayo Tolbert

Contracting Officer

M/OAA/SIDP

Attachment 1: Summary or Draft Statement of Work Attachment 2: Questions for Respondent http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:dewalker@usaid.gov mailto:pwesner@usaid.gov Devon Walker Stamp

ATTACHMENT 1: SUMMARY OF DRAFT STATEMENT OF WORK

PURPOSE

The purpose of this requirement is to provide high-quality analytical and evidence building services to

USAID/PLR and, on an as needed basis, to other USAID operating units. The Requirement has three objectives in support of this purpose:

1. Strengthen USAID’s ability to build and use high quality evidence for development effectiveness;

2. Increase availability of and access to data and other analytical services;

3. Provide rapid capacity for operating unit buy-ins for research such as randomized controlled trials or probabilistic surveys.

BACKGROUND

The Bureau for Policy, Learning, and Research Management

PLR enhances USAID leadership and program effectiveness by setting a coherent development policy agenda for the Agency and facilitating evidence-based programming that unites USAID and its partners around a common vision for achieving development goals. In support of U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives, PLR defines and coordinates U.S. development and humanitarian policy with our internal and external stakeholders, and will shape policy to support USAID’s new elevated role at the

National Security Council. PLR also leads USAID engagement with bilateral donors and multilateral organizations to influence global international development policies, standards and best practices.

As USAID’s lead for program planning, PLR strengthens the Agency's capacity to develop and implement evidence-based and innovative programming. PLR promotes a culture of learning and adaptive management to improve USAID’s impact, inform decision-making, and ensure efficient use of foreign assistance resources. Finally, PLR serves as the technical and operational home to more than 350 career

FS Program Officers and builds the capacity of Agency Contract and Agreement Officer Representatives to enhance USAID’s programmatic results.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

PLR/LER seeks to procure an agile, deeply technical, and responsive support activity to provide services to include but not be limited to:

1 US Merit System Principles, 5 U.S.C. 2301(b)(1), state “Recruitment should be from qualified individuals from appropriate sources in an endeavor to achieve a work force from all segments of society.

● Analytical work, probabilistic (representative) surveys

● Specialized research and evaluation, including randomized control trials

● Systematic Reviews, evidence syntheses, Evidence Gap Maps

● Generative AI capability (large language model)

● Other studies as needed (longitudinal analyses, panel surveys, etc)

● Facilitation of learning activities and dissemination of learning products

PLR/LER seeks to provide the Agency with access to these services at scale and regardless of sector. This could include 10+ Randomized Controlled Trials starting up per year while simultaneously scoping and beginning representative surveys, managing entire learning agendas and the work within them, and liaising closely with many USAID operating units and Missions to carry out the research and analysis.

PLR/LER expects the work to take place in dozens of countries where USAID has Missions, programs, or presence, each with different research environments and legal contexts. Respondents must be able to partner with host-country research entities, such as data collection firms or researchers from host-country universities, and to liaise with each country’s research oversight structures, eg. institutional review boards.

Given the variety and number of learning activities envisioned under the contract, personnel will need to include a Chief of Party with a record of strong organization and management of multiple, large, contemporaneous activities and the ability to source Principal Investigators at the PhD Research Scientist level across many academic disciplines (development economics, political science, as well as PIs from natural science fields).

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ATTACHMENT 2: QUESTIONS FOR RESPONDENTS

Questions:

1) How can potential offerors help PLR and the Agency writ large strengthen the building and use of rigorous evidence in decision-making?

2) Do potential offerors have suggestions for the types of services that USAID should seek under this award?

3) What, if any, additional background or other information is needed for organizations to fully understand PLR’s requirements for these services?

4) What is the technical expertise of your organization and what are examples of the kind of work your organization has already undertaken in this area?

5) What barriers would prevent your organization from implementing this project in dozens of countries?

6) Provide your views on possible coordination with other host country partners in countries abroad for these kinds or services?

7) Based on your experience, please describe approaches and models you would use to implement this project.

8) What would your organization propose for a budget for this five year project?

9) How much time would your organization need to begin implementing this project?

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