RFP_720165-20-R-00003_signed.pdf

Dear Sir/Madam:

The United States Government, represented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through its Mission in North Macedonia, is seeking quotations from qualified organizations to conduct a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Activity as described in this solicitation. USAID/Macedonia anticipates awarding a firm fixed price contract with a period of performance of five years from the date of award as a result of this solicitation.

Please note that organizations submitting a proposal in response to this solicitation must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) (https://www.sam.gov) in order to conduct business with the U.S. Government. A successful registration in SAM means that the organization has obtained a DUNS number and has secured an NCAGE. The NAICS code for this contract is 541990.

Questions regarding this opportunity must be submitted by September 29, 2020 to Rade Knezevic at rknezevic@usaid.gov and Florentin Emini at femini@usaid.gov. Proposals, consisting of the documentation required in section L, must be submitted electronically to rknezevic@usaid.gov and to femini@usaid.gov on or before the due date stipulated above. All submitted documents must conform to the requirements outlined in the solicitation. Documents received after the deadline will not be considered.

The authority for this RFP is found in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, FAR Part 12 (Acquisition of Commercial Items). USAID appreciates the time and effort put into preparing quotations in response to this solicitation.

Sincerely, Nathan Hilgendorf Regional Contracting Officer

Request for Proposal (RFP) Number: 72016520R00003 Issue Date: September 14 2020 Questions Due Date: September 29, 2020 Proposal Submission Due Date: October 20, 2020 at 14:00, local Skopje time

72016520R00003

SOLICITATION, OFFER AND AWARD

4. TYPE OF SOLICITATION2. CONTRACT NUMBER 3. SOLICITATION NUMBER

7. ISSUED BY CODE 8. ADDRESS OFFER TO (If other than Item 7)

ORDER UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700)

6. REQUISITION/PURCHASE NUMBER

NOTE: In sealed bid solicitations "offer" and "offeror" mean "bid" and "bidder".

NEGOTIATED (RFP)

SEALED BID (IFB)

5. DATE ISSUED

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INFORMATION

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CAUTION: LATE Submissions, Modifications, and Withdrawals: See Section L, Provision No. 52.214-7 or 52.215-1. All offers are subject to all terms and conditions contained in this solicitation.

(Date)(Hour) local timeuntildepository located in copies for furnishing the supplies or services in the Schedule will be received at the place specified in Item 8, or if hand carried, in the

SOLICITATION

9. Sealed offers in original and

PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

INSTRS., CONDS., AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

CONTRACT CLAUSES

PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACH.

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M SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

PACKAGING AND MARKING

DESCRIPTION/SPECS./WORK STATEMENT

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16. NAME AND TITLE OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO SIGN OFFER15A. NAME

DATEAMENDMENT NO.DATEAMENDMENT NO.

and related documents numbered and dated):

amendments to the SOLICITATION for offerors

(The offeror acknowledges receipt of

14. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF AMENDMENTS

CALENDAR DAYS (%)30 CALENDAR DAYS (%)20 CALENDAR DAYS (%)10 CALENDAR DAYS (%)

(See Section I, Clause No. 52.232.8)

13. DISCOUNT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT

designated point(s), within the time specified in the schedule.

by the offeror) from the date for receipt of offers specified above, to furnish any or all items upon which prices are offered at the price set opposite each item, delivered at the

NOTE: Item 12 does not apply if the solicitation includes the provisions at 52.214-16, Minimum Bid Acceptance Period.

OFFER (Must be fully completed by offeror)

IMPORTANT - Award will be made on this Form, or on Standard Form 26, or by other authorized official written notice.

28. AWARD DATE

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

27. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

25. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY

26. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

CODE 24. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 7)

ITEM

(4 copies unless otherwise specified)

23. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN

41 U.S.C. 253 (c) ( 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c) (

22. AUTHORITY FOR USING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION:

21. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION20. AMOUNT19. ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS NUMBERED

AWARD (To be completed by government)

CODE

09/14/2020REQ-165-20-000018

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720165

USAID/North Macedonia Samoilova 21 Skopje North Macedonia 00000

1400 B 10/20/2020

Rade Knezevic rknezevic@usaid.gov

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PAGE(S)

Nathan Hilgendorf

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

Previous edition is unusable

STANDARD FORM 33 (Rev. 9-97)

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.214(c)

12. In compliance with the above, the undersigned agrees, if this offer is accepted within _____0_________ calendar days (60 calendar days unless a different period is inserted

USAID/North Macedonia Samoilova 21 Skopje North Macedonia

ITEM NO. SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

NAME OF OFFEROR OR CONTRACTOR

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CONTINUATION SHEET

REFERENCE NO. OF DOCUMENT BEING CONTINUED PAGE OF

72016520R00003

(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F)

Delivery Location Code: NORTH MACEDONIA

OfficeUSAIDRepresentativeNMacedonia

Samoilova 21

Skopje

North Macedonia

0001 The objective of this five-year contract is to holistically assist monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) and collaborating, learning and adapting (CLA) over the implementation of the

Local Works Program. This will notably include developing a Local Works Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (MELP) and reporting results over the course of program implementation.

OPTIONAL FORM 336 (4-86)

Sponsored by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.110

NSN 7540-01-152-8067

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)

RFP# 72016520R00003

PART I – SCHEDULE

B - Supplies or Services/Prices

B.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is to provide technical assistance and other services as described in detail in Section C for the implementation of USAID/North Macedonia’s activity entitled “Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)”.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE

This is a firm fixed price contract. For the consideration set forth below, the Contractor will provide the performance requirements described in Section C and the deliverables described in Sections C and F.

B.3 CONTRACT PRICE

The firm fixed price of the contract is TBD.

[END OF SECTION B]

C - Description/Specifications

C.1 TITLE OF ACTIVITY

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Activity

C.2 OBJECTIVE

The objective of this five-year contract is to holistically assist monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) and collaborating, learning and adapting (CLA) over the implementation of the Local Works Program. This will notably include developing a Local Works Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (MELP) and reporting results over the course of program implementation. The MELP shall consist of components that will enable USAID to track progress against objectives and results outlined in the Local Works Program and fulfill its performance measurement and reporting requirements as mandated in the Automated Directives System (ADS), especially in ADS 201, as well as by other Agency requirements such as the Evaluation Policy, Operational Plan (OP) and Performance Plan and Report (PPR). More importantly, the MELP shall drive downward accountability to implementing partners of the Local Works Program and, likewise, to communities supported by Local Works implementing partners.

The MELP will include: monitoring progress towards self-reliance and activities’ performance;

assessing the validity of programmatic assumptions and changes in the operating environment;

evaluating performance and impact; and learning and adapting based on evidence. The MELP will, to the extent possible, be in line with the mission-wide Performance Management Plan (PMP), following approval of the Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS).

C.3 BACKGROUND

Local Works Requirements: To support our mission to advance locally led development, MEL for Local Works prioritizes learning, balancing accountability for results with accountability to local people and communities, and respectful engagement with local sources, owners, and users of data.

Local Works seeks to expand on USAID’s commitment to use and strengthen local monitoring and evaluation capacity by enabling USAID missions to explore many different ways to promote local ownership of MEL processes. These include, but are not limited to: using existing local systems and capacity for data collection, analysis, and reporting; using participatory approaches that involve stakeholders in monitoring and evaluation processes; prioritizing local definitions of success and information needs for accountability and decision-making in the design of indicators and evaluation questions; and by supporting dissemination and learning for and by people in local communities who can apply their knowledge to further advance their own development. The Contractor must work closely with all implementing partners within the Local Works Program and in any part of the country where implementation takes place.

Locally Led Development and the Journey to Self-Reliance: USAID is adopting a whole-of-Agency approach to realign and re-orient its policies, strategies, and program practices towards better supporting partner countries to solve their own development challenges: the Journey to Self-Reliance

(J2SR). To this end, the Agency has identified a set of self-reliance metrics: 17 objective, publicly available, third-party metrics for measuring a country’s commitment and capacity to manage its own development agenda and solutions, and therefore its overall progress on the journey to self-reliance.

These will not be measured by the MELP or the Mission PMP, except in the case where Development Objective (DO) level context indicators may be collected.

USAID recognizes that commitment and capacity for development exist everywhere we work. Self-reliance places local ownership and sustainability at the heart of achieving results. Development is locally-led when local actors are empowered to lead in achieving development outcomes. To promote sustainability through local ownership, USAID is developing ways of engaging with local actors that proactively empower local actors throughout the development process, including through MEL. When local people exercise leadership and decision-making power throughout the development process, capacity and commitment to sustain development outcomes over time is enhanced.

In order to tell each country’s unique self-reliance story, the Agency has produced “Country Roadmaps” for all 136 low- and middle-income countries, as classified by the World Bank. The Country Roadmaps show each country’s overall level of self-reliance, as well as its performance on each of the 17 metrics that comprise the concept along the two dimensions of commitment (seven metrics) and capacity (ten metrics). The Roadmaps have four main purposes: (1) to plot the overall journey to self-reliance; (2) to inform strategic choices for country strategies; (3) to guide development dialogue with host country and other development partners; and (4) to signal (together with other information) when the Agency might consider a strategic transition to a new form of partnership in countries that have achieved advanced levels of self-reliance.

Country Roadmaps are available on the public website at https://selfreliance.usaid.gov/

CDCS: The USAID strategic transition 2020-2025 Country Development Cooperation Strategy has been approved with a goal to promote a prosperous, well-governed, and resilient N. Macedonia through resource partnerships. This goal embodies the core belief that the country must lead its own development journey to self-reliance by improving the economic competitiveness, increasing youth contributions to society, and reducing corruption.

C.4 SCOPE OF WORK

In keeping with ADS 201 principles for MEL and effective partnership between USAID, its partners, and the people we serve, the contractor will prioritize MEL that focuses on:

Local priorities: empowering local actors to define and measure a common vision of success through participatory approaches that are inclusive of women, youth, minorities, and marginalized groups and enable decision-making and leadership by local actors.

Shared contribution: recognizing that systemic change depends on many actors working together, and change will often be emergent, unpredictable, and difficult to attribute to a single actor or intervention; using innovative approaches to monitor network-level and systemic change; and using complexity-aware monitoring and evaluation methods wherever appropriate.

Joint accountability: prioritizing local voices and values in defining and measuring success; using feedback loops to strengthen accountability to local communities and constituents; contributing to learning that is valued by and accessible to members of the communities served; and awareness of the incentives generated by MEL and reporting systems.

Iteration and adaptation: enabling flexibility and learning, through both success and failure, for USAID and partners to develop and utilize innovative approaches to locally owned and led development.

The MELP must reflect the needs of the Local Works Program in the following areas:

a) Monitoring at a higher level and across awards

The contractor must identify (in a collaborative manner with the implementing partners of the Local Works activities) appropriate performance indicators that are useful and relevant to local development actors. Those can be individual activities’ indicators and/or indicators collected across awards through different collection methods, including community level perception surveys. The emphasis must be on outcome-level indicators rather than output to measure the condition of people, systems, and/or institutions that are expected to be affected by the interventions.

For the purposes of Local Works as a global program, the contractor must monitor a limited number of topline indicators used worldwide. The Local Works Program will report against these indicators because they are relevant to the Community Self-Reliance Program (CSRP). Performance Indicator Reference Sheets (PIRS) for these indicators will be shared with the contractor. USAID encourages prioritizing locally driven definitions and measures of success, and values results beyond what is captured in this very limited set of indicators. These global indicators are:

Local Works Global Program Indicators % of locally-led development activities achieving intended results $ value of non-donor resources mobilized for locally led development # of local organizations (including private sector, host country government, and other entities) with strengthened organizational capacity to address local priorities

The contractor must use an open source geographic information system (GIS) to analyze data for all community level activities under each of the awards within the Local Works Program.

Alongside the Local Works Program awards, the contractor will be required to feed the system with data from the other USAID active awards provided by other USAID implementing partners.

b) Evaluating individual activities

In addition to the higher level monitoring and gathering information on the performance at the local level, the contractor will advise USAID on the need to evaluate the Local Works Program as a whole and/or individual activities to inform locally responsive adaptive management and strategic adaptation when warranted. The contractor must develop Statements of Work for the agreed upon evaluations and conduct them in compliance with the USAID Evaluation Policy, the ADS 201.3.5.9-18, and the Local Works User Guide.

c) Collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA)

CLA is critical to the success of the entire Local Works Program. The contractor must focus on key players and establish a collaborative platform where information and practices will be shared through the contractor’s facilitation. The contractor will serve, at the same time, as a repository of all reports from implementing partners under the Local Works Program.

Learning will focus on results/goal-driven innovation for locally led development. This means that the contractor must support and facilitate USAID/North Macedonia and its partners as relevant to develop and pursue learning questions related to the Local Works Program driven by the local context and goals.

Local Works Program learning questions must be driven by what the program is doing to advance locally led development. The contractor must come up with draft learning questions that will be approved by USAID. Some examples of learning questions that serve local learning needs, while also aligning with the Local Works global learning priorities are given below:

Local Works Global Learning Local Works Program Sample Questions Sustainable Outcomes: Under what conditions are locally led approaches to development effective at producing outcomes that are sustained?

How effective are activities at achieving their intended results/outcomes when local actors define success metrics?

Which approaches have had positive sustainable effects on outcomes in the targeted sector, and which did not?

What factors contributed to outcomes being sustained by local actors?

What are the most effective approaches for scaling up and replicating the successful community-led development models? Which approaches were less successfully replicated?

Effective Partnerships and Self- Reliance: Under what conditions are locally led approaches to development effective in mobilizing non-donor resources for development (financial, human, networks/relationships, other)?

What, if any, local systems for delivering capacity development services generate sustainable demand from local organizations and produce significant improvements in organizational capacity?

What factors inhibit local development actors from accessing local resources? How can these inhibitors be overcome?

What role do feedback loops between constituents and local development actors play in mobilizing local resources (or some other function, such as fostering accountability) for development?

Which approaches were effective in mobilization people and resources to implement the activities identified by local actors? Which approaches were less effective?

Locally Led Development Processes: What skills, tools, approaches, conditions, and resources are most effective for empowering local actors in the development process across contexts, sectors, and partner types?

Which existing or newly established mechanisms for mobilization of local actors have been effective in promoting community-led development?

The contractor must bring learning to the early stages of project implementation in a rigorous, empowering, and flexible way. That means applying innovative monitoring, evaluation, and analytic techniques to increase effectiveness systematically. This includes using rapid feedback loops on specific aspects of the program and individual projects, and may also include using advanced statistical methods to reduce required sample sizes and the use of tools that can support rapid data collection – cell phones and tablets for survey implementation, and other techniques for remote data collection.

d) Capacity building of implementing partners to jointly develop measurement of success with the communities

Building the capacity of local partners, including community stakeholders (private sector, local governments, local service organizations) to be responsive and accountable to the communities they serve is the fastest way to build sustainable and self-reliant communities, and be able to draw on local expertise. The contractor must develop participatory MEL systems (for example, using the Constituent Voice method that places local actors at the heart of community-driven initiatives) that listen to and enable local actors to provide direct feedback on performance.

The capacity building component must cover all three elements of MEL: monitoring, evaluation, and learning with all existing local actors, including the implementing partners of the individual awards. It must prioritize capacities that help local partners measure and achieve local definitions of success and be accountable to local communities for doing so.

[END OF SECTION C]

D - Packaging and Marking

D.1 MARKING AND BRANDING STRATEGY

The Contractor shall submit a final branding implementation plan and marking plan no later than 30 days after award. The plan must be in accordance with ADS 320.3.2. The plan must be submitted to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for approval.

The Contractor shall comply with the requirements of the policy directives and required procedures outlined in USAID Automated Directive System (ADS) 320.3.2 “Branding and Marking in USAID Direct Contracting” at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/320.pdf; and USAID “Graphic Standards Manual” available at https://www.usaid.gov/branding or any successor branding policy.

Anticipated elements of marking plan: Deliverables to be marked, include products, equipment and inputs delivered; places where program activities are carried out; external public communications, studies, reports, publications and informative and promotional products; and workshops, conferences, fairs, media related activities and any such events. Publications authored by Contractors or other non- USAID employees must include the following disclaimer on the title page: “The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government.” Threats and restrictions to the security of the program need to be identified and assessed in order to request any necessary exception from the marking requirement in accordance with ADS 320.3.2.

USAID’s web page contains the electronic version of the Graphic Standards Manual that is compulsory for all Contractors. Marking under this contract shall comply with the “USAID Graphics Standards Manual” available at https://www.usaid.gov/branding/acquisition-awards.

D.2 AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (JAN 1993)

a) It is USAID policy that USAID-financed commodities and shipping containers, and project construction sites and other project locations be suitably marked with the USAID emblem. Shipping containers are also to be marked with the last five digits of the USAID financing document number.

As a general rule, marking is not required for raw materials shipped in bulk (such as coal, grain, etc.), or for semi-finished products which are not packaged.

b) Specific guidance on marking requirements should be obtained prior to procurement of commodities to be shipped, and as early as possible for project construction sites and other project locations. This guidance will be provided through the cognizant technical office indicated on the cover page of this contract, or by the Mission Director in the Cooperating Country to which commodities are being shipped, or in which the project site is located.

c) Authority to waive marking requirements is vested with the Regional Assistant Administrators, and with Mission Directors.

e) A copy of any specific marking instructions or waivers from marking requirements is to be sent to the Contracting Officer; the original should be retained by the Contractor.

[END OF SECTION D]

E - Inspection and Acceptance

E.1 52.246-4 Inspection of Services - Fixed-Price. (AUG 1996)

(a) Definitions. Services, as used in this clause, includes services performed, workmanship, and material furnished or utilized in the performance of services.

(b) The Contractor shall provide and maintain an inspection system acceptable to the Government covering the services under this contract. Complete records of all inspection work performed by the Contractor shall be maintained and made available to the Government during contract performance and for as long afterwards as the contract requires.

(c) The Government has the right to inspect and test all services called for by the contract, to the extent practicable at all times and places during the term of the contract. The Government shall perform inspections and tests in a manner that will not unduly delay the work.

(d) If the Government performs inspections or tests on the premises of the Contractor or a subcontractor, the Contractor shall furnish, and shall require subcontractors to furnish, at no increase in contract price, all reasonable facilities and assistance for the safe and convenient performance of these duties.

(e) If any of the services do not conform with contract requirements, the Government may require the Contractor to perform the services again in conformity with contract requirements, at no increase in contract amount. When the defects in services cannot be corrected by reperformance, the Government may (1) require the Contractor to take necessary action to ensure that future performance conforms to contract requirements; and (2) reduce the contract price to reflect the reduced value of the services performed.

(f) If the Contractor fails to promptly perform the services again or to take the necessary action to ensure future performance in conformity with contract requirements, the Government may

(1) by contract or otherwise, perform the services and charge to the Contractor any cost incurred by the Government that is directly related to the performance of such service; or (2) terminate the contract for default.

(End of clause)

E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

USAID inspection and acceptance of services, reports and other required deliverables or outputs will take place at the principle place of performance or at any other location where the services are performed and reports and deliverables or outputs are produced or submitted. The COR referenced in Section G has been delegated authority to inspect and accept all services, reports and required deliverables or output.

E.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP)/MONITORING AND

EVALUATION PLAN

The progress, success and impact of the Contractor’s performance under this contract will be monitored and evaluated as a part of the overall activity results. The quality assurance surveillance plan is referred to as the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (MEL Plan). The MEL Plan should be utilized in order to assess the impact of the activity and whether or not objectives are being achieved and if they should be adjusted. The MEL Plan is intended to be a “living” document that should be reviewed and updated on an annual basis as specified in Section F.6(a) below. The MEL Plan sets forth the specific performance goals for the contract and can be modified at any time by the Contracting Officer’s Representative to reflect changing priorities and circumstances.

[END OF SECTION E]

F - Deliveries or Performance

F.1 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance is five (5) years from date of contract award.

F.2 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The place of performance is North Macedonia.

F.3 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND EVALUATION

Evaluation of the Contractor’s overall performance will be conducted jointly by the COR and the Contracting Officer and will form the basis of the Contractor's permanent performance record on this contract.

The Contractor’s performance information determined to be relevant will be evaluated in accordance with the elements below:

Technical quality of product or service, including consistency in meeting goals and targets.

Timeliness of performance, including adherence to contract schedules and other time-sensitive activity conditions, and effectiveness of home and field office management to make prompt decisions and ensure efficient completion of tasks.

Management or business relations, addressing the history of professional behavior and overall business-like concern for the interests of the customer, including cooperative attitude in remedying problems, and timely completion of all administrative requirements.

F.4 KEY PERSONNEL

The contract proposed by this solicitation includes a key personnel clause, and the quality of key personnel proposed will be an evaluation factor. The offeror must include as part of its proposal a statement signed by all individuals proposed as key personnel, confirming their present intention to serve in the stated position and their present availability to serve for the term of the proposed contract.

(a) The key personnel positions that the Contractor must furnish for the performance of this contract are as follows:

1. Project Director;

2. Senior Performance Monitoring and Learning Specialist; and

3. Senior Evaluation and Capacity Building Specialist

The personnel specified above are considered to be essential to the work being performed hereunder.

Prior to replacing any of the specified individuals, the Contractor must notify both the CO and the COR reasonably in advance and submit written justification (including proposed substitutions) in sufficient detail to permit evaluation of the impact on the activity. No replacement will be made by the Contractor without the written consent of the CO.

A. Project Director

The Project Director (PD) shall be responsible for leading and managing the Contract overall, for performance on the tasks and deliverables identified in this SOW. The PD must work closely with the COR, all implementing partners under the Local Works Program, and key local actors. The PD will develop important professional relations with some of the country’s most reputable social scientists and development professionals, in support of MEL efforts.

The PD must have demonstrated leadership, strategic thinking/planning, management, and presentation skills and at least ten (10) years with a proven track record of programmatic accomplishment, professional achievement, management competence, and interpersonal skills.

Exceptional proficiency in written and spoken English is required, as is an advanced education degree.

Demonstration of progressively more responsible experience in the following areas will be required:

● Project or program management.

● Successful leadership in a mixed team environment in a development context.

● Supervision, staff development, and mentoring to complete high-quality products on time and within budget.

● Managing personnel, funds, and resources for multi-year, multi-task projects.

● Skills in human resource and financial management and detailed financial planning, oversight, and reporting.

● Skills in overseeing procurement processes.

● Design and management of MEL and CLA systems.

● Thorough technical knowledge of monitoring, evaluation, and CLA concepts including (but not limited to) indicator development, data collection and analysis, data quality assessments, performance reporting, evaluation planning, experimental and quasi experimental evaluation designs, management of evaluations, collaboration, organizational learning, and adaptive management.

● An advanced degree (MA, PhD) in management, social sciences, statistics, research or related field is preferable.

The candidate must list evidence and references that support the above in the CV.

B. Senior Performance Monitoring and Learning Specialist

This individual will be responsible for leading and managing performance monitoring under this contract. Among other relevant tasks, the Senior Performance Monitoring and Learning Specialist will conduct Data Quality Assessments in accordance with ADS 201, lead/oversee MEL data, including baseline data collection, compilation and analysis of performance indicator data, conducting other data analysis, formulating project-level MEL plans, and ensure the quality and utility of performance monitoring data. This individual will also support ongoing updates to the MEL and generate reports and presentations. The candidate must possess a degree in a relevant field, and a minimum of 5 (five) years of progressively more responsible experience in the following areas:

● Professional experience managing and building the capacity of a team conducting data collection, analysis, performance monitoring, or research;

● A degree in economics, knowledge management, or related fields;

● Demonstrated expertise in indicator development (including context indicators), data collection and analysis, data quality assessments, statistical methods, and particularly, the use of spreadsheets and databases.

● Excellent teamwork, interpersonal, communication, presentation, and facilitation skills;

● Demonstrated ability to build capacity and train staff in data management and use.

● Experience finding and collecting appropriate data from third party sources.

● Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

The candidate must list evidence and references that support the above in the CV.

C. Senior Evaluation and MEL Capacity Building Specialist

The Senior Evaluation and MEL Capacity Building Specialist will support and conduct evaluation tasks and capacity-building efforts. This individual may also recruit part time experts (if needed), and participate in evaluations and assessments throughout the life of the contract, serving as evaluation team leader on many evaluations and contributing to the design and field testing of evaluation methodology, participatory data collection method and protocols, data verification and other technical and analysis tasks conducted under this contract. S/he will also be responsible for the design, quality, development and completion of assessments and analytical reports. The candidate must possess the following:

● At least 5 years of professional experience working on and managing evaluation teams conducting data collection, analysis, evaluation, or research;

● A degree in development studies, economics, knowledge management, or related fields;

● Technical expertise in the design and implementation of evaluations both (performance and impact evaluations) of development interventions.

● Experience in design and field testing of surveys, questionnaires, and/or other data collection instruments.

● Previous experience serving as evaluation team leader is highly desirable.

● Excellent teamwork, interpersonal, communication, presentation and facilitation skills;

● Experience and eagerness to build capacity and train staff in MEL and CLA skills;

● Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

The candidate must list evidence and references that witnessed the above in the CV.

F.5 REPORTS, DELIVERABLES AND FEE SCHEDULE

In addition to other required reports and deliverables in this contract, the Contractor must deliver the following for the approval of the COR. Unless otherwise specified, the Contractor will allow at least 10 business days for review and comments from the COR on any draft report submission.

The following table summarizes the deliverables and reports under this award. Other reports/deliverables may be required during the course of the award. These reports/deliverables will be within the scope of the contract, and the due dates for these will be agreed to between the Contractor and the COR as needed.

Tasks and Deliverables

Tasks

The contractor will be required to perform the following tasks on an ongoing basis:

1. Review: Review Agency MEL and CLA policies, Washington guidance, and Mission-specific documents in preparation for facilitating MEL development and updating.

2. Ongoing Updates: Support USAID by providing regular updates and organizing events in support of MEL, including (a) as new activities are designed, or existing ones are adapted; (b) keeping indicator tracking tables up-to-date and analyzing/visualizing data to track progress over time; (c) planning and facilitating Local Works activity reviews; (d) annual data collection for PPR reporting;

and (e) other MEL updates.

3. Capacity Development: Update knowledge and provide opportunities for capacity development of implementing partners and local actors in MEL and CLA skills.

The contractor should build in flexibility to perform additional tasks in consultation with the COR.

Deliverables

The contractor must deliver the following (deliverables) as specified:

Deliverable Name and Description Due Date

Work Plan: Develop a work plan for the entire SoW, that will include the MELP development, CLA management, and capacity building, subject to initial COR approval and subsequent annual reviews and approvals.

14 days after award; subsequent annual updates due 30 days before the start of the fiscal year

Draft MELP: Develop one initial draft MELP, in partnership with key stakeholders likely to be associated with implementation of the Local Works program and submit for COR review and approval.

45 days after award

MELP: Finalize the MELP that will be subject to annual reviews and revisions

75 days after award

Annual Report (to include Topline Indicators): Create five annual reports (one at the end of each contract year), that draw from significant findings and recommendations from Local Works implementing partners’ reports

30 days after the end of each subsequent fiscal year (ends on September 30).

PIRS: Work closely with Local Works implementing partners and associated local actors to develop PIRS for all indicators (between 7 to 10 at the outcome level)

90 days after award

Baseline: Develop a Baseline Data Collection Plan including Rapid Feedback Mechanisms

90 days after award

Rapid Feedback Mechanisms 1-2 per year

GIS Mapping System: Provide data cleaning, analysis, and visualization on a regular basis for Local Works and other USAID implementing partners.

Ongoing updates + 5 annual reports at the end of each fiscal year.

Analytical Exercises: Conduct Five annual community-based country-wide face-to-face surveys with a representative sample.

Conducted between October 1 and November 15 each fiscal year and submitted 15 days after the field work

Evaluations Analytical Exercises: Conduct up to four individual performance evaluations and a Local Works level program evaluation during the contract period

Conducted at mid-term of individual awards or as directed by the COR.

Collaborative Platform: Establish regular gatherings (minimum 15 during the five-year contract period) of all implementing partners within the Local Works program

Every four months.

Developing Learning Questions at awards level Up to 2 per year

Gathering Learning Agenda Data through focus groups Up to 8 in total

Workshops: Conduct MEL Workshops (between 15 and 20 individual events) for specific audiences, including Implementing Partners, their sub-awardees, and community stakeholders

Held on as-needed basis throughout the implementation period.

In addition to the deliverables stated above, the Contractor will be required to meet the rest of the mandatory requirements found in Section F.

F.6(a) Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (MEL) Plan

The MEL Plan will detail how the Contractor and USAID will monitor progress, evaluate performance and/or impact and how the activity intends to learn from the implementation and use the lessons learned to adapt its programing. The MEL Plan will contain a section on “Monitoring,” a section on “Evaluation” and a section on “Learning.”

The Monitoring section will specify indicators, targets, and monitoring methodologies that allow the Contractor and USAID/North Macedonia to track the progress of activity interventions towards achieving the expected results and targets related to activity objectives.

The Evaluation section will describe how activities will be assessed at the performance and/or impact level and include a schedule and tools for periodic evaluation/re-evaluation and revision of the approach if and as necessary.

The Learning section will describe how knowledge and learning will be gained from implementation, evaluation findings, and monitoring data, to adjust interventions and approaches, as needed.

Measuring specific outputs, outcomes and impacts will facilitate better understanding of which approaches are working under which conditions, and which interventions need to be refined or strengthened within each of the respective components of the activity. Potential changes in targets may occur due to unforeseen events. Should this occur, the Contracting Officer will consider changes to the fee schedule in Section B.8.

The contents of the MEL Plan will be proposed by the Contractor and approved by the COR. To the extent feasible, MEL will be conducted through or with the participation of local partners in order to build capacity. For each indicator proposed in the MEL Plan, the Contractor must complete a performance indicator reference sheet (PIRS) containing information such as indicator definition, rationale, baseline, data source, reporting frequency, disaggregation etc. Proposed indicators must meet USAID data quality standards for validity, integrity, precision, reliability, and timeliness as described in ADS 201.3.5.8 (https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1870/201.pdf). In line with USAID gender guidelines the Contractor must collect and report sex disaggregated data.

The Contractor is required use the indicators in its MEL Plan as outlined in the Scope of Work above.

F.6(b) Annual Work Plan

1. Initial Annual Work Plan

Within 14 calendar days after the start date of the Contract, the Contractor shall present an Initial Work Plan to the USAID COR for review and approval (electronic copy). The COR must provide written comments on the draft Plan and when the Plan is finalized, the COR will provide written approval.

The Initial Work Plan should include a list of tasks to be completed during the year, grouped under the objective that they seek to support. For each task, the Contractor should 1) explain in brief its connection to the objective; 2) define the necessary steps to complete the tasks; 3) assign responsibilities for completing those steps; 4) provide any quantitative or qualitative targets; and 5) a timeline for the implementation of the task.

The COR will review the Plan and provide comments and recommendations for changes no later than 30 days after receipt of the draft. No later than 15 calendar days after receipt of the COR’s comments the Contractor will incorporate the COR’s comments and recommendations into the final version of the Initial Work Plan and submit it for the COR’s written approval. All substantial changes to the Initial Work Plan require prior written approval of the COR.

2. Subsequent Annual Work Plans

Subsequent Annual Work Plans are due no later than 30 calendar days before the beginning of succeeding contract years. The Contractor shall submit the Annual Work Plan to the USAID

COR for review and written approval in electronic format. The Contractor will incorporate any required revisions into a Final Work Plan no later than 15 calendar days after receipt of the COR’s comments.

The Annual Work Plan must define in detail how the Contractor intends to organize its work to implement the tasks outlined in the SOW and achieve expected results within each of the tasks.

The Annual Work Plan must be consistent with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan. If necessary and given USAID consent, the Contractor may revise the Annual Work Plan.

USAID reserves the right to review and re-approve Annual Work Plans quarterly or on an as-needed basis.

In all Annual Work Plans, the Contractor must:

(a) Provide a brief narrative to define each task assignment, propose a completion date and state who will accomplish the task;

(b) Identify milestones as well as deliverables under each task and propose deadlines for their completion;

(c) Identify any assumptions used in preparing the Annual Work Plan, suggest possible modifications to the approach, if needed, and describe anticipated problems or potential barriers with regard to achieving MEL objectives; and

(d) Propose a milestone-based schedule for MEL evaluation and review.

F.6(c) Baseline Report

The Contractor must collect baseline data to document initial context information and values for indicators established in the Contractor’s MEL Plan. This report is due within 90 days of the date of contract award.

The Baseline Report’s format, scope, and final due date will be determined by written mutual agreement between the Contractor and the COR within the first 30 days of the contract period of performance. Prior to baseline data collection, the Contractor must submit a methodological plan for baseline data collection for review and approval by the COR.

F.6(d) Annual Reports & Final Report

The Contractor must submit four Annual Reports in draft within 30 days following completion of each year to the COR, and a Final Report at the end of the fifth and final year 30 days after the estimated completion date of the contract. In this draft Final Report the Contractor must include the following information:

i) overall accomplishments per components presented in quantitative terms and described in a narrative that relates activities, products, and results to the indicators in the MEL Plan;

ii) discussion of why unexpected progress was made toward the planned results or why shortcomings were recorded;

iii) a bibliography of all products, tools, reports, and studies produced through the activity, and links to these as applicable;

iv) a description of the extent to which successes are sustainable in terms of government and other stakeholders' ownership, their associated capacities to maintain and replicate successful experiences; and

v) other pertinent information communicated by the COR in writing within 15 days of the end of the contract estimated period of performance.

Upon receiving COR approval, the Contractor must submit the approved Final Report to the Development Experience Clearinghouse (DEC).

F.6 AIDAR 752.7005 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT

EXPERIENCE DOCUMENTS (SEPTEMBER 2013) (ClassDeviationOAA-DEV-13-01c)

(a) Contract Reports and Information/Intellectual Products

(1) Within thirty (30) calendar days of obtaining the Contracting Officer Representative’s approval, the contract must submit to USAID’s Development Experience Clearinghouse (DEC) one copy each of reports and information products which describe, communicate or organize program/project development assistance activities, methods, technologies, management, research, results, and experience. These reports include: assessments, evaluations, studies, technical and periodic reports, annual and final reports, and development experience documents (defined as documents that (1) describe the planning, design, implementation, evaluation, and results of development assistance; and (2) are generated during the life cycle of development assistance programs or activities.) The Contractor must also submit copies of information products including training materials, publications, databases, computer software programs, videos and other intellectual deliverable materials required under the Contract Schedule.

The following information is not to be submitted:

(i) Time‐sensitive materials such as newsletters, brochures or bulletins.

(ii) The Contractor’s information that is incidental to award administration, such as financial, administrative, cost or pricing, or management information.

(2) Within thirty (30) calendar days after completion of the contract, the Contractor must submit to the DEC any reports that have not been previously submitted and an index of all reports and information/intellectual products referenced in paragraph (a)(1) of this clause.

(b) Submission requirements. The Contractor must review the DEC Web site for the most up‐to‐ date submission instructions, including the DEC address for paper submissions, the document formatting and the types of documents to be submitted. The submission instructions can be found at:

https://dec.usaid.gov.

(1) Standards.

(i) Material must not include financially sensitive information or personally identifiable information (PII) such as social security numbers, home addresses, and dates of birth. Such information must be removed prior to submission.

(ii) All submissions must conform to current USAID branding requirements.

(iii) Contract reports and information/intellectual products can be submitted in either electronic (preferred) or paper form. Electronic documentation must comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

(iv) The electronic submissions must consist of only one electronic file, which comprises the complete and final equivalent of the paper copy. In the case of databases and computer software the submissions must also include necessary descriptive information, e.g., special backup or data compression routines, software used for storing/retrieving submitted data, or program installation instructions.

(v) Electronic documents must be in one of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)‐approved formats as described in NARA guidelines related to the transfer of permanent E‐records. (See http://www.archives.gov/records‐mgmt/initiatives/transfer‐to‐nara.html).

(2) Essential bibliographic information. Descriptive information is required for all Contractor products submitted. The title page of all reports and information products must include the contract number(s), contract name(s), name of the USAID Contracting Officer’s Representative, the publication or issuance date of the document, document title, (if non‐English, provide an English translation of the title), author name(s), and development objective or…