RFP 72038820R00007 FtF Bangladesh Agricultural Infrastructure Development Activity.pdf

Issuance Date : February 16, 2021 Questions Due : February 28, 2021 at 1600 local Bangladesh time Closing Date and Time for Proposals : March 16, 2021 at 1500 local Bangladesh time

SUBJECT: Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 72038820R00007, Feed the Future Bangladesh Agricultural Infrastructure Development Activity

Dear Prospective Offerors:

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Bangladesh is seeking proposals from qualified organizations interested in providing the services as described in this solicitation. USAID invites all interested and responsible organizations to submit offers in accordance with the requirements of this solicitation.

USAID anticipates awarding a single Cost-Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) Completion type Contract. The anticipated period of performance is approximately five years from the date of award. The total estimated cost-plus fixed fee of the contract is estimated to fall within a range of $10,000,000 to $13,000,000.

This procurement will be conducted under full and open competition procedures, pursuant to Part 15 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) (48 CFR Chapter 1). The Government reserves the right to award a contract without discussions or the submission of final proposed revisions, based upon evaluation of the Offeror’s submitted technical and price information. Accordingly, the Offeror’s initial offer should contain its best terms for both price and technical proposal. Offerors should retain for their records a complete copy of their proposals for future reference.

If your organization decides to submit a proposal in response to this solicitation, it must be submitted in accordance with Section L of this RFP. Offerors must also carefully review Section M - Evaluation Factors.

Proposals are to be submitted to USAID/Bangladesh no later than the closing date and time stated above, to the email address designated in Section L for receipt of proposals. If the proposal is received after the closing date and time, or if it is incomplete, it will not be accepted nor considered unless authorized by the Contracting Officer pursuant to FAR 15.208.

This RFP in no way obligates USAID to award a contract nor does it commit USAID to pay any costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal. Award of a contract under this RFP is subject to availability of funds and other internal USAID approvals. Furthermore, USAID reserves the right to reject any and/or all offers if such action is considered to be in the best interest of the Government.

All questions, comments, and/or requests for clarifications must be sent in writing to marahman@usaid.gov, and kjenchiewchan@usaid.gov, no later than the date and time indicated above.

This RFP can be viewed and downloaded from https://beta.sam.gov. USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes. Further, be aware that amendments to solicitations are occasionally issued and will be posted on the same website. USAID advises interested parties to regularly check the above websites for amendments.

Thank you for your interest and we look forward to your participation.

Sincerely, /s/

William Sedlak Contracting Officer, USAID/Bangladesh mailto:marahman@usaid.gov mailto:kjenchiewchan@usaid.gov https://beta.sam.gov/

Office of the Acquisition & Assistance C/O

American Embassy, USAID/Bangladesh 6120

Dhaka Place

8. ADDRESS OFFER TO (If other than item 7)

See Block 10 A. and 10 C. USAID/Bangladesh

C/O American Embassy, Madani Avenue, Baridhara Dhaka-

1212, Bangladesh

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

SOLICITATION

9. Sealed offers in original and copies for furnishings the supplies or services in the Schedule will be received at the place specified in item 8, or if hand carried, in the depository located in until 1500 hrs local time March 16, 2021

(Hour) (Date)

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.

10. FOR

INFORMATION

CALL:

A. NAME

Karittha Jenchiewchan and Ahsan Rahman

B. TELEPHONE (NO COLLECT CALLS) C. E-MAIL ADDRESS

kjenchiewchan@usaid.gov and marahman@usaid.gov

AREA CODE NUMBER EXTENSION

11. TABLE OF CONTENTS

(X) SEC. DESCRIPTION PAGE(S) (X) SEC. DESCRIPTION PAGE(S)

PART I - THE SCHEDULE PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSES

A SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM 2

I CONTRACT CLAUSES 55

B SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS 3 PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACH.

C DESCRIPTION/SPECS./WORK STATEMENT 5

J LIST OF ATTACHMENTS 67

D PACKAGING AND MARKING 22 PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

E INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE 24

K

REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER

STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

F DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE 25

G CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA 34

L INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS 83

H SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS 37

M EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD 94

OFFER (Must be fully completed by offeror)

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

12. In compliance with the above, the undersigned agrees, if this offer is accepted within 180 calendar days (60 calendar days unless a different period is inserted 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 set opposite each item, delivered at the designated point(s), within the time specified in the schedule.

13. DISCOUNT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT

(See Section I, Clause No. 52.232-8)

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

14. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENTS

(The offeror acknowledges receipt of amendments to the SOLICITATION for offerors and related documents numbered and dated):

AMENDMENT NO. DATE AMENDMENT NO. DATE

15A. NAME AND

ADDRESS

OF OFFEROR

CODE FACILITY 16. NAME AND THE TITLE OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO SIGN

OFFER(Type or print)

15B. TELEPHONE NUMBER

15C. CHECK IF REMITTANCE ADDRESS IS

DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE - ENTER SUCH

ADDRESS IN SCHEDULE.

17. SIGNATURE 18. OFFER DATE

AREA CODE NUMBER EXTENSION

AWARD (To be completed by Government)

19. ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS NUMBERED 20. AMOUNT 21. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION

22. AUTHORITY FOR USING OTHER THAN FULL OPEN COMPETITION:

10 U.S.C. 2304 (c) 41 U.S.C. 3304(a) ( )

23. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN ITEM

(4 copies unless otherwise specified)

24. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 7)

USAID/Bangladesh C/O, American Embassy

Madani Avenue, Baridhara Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh

25. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY CODE

USAID/Bangladesh, Office of Financial Management

American Embassy, Madani Avenue, Baridhara Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh

26. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

27. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

28. AWARD DATE

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

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION STANDARD FORM 33 (REV. 6/2014)

Previous edition is unusable Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.214 (c)

SOLICITATION, OFFER AND AWARD

1. THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED ORDER RATING

UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700)

PAGE OF PAGES

2 96

2. CONTRACT NUMBER 3. SOLICITATION NUMBER

72038820R00007

4. TYPE OF SOLICITATION

SEALED BID (IFB)

NEGOTIATED (RFP)

5. DATE ISSUED

2/16/2021

6. REQUISITION/PURCHASE NUMBER

TBD

7. ISSUED BY CODE

RFP No. 72038820R00007 Feed the Future Bangladesh Agricultural Infrastructure Development Activity

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND COST/PRICES

B.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is to provide technical assistance and services as described in detail in Section C, Statement of Work, for the implementation of the Feed the Future Bangladesh Agricultural Infrastructure Development Activity (Agricultural Infrastructure Activity).

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE AND CONTRACT SERVICES

This is a cost-plus-fixed fee (CPFF) completion-type, cost reimbursement contract. For the consideration set forth in the contract, the Contractor shall provide the deliverables or outputs described in Section C and comply with all contract requirements.

B.3 ESTIMATED COST, FIXED FEE, AND OBLIGATED AMOUNT

(a) The estimated cost for the performance of work required hereunder, exclusive of fixed fee, if any, is $TBD. The fixed fee, if any, is $TBD. The estimated cost-plus fixed fee, if any, is $TBD. Cost must be limited to reasonable, allocable, and allowable costs determined in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.216-7.

(b) Within the estimated cost-plus fixed fee (if any) specified in paragraph (a) above, the amount currently obligated and available for reimbursement of allowable costs incurred by the Contractor (and payment of fee, if any) for performance hereunder is $TBD. The Contractor must not exceed the aforesaid obligated amount.

B.4 CONTRACT BUDGET AND CEILING

Description Amount (USD)

Program Activities TBD

Crisis Modifier/Emergency Response $1,000,000

Construction Services (Firm-Fixed Price) $6,000,000

Fixed Fee TBD

Total Estimated Cost-plus Fixed Fee TBD

Notes:

(a) The inclusion of any costs in the above budget does not obviate the requirement for prior approval by the Contracting

Officer of cost items designated as requiring prior approval by any of the terms and conditions of this contract, including the applicable cost principles (see FAR § 52.216-7, “Allowable Cost and Payment”); nor, does it constitute a determination of allowability by the Contracting Officer of any item of cost, unless specifically stated elsewhere in this contract.

(b) The Contractor must not adjust the above line items without a written modification signed by the Contracting Officer.

(c) The Contractor must not bill any amounts against this Contract in excess of the amounts specified for each line item without the Contracting Officer’s prior authorization.

(d) The Contractor agrees to furnish data that the Contracting Officer may request on costs expended or accrued under this contract.

(e) Crisis Modifier/Emergency Response will be at direction USAID.

(f) Construction Services will be implemented via firm-fixed price arrangement not to exceed the amount indicated above.

(g) USAID retains the authority to immediately halt any construction undertaken under this activity. For purposes of this activity, “construction” means: construction, alteration, or repair (including dredging and excavation) of buildings, structures, or other real property and includes, without limitation, improvements, renovation, alteration and refurbishment. The term includes, without limitation, roads, power plants, buildings, bridges, water treatment facilities, and vertical structures.

B.5 REIMBURSABLE COSTS

USAID will only reimburse the Contractor for allowable costs in accordance with FAR § 52.216-7, “Allowable Cost and Payment,” FAR § 52.216-8, “Fixed Fee,” FAR § 52.232-20, “Limitation of Cost,” and FAR § 52-232-22, “Limitation of Funds,” if applicable, and AIDAR 752.7003, “Documentation for Payment.”

B.6 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE

Fixed Fee Payment: Payment of fixed fee will be made upon receipt of a proper invoice and shall be allocated based upon the proportion of the work performed in the period covered by the invoice. At the time of each payment of allowable costs to the Contractor, the USAID paying office ordinarily pays the Contractor a percentage of the fixed fee that directly corresponds to the percentage of allowable costs being paid. Two exceptions to paying fixed fee in this manner apply:

If the Contracting Officer determines that this method results in paying a disproportionately higher ratio of fixed fee than the percentage of work the Contractor has completed, then the Contracting Officer may suspend further payment of any fixed fee until the Contractor has made sufficient progress to justify further payment, up to the agreed percentage.

In accordance with the clauses entitled "Allowable Cost and Payment" (FAR 52.216-7) and "Fixed Fee" (FAR 52.216-8), the terms and conditions of these clauses apply after total payments of fixed fee reach eighty five percent (85%) of the total fixed fee or $100,000, whichever is less until the required awards conditions under the reference clauses have been met.

B.7 MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT

USAID considers this Contract non-severable. Therefore, as a multi-year Contract as defined in FAR § 17.103, it remains subject to the requirements contained in FAR § 17.106. However, as a cost-reimbursement Contract, USAID will authorize the reimbursement for all allowable costs incurred by the Contractor pursuant to FAR § 52.216-7, “Allowable Costs and Payment.” As a result, the Contractor will not incur any costs that require amortization over the Contract’s period of performance in the event that the Contracting Officer cancels the Contract pursuant to FAR 52.217-2. Thus, $0 will serve as the cancellation ceiling for each cancellation date. Accordingly, no requirement to include cancellation dates in the Contract exists.

[END OF SECTION B]

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)

C.1 TITLE OF ACTIVITY

Feed the Future Bangladesh Agricultural Infrastructure Development Activity (Agricultural Infrastructure Activity)

C.2 PURPOSE

The purpose of the Feed the Future Bangladesh Agricultural Infrastructure Development activity (Agricultural Infrastructure activity) is to improve agricultural infrastructure in order to increase the availability of quality and safe agricultural produce for domestic, regional and international markets that will benefit agricultural value chain actors such as smallholder farmers, agro-input dealers, processors and marketers within the Feed the Future (FTF) Zone of Influence and USAID/Bangladesh Zone of Resilience.

C.3 INTRODUCTION

The FTF Bangladesh Agricultural Infrastructure Development activity, hereafter referred to as the “Agricultural Infrastructure Activity” or “Activity”, is a five-year Activity, which is a follow-on to the seven-year FTF Bangladesh Agricultural Infrastructure Development Program ending June 30, 2021.

This Activity aims to improve agricultural infrastructure within the FTF Zone of Influence (ZOI) and USAID/Bangladesh Zone of Resilience (ZOR) through collaboration and coordination with the Government of Bangladesh’s (GoB’s) Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). With this effort, the Contractor will also build the capacity of LGED to better plan, tender, and implement infrastructure in a transparent and efficient manner that meets international standards through the following interventions:

● Site selection in coordination with other USAID FTF-funded activities to identify roads, market centers, collections centers, cold storage, and drainage/irrigation system improvements that best support the Activity goal;

● Design and construction of selected infrastructure improvements (construction or rehabilitation);

● Development of effective operation and maintenance arrangements for constructed and rehabilitated infrastructure;

and,

● Facilitation of public-private partnerships and private sector engagement that will ensure the sustainability of the constructed and rehabilitated infrastructure after handover to beneficiaries.

The current Agricultural Infrastructure program is being implemented through a Government-to-Government (G2G) mechanism with the Government of Bangladesh’s (GoB’s) Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). However, given the purpose and the objectives of this new Activity and since the Activity will be responsible for the construction and rehabilitation of the infrastructure, it is important that LGED is closely involved in all aspects of Activity implementation.

Based on lessons learned from the current program, this Activity must provide continued capacity building and technical assistance to LGED that will enable them to continue to construct and rehabilitate infrastructure, as well as to structure management plans for long-term operation and maintenance. Capacity building and technical assistance to LGED will be on strategic planning, design, tender preparation and procurement, quality assurance, construction oversight, operations and management, private sector engagement, and environmental standards. The Activity will also facilitate public private sector partnerships with an emphasis on sustainable post-construction operation and maintenance of facilities.

The Activity will coordinate closely with the FTF Bangladesh Quality Assurance Support Activity, a separate mechanism that is still to be awarded, which will support USAID/Bangladesh to review designs and other technical reports, and perform third-party monitoring of construction and rehabilitation work undertaken by this Activity.

The Activity will also coordinate and collaborate with approximately 20 other FTF activities in order to ensure that constructed and rehabilitated roads, market and collection centers, cold storage facilities, and irrigation systems are designed based on feedback from beneficiaries of the FTF activities, in order to best serve their needs. (Note that FTF Bangladesh target value chains are aquaculture, livestock - beef & dairy, rice, horticulture, oilseeds and pulses).

C.4 BACKGROUND

With over 164 million inhabitants, Bangladesh has a population greater than that of Russia1, on an area roughly the size of Iowa2. One of the most densely populated countries in the world, Bangladesh is projected to have a population of up to 179 million by 2030. Almost one in four Bangladeshi (24.3 percent of the population) live in poverty, and 12.9 percent of the population live in extreme poverty3. Agriculture accounts for 48 percent of the actively employed labor force and 14.75 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), playing an integral role in the lives of the Bangladeshis (AIS-2017, MoA). While the harmful effects of high food prices are sharply felt by the poor throughout the year - especially by women and female heads of households - they are particularly acute in the lean seasons between September-November and March-April due to a chronic lack of employment opportunities for agricultural or day laborers. Food security problems are compounded by high food prices due to external shocks and fluctuating agricultural productivity. Poverty, lack of access to agricultural land, and poor dietary habits contribute to high levels of malnutrition.

Bangladesh’s agriculture sector evolved significantly over the last decade, evidenced by its self-sufficiency in rice production, including increased exports of rice and other food and nonfood agriculture, horticulture, livestock and aquaculture produce. However, challenges to agricultural-led growth remain. Despite significant gains in productivity, the yield for many crops in Bangladesh is still low compared to other countries in the region. The small size of farm plots and limited ability to expand household land holdings means that greater production per unit of land will be key to achieving increased rural incomes and food security. Post-harvest loss of up to 30 percent is common for many agricultural products due to improper timing of harvest, lack of field sorting and packing, and a lack of post-harvest infrastructure. Constraints in infrastructure required to process and move products to markets limit the agriculture sector’s ability to drive economic growth.

The growing middle class in large cities has increased the demand for high value and quality agricultural products.

Responding to this demand could raise small farmers' incomes, but will require, among other things, improvement in agricultural infrastructure. The impacts of intensifying floods and cyclones are also major constraints to agriculture development.

Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) LGED is housed under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives and has primary responsibility for planning, implementing, and maintaining rural infrastructure in Bangladesh. LGED’s Headquarters is based in Dhaka and retains budgeting, administration, planning, design, and monitoring functions. At the field level, LGED Offices are subdivided into Divisions, Regions, Districts, and Upazilas with delegated roles and functions at each level.

New infrastructure is approved by the Planning Unit at LGED Headquarters, but may be identified at any level. The Design Unit at LGED Headquarters is then responsible for managing the designs of approved infrastructure. Once designs, specifications, and bill of quantities are completed by the Design Unit, the District Offices are responsible for tendering the projects, with the contractor selection subject to approval by the Procurement Unit at LGED Headquarters prior to award. The Upazila Engineer serves as the Project Manager for construction activities within their geographic area. The District and Upazila4 Offices jointly monitor the construction of the infrastructure and perform the primary Quality Assurance function for construction, with additional monitoring from Headquarters.

The responsibility for operation and maintenance of rural infrastructure varies. In the case of rural roads, flood protection, and most irrigation and drainage systems, LGED retains responsibility for operation and maintenance. For vertical infrastructure such as market centers, collection centers, and other aggregation and sorting facilities, the applicable Upazila Administration (local government authority) assumes responsibility for operation and maintenance upon handover and they often lease out the facility while retaining responsibility for its long-term maintenance.

Bangladesh Agricultural Infrastructure Development Program The current Agricultural Infrastructure Program will complete the construction and rehabilitation of target infrastructure by its end date of June 30, 2021. The Final Performance Evaluation5 for the current Agricultural Infrastructure program found that improved roads have significantly increased access to extension services, agricultural inputs, new farming https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/population-by-country/ https://www.insidervlv.com/landmass.html https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2017/10/24/bangladesh-continues-to-reduce-poverty-but-at-slower-pace

4 http://oldweb.lged.gov.bd/AboutLgedOrg.aspx https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00TSPQ.pdf https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/population-by-country/ https://www.insidervlv.com/landmass.html https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2017/10/24/bangladesh-continues-to-reduce-poverty-but-at-slower-pace http://oldweb.lged.gov.bd/AboutLgedOrg.aspx https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00TSPQ.pdf techniques, farm productivity, and access to markets, traders, and other business services. The improved roads also have contributed to reduced agricultural waste, increased sales of more fresh produce, and increased profits. Transportation costs per commodity unit also have been reduced. In general, travel is apparently now faster, easier, and usually less expensive, contributing to social benefits such as easier access to health services, including pre- and post-natal care;

increased school attendance by girls and boys, especially during the rainy season; and greater mobility and safety for girls and women6. LGED’s public awareness campaign related to responsible use of roads contributes to the longevity of the infrastructure and, therefore, the sustainability of all of these benefits.

The evaluation also found that market centers and collection centers have facilitated commodity aggregation, sorting, grading, and trading. The new roads have created a business-enabling environment for farmers and traders that enhances local economic development generally. The results of the evaluation and interaction with stakeholders also suggest increased income and land value due to improved agricultural infrastructure. Improved nutrition and food security will also likely be sustained.

The current Agricultural Infrastructure program has also enhanced the capacity of LGED on Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Control (QC), environment and safety compliance, and transparent tendering. The QA process by LGED and the QC process followed by the local construction contractors have proven to be successful. In addition, LGED now has effective road maintenance management plans and training. The quality of workmanship and performance of maintenance and repair work on the roads, market centers, collection centers, and irrigation systems under the program are much better when compared to similar work done under other LGED programs (both GoB- and externally-funded).

C.5 PROBLEM STATEMENT

Post-harvest losses of agricultural produce in Bangladesh are high, and constraints in infrastructure required to process and move products to markets limit the agriculture sector’s ability to drive economic growth. To address these issues, this Activity will provide continued technical assistance to and capacity building of LGED to institutionalize their established processes and standards at the District and Upazila levels, and the establishment of public private partnerships, including private sector engagement, in the upgrade and rehabilitation of union- and village-level earthen roads; construction and rehabilitation of agricultural market centers and collection centers; and rehabilitation of farm level irrigation and drainage systems and flood protection.

Enhanced market efficiencies resulting from improved market infrastructure and connectivity facilities will play an important role in making food accessible and affordable for all people, especially for vulnerable households, while enabling employment opportunities for women and youth. There will also be a reduction in transportation time to market, transportation costs, and crop losses. Improvements in surface water management will also reduce the impact on aquifer depletion that results from the overuse of groundwater for irrigation purposes.

C.6 RELATIONSHIP TO USAID STRATEGIC GOALS

The Agricultural Infrastructure Activity will contribute to achieving the three objectives of the USG’s Global Food Security Strategy for Bangladesh7: (1) Inclusive and Sustainable Agricultural-led Economic Growth; (2) Strengthened Resilience among People and Systems; and (3) A Well-Nourished Population, Especially Women and Children. It will also contribute to USAID/Bangladesh’s Country Development and Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) 8(2020-2025) goal of “Bangladesh is more committed to democratic principles and inclusive growth with increased capacity to economically diversify, address inequality, and become a resilient Indo-Pacific partner,” through Development Objective 1 (DO 1), Intermediate Result 1.1:

Governance and Fiscal Integrity of Institutions Enhanced, as well as DO 2: Opportunities and People's Lives Enhanced to Create an Inclusive, Healthy Society, and Robust Economy, and DO 3: Society’s Ability to Mitigate, Adapt to and Recover from Shocks and Stressors Improved. In support of the U.S. government’s vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, the Activity will also contribute to the Economic Growth Pillar of the Indo-Pacific Vision. More specifically, it will support the Infrastructure Transaction and Assistance Network (ITAN) Outcome 1: Systems and structures for infrastructure planning, implementation, and governance improved.

The geographic focus of the Agricultural Infrastructure Activity will be the FTF Zone of Influence (ZOI) and the USAID/Bangladesh Zone of Resilience (ZOR). The ZOI consists of Barisal Division (Barisal, Bhola, Jhalokati, Pirojpur, Barguna, and Patuakhali districts), Dhaka Division (Faridpur, Gopalganj, Madaripur, Rajbari, and Shariatpur districts), and https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00TR9W.pdf

7 https://www.usaid.gov/documents/1867/global-food-security-strategy-gfss-bangladesh-country-plan 8 DRAFT CDCS in the process of approval. This strategy has not yet been approved by USAID https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00TR9W.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/documents/1867/global-food-security-strategy-gfss-bangladesh-country-plan

Khulna Division (Jessore, Jhenaidah, Magura, Narail, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira, Chuadanga, Meherpur, and Kushtia districts), while the ZOR consist of Chattagram Division (Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban districts). Of the 23 districts, as shown in the illustrative map below, FTF Bangladesh has no priority districts. However, interventions under the Activity must complement other USAID-funded FTF activities in order to achieve the stated DOs above and ensure that their beneficiaries are able to use the constructed/rehabilitated facilities. Communication with other USAID activities focused on good governance, social and economic opportunity, and resilience will also be important.

C.7 RELATIONSHIP TO HOST COUNTRY STRATEGIES

The Activity will contribute to achieving the GoB’s strategies and objectives laid out in the 7th Five-Year Social and Economic Development Plan for 2016-20209, to expand the rural road capacity towards increasing connectivity, providing greater access to social services and markets, and promoting the agriculture sector. The 8th Five-Year Promoting Prosperity and Fostering Inclusiveness Plan (FY2021-FY2025) is forthcoming and the draft contains similar objectives.

It also supports the Bangladesh Delta Plan 210010; 2nd Country Investment Plan11; 2nd National Plan of Action for Nutrition (FY2016-FY2025); and National Food and Nutrition Security Policy (FY2021-FY2030) priorities. This Activity will be implemented in climate vulnerable areas of Bangladesh, and will broadly contribute toward achieving the aims and objectives of the climate change adaptation strategies of the GoB, and will contribute towards achieving the objective of the pillars of Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, 2009. The Activity is expected to adhere to the National Water Management Plan, 2001, and is expected to contribute to achieving the objectives of the National Environment Policy, 1992, the National Environmental Management Action Plan, 1995, National Agriculture Policy, and the National Adaptation Programme of Actions, 2005. In addition, the Activity will provide technical assistance to and build

9 http://www.plancomm.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/plancomm.portal.gov.bd/files/aee61c03_3c11_4e89_9f30_d79639595c67/7th_FYP_18_02_2016.pdf 10 http://www.plancomm.gov.bd/site/files/0adcee77-2db8-41bf-b36b-657b5ee1efb9/Bangladesh-Delta-Plan-2100 11 http://fpmu.gov.bd/agridrupal/sites/default/files/file/CIP2FinalPDFPrintedCopy.pdf http://www.plancomm.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/plancomm.portal.gov.bd/files/aee61c03_3c11_4e89_9f30_d79639595c67/7th_FYP_18_02_2016.pdf http://www.plancomm.gov.bd/site/files/0adcee77-2db8-41bf-b36b-657b5ee1efb9/Bangladesh-Delta-Plan-2100 http://fpmu.gov.bd/agridrupal/sites/default/files/file/CIP2FinalPDFPrintedCopy.pdf the capacity of LGED to plan, tender, and implement infrastructure in a transparent and efficient manner that meets international standards thus contributing to USAID’s Transformation agenda and Journey to Self-Reliance.

C.8 RESULTS FRAMEWORK

The Agricultural Infrastructure Activity is based on a development hypothesis that if physical infrastructure is improved to facilitate access to markets and farms, enhance post-harvest handling, and increase productivity of farmlands, including building the capacity of LGED to strategically plan and construct rural infrastructure, then there will be increased availability of quality agricultural produce for domestic, regional and international markets.

Goal: Increased availability of quality agricultural produce for domestic, regional and international markets

Objective 1: Increased access to markets for agricultural produce, inputs and services

Objective 2: Enhanced post-harvest handling and storage of agricultural produce

Objective 3: Increased productivity and production of farmlands

Intermediate Result (IR) 1.1: Improved transportation of agricultural produce, inputs and services between farms and markets

IR 2.1: Increased access to post-harvest handling and storage facilities

IR 3.1: Improved irrigation and drainage systems for crop cultivation

IR 1.2: Improved capacity of LGED to maintain rural roads efficiently and sustainably

IR 2.2: Improved operation and maintenance of aggregation and storage facilities to ensure sustainability

IR 3.2: Improved operation and maintenance of drainage and irrigation systems to ensure proper function and sustainability

Cross-cutting IRs

● Increased capacity of LGED to plan, tender, and oversee construction and rehabilitation of infrastructure in the rural areas

● Increased transparency of LGED procurement practices

● Increased engagement with the private sector to ensure operation and maintenance of select infrastructure

C.9 OBJECTIVES

Objective 1: Increased access to markets for agricultural produce, inputs and services

IR 1.1: Improved transportation of agricultural produce, inputs and services between farms and markets

Rural roads contribute significantly to generating increased agricultural incomes and employment opportunities, benefiting the entire rural population through access to economic and social services. The Agricultural Infrastructure Contractor (“the Contractor”) must provide technical assistance to and build the capacity of LGED on improving physical access to local and regional agricultural markets. The Activity shall also be responsible for rehabilitating and upgrading rural feeder roads (Upazila, union, and village roads) that are critical in linking production centers of value chain commodities to market and collection centers. Road improvements must consist of paving and upgrading earthen roads or rehabilitation of previously paved roads and must include any required traffic signage and marking. All work must be in accordance with USAID and GoB environmental and social safeguards requirements, and be contained within the road alignment of the existing road to minimize environmental impact and land tenure issues. No new roads will be constructed. All road work must be conducted on GoB-owned lands.

The Contractor must identify roads for improvement (upgrade or rehabilitation) as part of the initial Site Selection Phase, based on consultation with beneficiaries of USAID-funded FTF activities, LGED, and USAID to ensure that selected roads are based on demand, in order to maximize the impact of USAID’s investment.

Expected Results/Outputs:

● A minimum of 20 kilometers of road rehabilitated or upgraded as a result of USG assistance.

IR 1.2: Improved capacity of LGED to maintain rural roads efficiently and sustainably

Key to the sustainability of USAID’s, GoB’s, and other donors’ road investments is ongoing maintenance of the improved roads. LGED’s Rural Road and Culvert Maintenance Program12 provides a framework maintenance management system for road and drainage infrastructure. This includes both Routine and Periodic maintenance.

Routine off-pavement maintenance (shoulders, side slopes, culverts and surface drainage) is typically undertaken by organized female labor groups or other locally organized groups that are paid by LGED for specific tasks. Routine maintenance of pavement and signage is performed by Mobile Maintenance Teams (MMTs) within LGED, based at the District level. Periodic maintenance including road resealing, overlaying, and rehabilitation is undertaken at specific intervals of time and is normally carried out by local contractors selected through an open tendering process. Repair and maintenance work of the rural roads will be done in compliance with USAID and GoB environmental and social safeguards requirements.

The nationwide Road Structures Data Management System, updated annually by the respective District Offices, is the repository for road and structure parameters and conditions, and provides the basic data used for planning and to determine budget allocations for maintenance. However, the current software does not accurately capture road alignments. LGED is in the process of adopting newer software and technology, but will need assistance to roll it out to all Districts and ensure that staff can effectively utilize the new system.

As noted in the section above, the Final Performance Evaluation of the current program found that LGED already has road maintenance management plans and training. However, the Contractor must provide additional support to LGED District and Upazila Offices to ensure that they have the capacity to effectively plan and implement maintenance in order to extend the safety and usability of road improvements. Interventions under this IR must focus on the District and Upazilas receiving road improvements through IR 1.1. However, the Contractor may work at the Region, Division, or Headquarter level where necessary to achieve sustained results.

Expected Results:

● LGED collects and uses annual average daily traffic (AADT) and roughness data to facilitate impact assessments of road projects;

● Each supported LGED District develops annual maintenance and repair plans, and effectively implements those plans in accordance with their Rural Roads and Culverts Maintenance Guidelines;

● Each supported LGED District has capable Mobile Maintenance Teams (MMT) for routine road maintenance;

● Users of improved roads understand and avoid practices that damage the infrastructure or reduce its longevity;

● LGED collects data on the number of road accidents and the Districts use this information to develop accident prevention plans; and

● LGED Districts and Upazilas effectively use the updated Road Structures Data Management System software for asset management.

Objective 2: Enhanced post-harvest handling and storage of agricultural produce

IR 2.1: Increased access to post-harvest handling and storage facilities

The Activity must help facilitate aggregation, postharvest handling and increased sales of agricultural produce at the local markets by providing technical assistance to and building the capacity of LGED to construct or rehabilitate rural market centers and collection centers. The Activity shall also bleveragee responsible for constructing or rehabilitating rural market centers (typically found at the district level) and collection centers (typically found at the village level). The Activity may also construct or rehabilitate cold storage or other vertical infrastructure where private sector investment can be leveraged to ensure that facilities are adequately equipped, and have a sustainable plan for operation and maintenance. The improved facilities will help reduce post-harvest spoilage of agricultural produce, increasing their shelf-life and thereby increasing the availability and sale prices of quality produce for processing and consumption.

With reduced availability of government lands for new infrastructure facilities, the Contractor must explore public-private partnerships with GoB, market management committees, other community organizations and private sector entities as appropriate, without negatively impacting vulnerable communities. The Contractor will lead the site selection process, and the design of market and collection centers based on consultations with beneficiaries of USAID-funded FTF activities, and LGED, incorporating inclusive development considerations to enable gender empowerment and accessibility to maximize the impact of USAID’s investment.

Facilities must include provision of handwashing and washing blocks for cleaning of agricultural produce as determined by beneficiaries during consultations. Where communities identify a need for latrines, the construction must also be http://oldweb.lged.gov.bd/UploadedDocument/UnitPublication/7/23/Maintenance%20Guidelines%202010%20English.pdf http://oldweb.lged.gov.bd/UploadedDocument/UnitPublication/7/23/Maintenance%20Guidelines%202010%20English.pdf undertaken by the Contractor as part of the facilities. Community inputs and private sector investment must be leveraged to the maximum extent possible. For public-private partnerships, USAID’s investment must be matched by private sector investment (cash or in-kind). The Contractor must coordinate with the end users on facility designs to ensure that electrical, mechanical, and other required systems are accommodated.

Information on coordination, collaboration and leveraging of resources with other FTF activities are in Section C.13:

“Coordination and Collaboration/Linkages with USG Programs".

Expected Results/Outputs:

● A minimum of 40 market centers, collection centers and cold storage facilities constructed or rehabilitated;

● Value of new USG commitments and private sector investment (cash or in-kind) leveraged as a result of USG assistance.

● Number of new public-private partnerships formed to support sustainable, transparent, and high-quality infrastructure as supported by USG assistance; and

● Amount of private investment mobilized for sustainable, transparent, and high-quality infrastructure as supported by USG assistance

IR 2.2: Improved operation and maintenance of aggregation and storage facilities to ensure sustainability

The sustainability of provided infrastructure and its long-term operation and maintenance must also be considered when selecting sites that support this Objective. Market and collection centers typically become the responsibility of the Upazila Administration upon handover and they often lease out the facility while retaining responsibility for its long-term maintenance. In collaboration with LGED, the Contractor must assess the potential for public-private partnerships, including private sector engagement in the operation and maintenance of constructed or rehabilitated facilities. They must also identify and document the parties responsible for operation and maintenance as part of the Site Selection or Design phases. This includes confirming that there is a plan for sufficient revenue generation from the operation of the facilities to cover maintenance, providing training and capacity building to responsible parties, and/or identifying local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) or skilled labor to support responsive and preventative maintenance of the facilities.

Cold storage facilities and other similar vertical infrastructure require equipment and technology to serve the intended purpose. Where the Activity constructs or rehabilitates facilities that require additional investments or technical inputs, the Contractor must explore public-private partnerships, service contracts, or other models for investment early on in the planning process.

Models for operation and maintenance of these public-private partnerships, including private sector engagement, may vary by locality, type of facility, and landscape of the private sector partners. The Contractor must identify and assess options for the operation and maintenance of these facilities and must support LGED to structure and finalize operation and maintenance agreements for the constructed or rehabilitated facilities.

Expected Results:

● A minimum of 40 constructed and rehabilitated facilities with an effective plan for operation and maintenance upon handover

● Value of agriculture-related financing accessed (cash or in-kind) through public-private partnerships as a result of USG assistance

● LGED has established models and corresponding standard agreements and guidelines for public-private partnerships, including private sector engagement, in the operation and maintenance of constructed and rehabilitated facilities

● Number of new public-private partnerships formed to support sustainable, transparent, and high-quality infrastructure as supported by USG assistance

● Amount of private investment mobilized for sustainable, transparent, and high-quality infrastructure as supported by USG assistance

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Objective 3: Increased productivity and production of farmlands

IR 3.1: Improved irrigation and drainage systems for crop cultivation

Rehabilitation of irrigation canals, drainage systems, and flood protection will enhance irrigation in the dry season and improve drainage in the wet season to increase the productivity and production of farm lands, as well as create both off-and on-farm jobs under non-rainfed agricultural production. The Contractor must provide technical assistance to and build the capacity of LGED to improve publicly owned irrigation canals and drainage systems that serve multiple farms and optimize the utilization of surface water resources to increase productivity. The Contractor must also improve these publicly owned irrigation canals and drainage systems. Irrigation and drainage infrastructure improvements are limited to tertiary (serving multiple farms) canals and water management, including a network of drains to avoid prolonged waterlogging. Where the roads that are improved under Objective 1 transect agricultural fields, u-drains, culverts, and roadside irrigation drains must be provided to improve irrigation and drainage, thereby contributing to this Objective.

The site selection and rehabilitation of irrigation and drainage systems by the Contractor must be based on consultations with beneficiaries of USAID-funded FTF activities, LGED, and USAID, incorporating gender considerations to enable gender empowerment.

Expected Results/Outputs:

● A minimum of 400 hectares of farmland with improved irrigation and drainage; and

● Value of targeted agricultural commodities produced during the dry season period.

IR 3.2: Improved operation and maintenance of drainage and irrigation systems to ensure proper function and sustainability

Maintenance of drainage and irrigation systems is generally done in accordance with LGED’s Rural Roads and Culverts Maintenance Guidelines. LGED retains primary responsibility for maintenance for public drainage infrastructure. However, management committees consisting of local community members are typically formed to conduct regular cleaning of canals and drains, and other low-skill maintenance work, to ensure that drainage and irrigation systems continue to perform as designed. The Contractor must work with LGED, the local government, and other beneficiaries of USAID-funded FTF activities to strengthen the capacity of management committees to ensure that they can fulfill their role effectively upon handover. The Contractor must also explore the option of public-private partnerships, including private sector engagement, for the maintenance and operation of the drainage and irrigation systems.

Expected Results:

● Management committees have the capacity to provide regular cleaning and basic ongoing maintenance of drainage and irrigation systems;

● Management committees are more gender-balanced;

● Number of new public-private partnerships formed to support sustainable, transparent, and high-quality infrastructure projects as supported by USG assistance; and

● Amount of private investment mobilized for sustainable, transparent, and high-quality infrastructure projects as supported by USG assistance.

Cross-Cutting IRs: Increased capacity of LGED to plan, procure, and oversee rural infrastructure projects;

Increased transparency of procurement practices; Increased engagement with the private sector to ensure operation and maintenance of select infrastructure

Throughout the planning for and construction/rehabilitation of infrastructure facilities, the Contractor must provide technical assistance and capacity building to LGED per the conclusions and recommendations in the Final Performance Evaluation Report (2019)13 of the current Agricultural Infrastructure program and the goals of LGED in their Capacity Building Plan14. In a number of cases, the procedures and protocols initiated under the current program have been adopted at the national levels, but have not been fully disseminated and instituted at the District and Upazila levels.

Interventions under these Cross-Cutting IRs will be focused on the District and Upazilas receiving infrastructure improvements. Building the capacity of partner countries by training host country entities and using local architecture, engineering, and construction firms to accomplish the tasks of construction and rehabilitation of infrastructure, 13 Final performance evaluation of the USAID/Bangladesh Agricultural Infrastructure Development program 14 LGED Capacity Development Plan https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00TSPQ.pdf http://oldweb.lged.gov.bd/UploadedDocument/ProjectLibraryGallery/385/Capacity%20Development%20Plan%20signed%20May%205.PDF encouraging greater procurement integrity, and facilitating increased private sector engagement contributes to objectives under the Indo-Pacific Strategy and supports the Journey to Self-Reliance.

Through the current Agricultural Infrastructure program, LGED has adopted a number of processes that provide ease of doing business for suppliers and that deter corruption. They have also improved their cost estimation process. However, additional capacity building and technical assistance is still required to fully institutionalize the milestone-based QA/QC process and improved cost estimation, including incorporating these aspects into tender documents. In addition, the areas targeted by UNOPS, summarized in the aforementioned Capacity Building Plan, still require additional capacity-building and integration within LGED to ensure they are adopted as best practices for all activities.

The current program also enhanced LGED’s infrastructure procedures to adapt to best practices, including environmental compliance, road safety compliance, and labor health compliance. While all USAID-funded activities have adhered to the required Environmental Monitoring and Mitigation Plan (EMMP) and other best practices, it is yet to be fully institutionalized in LGED.

The Contractor must explore ways to disseminate best practices and capacity building information to LGED offices beyond those directly supported through the Activity.