RFP No. 72048223R00002 DISP.pdf

Issue Date: February 21, 2023 Questions Due Date: March 9, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time Closing Date: April 17, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Subject: Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 72048223R00002 USAID/Burma Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program (DISP)

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)/Burma Mission is seeking proposals from qualified organizations interested in providing services as described in the attached solicitation.

This competitive procurement will be conducted through full and open competition. This competition will utilize a Highest Technical Rated with Fair and Reasonable Price and Realistic Cost (HTR) process, not a tradeoff process. In this process, USAID is concerned with getting the best technical solution that has a fair and reasonable price and realistic cost. There will not be a tradeoff to justify paying a premium for a higher technical rated proposal.

All types of organizations (large or small commercial for-profit firms, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations) meeting USAID source and nationality geographic code 937 are eligible to compete. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for this action is 541611 — Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services.

USAID encourages the participation to the maximum extent possible of small business concerns, small disadvantaged business concerns and women-owned small business concerns in this activity as a prime contractor or as a subcontractor, in accordance with Part 19 of the

FAR.

USAID/Burma intends to award a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) Completion type contract for five years with a total estimated cost between $43,000,000 to $48,000,000. Revealing the estimated cost for the contract does not mean that Offerors should necessarily strive to meet the maximum amount estimated. Offerors must propose costs that they believe are realistic and reasonable for the work described in their proposal.

Offerors are encouraged to read the entire solicitation, paying special attention to Section L – Instructions to Offerors and Section M – Evaluation Criteria. Any blanks in Sections B through J will be completed by the Contracting Officer before award. Offerors must comply with FAR Clause 52.204-7, System for Award Management and adhere to the requirements set forth in Section K – Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offerors.

Amendments to this solicitation will be made available through the Federal Business Opportunities website at https://sam.gov. It is the Offeror’s responsibility to check this site periodically for official updates and amendments to the solicitation. The Government reserves https://sam.gov/

USAID/Burma Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program (DISP)

RFP 72048223R00002

the right to reject any and all offers, if such action is considered to be in the best interest of the Government. Please note that USAID/Burma will deem all offers non-responsive if they fail to comply with the terms of this solicitation. It is the responsibility of the recipient of this solicitation document to ensure that it has been received from the internet in its entirety.

USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion process.

Offerors must send separate technical and cost proposals to the Office of Acquisition and Assistance. USAID/Burma will evaluate responsive proposals in accordance with the evaluation factors provided in Section M, “Evaluation Factors for Award.” USAID/Burma will not evaluate nonresponsive offers. By email only, please also submit all questions and requests for clarifications about this RFP no later than the deadline above to the Office of Acquisition and Assistance at burmaoaa@usaid.gov; include the RFP number in the email subject line. Oral instructions, answers, or guidance from any USAID source prior to the award of the contract shall not be binding.

Issuance of this solicitation does not in any way obligate USAID/Burma to award a contract or commit it to pay for costs incurred preparing and submitting a proposal. Indeed, USAID/Burma absolutely will NOT reimburse offerors for ANY COST associated with the development of their proposal. Offerors incur such costs at their own risk. Furthermore, USAID/Burma reserves the right to reject any and all offers when considered by the Contracting Officer to serve the best interests of the U.S. Government.

The Agency point of contact for this solicitation is the Office of Acquisition and Assistance, at burmaoaa@usaid.gov.

Thank you in advance for your interest in this procurement.

Sincerely, Elizabeth M. Colarik Contracting Officer

72048223R00002

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

1. THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED RATING PAGE OF PAGES

1 128

C. E-MAIL ADDRESS

EXT.NUMBERAREA CODE

B. TELEPHONE (NO COLLECT CALLS)A. NAME

10. FOR

INFORMATION

CALL:

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.

I

J

K

L

M SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

PACKAGING AND MARKING

DESCRIPTION/SPECS./WORK STATEMENT

SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSESPART I - THE SCHEDULE

H

G

F

E

D

C

B

A

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

11. TABLE OF CONTENTS

18. OFFER DATE17. SIGNATURE

SUCH ADDRESS IN SCHEDULE.

IS DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE - ENTER

15C. CHECK IF REMITTANCE ADDRESS

EXT.NUMBERAREA CODE

15B. TELEPHONE NUMBER

(Type or print)AND

ADDRESS

OF

OFFEROR

CODE

FACILITY

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

REQ-482-23-000012

X

720482

USAID/Burma U.S. Embassy 110 University Avenue Kamayut Township 11041 Yangon 00000

1800 ET 04/17/2023

Thu Ya Soe 009 9 tysoe@usaid.gov

515-3650

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

PAGE(S)

Elizabeth Colarik

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 _____220_________ calendar days (60 calendar days unless a different period is inserted

ITEM NO. SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

NAME OF OFFEROR OR CONTRACTOR

2 128

CONTINUATION SHEET

REFERENCE NO. OF DOCUMENT BEING CONTINUED PAGE OF

72048223R00002

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

0001 USAID/Burma Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship

Program

OPTIONAL FORM 336 (4-86)

Sponsored by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.110

NSN 7540-01-152-8067

Table of Contents Contents

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B - SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE AND CONTRACT SERVICES

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

B.4 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE

B.5 CONTRACT BUDGET

B.6 INDIRECT COSTS

B.7 REIMBURSABLE COSTS

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 INTRODUCTION

C.2 BACKGROUND

C.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT AND THEORY OF CHANGE

C.4 SCOPE OF WORK

SECTION D – PACKAGING AND MARKING

D.1 AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (JAN 1993)

D.2 BRANDING STRATEGY

D.3 MARKING

SECTION E – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.3 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

SECTION F– DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

F.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

F.2 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

F.3 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

F.4 KEY PERSONNEL

F.5 REPORT FORMATS

F.6 REPORTS AND DELIVERABLES

F.7 CONTRACT MANAGEMENT

F.8 PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

SECTION G– CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

G.1 TECHNICAL DIRECTION AND DESIGNATION OF RESPONSIBLE USAID OFFICIALS

G.2 CONTRACTING OFFICER'S AUTHORITY

G.4 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

G.5 TECHNICAL DIRECTIONS/RELATIONSHIP WITH USAID

G.6 PAYMENT AND INVOICES

G.7 ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

G.8 CONTRACTOR’S PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT

SECTION H– SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

H.1 CONTRACTOR’S STAFF SUPPORT AND ADMINISTRATIVE AND LOGISTICS

ARRANGEMENTS

H.2 AUTHORIZED GEOGRAPHIC CODE

H.3 SUBMISSION OF DATASETS TO THE DEVELOPMENT DATA LIBRARY (DDL) ADS

302.3.5.21 (OCTOBER 2014)

H.4 ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS SYSTEM (JULY 2014)

H.5 PROHIBITION OF ASSISTANCE TO DRUG TRAFFICKERS (22 CFR Part 140)

H.6 GRANTS UNDER CONTRACT (GUC)

H.7 AUTHORIZED WORK WEEK

H.8 EXECUTIVE ORDER ON TERRORISM FINANCING

H.9 FOREIGN GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS TO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES (JAN

2002) 55

H.10 CONSENT TO SUBCONTRACT

H.11 SUBCONTRACTING PLAN REPORT FOR INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS AND SUMMARY

CONTRACTING REPORT

H.12 USAID-FINANCED THIRD-PARTY WEB SITES (NOVEMBER 2017)

H.13 LIMITATION ON ACQUISITION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (APRIL 2018)

(DEVIATION NO. M/OAA-DEV-FAR-20-3c and M/OAA-DEV-AIDAR-20-2c) (APRIL 2020)

H.14 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

H.15 EXCHANGE VISITORS AND TRAINING

H.16 PERSONNEL COMPENSATION

H.17 BURMA SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: SANCTIONS IN BURMA AND PRIOR APPROVAL

REQUIREMENT (DECEMBER 2017)

H.18 DIGITAL SECURITY (SEPTEMBER 2022)

PART II – CONTRACT CLAUSES

SECTION I – CONTRACT CLAUSES

I.1 NOTICE LISTING CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

I.2 FAR 52.204-21 BASIC SAFEGUARDING OF COVERED CONTRACTOR INFORMATION

SYSTEMS (NOV 2021)

I.3 FAR 52.222-2 PAYMENT FOR OVERTIME PREMIUMS (JUL1990)

I.4 FAR 52.222-35 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR VETERANS (JUN 2020)

I.5 FAR 52.222-36 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES (JUN 2020)

I.6 FAR 52.223.99 ENSURING ADEQUATE COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR FEDERAL

CONTRACTORS (OCT 2021) (DEVIATION #M/OAA-DEV-FAR-22-01c)

I.7 FAR 52.247-67 SUBMISSION OF TRANSPORTATION DOCUMENTS FOR AUDIT (FEB

2006) 71

I.8 FAR 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

I.9 AIDAR 752.229-71 REPORTING OF FOREIGN TAXES (JULY 2007)

I.10 AIDAR 752.245-70 GOVERNMENT PROPERTY—USAID REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

(OCT 2017)

I.11 AIDAR 752.252-2 AIDAR CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (MAR 2015)

I.12 AIDAR 752.7003 DOCUMENTATION FOR PAYMENT (NOV 1998)

PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS, AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS

SECTION J – LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

SECTION K – REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

K.1 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

K.2 FAR 52.204-3 TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION (OCT 1998)

K.3 FAR 52.204-8 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS (DEC 2022)

K.4 FAR 52.204-20 PREDECESSOR OF OFFEROR (AUG 2020)

K.5 FAR 52.204-24 REPRESENTATION REGARDING CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS

AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT (NOV 2021)

K.6 FAR 52.204-26 COVERED TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT OR SERVICES-

REPRESENTATION (OCT 2020)

K.7 FAR 52.209-5 CERTIFICATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (AUG 2020) . 88

K.8 FAR 52.209-7 INFORMATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (OCT 2018) .. 89

K.9 FAR 52.209-11 REPRESENTATION BY CORPORATIONS REGARDING DELINQUENT TAX

LIABILITY OR A FELONY CONVICTION UNDER ANY FEDERAL LAW (FEB 2016)

K.10 FAR 52.209-12 CERTIFICATION REGARDING TAX MATTERS (OCT 2020)

K.11 FAR 52.209-13 VIOLATION OF ARMS CONTROL TREATIES OR AGREEMENTS-

CERTIFICATION (NOV 2021)

K.12 FAR 52.215-6 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE (OCT 1997)

K.13 FAR 52.219-1 SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM REPRESENTATIONS (OCT 2022)

K.14 FAR 52.222-22 PREVIOUS CONTRACTS AND COMPLIANCE REPORTS (FEB 1999)

K.15 FAR 52.222-25 AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COMPLIANCE (APR 1984)

K.16 FAR 52.225-2 BUY AMERICAN CERTIFICATE (FEB 2021)

K.17 FAR 52.230-1 COST ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOTICES AND CERTIFICATION (JUN

2020) 98

K.18 FAR 52.230-7 PROPOSAL DISCLOSURE—COST ACCOUNTING PRACTICE CHANGES

(APR 2005)

K.19 AGREEMENT ON, OR EXCEPTIONS TO, TERMS AND CONDITIONS

K.20 AUTHORIZED NEGOTIATORS

K.21 SIGNATURE

SECTION L– INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

L.1 NOTICE LISTING CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

L.2 52.216-1 TYPE OF CONTRACT (APR 1984)

L.3 52.233-2 SERVICE OF PROTEST (SEP 2006)

L.4 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

L.5 DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

L.6 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

L.7 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COST PROPOSAL

L.8 WAIVERS UNDER FAR PART 4.2101 PROHIBITION ON COVERED

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT (DEC

2021)) 122

SECTION M– EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

M.1 GENERAL INFORMATION

M.2 METHOD OF EVALUATION

M.3 TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B - SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of the USAID/Burma Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program Activity is to support current and future community leaders of Burma, particularly those from vulnerable groups, to gain access to quality higher education (HE) learning opportunities by offering regional and local HE scholarships and a variety of higher education opportunities via multi-modalities that strengthen the HE landscape. This contract will provide technical assistance and other services as described in detail in Section C for the Activity’s implementation.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE AND CONTRACT SERVICES

This is a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) completion type contract. For the consideration set forth in the contract, the Contractor must perform the services and provide the deliverables or outputs described in Sections C, D, and F in accordance with performance standards specified in Section E.

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

a) The estimated cost for the performance of the work required hereunder, exclusive of fixed fee, is $[TBD]. The fixed fee, if any, is $[TBD]. The total estimated cost-plus fixed fee is $[TBD]. USAID will not pay the Contractor any sum in excess of the total estimated cost.

b) Within the estimated cost-plus fee 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].

c) Funds obligated hereunder are anticipated to be sufficient through [TBD]. Funding for this contract will be on an incremental basis, subject to the availability of funds.

d) The Contractor must not exceed the aforesaid obligated amount unless authorized by the Contracting Officer pursuant to the clause of this contract entitled "Limitation of Funds"

(FAR 52.232-22).

B.4 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE

Pursuant to FAR 16.306(d) Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee Contracts, payment of the fixed fee will be divided between fixed payments for activity deliverables found in Section F.6 (25 percent) and fixed payments based on the completed performance indicators/targets (75 percent) found in the Fixed Fee Schedule below.

[Selected Offeror’s Fixed Fee Schedule to be inserted at time of award.]

All fixed fee payments are subject to the inspection and acceptance by USAID as specified in Section E of the same and in compliance with the terms of this contract. Upon successful completion of a deliverable, the Contractor must provide evidence of its achievement in accordance with performance standards specified in Section E to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). Upon receipt of concurrence by the COR, the Contractor shall submit an invoice for the amount of the fee associated with the deliverable.

In the event of discontinuance of the work in accordance with the clause of the contract entitled FAR 52.249-6 Termination (Cost Reimbursement), the fee must be re-determined by mutual agreement equitably to reflect the reduction in the work actually performed. The amount by which such fee is less than, or exceeds, payments previously made on account of the fee must be paid to, or repaid by the Contractor, as applicable.

Pursuant to FAR 52.216-8 Fixed Fee, after payment of 85 percent of the fixed fee, further payment of the fee will be withheld until a reserve is set aside not to exceed 15 percent of the total fixed fee or $100,000, whichever is less.

B.5 CONTRACT BUDGET

The total cost (including all fees) stated below may not be adjusted without a written modification signed by the Contracting Officer. No amounts in excess of the amounts specified for each line item below shall be billed against the contract:

CLIN Description Amount Direct Costs TBD

Grants Under Contract $8,300,000 Subcontracts TBD Indirect Costs TBD Total Estimated Cost TBD Fixed Fee TBD

Total Estimated Cost plus Fixed Fee TBD

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. Also, the Contractor must not adjust these amounts without a written modification signed by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor must not bill any amounts against this contract in excess of the amounts specified for each line item.

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

c) Without the prior written approval of the Contracting Officer, the Contractor must not exceed the total estimated cost set forth in the budget or the total obligated amount, whichever is less.

B.6 INDIRECT COSTS

Pending establishment of revised provisional or final indirect cost rates, USAID/Burma will reimburse allowable indirect costs on the basis of the following negotiated provisional or predetermined rates and the appropriate bases pursuant to the contractor’s current executed Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA):

● [To Be Determined at Award]

Description Rate Base Type Period Indirect Cost [•]% 1/ 1/ 1/

a) Description or type of rate indicated as a percentage, e.g., G&A

- Base, e.g., Direct Labor for Labor Overhead

- Period, e.g., CY 2018

b) The Contractor will make no change in its established method of classifying or allocating indirect costs without the prior written approval of the Contracting Officer.

c) The Contractor will use the indirect cost recovery rates proposed during negotiations and accepted by the Contracting Officer for the subcontractors that received Contracting Officer consent. The Contractor must not apply different indirect cost recovery rates for the subcontractors without prior written approval of the Contracting Officer.

B.7 REIMBURSABLE COSTS

The U.S. dollar costs allowable will be limited to reasonable, allocable, and necessary costs determined in accordance with FAR 31 (Contract Cost Principles and Procedures), FAR 52.216-7 Allowable Cost and Payment, FAR 52.216-8 Fixed Fee, FAR 52.232-20 Limitation of Cost, FAR 52.232-22, Limitation of Funds, if applicable, and AIDAR 752.7003 Documentation for Payment.

[END OF SECTION B]

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 INTRODUCTION

USAID/Burma’s higher education (HE) programming advances United States Government (USG) strategic objectives to promote inclusive democracy and economic growth by educating, equipping, and preparing Burma’s next generation of leaders. The new Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program (referred to in this document as “DISP” or “the Activity'') will expand the reach of USAID’s current higher education portfolio in Burma. The purpose of the Activity is to support current and future community leaders of Burma, particularly those from vulnerable groups, to gain access to quality HE learning opportunities by offering regional and local scholarships and a variety of higher education opportunities via multi-modalities that strengthen the HE landscape. The Activity is open to all people, regardless of ethnicity or cultural identity. Participants will earn higher education degrees, receive professional certifications, and/or gain access to contextualized HE curricula through short- and long-term training in Burma or in selected USAID-presence countries in the Asia region (Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand). The Activity will also support students, in Burma or regional countries, to access HE opportunities via in-person, online, or other formats.

USAID strongly believes in providing scholarships throughout the region as a tool to strengthen USG’s presence and collaboration with regional HEIs. Service learning – defined as a teaching and learning strategy that connects academic curriculum to community problem-solving – will be a key cross-cutting Activity intervention.

C.2 BACKGROUND

Higher education context in Burma. In the 2017/2018 academic year, Burma’s higher education system was serving approximately 853,000 students.1 HE has historically been highly centralized in Burma, with little autonomy of higher education institutions (HEIs) in decision-making in the areas of management, curriculum, partnerships, and research. Burma’s 174 HEIs are spread across eight ministries, with the Ministry of Education overseeing 134 of them. In terms of equity, HE has been an eminently urban phenomenon, with most major HEIs in the Yangon and Mandalay regions. While women’s participation in higher education has grown faster than that of men in recent years, great inequities remain between rural and urban populations, and in ethnic areas. Higher education quality has also been a major issue.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on the education sector in Burma. With the exception of a brief reopening of high schools between July and August 2020, public and private schools and HEIs at all levels were closed for the entire 2020/2021 academic year due to COVID-19. The situation for students worsened following the military coup in February 2021. In May 2021, a reported 19,500 higher education staff and 125,900 basic education teachers were suspended from their duties (estimated to be 55 percent and 31 percent of all staff

1 CHINLONE. Myanmar’s Higher Education Reform: Which Way Forward? 2018 https://site.unibo.it/chinlone/it/results/wp1/chinlone_report_web.pdf respectively).2 These conditions have raised serious concerns regarding the structural viability of Burma’s state-run education system and the impact on the rights of children and youth to education in Burma. In the absence of functioning HE services, Burma is at risk of losing the ability to prepare its young people to guide the country’s current and future development.

Current major challenges for HE include:

● Access, retention, and completion: HEIs have experienced low enrollment and attendance rates since the military coup and the regime’s takeover of the country’s 174 HEIs, especially in the most conflict-affected communities. Large numbers of students have discontinued their HE studies. There have also been major disruptions to the labor market due to the compounding factors of COVID and the coup.3 These factors further aggravate the inequitable and low level of participation in higher education due to pre-existing challenges such as limited HE access outside large urban areas, the lack of flexible learning modalities, the cost of HE in both urban and non-urban areas, and the low perceived relevance of degrees offered vis-à-vis the costs and employment opportunities of graduates.

● Quality: The mismatch between socio-economic needs and skills acquired in HEIs is a longstanding challenge. In the past year, new HE services have proliferated in Burma, offering limited online HE and vocational education for youth. However, lack of course accreditation and quality assurance remain challenges for these emerging alternatives.

● Equity: Vulnerable groups -- including learners with disabilities, internally displaced learners, learners from rural or conflictive areas, ethnic and linguistic minorities, and women -- face additional barriers and increased security risks when accessing higher education.

● Additional constraints: HE students in Burma face barriers such as lack of access to documents (e.g., passports and educational transcripts); misplacement or loss of educational documents in transit or on the run; lack of financial resources; devaluation of Burmese local currency; increasing tuition, internet, and data fees; poor electricity service; and limited internet connection.

DISP will exclusively support activities with non-governmental, civil society, private HEIs, and/or other private educational entities (working with organizations outside of Burma could include both public and private institutions). The Activity will not support or work through state-controlled entities inside Burma. While it is widely recognized that there are increasing needs to support the continuity of learning, the complex political and operational environment characterized by an increased politicization of education and a deteriorated security situation makes education partners’ interventions extremely challenging. Creative implementation approaches and operational flexibility will be critical for the success of this activity.

2 https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/more-than-125000-myanmar-teachers-suspended-opposing-coup- 2021-05-23/ 3 https://www.ilo.org/yangon/press/WCMS_835953/lang--en/index.htm https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/more-than-125000-myanmar-teachers-suspended-opposing-coup-2021-05-23/ https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/more-than-125000-myanmar-teachers-suspended-opposing-coup-2021-05-23/ https://www.ilo.org/yangon/press/WCMS_835953/lang--en/index.htm

Alignment with USAID/Burma priorities and the USAID Education Policy. USAID intends to target disempowered, socially excluded, geographically isolated, and economically-marginalized populations in all of its programming in Burma. This DISP Activity aligns with the USAID Education Policy, particularly the following priorities: “Children and youth, particularly the most marginalized and vulnerable, have increased access to education that is safe, relevant, and promotes social well-being” and “Youth gain the skills they need to lead productive lives, gain employment, and positively contribute to society”. The Activity aligns with USAID’s sector-inclusive understanding of a higher education system, commitment to key higher education outcomes, and ways of engaging with higher education to achieve these outcomes as identified in the Higher Education Program Framework. The definitions below are provided to ensure clarity and a common understanding of USAID’s use of higher education terminology:

Higher Education: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the World Bank have adopted “tertiary education” to emphasize the inclusion of a range of both university and non-university institutions (teacher training colleges, community colleges, technical institutes, polytechnics, distance learning programs, and academically linked research centers) within a diversified post-secondary education system. Higher education does not include youth workforce development activities at the pre-tertiary level.

Higher Education Institutions: A higher education institution is an organization that provides educational opportunities that build on secondary education, providing learning activities in specialized fields. It aims at learning at a high level of complexity and specialization. Higher/tertiary education includes what is commonly understood as academic education but also includes advanced vocational or professional education. This may include public or private universities, colleges, community colleges, academically affiliated research institutes, and training institutes, including teacher training institutes.

Relevant USAID/Burma HE programming. Currently, the Lincoln Scholarship Program (LSP) is the Mission’s largest HE activity. USAID/Burma launched the LSP in 2019 to support approximately 130 young leaders from Burma to pursue master’s degrees in the United States.

The scholars are split into five cohorts to begin their U.S. studies in fall 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. The LSP is designed to equip future leaders of Burma with high-quality degrees in areas such as food and nutrition science, agricultural science, natural resources management and environmental studies, business, economics, public health, and finance.

USAID/Burma’s Transparency and Inclusive Growth Activity (TIGA, 2019-2023) is an economic governance reform activity that aims to mitigate the economic causes of conflict and inequality in Burma. TIGA’s work plan was restructured in 2021 to include limited support to the education sector. Planned activities in the coming year that are directly relevant to this Activity include support to private Burmese HEI’s for online education; support to local Burmese https://www.usaid.gov/education/policy https://www.edu-links.org/resources/higher-education-program-framework https://www.iie.org/Programs/USAID-Lincoln-Scholarship-Program universities to conduct HE research; support for education policy development; and education public administration training.4 TIGA also provides grants to local organizations.

C.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT AND THEORY OF CHANGE

Problem Statement Burma’s long-term prospects for inclusive social, economic, health and political reform and realization of a peaceful society are constrained by a shortage of qualified leaders and qualified HEIs. Access to quality higher education is critical for increasing the supply of leaders who will be capable of facing the challenges of their communities with an inclusive approach and leading their communities and country in the larger global landscape. At present, youth face disruptions to the HE system that have arisen as a result of the coup, COVID-19, and ongoing crisis and conflict in the country. There is a need for flexible, inclusive programming that addresses the advanced educational needs of a diverse target population of youth.

Theory of Change USAID believes that where shrinking democratic space has reduced USAID’s scope for working with host governments, leadership training, research exchange, and similar higher education programming prepare the next generation of leaders to pursue open governance and promote scientific research that benefits all population segments.5 In Burma, offering a range of in-person, virtual, and blended study options (including those that do not require travel) will facilitate efforts to reach diverse HE student beneficiaries, particularly the most marginalized and vulnerable. Consulting with beneficiaries to design programs that address their challenges in contextualized ways will facilitate greater access to HE services, as will the tailored design and implementation of safety and security measures, psycho-social support and other critical wrap-around services. Integrating service learning and diversity, equity, and inclusion training requirements into training will provide students with opportunities to practice newly acquired technical, management, and leadership skills. Once in local leadership roles, their knowledge of how to apply these principles in their workplaces and communities will steer Burma on a more inclusive path. Providing a pool of flexible small grant resources will open opportunities for HEIs, NGOs, students, and other stakeholders to fund their self-identified needs. This theory of change assumes that political as well as socioeconomic environments in regional and in-country institutions will continue to be conducive to receiving scholars from Burma. As a result of these efforts taken together, Burma will have a trained cadre of individuals with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to support social and economic reform, and mitigate tension and conflict in the complex Burmese context.

C.3.a Guiding Principles

4 For the DISP Activity, private HEIs are defined as education institutions owned or operated by such entities as private citizens, faith-based organizations, ethnic-based organizations, or NGOs.

5 USAID/Asia Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) USAID: Workforce Development and Primary Education Focus Area Theory of Change. v2 09/30/2022

1) Do No Harm All of USAID’s investments in education should lead to improved well-being and increased learning outcomes for children and youth. USAID’s conflict-sensitive or “do no harm” approach supports programs that are designed and managed with an awareness of how they could affect power dynamics and inter-group relations, particularly important in crisis and conflict situations. Burmese youth have experienced trauma and stress due to the ongoing extreme violence in the country. Physical safety and psycho-social effects of crisis and conflict must be considered when seeking to expand HE access and quality. The Contractor must adapt approaches to a wide variety of local and individual situations and challenges. The Contractor must implement digital security measures to protect activity-related personally identifiable information (PII) and other sensitive information and maintain organizational and staff cybersecurity, including training and provision of secure software and hardware. These measures must adapt to specific programmatic needs and the operating environment context.

If subcontracts are included as part of implementation, the Contractor must include measures to ensure subcontractors maintain or will achieve the appropriate level of digital security for the protection of sensitive activity information, as determined by evaluating risk levels, target vulnerability, and organizational capacity, in coordination with USAID as needed. Minimal standards of digital security to consider include the maintenance of anti-virus software, use of encrypted passwords and communications, enterprise accounts/security-as-a-service, custom network services, mobile device cleaning, locking and other access protections, and as-needed cyber security training. In addition, the Contractor must assist HE students with secure technologies that allow them to securely store academic records, credentials, professional certificates, research, and other important documents. When necessary, the Contractor must assist beneficiaries with reconstruction or evaluation of credentials and will work with host HEIs as needed to advocate for more flexible acceptance of students’ credentials. Specific digital security standards should be discussed and agreed upon among partners with input from USAID and reflected in annual work plans. Additional, detailed guidance and supplementary support documents and tools will be made available to the Contractor by USAID.

2) Flexibility The complexities of crisis and conflict in Burma will require flexible HE approaches tailored to the needs of individual beneficiaries, with community support as an integral element necessary for success. The Contractor must have a management structure that is sufficiently flexible to address shifts in a dynamic operating environment. The underlying assumptions, theories, and methodology that guide strategic planning and design of interventions may change over the expected life of the contract. In such an instance, USAID will work with the Contractor to integrate additional activities, and/or expand program efforts to support HE scholarship and learning opportunities.

3) Localization USAID is committed globally to localization, shifting more leadership, ownership, decision making, and implementation to the local people and institutions who possess the capability, connectedness, and credibility to drive change in their own countries and communities. The implementation of this Activity will be greatly strengthened by drawing upon the expertise of https://www.workwithusaid.org/blog/usaid-s-commitment-to-advancing-localization numerous local NGOs, locally established partners,6 and private HEIs working on the ground in Burma. These organizations are key to understanding and responding to potentially rapidly changing conditions at local levels, and can provide services such as HE courses, bridging programs, language programs, assistance with identifying and supporting beneficiaries, support for service learning, and conducting community and family outreach. USAID’s new Local Capacity Strengthening Policy establishes an Agency-wide vision committing to a set of principles that will guide all relevant USAID humanitarian assistance and development programming. Local-level approaches will be especially important given that travel may be difficult or impossible for the most marginalized and vulnerable HE students. The grants under contract (GUC) mechanism described in Section C.4.4 below is one vehicle for providing flexible, localized support to organizations and individuals seeking to advance the goals of this Activity.

4) Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) The DISP Activity will support the promotion of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) as outlined in EO 13985 USAID Agency Equity Action Plan and the U.S. Department of State and USAID Joint Strategic Plan FY 2022-2026 (March 2022). USAID defines DEIA as follows:

Diversity is the practice of including many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, cultures and beliefs. Equity is the consistent and systematic, fair, just and impartial treatment of all individuals. Inclusion is the recognition, appreciation, and use of the talents and skills of employees of all backgrounds. Accessibility is the design, construction, development and maintenance of facilities, information and communication technology, programs, and services so that all people, including people with disabilities, can fully and independently use them. In USAID HE scholarship programming, the Contractor must intentionally consider DEIA values and include them in each step of activity design, management, and implementation.7 The Contractor must demonstrate how it will adhere to principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in the Activity. UDL is a holistic approach to the design and implementation of educating all students—including marginalized populations such as people from gender and sexual minorities, indigenous populations and students with disabilities—to foster learning outcomes. Intersectionality of potential scholarship recipients should also be considered (e.g., women from rural crisis and conflict areas). Proposals must demonstrate considerations for persons with disabilities, gender equality and women’s empowerment, and crisis and conflict sensitivity. Over the life of the activity, the Contractor must seek to achieve a near 50 percent gender balance of scholarship recipients, and a target of no less than three percent of scholarships benefiting students with disabilities. (These targets apply to overall participation in DISP, not broken down by in-person or virtual modalities.)

5) Private Sector Engagement

6 The USAID New Partnership Initiative defines a locally established partner as “a U.S. or international organization that works through locally led operations and programming models”. See New Partnerships Initiative Standard Practices and Definitions | U.S. Agency for International Development for more information.

7 See Chelabi, Ilham, and Anne Campbell. Intentionally Designing USAID Scholarship Programming for Inclusion:

Guidance Document. United States Agency for International Development (USAID), 2021.

https://www.usaid.gov/local-capacity-strengthening-policy https://www.usaid.gov/local-capacity-strengthening-policy https://www.usaid.gov/document/eo-13985-usaid-agency-equity-action-plan https://www.usaid.gov/results-and-data/planning/joint-strategic-plan/fy-2022-2026 https://www.usaid.gov/results-and-data/planning/joint-strategic-plan/fy-2022-2026 https://lincs.ed.gov/sites/default/files/2_TEAL_UDL.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/npi/npi-key-definitions https://www.usaid.gov/npi/npi-key-definitions https://www.edu-links.org/resources/intentionally-designing-usaid-scholarship-programming-inclusion https://www.edu-links.org/resources/intentionally-designing-usaid-scholarship-programming-inclusion

Private sector engagement (PSE) as a means to address development objectives is central to USAID/Burma. The USAID Private Sector Engagement Policy signals an intentional shift to pursue market-based approaches and investments in USAID programming. DISP Activity PSE may take different forms, from cash and in-kind contributions to corporate philanthropy, corporate social responsibility, shared value and/or high net worth individual contributions.

Through a comprehensive approach, the Contractor must strategically assess the potential for PSE contributions and partnerships that could mobilize resources to expand DISP’s impact. For example, private sector corporations that have withdrawn from Burma as a result of the political situation may be willing to forge partnerships as a way of maintaining a different type of engagement with the country. The Contractor will be responsible for researching potential partners, identifying specific partnership opportunities and any associated challenges, ensuring a common understanding of partnership expectations, and formalizing partnerships through memoranda of understanding or other means. The Contractor will strategically vet partnerships with input from the Mission.

C.4 SCOPE OF WORK

While USAID/Burma’s ongoing Lincoln Scholarship Program will continue sponsoring students to attend U.S. universities, under the new DISP Activity, USAID will expand its investment in Burma’s youth in two ways: (1) by supporting HE scholarships for degree or certificate programs in the Asia region in selected USAID-presence countries (Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand); and (2) by supporting targeted post-secondary vocational or academic courses within Burma or regionally along with funding to strengthen basic education under GUCs. The Activity will follow good practices identified in USAID’s Higher Education Scholarship Toolkit.

C.4.a Activity goal, purpose, and expected outcomes The goal of the Activity is to strengthen the capacity of current and future community leaders of Burma to assist in achieving inclusive social and economic reform that supports the realization of a peaceful and prosperous society.

The purpose of the Activity is to support current and future community leaders of Burma, particularly those from vulnerable groups, to gain access to quality HE learning opportunities by offering regional and local HE scholarships and a variety of higher education opportunities via multi-modalities that strengthen the HE landscape.

The Activity has three expected outcomes:

Outcome 1: Increased number of individuals from disadvantaged and/or under-represented populations and/or geographic areas with safe access to quality short- or long-term HE opportunities in Burma or within the region

Outcome 2: Increased number of individuals completing HE courses or degrees from regional or in-country HEIs https://www.usaid.gov/policy/private-sector-engagement https://www.edu-links.org/resources/higher-education-scholarships-toolkit https://www.edu-links.org/resources/higher-education-scholarships-toolkit

Outcome 3: Increased number of individuals applying newly acquired leadership skills to have an impact on their communities

C.4.b Scholarships USG scholarships and financial assistance for higher education are defined as USG-funded, full or partial financial aid provided for students to further their education. This includes tuition assistance and fee waivers, as well as financial or other support for experiential opportunities such as research assistantships, fellowships, internships, or apprenticeships. This also includes assistance for expenses accrued while furthering one's education such as housing, health insurance, transportation, books, and materials. Under the Activity, USAID will award scholarships for HE students to enroll in regional HEI degree programs, or to access HE courses and programs in Burma or other communities where they reside in the region. These programs can be in-person or virtual, tailored to the needs of the prospective scholar. Due to the nature of funding, all beneficiaries must be graduates of secondary school, or its equivalent. The Contractor must recruit, identify, and place target population members in short- and long-term post-secondary education and training that will enhance and maximize their skills in relevant technical fields. Examples of such training include undergraduate degree programs, graduate degree programs, professional certificate programs, community college programs, post-secondary vocational programs, and pre-academic bridging programs that prepare students for higher education.

The Contractor must encourage flexible, cost-effective options for expanding HE access, hence the emphasis on regional scholarships and programs that can be delivered face-to-face or virtually in Burma or other countries where potential students currently reside. Cost will be a consideration in weighing whether currently existing on-line programs from U.S. or other international HEIs will be supported under DISP. The GUC component (see Section C.4.4 below) may potentially open opportunities for collaboration between U.S. and local or regional HEIs, or NGOs, to develop contextually appropriate, affordable content.

1) Target beneficiaries and fields of study. Target beneficiaries will primarily be youth up to the age of 40 years old. However, because many individuals in Burma have been forced to delay their higher education, older candidates may be considered on a case-by-case basis, especially for students seeking a terminal degree for a discipline or a postdoctoral fellowship. Special emphasis will be placed on promising youth from underserved regions and disadvantaged areas with limited resources. Target groups may include individuals with demonstrated leadership skills and expressed interest from underserved areas and disadvantaged populations; those with leadership and management potential; and/or those who have outdated skills that need retooling to meet the country’s current development challenges. Students currently enrolled in a HEI in the region may apply for scholarships to complete their course of study if they are able to demonstrate financial need and have maintained an appropriate GPA. There are also students who have been unable to complete their HE degree programs in Burma due to the political crisis. These students may need assistance to complete required courses or internships, for example. The Contractor is encouraged to work with such students on a case-by-case basis https://www.edu-links.org/sites/default/files/media/file/PIRS%20ES.2-2%20Scholarships.pdf through partial scholarships for on-line or in-person modalities that will help them complete their degree programs. In addition to covering tuition and living costs of scholars, scholarship funding may include elements designed to make continued study possible under challenging conditions. Examples include providing academic mentoring and tutoring; stipends to assist with data costs; teaching and learning materials and adaptive technologies; or safe and secure cloud-based solutions for educational documents of displaced students.

USAID actively encourages use of a cohort approach for scholarships, assisting students to create networks and bond with each other within the activity timeframe and beyond.8 The Contractor must engage with USAID, and where relevant with potential employers, to determine the needed higher level technical skills in targeted sectors where scholars could occupy leadership positions. Examples of fields of study include, but are not limited to, agriculture, development, economics, education, health, law, human rights, teaching, journalism, and public policy, among others. The thesis/dissertation research areas for masters and PhD students must be related to a development need of Burma and, if possible, be done in collaboration with a local faculty advisor.

At times, USAID/Burma may receive designated resources to support specific sectoral priorities.

For example, the health sector is an area of great need. Ongoing conflict has had a significant impact on health systems in Burma; many people live in areas of…