RFP No. 72048620R00014_USAID RDMA Program Cycle Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Support.pdf

Issuance Date: August 26, 2020 Questions Due Date and Time: September 9, 2020, 04:00 p.m., Bangkok time Closing Date and Time: October 13, 2020, 04:00 p.m., Bangkok time

Subject: Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 72048620R00014 USAID/RDMA Program Cycle Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

(MEL) Support Activity

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Regional Development Mission for Asia (USAID/RDMA) is seeking proposals from U.S. or non-U.S., non-profit or for-profit organizations, in providing Program Cycle Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Support services to USAID Missions and Operating Units (OUs) in the Asia region as described in the attached Request for Proposals (RFP). USAID anticipates the award of up to three (3) seven-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contracts (IDIQ) to small business concerns.

USAID anticipates that the maximum aggregate ordering limitation for the IDIQ contract resulting from this RFP will be $38 million over the period of performance. The maximum aggregate dollar value of task orders awarded to all contractors cannot exceed this Contract ceiling. This ceiling is not subdivided among the number of awardees. There is no guarantee on the number of task orders that the successful contractors will receive or the amount of money beyond the minimum order guarantee set forth in the RFP. The North American Industry classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541990. The authorized geographic code is 937.

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).

Section L of the RFP sets forth all instructions for the preparation and submission of required proposal contents, including critical dates/times for the submission of questions, and the proposal submission closing date and time. Section M states the criteria by which proposals will be evaluated. Oral explanations or instructions given before award of the Contract will not be binding.

This RFP in no way obligates USAID to award a Contract nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost 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.

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. Amendments to solicitations are occasionally issued and will be posted on the same website from which you downloaded the solicitation. USAID advises to regularly check the above website for amendments.

Sincerely, /s/

Gregory Wang Regional Contracting Officer USAID/RDMA, Bangkok, Thailand https://beta.sam.gov/

SOLICITATION, OFFER AND AWARD

1. THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED

ORDER UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700)

RATING PAGE OF PAGES

1 126

2. CONTRACT NUMBER 3. SOLICITATION NUMBER

72048620R000014

4. TYPE OF SOLICITATION

SEALED BID (IFB)

X NEGOTIATED (RFP)

5. DATE ISSUED

08/26/2020

6. REQUISITION/PURCHASE NUMBER

REQ-486-20-000077

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

Regional Office of Acquisition & Assistance Regional Development Mission/Asia Athenee Tower 25th Floor 63 Wireless Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, Thailand 10330

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

SOLICITATION

9. Sealed offers in original and 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 depository located in until local time (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

Suthicha Chussananalin

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

schussananalin@usaid.gov AREA CODE

NUMBER

257-3000

EXT.

11. TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

PART I - THE SCHEDULE PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSES

X A SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM 3 X I CONTRACT CLAUSES 64

X B SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS 5 PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACH.

X C DESCRIPTION/SPECS./WORK STATEMENT 12 X J LIST OF ATTACHMENTS 78

X D PACKAGING AND MARKING 23 PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

X E INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE 24 X K REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND

OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS 79 X F DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE 25

X G CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA 39 X L INSTRS., CONDS., AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS 98

X H SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS 44 X M EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD 109

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 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 price set opposite each item, delivered at the designated point(s), within the time specified in the schedule.

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 AND OPEN COMPETITION:

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

23. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN

(4 copies unless otherwise specified)

ITEM

24. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 7) CODE 25. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY CODE

26. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

William Sedlak

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

Previous edition is unusable STANDARD FORM 33 (Rev. 9-97) Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.214(

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. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 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 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 EXT.

mailto:schussananalin@usaid.gov

CONTENTS

PART I - THE SCHEDULE 5

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS 5

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK 12

SECTION D - PACKAGING AND MARKING 23

SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE 24

SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE 25

SECTION G - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA 39

SECTION H - SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS 44

PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSES 64

SECTION I - CONTRACT CLAUSES 64

PART III – LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS 78

SECTION J – LIST OF ATTACHMENTS 78

PART IV – REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS 79

SECTION K – REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF

THE OFFEROR 79

SECTION L – INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS OR

RESPONDENTS 98

SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD 109

ATTACHMENTS 112

ATTACHMENT J.1: COST/PRICE EVALUATION MATRIX 112

ATTACHMENT J.2: CONTRACTOR PAST PERFORMANCE INFORMATION 116

ATTACHMENT J.3: CERTIFICATION REGARDING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

COMPLIANCE PLAN 117

ATTACHMENT J.4: SF LLL - DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES 118

ATTACHMENT J.5: INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION INFORMATION 119

ATTACHMENT J.6: INSTITUTIONAL AND TECHNICAL CAPABILITY

QUESTIONNAIRE FOR OFFERORS 120

Solicitation No: 72048620R00014 USAID/RDMA Program Cycle Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Support Activity

PART I - THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this Contract is to provide services that fall within the Statement of Work (SOW) specified in Section C of the USAID/RDMA Program Cycle Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Support Activity. USAID Task Order Contracting Officers (TOCOs) will order services through the issuance of task orders (TOs) during the ordering period as specified in Section F of the Contract.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE AND SERVICES

This is an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) type contract. The Government will issue task orders that are either Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) (term or completion) or any Firm-Fixed- Price (FFP) type. The Contractor will furnish the services set forth in task orders at terms consistent with the terms specified in this Contract.

B.3 MINIMUM OBLIGATED AMOUNT

The basic Contract includes an initial obligation of funds in the amount of $25,000 to cover the minimum order guarantee. USAID is required to order, and the Contractor is required to furnish the minimum order amount of services.

Following this initial obligation, individual task orders will obligate funds to cover the work required under that task order.

B.4 MAXIMUM CONTRACT CEILING

This is a multiple award IDIQ Contract with an overall ceiling price of $38,000,000 for USAID/RDMA Program Cycle Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Support Activity.

The maximum aggregate dollar value of task orders must not exceed the contract ceiling. This ceiling is not being subdivided among the number of awardees nor is it being multiplied by the number of awardees.

B.5 FIXED FEE CEILING (For Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee Task Orders Only)

NOTE: The ceiling on fixed fee does not apply to Firm-Fixed-Price Task Orders.

(a) For each CPFF task order issued under this IDIQ, the TOCO and the Contractor agree to negotiate a set dollar amount for fixed fee. In negotiating the fixed dollar amount for fee, the TOCO must consider the policies and factors for establishing fee in FAR 15.404-4 as well as any applicable USAID policy on establishing a fixed-fee amount. In no event may the amount of fixed fee in any individual task order exceed [TBD] percent of the task order’s estimated cost, excluding fee.

This fee ceiling is not applicable to other costs that have a separate fee ceiling established in the Contract. The fixed fee ceiling applies to the prime contract and all cost reimbursement subcontracts.

Fee for Firm-Fixed- Price task order will be negotiated by the TOCO at the time of task order award and is not subject to the fee limitation.

(b) The total estimated Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee for each task order must be negotiated in accordance with the terms of this Contract.

(c) Fixed Fee Payment. For any task order issued under this Contract, at the time of each payment of allowable costs to the Contractor, the USAID paying office ordinarily pays the Contractor a percentage of fixed fee that directly corresponds to the percentage of allowable costs being paid. Two exceptions to paying fixed fee in this manner apply:

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

(2) Because the clauses entitled “Allowable Cost and Payment” (FAR 52.216-7) and “Fixed Fee” (FAR 52.216-8) are incorporated into this Contract, the terms and conditions of these clauses apply.

B.6 CONTRACT LINE ITEMS (CLINs):

0001 IDIQ Minimum Order Guarantee $25,000

B.7 LABOR (For Cost Reimbursement Task Orders Only)

(a) Central management costs will be handled through the following method:

The Contracting Officer has determined that a key (full-time) technical manager is not necessary or required to administer the basic IDIQ. The Contractor will not be authorized to bill USAID for basic IDIQ management.

(b) The work day and work week policies and method of accounting for paid absences including holidays for the Contractor must be in accordance with the Contractor’s organizational policies and acceptable accounting procedures. Compensation of personnel under this Contract or any resulting subcontracts must be in accordance with AIDAR 752.7007 Personnel Compensation (July 2007) (See Section H.).

B.7.1 Unburdened Ceiling Daily Rates (CDRs)

(1) The daily labor rates of a task order must not exceed the ceiling daily rates set forth in the table below.

Each CDR for personnel listed below is “unburdened” and must only include salary costs or consulting rates of the individual providing the services.

The CDRs for employees must not include the following:

● Payroll costs (fringe benefits, Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), allowances, differentials, etc.);

● Indirect Costs applicable to labor; and

● Profit or fee, if any.

The CDRs set forth below are fixed for the contract period and are for a productive eight

(8) hours day, and apply to all subcontractors set forth in clause 52.244-2 in Section I. If a new subcontractor is proposed for a specific task order on other than a fixed-price basis, the CDRs set forth below will apply, and the subcontract is subject to consent by the TOCO in accordance with FAR Part 44.

Actual salaries for all personnel will be negotiated under task orders based on classification of positions, skills and experience, labor market rates, and AIDAR 752.7007 Personnel Compensation; and final approval is provided by the TOCO. The ceiling rates presented below do not constitute approval of salary rates above the Contractor Salary Threshold (CST) (see Automated Directives System (ADS) 302).

No. Labor Category Groupings Unburdened Ceiling

Daily Rate Level I Level II Level III

1 Program Cycle Specialist 2 Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Specialist 3 Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) Specialist

4 Technical Specialist

Note 1: The Unburdened Ceiling Daily Rates apply to all task order(s) that are awarded under this Contract.

Note 2: The Unburdened Ceiling Daily Rates apply to all labor (the prime Contractor, Third Country Nationals (TCNs), Cooperating Country Nationals (CCNs), and consultant salaries).

CCN and TCN labor are also governed by the local compensation plan limitations as further provided in note 3 below.

Note 3: Locally Hired National Personnel or Other Non-U.S. Expatriate Rates --

Salaries for locally-hired personnel and other non-U.S. expatriates under this Contract must be in accordance with AIDAR 752.7007, Personnel Compensation (July 2007), and should be based upon a combination of factors including the prevailing compensation paid to personnel performing comparable work in the cooperating countries and consideration of the individuals’ education and work experience.

Unless otherwise authorized by USAID, the compensation for CCN and TCN labor must not exceed the prevailing compensation paid to personnel performing comparable work in the cooperating countries as determined by USAID and must be paid in the currency of the cooperating countries.

Note 4: The Unburdened Ceiling Daily Rates above do not apply to fixed-price task orders.

Note 5: The CDR table is not considered a comprehensive list of expertise expected to be engaged on task orders. If the required expertise is not captured within the listed labor categories, no CDR will apply and rates will be negotiated based on the position requirements and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the IDIQ and task order.

(2) Definition of labor categories:

1. Program Cycle Specialist:

The Program Cycle Specialist must have knowledge of USAID’s Program Cycle Policy & Guidance and possess skill in applying demonstrated strategies, approaches, and tools/instruments. The Program Cycle Specialist may lead, facilitate, and/or provide discreet support in relation to Strategy, Project, and Activity design and development. This mainly includes but is not limited to support/services on problem and/or stakeholder analyses, development of a theory of change and the logic models that are commonly used at USAID.

Familiarization of USG policies is essential along with effective communication and facilitation skills.

2. Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Specialist:

The M&E Specialist must have appropriate technical knowledge and expertise on M&E and social science research methodologies and application. This will range from a variety of Monitoring (e.g., development/management/use of performance indicators and third-party and/or distanced/virtual monitoring), Evaluation (e.g., performance/impact, formative/summative, ex-post, and developmental evaluations), and/or other types of special studies (e.g., assessment and various types of cost-related analyses or other social science research) to determine outcomes and/or impacts throughout the project/program cycle; and will range from the Mission/Strategy, Project, and Activity levels. S/he should also be familiar with global and regional development indicators/indexes, as well as USAID Evaluation Policy, and USAID Monitoring and Evaluation Toolkits. In addition to leading/serving as a member of a monitoring, evaluation, and/or other types of special study team, s/he will provide inputs into design, work plan, and tool/instrument development of his/her responsible contract requirements. S/he may also be required to deliver various types of services related to M&E/research capacity strengthening that covers a broad range of activities for staff of USAID and/or USAID implementing partners (IPs)/stakeholders as well as organizational and/or program/project M&E system strengthening.

3. Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) Specialist:

The CLA Specialist must possess competence and understanding of USAID’s CLA requirements and guidance. Tasks may include providing technical support on a broad range of CLA, knowledge management (KM), or organizational capacity building tasks such as creating, capturing, organizing, translating, sharing, and/or applying knowledge to develop, refine, and inform USAID strategies, projects, and activities; developing tools to promote institutional KM and strategic learning; building capacity of USAID and its partners/stakeholders for strategic collaboration, and adapting to new learning and changes in context through effective approaches; assessing, evaluating, and analyzing existing KM and learning plan frameworks; facilitating and/or developing mission-wide CLA plan/frameworks;

and providing support to improve integration of learning strategies into the program cycle. The CLA Specialist must be familiar with USAID’s Journey to Self-Reliance (J2SR) Policy and Guidance, local system analysis/local solutions, and internationally-practiced approaches.

4. Technical Specialist:

The Technical Specialist provides specific input to support program cycle, M&E, or CLA activities based on the required relevant area of expertise. This includes being well-versed in best practices as well as new approaches to effectively conducting their work. Illustrative technical areas under this category include, but are not limited to:

● Economics (including digital economy), Trade and Investment, or Private Sector

Engagement

● Health, Population, or Nutrition

● Agriculture or Food Security

● Environmental or Natural Resource Management

● Education, Training, Curriculum Development

● Democracy, Human Rights, Rule of Law, Peace Building, or Conflict Management &

Mitigation

● Social and Behavior Change Communications or Public Relations/Communications

● Vulnerable Populations or Gender & Inclusive Development

(3) Ceiling Daily Rate Levels

Level I

● Up to 5 years relevant experience.

● Relevant education

Level II

● 5-15 years relevant experience.

Level III

● 15 years or more relevant experience

*Language proficiency and any specific regional/national experience will be specified in individual task orders.

B.7.2 Subcontractor Rates

The following provides guidance for various subcontracting arrangements:

(i) The Prime subcontracts with an approved subcontractor

The unburdened CDR’s for the prime contract apply to the subcontractor.

(ii) Prime subcontracts with a new subcontractor and may or may not have a different cost accounting system that only processes fully burdened rates. Further, subcontractors propose rates that are “above” the prime IDIQ rates.

The Prime may then include in its task order proposal, (i) the fully burdened rate proposed to the Prime by the Subcontractor, (ii) allocation of the Prime’s indirect costs in accordance with established accounting practices, and (iii) a reasonable profit. If the rates proposed to USAID, inclusive of the Prime’s allocable indirect costs and a reasonable profit are above the Prime’s unburdened CDRs , the Prime must disclose the amount of the indirect costs, and the amount of the proposed profit that were added to the subcontractor’s proposed rates.

A reasonable profit will be negotiated by the TOCO for the specific TO. The CDRs of the subcontractor must not exceed the prime’s CDRs in the IDIQ contract.

B.8 LABOR (UNBURDENED CDR) RATE CHANGES

The labor ceiling rates are fixed for all contract years; however, the Contractor may submit a proposal reducing the labor rates and/or indirect rates at any time during the life of this Contract.

The Government will review these proposals and determine if the revised rates are realistic and in the best interests of the Government. If the rates are accepted, the Government will modify the Contract by incorporating the new rates into the Contract.

B.9 INDIRECT COSTS AND ADVANCED UNDERSTANDING ON CEILINGS

The contract clause entitled “Allowable Cost and Payment (AUG 2018)”, FAR Subpart 52.216-7, specifies that the indirect cost rates must be established for each of the contractor’s accounting periods which apply to this Contract. Pending establishment of revised provisional or final indirect cost rates, allowable indirect costs will be reimbursed on the basis of the following negotiated provisional or predetermined rates and the appropriate bases and the appropriate bases for prime contractors and their major subcontractors.

Contractor Fringe Rate %

Overhead Rate %

Overhead Ceiling Rate%

G&A Rate %

G&A Ceiling Rate

PRIME (Insert Name) Base of Application Source: (insert)

Period: (insert)

SUBCONTRACTOR(S)

(Insert Name)

Base of Application Source: (insert) Period: (insert)

NOTE

1: Insert additional indirect rates as needed in the above table. The un-shaded columns in the indirect cost table are the current approved indirect cost rates for the prime and major subcontractor(s).

The Contractor must make no change in its established method of classifying or allocating indirect costs that impacts this Contract without the prior written approval of the IDIQ Contracting Officer.

2: Reimbursement for indirect costs must be at final negotiated rates, but not in excess of ceiling rates specified above.

The Government must not be obligated to pay any additional amount associated with indirect costs above the ceiling rates established in the contract. This advance understanding must not change any monetary ceiling, cost limitation, or obligation established in the contract.

3: For fixed-price task orders, the overhead ceilings serve as a basis for negotiation only.

4: Contractors are allowed to recoup indirect costs (Overhead, G&A, etc.) as other direct costs if it is part of the contractor’s usual accounting procedures, consistent with FAR Part 31 and the contractor’s Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA).

[END OF SECTION B]

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this Contract is to provide services that fall within the Scope of Work (SOW) specified in Section C for “USAID/RDMA Program Cycle Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Support”. USAID TOCOs will request the work through the issuance of task orders during the ordering period as specified in Section F of the Contract.

The overall purpose of this Contract is to support USAID Missions/Operating Units (OUs) in Asia and their partners/stakeholders to be more efficient, effective, and transparent in achieving and reporting results through the use of empirical data/information, strategic collaboration, and adaptive management. By providing technical and/or support services to USAID Missions/OUs, their IPs, and key stakeholders throughout the Asia Region, it is anticipated that this Contract will assist USAID to strengthen development programming, accelerate monitoring and evaluation (M&E) quality and standards, as well as foster collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) and knowledge management (KM) through a participatory process to support stronger capturing of results and relevant empirical data to improve evidence-based decision making. This, in turn, will promote more effective use of the Agency’s development assistance resources and provide greater transparency.

Specifically, this Contract will support the implementation of the U.S. Government’s and USAID’s current priorities such as the Indo-Pacific Strategy and the Journey to Self-Reliance, as well as future priorities that may arise during the life of the Contract, in relation to the design, M&E, CLA, KM, and dissemination of results and learning at all levels of missions’/OUs’ program cycle.

C.2 BACKGROUND

The Asia region is home to over half of the world’s population; of the world’s 30 largest cities, 21 are in Asia. While still poor, Asia should remain the fastest growing region in the world for the next decade. Stretching from the Central Asian Republics through the population-dense countries of South Asia across the dynamic countries of Southeast Asia to the expansive stretch of the Pacific Islands, the region has become a key driver of global politics and economies, and is closely tied to U.S. security and prosperity. While much of Asia has experienced robust economic growth, the region continues to grapple with large pockets of poverty, malnutrition, food insecurity, gender inequality, environmental degradation, and fragile governance institutions/states. Trans-border threats such as climate change, human trafficking, and pandemic diseases are increasingly affecting regional and global health and security.

USAID partners with bilateral and regional Asian governments, business sectors, civil society, and non-profit organizations to tackle these challenges. By harnessing the innovation and expertise that exists throughout the region, USAID and its partners work to create a healthier, safer, and more inclusive and prosperous future for the people of Asia and the United States. Within the “Asia-Pacific Region,” USAID operates 23 bilateral programs in Asia (with or without a presence of USAID Mission in the country) including: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. In addition, USAID operates several regional platforms that address critical and trans-boundary development challenges while providing technical and operational services to bilateral programs in the region through three regional missions/office including: Central Asia Programs in Central Asia Region under USAID/Central Asia Regional Mission in Kazakhstan; programs cover 11 countries in the Pacific islands managed by USAID/Philippines’s Pacific Islands Office based in Papua New Guinea; and programs across “Asia-Pacific Region” operated by USAID/Regional Development Mission for Asia (RDMA) located in Thailand. In addition, USAID/RDMA manages the Bangkok-based Asia Regional Training Center (ARTC) and serves as a strategic learning platform by convening development stakeholders from the Asia region and beyond to share and disseminate state-of-the-art development findings and practices. USAID/India and USAID/RDMA also serve as a hub to support the implementation of the Indo-Pacific Strategy in the South and Southeast Asia sub-regions.

USAID programs/activities throughout the region primarily focus on improving environmental and natural resources conditions; promoting democratic governance and education; supporting trade, agriculture, and economic reforms; promoting an integrated Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) community; increasing effective responses to infectious diseases; managing humanitarian assistance for vulnerable populations; mitigating the impact of natural and human-made disasters; strengthening local system especially local capacity and commitment/ownership to local development; promoting gender equality and female empowerment as well as inclusive development, PSE, and other cross-cutting issues.

In order to more effectively measure and strengthen the impact of U.S. development assistance, USAID seeks to enhance the design, M&E, CLA, and KM capacity of its staff, IPs, and stakeholders in the region. All Missions/OUs in the Asia region support the implementation of Indo-Pacific Strategy and Journey to Self-Reliance through a managing for results approach characterized by defining realistic expected results, monitoring progress toward achievement, measuring impact, integrating lessons learned into management decisions, and reporting on performance.

C.3 OBJECTIVE

This is a demand-driven contract and specific requirements will be detailed in each TO. The IDIQ provides the overall scope of the Contract and standard provisions that govern all TOs issued under the IDIQ.

The Contractor must provide technical support and/or services on relevant components of USAID program cycle. This includes support to the robust design, M&E, CLA, and KM at all levels from a Mission’s Strategy to Project and Activity. Overall, the ultimate expected results of this Contract are to strengthen USAID’s program cycle systems in the Asia region and to enhance the capacity of local/regional entities in order to improve accountability and the use of empirical evidence for programming, learning, and adaptive management. The four key objectives of this Contract are described below:

1. To provide a broad range of technical support/services to USAID, IPs, and other relevant stakeholders throughout the program cycle elements focusing on the design and M&E of Strategy, Project, and Activity;

2. To provide innovative CLA, KM, and advisory services to USAID, IPs, and other relevant stakeholders to inform decision-making in order to strengthen development programming as well as to capture and maximize the use of results for adaptive management during the course of Strategy/Project/Activity implementation;

3. To strengthen, reinforce, and expand the capacity of USAID on the design, M&E, CLA, and KM at all levels of the program cycle; and

4. To strengthen capacities of IPs and other relevant stakeholders to foster local/regional sustainability as part of the Journey to Self-Reliance.

C.4 STATEMENT OF WORK

The ability to engage across all technical and support offices at USAID Missions/OUs throughout Asia, including IPs and other stakeholders to ensure that the support/services are inclusive, participatory, and utilization-focused, is critical for the success of this Contract.

The Contractor must provide direct services and operational support to fulfill all requirements of the base IDIQ and potential TOs as illustrated below. When implementing the services/support, the Contractor must take into account USAID program cycle and other relevant principles and requirements. In addition to sector-specific expertise, the Contractor must provide support/ services that reflect the most recent and innovative techniques and approaches.

C.4.1 Management of the Base IDIQ Contract

The Contractor must manage the base IDIQ and TOs through the following tasks:

1. Establishing a variety of mechanisms to recruit qualified experts and firms/organizations/ institutions with expertise in USAID’s programmatic areas in Asia such as health, economic growth, governance, environment, vulnerable populations, gender and inclusive development, and priority policies and cross-cutting approaches. The sourcing of regional and national expertise, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness of expertise provided, must be prioritized;

2. Managing the solicitation, screening, scheduling, and deployment processes for the support/ services tasked under TOs, and ensuring the quality and timeliness of the support/services delivered;

3. Developing and regularly updating deliverables such as the number and types of TOs, their status, as well as the types of support/services provided;

4. Providing oversight for all support/services delivered under this Contract; and

5. Consulting with the IDIQ’s COR to share challenges faced and ways to mitigate them, as well as reporting progress and results of support/services under this Contract.

C.4.2 Expected Task Order Services

The following tasks are examples of the range of possible services required in this IDIQ. It is important to note that these do not cover the full range of support services required under this IDIQ’s objectives and that some of the examples listed below are interlinked and/or partially overlapping. It is also important to note that most, if not all, of the expected support services will be centered around supporting Missions/OUs in Asia to contribute to the goals of the Indo-Pacific Strategy and Journey to Self-Reliance.

1. Technical Assistance in the Design and M&E of USAID Strategy, Project, and/or Activity (Objective 1)

a) Providing support/services on the Strategy, Project, and/or Activity design. This may include a range of tasks such as:

i. Conduct a desk review and/or field assessment to identify relevant data/ information as an input to the design process. This may include support on producing an evidence library/catalog;

ii. Conduct in-depth analysis, data synthesis, and/or statistical modelling (e.g., futures analysis and trends analysis) of key development outcomes;

iii. Design, prepare, and facilitate consultations among relevant partners/ stakeholders;

iv. Design, prepare, and facilitate workshops needed for the design, e.g., problem and/or stakeholder analysis, a theory of change and/or logic model development, etc.; and

v. Assist in the development of Mission-Wide Performance Management Plans1

(PMP) and MEL plans at Project/Activity levels. This may also include assisting in the selection and/or development of appropriate indicators, as well as the collection, verification, and analysis of PMP data especially those obtained from sources other than USAID-funded Activities.

b) Providing support/services on monitoring of the Strategy, Project, and/or Activity.

This may include a range of tasks such as:

i. Assist USAID staff to prepare for Mission-wide portfolio reviews by aggregating data as required;

1 A tool to plan and manage the process of monitoring strategic progress, project performance, programmatic assumptions, operational context;

evaluating performance and impact; and learning from evidence and adapting mission’s Strategy, Projects, and/or Activities to ensure effectiveness. It serves as an umbrella framework for MEL plan designed for Project and/or Activity levels. (Adapted from ADS 201.3.2.14)

ii. Map USAID interventions through the use of Geographic Positioning System

(GPS) coordinates and cataloguing relevant data such as Activity name and type, IP name, brief Activity description, beneficiaries, etc.;

iii. Support and/or establish a Geographical Information System (GIS) that will collect, input, store, and manage key M&E and other related data;

iv. Support data preparation/cleaning to prepare for data migration to the Mission’s and/or the Agency-wide Management Information System (MIS), such as the Development Information Solution (DIS);

v. Collect baseline data and develop protocols for consistent and ongoing quality data collection by IPs under USAID guidance;

vi. Conduct field monitoring visits in those instances when USAID staff are unable due to political, logistical, or security barriers;

vii. Support other monitoring efforts led by USAID staff such as Data Quality

Assessments, as required and deemed appropriate; and

viii. Support missions to develop complexity-aware M&E systems that allow for adaptive management.

c) Full implementation of high quality and timely special studies of all types. This may include a range of special studies at Strategy, Project, and/or Activity levels such as:

i. Performance evaluations that may involve a variety of common approaches (e.g., a mixed method or household/population-based survey), unconventional methods (e.g., a developmental evaluation or outcome harvesting); and at different time frames (e.g., at baseline/mid-term/endline of a Project/Activity);

ii. Impact evaluations which may include experimental or quasi-experimental design, and may also include qualitative data; and

iii. Various types of research, analysis, and/or assessments on sector-specific and/or cross-cutting issues such as desk research/literature review, situation analysis, formative assessment, feasibility study, GIS or other types of mapping, gender and/or inclusiveness analysis, youth analysis, cost-benefit and/or cost-effectiveness analysis.

2. CLA, KM, and Advisory Support/Services at Strategy, Project, and/or

Activity Level (Objective 2)

a) Organize and/or facilitate innovative learning platforms and activities to facilitate knowledge sharing and management such as Evidence/Learning Summits, Symposia, and learning activities among USAID, sector experts, government/non-government representatives, other donor agencies, and other relevant individuals/entities to co-design new Strategy/Project/Activity and/or to take stock of the existing ones. This may also include documenting and making available in useful form analytic results, notes, decisions made, or other types of knowledge, as well as dissemination of results following the learning engagement;

b) Facilitate the development and implementation of organizational and technical learning agendas for USAID Missions/OUs/Offices to align policies, practices, and processes with learning and adaptation. This may include assisting in analyzing and collecting additional and/or alternative evidence to support tailoring the Journey to Self-Reliance metrics relevant to Asian country(ies) as required as well as support Missions/OUs on unpacking and answering the learning questions of the Journey to Self-Reliance, the design and implementation of CLA activities (also the development/selection of indicators to measure CLA and adaptive management) to track, evaluate, and/or review the progress of USAID Missions/OUs/Offices toward achieving Development Objectives and Intermediate Results as measured by indicators in the Results Frameworks and PMPs/MEL Plans, and recommending revisions of the Results Frameworks and/or the PMPs/MEL Plans as appropriate;

c) Assist USAID to conduct comprehensive reviews of MEL findings and disseminating key evaluation findings and recommendations, good practices, and lessons learned across Missions/OUs and beyond through traditional and innovative means;

d) Support the systematic use of empirical data derived from M&E and CLA efforts to assist USAID to modify current Strategies/Projects/Activities or to develop new Strategies/Projects/Activities as deemed appropriate. This may also include the utilization of a MIS/GIS platform for data management and use; and

e) Support the collection of information that will lead to a better understanding of challenges and opportunities across USAID portfolios, as well as cross-cutting program areas. This may include compiling findings and recommendations on key priority areas;

identifying common trends/issues; and supporting Missions/OUs in incorporating the knowledge into their works.

3. Building, Reinforcing, and Expanding the Design, M&E, CLA, and KM

Capacities of USAID (Objective 3)

a) Deploy relevant experts to support the Missions/OUs by developing high quality tools/materials/products that will serve as solid examples for future application and adaptation, and/or systems/protocols/procedures that ensure self- reliance after the completion of deployment, while filling critical gaps;

b) Provide expert advice/support on organizational Design & MEL system strengthening to ensure capacity and commitment for sustainability;

c) Design and conduct various types/approaches for capacity strengthening on topics related to design, M&E, CLA, and KM at Strategy, Project, and/or Activity level for staff at USAID Missions/OUs. This may include formal/informal training, workshop, mentoring, coaching, and/or other forms of capacity building as deemed appropriate;

and

d) Design and/or convene/facilitate a M&E, CLA, or MEL Community of Practice or working group to share and encourage good practices.

4. Strengthening Capacities of IPs and other Relevant Stakeholders (Objective 4)

a) Provide expert advice/support on organizational MEL System strengthening to ensure MEL capacity and commitment for sustainability;

b) Provide expert advice/support on MEL Plan development and implementation. This may include advising/supporting MEL questions/agenda, development/selection of quality indicators, design of monitoring tools and procedures, design/develop concepts for evaluation and/or other types of research, support and/or lead internal/hybrid evaluation teams to bolster the capacity of IPs/stakeholders, and support the incorporation of M&E learning into portfolio reviews as well as any course corrections/adaptive management; and

c) Design and conduct various types/approaches for capacity strengthening on topics related to design, M&E, CLA, and KM at Activity level for USAID’s IPs/ stakeholders.

This may include formal/informal training, workshops, mentoring, coaching, and/or other forms of capacity building as deemed appropriate.

Notes:

I) This could be accomplished through a formal partnership with the IP/stakeholder or as a third party’s technical assistance to the IP/stakeholder or other relationships as deemed appropriate by the ordering Missions/OUs.

II) The Contractor must not serve a dual role for internal and external M&E of the same Activity.

C.4.3 Other Requirements

All of the work performed under this Contract must comply with USAID Policies and Automated Directive System (ADS). Given the varying needs of and internal processes and approaches employed by each USAID Mission/OU in Asia, additional specific requirements may be detailed in each TO. The description below does not intend to provide an exhaustive list but rather the ones that will be applied more frequently according to the anticipated support/services under this Contract.

1. USAID’s Automated Directives System (ADS) and Its Mandatory References related to USAID Program Cycle

This largely includes the 200 and 300 series of the ADS2. Of which, the following current ADSs are anticipated to be applied in most, if not all, support/ services to be delivered under this Contract.

● ADS 200 (Development Policy)

● ADS 201 (Program Cycle Operational Policy)

● ADS 205 (Integrating Gender Equality and Female Empowerment in USAID’s

Program Cycle)

● ADS 253 (Participant Training for Capacity Development)

● ADS 302 (USAID Direct Contracting)

● ADS 318 (Intellectual Property Rights)

● ADS 320 (Branding and Marking)

● ADS 540 (USAID Development Experience Information)

● ADS 579 (USAID Development Data)

2. Other Relevant Policies and Guidance related to USAID Program Cycle

This mainly includes USAID’s and international standards for M&E and research ethics and those related to the key cross-cutting issues. The following USAID policies and guidance are likely to be generally applied for tasks under this Contract.

● USAID Evaluation Policy3

● USAID Scientific Research Policy4

● USAID Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Principles5 and Policy6

● USAID Inclusive Development7

● USAID Youth in Development Policy8

● USAID Private Sector Engagement Policy9

● Complexity-Aware M&E

● USAID New Partnership Initiative10

3. Appropriate Use of Innovative, Creative, and State-of-the-Art Tools and Methods

While balancing the needs and available resources, as appropriate and to the largest extent possible, the Contractor must maximize utilization of the most efficient and accessible

2 https://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/agency-policy/about-ads 3 https://www.usaid.gov/evaluation/policy 4 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/15396/USAID%20Scientific%20Research%20Policy%2012- 3-14.pdf 5 https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/gender-equality-and-womens-empowerment 6 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/GenderEqualityPolicy_0.pdf 7 https://usaidlearninglab.org/library/suggested-approaches-integrating-inclusive-development-across-program-cycle-and-mission 8 https://www.usaid.gov/policy/youth 9 https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/private-sector-engagement/policy 10 https://www.usaid.gov/npi/npi-key-definitions https://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/agency-policy/about-ads https://www.usaid.gov/evaluation/policy https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/15396/USAID%20Scientific%20Research%20Policy%2012-3-14.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/15396/USAID%20Scientific%20Research%20Policy%2012-3-14.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/gender-equality-and-womens-empowerment https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/GenderEqualityPolicy_0.pdf https://usaidlearninglab.org/library/suggested-approaches-integrating-inclusive-development-across-program-cycle-and-mission https://usaidlearninglab.org/library/suggested-approaches-integrating-inclusive-development-across-program-cycle-and-mission https://www.usaid.gov/policy/youth https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/private-sector-engagement/policy https://www.usaid.gov/npi/npi-key-definitions technologies that go beyond conventional/convenient methods during any stages of activities during implementation of the IDIQ and all TOs, as well as support sustainability of the efforts.

The Contractor must also reflect cutting-edge development theories, practices, and tools for Strategy/Project/Activity design, M&E, and CLA at all stages from their design, planning, and implementation and share these innovations with USAID, IPs, and relevant stakeholders.

Methodologies applied for activities must be state-of-the-art and reflect the most current best practices.

Unless otherwise specified in each TO, all special studies (evaluations and other types) performed by the Contractor must follow internationally recognized standard and ethical practices in developing and conducting research. In particular, the Contractor must ensure that informed consents and personally identifiable information of all informants/ respondents/participants are appropriately obtained, collected, stored, safeguarded, and redacted in accordance with international standards. The Contractor must also follow the research requirements and protocols set forth by the host governments, in consultation with ordering USAID Missions/OUs. In addition, the studies must use a mixed method, data be triangulated and substantiated, and triangulated results clearly presented in the reports or other forms of products.

C.4.4 Management Modality and Coordination

The Contractor must establish a variety of effective means/mechanisms to recruit qualified individual and organizational experts and must manage the entire Contract including staffing, costs, schedules, and control of quality standards of all tasks and assignments undertaken to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of all tasks. Implementation of the base Contract and TOs is to be managed by a relevant team(s) of the Contractor, in close consultation with the IDIQ’s COR and/or the TOCORs from respective Missions/OUs/Offices. The Contractor may subcontract specialized services as necessary.

For all TOs, the Contractor must recruit and deploy specialized technical and/or support staff, as outlined in the TOs. Priority must be given to local/regional specialists or subcontracts with local/regional organizations with appropriate expertise in order to benefit from: 1) better access to local communities in the region; 2) improved validity and reliability of relevant assignments as international experts may lack the knowledge on local/regional contexts; 3) language skills; and

4) culturally appropriate approaches in implementing relevant activities. It is envisioned that the engagement of local/regional personnel will help strengthen local/regional capacity on Project/Activity design, M&E, research, CLA, and KM. It is strongly desired that local field personnel (e.g. field monitors and surveyors) come directly from the respective geographical regions, while means/mechanisms to mitigate conflict of interest are in place and applied.

The Contractor will work in close collaboration with USAID/RDMA, particularly the IDIQ COR and the Customer Experience Team who facilitates RDMA’s services provision to client Missions/OUs in the Asia region, to proactively engage potential client Missions/OUs. The Contractor must also work in close consultation with relevant office(s) at the client Missions/ OUs on each TO. A collaborative working relationship among the Contractor, relevant USAID staff, and/or IPs/stakeholders is highly expected from this Contract. The Contractor should work with relevant staff at Missions/OUs to ensure participation by national/regional counterparts and other stakeholders--both people and institutions--and also including beneficiaries, during each assignment as appropriate under guidance of relevant CORs/COs. Specific coordinating activities, in addition to the above, will be identified in the individual TOs. The Contractor should collaborate with other organizations/agencies/firms providing services to relevant USAID Missions/OUs in the Region to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of the support/services.