RFP_ProgramCycleSupport_72044024R00002.pdf

Request for Proposals (RFP) No: 72044024R00002 Issue Date: March 08, 2024 Questions Due Date: March 20, 2024 at 5:00pm (EST) Proposal Submission Due Date: April 22, 2024 at 5:00pm (EST)

Subject: Request for Proposal (RFP) Number 72044024R00002 - USAID Program Cycle

Support

To Small Business Offerors:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Mission in Vietnam (USAID/Vietnam), is soliciting proposals from qualified US small business offerors interested in providing the services described in the attached solicitation.

In accordance with FAR Part 19.5, this acquisition is a total small business set aside for the US small business only.

USAID/Vietnam anticipates awarding a cost plus fixed fee term type contract with a period of performance of five (5) years, subject to the availability of funds. In order to understand the magnitude of USAID’s requirement, the Government estimates 33,251 days level of effort. The principal geographic code for this contract is 937 and the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541611.

Please refer to Section L of the RFP for information regarding proposal requirements.

Offerors should take into account the expected delivery time required by the proposal transmission, and they are responsible for ensuring proposals are received at USAID by the due date and time stipulated above. Proposals must be submitted electronically via e-mail on or before the due dates stipulated above, to Bryan Moody at bmoody@usaid.gov and Huyen Dang at hdang@usaid.gov and must conform to all requirements outlined in the solicitation. If proposals are received after the closing date and time, or if it is incomplete, it will not be accepted nor considered unless authorized by the Contracting Officer pursuant to FAR 15.208.

USAID reserves the right to award the contract subject to availability of funds. This solicitation 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 the proposal.

This RFP can be viewed and downloaded from https://sam.gov. USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes. Further, please be aware that 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.

USAID appreciates the time and effort put into preparing proposals in response to this solicitation.

mailto:bmoody@usaid.gov mailto:hdang@usaid.gov

RFP No. 72044024R00002 USAID/Vietnam Program Cycle Support

Sincerely, /s/

Bryan Moody Contracting Officer USAID/Vietnam

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION A – SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

SF-33

Table of Contents

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION A – SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

SF-33

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 CONTRACT BUDGET

B.5 INDIRECT COST

B.6 ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING ON CEILING INDIRECT COST RATES AND FINAL REIMBURSEMENT

FOR INDIRECT COSTS

B.7 COST REIMBURSABLE

B.8 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE

B.9 MULTI YEAR CONTRACT

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

SECTION D – BRANDING AND MARKING

D.1 MARKING AND BRANDING STRATEGY

D.2 AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (JAN 1993)

D.3 BRANDING POLICY

D.4 BRANDING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND MARKING PLAN

SECTION E – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

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. LEVEL OF EFFORT

F.5. CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT REPORTING SYSTEM

F.6. AUTHORIZED WORK WEEK

F.7. REPORTS AND DELIVERABLES

F.8. KEY PERSONNEL

SECTION G – CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

G.1 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S AUTHORITY

G.2 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

G.3 AIDAR 752.7003 DOCUMENTATION FOR PAYMENT (NOV 1998)

G.4 PAYING OFFICE

G.5 ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

G.6 TECHNICAL DIRECTIONS/RELATIONSHIP WITH USAID

G.7 CONTRACTOR’S PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT

G.8 CONTRACTOR’S PAYMENT ADDRESS

SECTION H – SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

H.1 AUTHORIZED GEOGRAPHIC CODE

H.2 LOGISTIC SUPPORT

H.3 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

H.4 ADS 302.3.5.19 USAID-FINANCED THIRD PARTY WEB SITES (NOV 2017)

H.5 ADS 302.3.5.21 SUBMISSION OF DATASETS TO THE DEVELOPMENT DATA LIBRARY (DDL) (OCT 2014)

H.6 ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS SYSTEM (AUG 2014) (PEB 2014-06)

H.7 PROHIBITION OF ASSISTANCE TO DRUG TRAFFICKERS

H.8 AIDAR 752.228-3 WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE (DEFENSE BASE ACT) (DBA) (DEC

1991) [(DEVIATION JUN 2022)]

H.9 LIMITATION ON ACQUISITION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (APRIL 2018) (DEVIATION NOS.

M-OAA-DEV-FAR-22-03C AND M-OAA-DEV-AIDAR-22-06C)

H.10 AIDAR 752.222-70 USAID DISABILITY POLICY (DEC 2004)

H.11 DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

H.12 RESTRICTIONS AGAINST DISCLOSURE (MAY 2016)

H.13 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST (OCI)

H.14 AIDAR 752.7007 PERSONNEL COMPENSATION (JUL 2007)

H.15 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONNEL COMPENSATION

H.16 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED FACILITIES OR PROPERTY

H.17 LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

H.18 CONSENT TO SUBCONTRACT

H.19 FOREIGN GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS TO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

H.20 EXECUTIVE ORDERS ON TERRORISM FINANCING

H.21 AIDAR 752.7032 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL APPROVAL AND NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS (APR

2014)

H.22 BUSINESS CLASS TRAVEL

H.23 752.231-72 CONFERENCE PLANNING AND REQUIRED APPROVAL (JUL 2023)

H.24 COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 508 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973, AS AMENDED

H.25 GEOGRAPHIC DATA

H.26 EXCHANGE VISITORS AND TRAINING

H.27 SEXUAL MISCONDUCT (DECEMBER 2020)

H.28 FAR PART 4.21 PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING FOR CERTAIN COVERED

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT (SECTION 889)

(JUNE 2023)

H.29 LIMITING PLASTIC POLLUTION AND MISMANAGED WASTE (MAR 2020)

PART II – CONTRACT CLAUSES

SECTION I

I.1. FAR 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

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

I.3. FAR 52.204-1 APPROVAL OF CONTRACT (DEC 1989)

I.4. LIMITATION ON SUBCONTRACTING (SEP 2021) [DEVIATION #: M/OAA-DEV-FAR-23-04C]

I.5. FAR 52.243-7 NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES (JAN 2017)

I.6. FAR 52.247-67 SUBMISSION OF TRANSPORTATION DOCUMENTS FOR AUDIT (FEB 2006)

I.7. AIDAR 752.229-71 REPORTING OF FOREIGN TAXES (JUL 2023)

I.8. AIDAR 752.245-70 GOVERNMENT PROPERTY—USAID REPORTING REQUIREMENTS (OCTOBER

2017)

I.9. AIDAR 752.7101 VOLUNTARY POPULATION PLANNING ACTIVITIES (JUNE 2008)

I.10. FAR 52.217-8 OPTION TO EXTEND SERVICES (NOV 1999)

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 PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

K.2. FAR 52.204-8 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS (MAR 2023)

K.3. FAR 52.204-24 REPRESENTATION REGARDING CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO

SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT (NOV 2021)

K.4. FAR 52.204-26 COVERED TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT OR SERVICES-

REPRESENTATION (OCT 2020)

K.5. FAR 52.209-7 INFORMATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (OCT 2018)

K.6. FAR 52.209-12 CERTIFICATION REGARDING TAX MATTERS (OCT 2020)

K.7. FAR 52.209-13 VIOLATION OF ARMS CONTROL TREATIES OR AGREEMENTS – CERTIFICATION

(NOV 2021)

K.8. FAR 52.222.56 CERTIFICATION REGARDING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS COMPLIANCE PLAN (OCT

2020)

K.9. FAR 52.230-1 COST ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOTICES AND CERTIFICATION (JUN 2020)

K.10. FAR 52.230-7 PROPOSAL DISCLOSURE—COST ACCOUNTING PRACTICE CHANGES (APR 2005)

K.11. INSURANCE—IMMUNITY FROM TORT LIABILITY

K.12. AUTHORIZED NEGOTIATORS

K.13. SIGNATURE

SECTION L – INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFEROR

L.1 FAR 52.252-1 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

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

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

L.4 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFEROR

L.5 PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

L.6 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

L.7 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE BUSINESS PROPOSAL

L.8 WAIVERS UNDER FAR PART 4.2101 PROHIBITION ON COVERED TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND

VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT (JUNE 2023)

SECTION M – EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

M.1 GENERAL INFORMATION

M.2 TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA

M.3 COST PROPOSAL EVALUATION

M.4 DETERMINATION OF COMPETITIVE RANGE

M.5 SOURCE SELECTION

SECTION B – SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is to provide technical assistance and other services as described in detail in Section C for the implementation of USAID/Vietnam’s program entitled “USAID Program Cycle Support.”

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE AND CONTRACT SERVICES

This is a cost plus fixed fee term type contract. For the consideration set forth below, the Contractor must provide the level of effort (LOE) specified.

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, if any, is $TBD. The fixed fee for the contract period, if any, is $TBD. The estimated cost plus fixed fee, if any, is $TBD.

b) Within the estimated cost plus fixed fee (if any) specified in paragraph (a) above, the amount currently obligated and available for reimbursement of allowable costs incurred by the Contractor (any payment of fee, if any) for performance hereunder is $TBD. The Contractor must not exceed the aforesaid obligated amount, nor will the U.S. Government be responsible for costs incurred should the Contractor do so.

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.

B.4 CONTRACT BUDGET

a) The contract budget found herein is based on the Contractor’s original proposal and/or final proposal revision, which was accepted by USAID through award of this contract.

b) The following itemized budget sets forth the estimates for individual line items of cost:

Cost Category Total

1) Direct Costs TBD

2) Indirect Costs TBD

Total Estimated Cost TBD Fixed Fee TBD Total Estimated Cost Plus Fixed Fee TBD

These amounts may not be adjusted without a written modification signed by the Contracting Officer. The contractor will not bill any amounts against this contract in excess of the amounts specified for each line item as illustrated above.

B.5 INDIRECT COST

Pending establishment of revised provisional or final indirect cost rates, allowable indirect costs must be reimbursed on the basis of the following negotiated provisional or predetermined rates and the appropriate bases:

Description Rate Base Type Period

TBD % 1/ 1/ 1/

1/ Base of Application:

Type of Rate:

Period:

B.6 ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING ON CEILING INDIRECT COST RATES AND FINAL

REIMBURSEMENT FOR INDIRECT COSTS

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

b) Reimbursement for indirect costs must be at the lower of the negotiated final (or predetermined) rates or the following ceiling rates:

Description FY 24 FY 25 FY 26 FY 27 FY 28 FY 29

TBD % % % % % %

c) The Government will not be obligated to pay any additional amount should the final indirect cost rates exceed the negotiated ceiling rates. If the final indirect cost rates are less than the negotiated ceiling rates, the negotiated rates will be reduced to conform to the lower rates.

d) This advance understanding must not change any monetary ceiling, obligation, or specific cost allowance or disallowance. Any changes in classifying or allocating indirect costs require the prior written approval of the Contracting Officer.

B.7 COST REIMBURSABLE

The U.S. dollar costs allowable will be limited to reasonable, allocable, and necessary costs determined in accordance with FAR § 52.216-7, “Allowable Cost and Payment,” FAR § 52.232-20, “Limitation of Cost,” and FAR § 52.232-22, “Limitation of Funds,” if applicable, and AIDAR 752.7003, “Documentation for Payment.”

B.8 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE

USAID will pay a proportion of the Contractor’s fixed fee pursuant to FAR § 52.216-8, “Fixed Fee,” upon the receipt of an invoice deemed proper by the USAID Financial Management Office. Payment of fixed fee shall be allocated based upon the proportion of the level of effort (LOE) specified in Section F.4 that was provided by the Contractor in the period covered by the invoice. In the event that the Contractor does not provide the total LOE stipulated in Section F.4, the total amount of fixed fee will be reduced in similar proportion.

In accordance with FAR 52-216-8, Fixed Fee, the CO will withhold 15% of the total fee or $100,000, whichever is less until the required awards conditions under the reference clause have been met.

B.9 MULTI YEAR CONTRACT

The contract is subject to the requirements of FAR 17.106. However, this is a Cost-Plus-Fixed Fee term type contract where the Contractor is authorized to be reimbursed for all costs which are allowable in accordance with FAR 52.216-7, “Allowable Costs and Payment.”

Therefore, the Contractor will not incur any costs which would have been amortized over the life of the contract should the contract be canceled in accordance with FAR 52.217-2. If cancellation under the clause at 52.217- 2, “Cancellation Under Multi-Year Contracts” occurs, the Contractor will be paid a cancellation charge not over the cancellation ceiling defined as follows:

Cancellation Dates Cancellation Ceiling

Contract Year 1: N/A N/A N/A

Contract Year 2: DATE TBD, [Award year + 1 year] Cancellation Ceiling: TBD

Contract Year 3: DATE TBD, [Award year + 2 year] Cancellation Ceiling: TBD

Contract Year 4: DATE TBD, [Award year + 3 year] Cancellation Ceiling: TBD

[END OF SECTION B]

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 Introduction

Under the USAID/Vietnam Program Cycle Support (PCS) Activity, the Contractor must provide technical and programmatic support services to USAID/Vietnam (used interchangeably from here with “the Mission”) in becoming more efficient, effective, and transparent in achieving program results through the use of evidence, performance management techniques, strengthening capacities of the Mission and its implementing partners, and Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) practices.

C.2 Background

The USAID/Vietnam Mission seeks to implement a robust support mechanism that will increase the effectiveness of development investments across the USAID Program Cycle by tracking performance and adapting our programs, generating evidence, creating a feedback loop, and strengthening partnerships with local stakeholders in order to achieve our Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) development objectives.

In recent decades, Vietnam has undergone a dramatic economic transformation to become a lower middle-income country. However, a variety of challenges continue to undermine the country’s inclusive growth and global integration. The goal of the current 2020-2025 CDCS is to support Vietnam to become a more open, prosperous, and secure country that is effective and inclusive in tackling its own development challenges. Under USAID/Vietnam’s current CDCS, USAID/Vietnam’s programs help facilitate trade and economic development;

promote good governance and higher education reforms; prevent and control infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and pandemic and zoonotic disease; overcome war legacies by remediating dioxin/agent orange, helping identify human remains, and providing support for vulnerable populations; and improve environmental security by promoting biodiversity and clean energy, combating climate change and reducing pollution.

USAID seeks to systematically orient its programming toward building its partner countries’ capacity to plan, finance, and manage their own development. This mandate requires defining clear outcomes for development assistance, routinely measuring and tracking our progress, working with relevant partners to efficiently adapt our programs to reflect new information and findings, and also developing strong partnerships with host country governments and other key stakeholders. The Mission is implementing its 2020-2025 CDCS and needs to continue to closely track progress, adapt our current and future programs, prepare for the next country strategy development and position the Mission and our partners to implement it. This task has become even more significant with the recent diplomatic upgrade to a Strategic Comprehensive Partnership between the U.S. and Vietnam, announced on September 10, 2023 during President Biden’s visit to Vietnam, opening a new chapter of cooperation between the two countries.

USAID/Vietnam awarded a Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and CLA support mechanism “USAID Learns” to Social Impact, Inc for the period of 2019-2024. This Activity aimed to strengthen the use of data at all levels and stages of the USAID Program Cycle in order to support projects and activities in achieving intended results, and building capacity https://www.usaid.gov/vietnam/cdcs on MEL/CLA for both USAID staff and implementing partners (IP). This mechanism has supported USAID/Vietnam and our partners in project and activity management and implementation through training, direct technical assistance on MEL/CLA, sharing lessons learned, and conducting surveys, assessments, and performance evaluations. Building on these successes, the proposed Activity will play an important role in supporting the strategic intent of the current CDCS, as well as in the design and implementation of the next CDCS. It will help all technical and support offices better understand the development environment and adapt our current and future projects and activities to achieve key development results.

C.3 Objectives

The Activity seeks to support USAID/Vietnam staff and partners to become more efficient, effective, and transparent in achieving program results through the use of evidence, performance management techniques, and CLA practices. The Activity will prioritize (1) the core tasks of the Program Cycle, i.e. Design, Performance Tracking, Evaluation, and Research; and (2) capacity building for USAID/Vietnam staff and partners. All of the work to be performed under the contract must be in full compliance with USAID policies and ADS requirements, including but not limited to ADS Series 200 - 205.

The Activity has the following objectives:

1. To support the achievement of program development results through the use of evidence, performance management techniques, and CLA; and,

2. To strengthen USAID/Vietnam staff and partners’ capacity to achieve expected development results.

C.4 Statement of Work

All the Contractor’s interventions/activities must be approved by the Contracting Officer (CO) or Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) via the annual workplan (AWP). The AWP is a living document and can be amended as needed with the approval of the COR. The AWP must outline the implementation process and detail activity schedules, resource requirements, roles and responsibilities, monitoring, reporting and review procedures. Detailed requirements for the AWP are found in Section F. The Contractor must also be able to promptly and effectively respond to perform surge/ ad hoc activities within the scope of this contract upon USAID/Vietnam’s request. When USAID/Vietnam requests these tasks, the Contractor will work with the COR to define the scope of each task, develop a budget associated with it, and determine the requisite LOE. The Contractor must provide services across the two objectives identified in Section C.4.1.

C.4.1 Detailed Requirements

The Contractor must comply with the requirements of the following contract components described below.

Designing Tasks -Many of the contract’s activities will consist of demand-driven discrete activities/assignments including but not limited to, research/evaluations/assessments, consultations, co-creation sessions, workshops, and learning events of which the number and specifications will vary from year to year but will be identified through a regular consultation process with both USAID/Vietnam and its partners. USAID/Vietnam will provide further terms for specific assignments to be carried out under this contract through AWPs.

The AWPs will be considered as a living management document where the Contractor and USAID/Vietnam will regularly (e.g., quarterly) review and agree on what tasks will be continued, added in or removed from the annual work plans.

Responsive Systems - To ensure the effectiveness of the contract, the Contractor needs to create a management system which allows flexibility to rapidly respond to short notice requests from USAID/Vietnam. Given its diverse portfolio, it may take time for the Contractor to understand the context and needs of the Mission. The Contractor also needs to ensure that the ability to engage across all technical and support offices at USAID/Vietnam, including Implementing Partners (IPs) and other stakeholders to ensure that the Contractor’s support/services provided are inclusive, participatory, and utilization focused.

Approaches - When implementing the services/support, the Contractor must take into account the USAID program cycle, and the most updated Agency policies, guidance, and other relevant principles and requirements. In addition to sector-specific expertise, the Contractor must provide support/services that reflect the most recent, effective and innovative techniques and approaches. The Contractor must develop an internal system to keep track of tasks and their progress, the quality of services provided, and pre-identify learning opportunities for continuous performance improvement.

Cost Efficiency - Guidance provided and activities undertaken by the Contractor must take into consideration the need to balance cost and the quality of data to ensure that the services are high enough quality for management needs and that the costs are reasonable and appropriate. The support services provided by the Contractor, such as performance monitoring, must not take the place of performance monitoring conducted by USAID/Vietnam staff or USAID/Vietnam IPs.

Budget Planning - The Contractor must provide forecasts in work and budget plans with breakdown by funding type for each task. Quarterly expenditure reports should follow the budget plan’s structure. Subsequently, the Contractor must set up their accounting system to track the Federal fund types funding each task, and the share of Federal fund types paying for non-task related costs (all other direct and indirect combined). This will enable USAID/Vietnam to attribute costs directly to USAID programs and offices requisitioning and/or benefiting from Contractor assigned tasks.

LOE - It is important to note that the operating environment is dynamic and the types of support services required to achieve the Contract’s objectives may change. The Contractor will work within the available LOE, through work planning, and in concert with the COR, to design, adapt, and complete tasks. The Contractor is also strongly encouraged to offer innovative ideas/services about how to achieve the contract’s objectives.

Objective 1: To support the achievement of program development results through the use of evidence, performance management techniques, and CLA.

The systematic application of knowledge gained from performance monitoring, analysis and evidence is key to supporting a strong learning organization. Over the course of the past years, USAID/Vietnam has made an intentional effort to strengthen its project and activity design process, bring more rigor in the development and use of theories of change, secure commitment and buy-in from local governments and relevant partners, actively supporting partners on MEL plan development and implementation. Through this component, the contractor will support USAID staff to apply a rigorous approach in design, to support USAID staff and its IPs in developing and deploying effective performance monitoring systems, establish learning priorities, support and facilitate learning events, and conduct evaluations and other special studies in support of learning and evidence-based decision-making. The Contractor will also assist the Mission to enhance performance monitoring and the results tracking system in order to ensure that quality data is being developed and used to inform management, learning and decision making.

Examples of the range of possible services required under this Objective include, but not limited to, the following:

Design: Technical support in Design at all levels (Strategy, Project, Activity). Estimated a minimum of 45 design tasks over the life of the contract.

● Conduct and/or support USAID staff to conduct necessary desk reviews, technical briefs, surveys, assessments, analysis (including gender analyses), consultations (including field consultations) with relevant stakeholders at central, provincial and/or lower levels, and local communities to draw relevant information and evidence as an input to the design process at all levels.

● Conduct gender assessments and analyses for specific sectors or activities to assess gaps between men and women in Vietnam, providing recommendations to empower the leadership and expertise of women and girls, and strategies for meeting their needs (this is linked to the evaluation, assessment, and other research services section).

● Support to prepare and facilitate consultations/discussions with relevant stakeholders to define parameters for developing future strategy, projects, and activities, including any support to facilitate theory of change and logic model development.

● Provide support to both USAID staff and relevant government partners to prepare for the project approval process at both project and activity level. Additionally, when requested, the Contractor will draft project documents directly and work with USAID and the GVN managing agency to seek final approval. This requires leveraging local expertise relevant to the type of project approval being sought (Decree 80, Decree 114, etc.), potentially contracting technical expertise of consultant(s), and delivering the final drafts/guidance within the timeframe specified.

Performance tracking: Technical support in MEL system development, implementation, and utilization.

● Assist the Mission staff in reviewing, updating the existing and/or developing a new Mission-Wide Performance Management Plans (PMP). Collect, analyze and report to USAID/Vietnam on contextual data relevant to PMP, Projects, and Activities.

● Support USAID staff, IPs to develop new activity MEL plans, review existing MEL plans on an annual basis at Project/Activity levels. This may also include assisting in the selection, alignment, and/or development of appropriate custom indicators, as well as the collection, verification and analysis of PMP data especially those obtained from sources other than USAID-funded Activities (estimated a minimum of 45 activity MEL plans over the life of the Activity).

● Provide technical support to USAID staff (A/CORs) and IPs to early deploy their MEL systems in accordance with terms and conditions in award documents.

● Regularly review relevant data, documents from all sources, and advise USAID and existing IPs on how to best align select projects’ and activities’ results and MEL activities with those outlined in the USAID/Vietnam CDCS and PMP, and support alignment of existing project and activity MEL plans and logical frameworks with the CDCS and PMP.

The review and support may include data collection methodologies, approaches and other related reporting and analysis documentation for USAID/Vietnam, IPs to ensure results and indicators are aligned with those of the Mission, definitions are clear and harmonized across implementing partners and data reporting formats are standardized to facilitate corrective actions, improve program performance and disseminate success and challenges (estimated a minimum of 20 performance reviews over the life of the Activity).

● Support the Mission and IPs in deploying the Agency-wide performance tracking system, the Development Information Solution (DIS). Support the Mission in developing and maintaining data visualization graphics, including geographic locations (GIS) by regions (with focus on Mekong Delta Region), and provinces to support the Mission’s geographic integration priority that better tell the story of Mission performance and maximize the use of the Agency resources in addressing local needs/priorities.

● Regularly support data quality assurance (including Data quality Assessment) activities, data analysis, and visualization into a format usable for tracking progress toward achieving Development Objectives (DOs) and Intermediate Results (IRs), formal reporting requirements, and to facilitate Mission learning events, such as portfolio reviews, portfolio-related discussions with the GVN, and development and submission of the results reporting documents, such as the annual PPR in order to facilitate sharing of information, foster programmatic adaptive management and improve program performance (estimated a minimum of 40 DQAs over the life of the Activity)

● Assist other monitoring efforts led by USAID staff as requested (e.g., site visits) to observe and report on activities taking place, identify challenges, lessons learned, and recommend possible solutions to identified issues.

Evaluation, Assessment and other Research Services:

This component is made up of two related but different subcomponents: 1) evaluations and

2) assessments, surveys and studies (hereafter referred to as assessment). The Contractor must use a consultative approach for evaluations and assessments. Relevant USAID staff and the Contractor will co-create to identify purposes and develop a detailed statement of work for the evaluation or assessment for the review and approval of a Contracting Officer's

Representatives (COR) and technical office teams. The Contractor must provide technical advice to USAID staff on evaluation/assessment purposes, its design that meets Agency requirements and standards as well as USAID/Vietnam needs and is appropriate given resources limitations and complexity of the environment where project/activity is operating. The evaluation/assessment methodology should result in generating evaluation and assessment results relevant for the purpose and questions posed by the evaluation or assessment. Final evaluation and assessment methodology and approach will be developed jointly by the Contractor and USAID and approved by USAID. Recommendations should be action–oriented, practical for implementation by USAID, IPs and local counterparts.

Evaluations: The objective of this subcomponent is to provide high-quality, transparent, independent, and collaborative evaluation services in compliance with the USAID Evaluation Policy (http://www.usaid.gov/evaluation). The Contractor must implement both performance evaluations and impact evaluations (if any) for USAID projects and activities across the Mission portfolio. The Contractor should use mixed-methods for performance evaluations (PEs), including a range of quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques - such as rigorous sample surveys, focus groups, key informant interviews, direct observation and rapid appraisal approaches

- depending on the needs of each evaluation. They should incorporate statistical tools and approaches during data analysis, and, where appropriate, more innovative techniques(estimated a minimum of 10 performance evaluations over the course of the Activity, no impact evaluation is planned at this time).

Assessments, surveys and studies: In addition to evaluation, the Contractor will be required to conduct other, less formal reviews, such as special studies, performance/management reviews, thematic or sectoral assessments, including mandatory assessments required for CDCS designs. The Contractor may be required to review and analyze particular aspects of progress towards any relevant USAID/Vietnam DO, IRs, Sub-IRs, and sector as directed and guided by the Activity’s COR in order to inform Mission strategic planning, decision making, and project implementation. Specific details on the questions of interest will vary across assessments and studies and will be provided in SOWs developed by the Mission and the Contractor. The Contractor must produce assessment/study final reports that are of high quality, address the purpose and stated assessment/research questions, be based on robust analysis of findings, and have addressed feedback and comments from USAID and relevant partners. (Estimated a minimum of 35 assessments, other research activities, and from 5-10 gender analyses over the course of the Activity).

The specific type and amount of evaluation, assessment and study activities under this contract will vary from year to year and will be agreed upon in annual work plans. In accordance with annual work plans, tasks will include, but not be limited to, the following:

● Work closely with USAID to create an annual plan of USAID-prioritized evaluations, assessments, studies, and other key research or data collection.

● Work closely with USAID, IPs, and relevant local counterparts, local community to co-create and finalize statements of work (SOWs) to ensure SOWs are clear, actionable and http://www.usaid.gov/evaluation meet Agency standards. Develop and conduct high quality and timely evaluation/assessment as per inception reports approved by USAID.

● Develop creative and effective displays of data (such as graphs, charts, and pictorially-based visuals, including data visualization) for a variety of audiences for quick and easy access to key findings and conclusions of evaluations, assessments and studies conducted through the contract. Enhance post-evaluation/assessment utilization by ensuring quality, timely and adequate packaging, sharing and dialogue with relevant partners around results and recommendations from evaluation/assessment conducted under this Activity for future project and activity implementation as well as project design.

Technical support in Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) and Knowledge management and sharing:

USAID is striving to be a learning organization and USAID/Vietnam seeks to institutionalize and improve upon its existing efforts for learning and adaptive management. Strategic collaboration plays a key role in ensuring that the Mission institutionalizes inter-office collaboration practices as the Mission grows, strengthens partnerships and networks with and between implementing partners and local stakeholders (especially local government);

capture, share, and use knowledge for programming and result improvement. With support through this contract, USAID/Vietnam will implement a strategic effort to improve institutional knowledge management, CLA practices across USAID/Vietnam teams, programs, IPs and other stakeholders. The Contractor will also support USAID/Vietnam’s IPs’ adaptive management and implementation processes as they feed into USAID’s programming and support implementation of the current and future CDCS.

The specific CLA activities and Knowledge Management under this Activity will vary from year to year and will be agreed upon in annual work plans (estimated a minimum of 25-30 workshops or learning events over the course of the Activity). Tasks under this component will include, but not be limited to, the following:

● Organize and/or facilitate innovative learning platforms and activities (e.g., learning symposiums, peer-to-peer collaboration and exchange, MEL community of practice…) to facilitate knowledge capture, sharing and management between USAID, IPs, and relevant local stakeholders. This may also include documenting, organizing, and making available in useful form analytic results, notes, decisions made, or other types of knowledge generated from this Activity (e.g., evaluations, assessments, studies, etc…) or other available sources, as well as working with USAID/Vietnam’s Development Outreach Coordinator team, other USAID/Vietnam teams, and IPs to identify success stories, disseminate lessons learned, and develop program learning materials (e.g., videos) to disseminate results for knowledge capture, learning and adaptive management.

● Facilitate the development and implementation of organizational and technical learning agendas for USAID/Vietnam and its partners as defined in the Mission PMP, project/activity MEL plans to align policies, practices, and processes with learning and adaptation. This may include assisting in analyzing existing data and collecting additional and/or alternative evidence to support tracking, evaluating and/or reviewing the progress toward achieving DOs, IRs as measured by appropriate indicators in PMP/MEL Plans, and recommending revisions of the PMPs/MEL Plans as appropriate.

● Support the systematic use of key data derived from MEL system and CLA efforts to assist USAID, IPs, and relevant partners to define strategic vision and programming and/or geographical priorities, review and make necessary adjustments of current projects and activities; utilize lessons learned, best practices, and evidence to support the development of future projects and activities as appropriate.

● Support the collection of thematic information and contextual changes that may lead to a better understanding of local challenges, its priorities, 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.

● Work with USAID/Vietnam’s Development Outreach Coordinator team, other USAID/Vietnam teams, and IPs to identify success stories, disseminate lessons learned, and develop program learning materials (e.g., videos).

● Knowledge capture for departing staff. Support to implement regular feedback loops and surveys to seek USAID staff, IPs, and other stakeholders’ feedback and priorities.

Objective 2: To strengthen USAID/Vietnam staff and partners’ capacity to achieve expected development results.

This is important to note that any proposed activities under this objective will have a mutual link and should be integrated with the activities mentioned under Objective 1. Under this objective, the Contractor is expected to identify needs and priorities of USAID staff and IPs, especially local organizations, and develop an action plan to build the capacity of IPs and USAID/Vietnam staff in implementing the Program Cycle. The purpose of these capacity building efforts is to enable USAID staff and its IPs to deepen their competencies in project/activity management, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) and CLA in order to be able to better adapt strategies, projects and activities to new information and changing circumstances. Once requested, the contractor will also provide short, focused-tailored training and individualized technical assistance on MEL and other performance-related topics to Mission staff. The Contractor’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

● Provide short, on-demand training or coaching sessions tailored to specific USAID/Vietnam staff needs, focusing on MEL/CLA, contextual analysis or system updates, or other performance-related topics.

● Build the capacity of IPs to understand and incorporate MEL/CLA principles and techniques, and other implementation-related topics. Priority will be given to local organizations who have more limited resources of their own for capacity building.

● Provide, as requested, general organizational development and capacity building for current and potential local partners, in support of USAID’s localization agenda.

The specific capacity building interventions under this Activity will vary from year to year and will be agreed upon in annual work plans (estimated a minimum of 20 training events over the life of the Activity). It can complement, but should not duplicate existing capacity building opportunities already provided by the Agency or the Mission. They may include training courses, coaching, mentoring, field-based learning, internships/young professionals development program, and other experiential learning opportunities, all incorporating best practices and principles of adult learning and change management.

Considering the nature of this contract and the expected close level of involvement between the Contractor’s representatives and USAID and it’s expected that a lot of capacity building activities and learning events will be hosted in house at PCS office as appropriate, many of which, especially those targeting USAID/Vietnam staff, involve the participation of the Mission’s staff, within 120 days of contract award, the Contractor must complete the setting up of the PCS office within the distance of 10 minutes of walking from the USAID/Vietnam office at the Tung Shing Building, 2 P. Ngô Quyền, Lý Thái Tổ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam, closer is preferred. The office must be fully accessible by people with disabilities, and have at least 1 meeting space that can hold a minimum of 30 people. The office must be equipped with audio/visual equipment to facilitate both in-person and virtual meetings.

C.4.2 Guiding Principles and Cross-cutting Issues

Gender and Inclusive Development Considerations: The Contractor must integrate gender into the design and implementation of all tasks, fostering an inclusive approach.

Local Capacity Development Considerations: Localization is a top USAID priority. To the extent possible, the Contractor must engage local organizations in performance of this contract. In addition, the Contractor must work closely with a range of local entities, such as subcontractors, academic institutions, think tanks, and government counterparts, with the goal of fostering local expertise and leadership.

Technical Direction and Coordination: The COR at USAID/Vietnam provides oversight and technical direction for this activity, including all required technical approvals as designated by the Contracting Officer (CO). The COR will be assisted in this role by Activity Managers (AMs). The COR must initially approve all activities to begin planning, approve final plans/SOWs, requirements, etc, and then approve final deliverables. AMs are authorized to communicate with the Contractor to flesh out requirements, provide necessary support during task implementation, follow up on drafts and USAID comments, and provide recommendations to the COR for final approvals. AMs are not authorized to direct the Contractor or approve/disapprove any activity/deliverable.

Environmental Compliance and Climate Risk Management: The Contractor must minimize environmental impacts throughout the project implementation. The Contractor must continuously green its operations, reducing carbon footprint and raising public awareness through intentional operational actions and business decisions.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA): The Contractor must incorporate DEIA principles into relevant aspects of their work.

[END OF SECTION C]

SECTION D – BRANDING AND MARKING

D.1 MARKING AND BRANDING STRATEGY

The Contractor shall submit a final branding implementation plan and marking plan no later than 30 days after award. The plan must be in accordance with ADS 320.3.2. The plan must be submitted to the CO for approval.

The Contractor shall comply with the requirements of the policy directives and required procedures outlined in USAID Automated Directive System (ADS) 320.3.2 “Branding and Marking in USAID Direct Contracting” at http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/320.pdf; and USAID “Graphic Standards Manual” available at www.usaid.gov/branding or any successor branding policy.

Anticipated elements of the marking plan: Deliverables to be marked, include products, equipment and inputs delivered; places where program activities are carried out; external public communications, studies, reports, publications and informative and promotional products; and workshops, conferences, fairs, media related activities and any such events.

Publications authored by Contractors or other non-USAID employees must include the following disclaimer on the title page: “The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government.” Threats and restrictions to the security of the program need to be identified and assessed in order to request any necessary exception from the marking requirement in accordance with ADS 320.3.2.

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

D.2 AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (JAN 1993)

a) It is USAID policy that USAID-financed commodities and shipping containers, and project construction sites and other project locations be suitably marked with the USAID emblem. Shipping containers are also to be marked with the last five digits of the USAID financing document number. As a general rule, marking is not required for raw materials shipped in bulk (such as coal, grain, etc.), or for semi-finished products which are not packaged.

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

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

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

D.3 BRANDING POLICY

Branding shall comply with USAID "Graphic Standards Manual" available at http://www.usaid.gov/branding.

Program or Project Name:

How the materials and communications will be positioned:

This program activity will use full branding and the USAID tagline “From the American People” on program materials and communications, which may be translated into local languages as appropriate. Co-branding and no branding will only be considered on a case-by-case basis as considered appropriate by the Contracting Officer (CO) in accordance with ADS 320.

Desired level of visibility: USAID identity must be prominently displayed in commodities of equipment;

infrastructure projects; printed, audio/visual or electronic public communications; studies, reports, publications, websites, and promotional and informational products; and events.

Any other organizations to be acknowledged:

No other organizations are required to be acknowledged

D.4 BRANDING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND MARKING PLAN

The Contractor’s Branding Implementation Plan and Marking Plan, as approved by the Contracting Officer, is hereby incorporated into the contract as Attachment [TBD].

[END OF SECTION D]

http://www.usaid.gov/branding

SECTION E – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

In accordance with FAR "52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE" in Section I of this contract, the following contract clauses are hereby incorporated by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. See http://acquisition.gov/far/index.html and http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf for electronic access to the full text of a clause.

NUMBER TITLE DATE

52.204-14 SERVICE CONTRACT REPORTING

REQUIREMENTS OCT 2016

52.246-5 INSPECTION OF

SERVICES--COST-REIMBURSEMENT APR 1984

E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

USAID inspection and acceptance of services, reports and other required deliverables or outputs shall take place at principal place of performance (Vietnam) or at any other location where the services are performed and reports and deliverables or outputs are produced or submitted. Unless otherwise stated, the designated Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) has been delegated authority to inspect and accept all services, reports and required deliverables or outputs.

[END OF SECTION E]

SECTION F – DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

F.1. NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

In accordance with FAR "52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE" in Section I of this contract, the following contract clauses are hereby incorporated by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. See http://acquisition.gov/far/index.html and http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf for electronic access to the full text of a clause.

NUMBER TITLE DATE

52.242-15 STOP-WORK ORDER AUG 1989

ALTERNATE I APR 1984

F.2. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

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

F.3. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The place of performance is Vietnam.

F.4. LEVEL OF EFFORT

a) The Contractor must provide the following number of days level of effort (LOE). The

Contractor must provide the Level of Effort for all directly charged employee and subcontractor (consultants fall into one of these two categories) labor for the contract period of performance. The level of effort must be organized by labor categories as follows:

Labor Category Total LOE Cooperating country nationals (CCN) 25,011 US Nationals (USN)/ Third Country Nationals (TCN) 8,240 Total LOE 33,251

b) The LOE is inclusive of person-days associated with direct employee,…