20131104_RFP-SOL-486-13-000050_VN_Evaluation _Monitoring _and_Survey_Services.pdf

Issuance Date: November 04, 2013 Closing Date: December 02, 2013 Closing Time: 4:00 P.M., Hanoi, local time

Subject: Request for Proposals (RFP) No. SOL-486-14-000050 USAID/Vietnam Evaluation, Monitoring and Survey Services

To All Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking proposals from qualified organizations interested in providing the services as described in the attached solicitation. USAID plans to award a three-base year Cost plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) completion type contract with a two year option period.

You have received this document through the FedBizOps website. Some of the Attachment / Forms / Appendices/Exhibits in Section J have been supplied to you electronically. Other Attachments/Forms/Appendices/Exhibits, which may not be included electronically in this solicitation, may be found at http://www.USAID.gov or by contacting the person in block 10 on page 1 of the SF 33.

If you have received this RFP electronically, then you must notify the contact person listed in block 10 of the original SF33 of the original RFP by fax or e-mail. As the recipient of this solicitation document, you are responsible for ensuring that you have received it from the Internet in its entirety. 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 Internet site from which you downloaded the solicitation. Generally, the Contracting Officer will send copies of amendments to all those who have sent in the written confirmation of solicitation receipt. However, USAID does not guarantee that an amendment will be issued to you directly based upon written confirmation that you have downloaded the solicitation from the Internet. You are therefore advised to regularly check the FedBizOps website (http://www.fbo.gov/) for amendments.

Please pay careful attention to Section K - Representations, Certifications and Acknowledgements of the accompanying Request for Proposals. Offerors are now expected to comply with FAR clause 52.204-7, System for Award Management, and complete the annual representations and certifications electronically via www.sam.gov.

Offerors must carefully adhere to Section L - Instructions to Offerors and Section M - Evaluation Factors for Award. Sections B through J of the solicitation will become the basis for the contract. Any blanks in Sections B through J will be completed by the Contracting Officer before award.

Questions or requests for clarifications regarding this solicitation must be submitted in writing by email no later than November 15, 2013 at 4.00 pm Bangkok/Hanoi local time to Ms. Karittha Jenchiewchan, Acquisition Specialist at kjenchiewchan@usaid.gov and Javier O. Castano, Contracting Officer at JCastano@usaid.gov.

Issuance of this solicitation does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government, nor does it commit the Government to pay for any costs incurred in the preparation or submission of a proposal.

Furthermore, the Government reserves the right to reject any and all offers, if such action is considered to be in the best interest of the Government.

Explanations or instructions given before the award of the contract will not be binding. Issuance of this solicitation does not obligate USAID to award a contract, nor will USAID pay any costs associated with the preparation or submission of proposals. Furthermore, the Government reserves the right to reject any and all offers, if such action is considered to be in the best interest of the Government. Award of a contract under this RFP is subject to availability of funds and other internal USAID approvals.

Thank you for your interest in USAID activities.

Sincerely, /S/

Javier O. Castano Contracting Officer USAID/Vietnam

1. THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED ORDER RATING PAGE OF PAGES

UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700)

2. CONTRACT NUMBER 3. SOLICITATION NUMBER 4. TYPE OF SOLICITATION 5. DATE ISSUED 6. REQUISITION/PURCHASE NUMBER

SEALED BID (IFB)

NEGOTIATED

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

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

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 handcarried, 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.

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

AREA CODE NUMBER EXT.

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

PART I - THE SCHEDULE PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSES

A SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

I CONTRACT CLAUSES

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

C DESCRIPTION/SPECS./WORK STATEMENT J LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

D PACKAGING AND MARKING PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

E INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

F DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

G CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA L INSTR., CONDS., AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

H SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS M EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

K

REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER

STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

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.

13. DISCOUNT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT 10 CALENDAR DAYS (%) 20 CALENDAR DAYS (%) 30 CALENDAR DAYS (%) CALENDAR DAYS (%)

(See Section I, Clause No. 52-232-8)

14. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF AMENDMENTS AMENDMENT NO. DATE AMENDMENT NO. DATE

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

CODE FACILITY

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

ADDRESS

OF OFFEROR

(Type or print)

15B. TELEPHONE NUMBER 17. SIGNATURE 18. OFFER DATE

AREA CODE NUMBER EXT.

15C. CHECK IF REMITTANCE ADDRESS IS DIFFERENT FROM

ABOVE - ENTER SUCH ADDRESS IN SCHEDULE

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

22. AUTHORITY FOR USING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION: 23. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN ITEM (4 copies unless otherwise specified)

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

24. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 7)

USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia (RDMA) Bangkok, Thailand

25. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BYCODE CODE

26. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print) 27. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 28. AWARD DATE

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

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

(REV. 9-97)

10. FOR INFORMATION CALL:

11. TABLE OF CONTENTS

STANDARD FORM 33

SOLICITATION, OFFER AND AWARD

SOLICITATION

OFFER (Must be fully completed by offeror)

AWARD (To be completed by Government)

1 105N/A

SOL-486-13-000050 November 04, 2013 X

Regional Office of Procurement USAID Regional Development Mission/Asia USAID Box 47, Bangkok

APO AP 96546

Item 7 December 02, 2013 4:00pm Hanoi Time

Mr. Javier O. Castano, Ms. Karittha Jenchiewchan, JCastano@usaid.gov, kjenchiewchan@usaid.gov, See Attached Table of Contents

$0.00

Office of Financial Management

USAID/RDMA

25th Floor Athenee Tower 63 Wireless Road Bangkok, Thailand 10330

Javier O. Castano, Contracting Officer

CONTENTS

PART I - THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE (CPFF)

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE AND SERVICES (CPFF)

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

B.4 BUDGET SCHEDULE

B.5 INDIRECT COSTS (DEC 1997)

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

INDIRECT COSTS

B.7 COST REIMBURSABLE

SECTION C - STATEMENT OF WORK

1. TITLE

2. OBJECTIVE

3. BACKGROUND

4. TASKS

5. GENDER

SECTION D - PACKAGING AND MARKING

D.1 AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (JAN 1993)

D.2 BRANDING POLICY

D.3 REQUIRED BRANDING STRATEGY 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 (CPFF)

F.3 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

F.4 REPORTS AND DELIVERABLES OR OUTPUTS

F.5 KEY PERSONNEL

F.6 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

F.7 AUTHORIZED WORK DAY / WEEK

F.8 AIDAR 752.7005 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE DOCUMENTS (SEP

2013)

SECTION G - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

G.1 AIDAR 752.7003 DOCUMENTATION FOR PAYMENT (NOV 1998)

G.2 ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACTING OFFICE

G.3 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

G.4 TECHNICAL DIRECTIONS/RELATIONSHIP WITH USAID

G.5 PAYING OFFICE

G.6 ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

SECTION H - SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

H.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

H.2 752.225-70 Source and Nationality Requirements (FEB 2012)

H.3 AIDAR 752.7004 EMERGENCY LOCATOR INFORMATION (JUL 1997)

H.4 WORKER'S COMPENSATION INSURANCE (DEFENSE BASE ACT)

H.5 AIDAR 752.228-70 Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) Services (APR 2006) (Pursuant to class deviation OAA-

DEV-2006-1c)

H.6 AUTHORIZED GEOGRAPHIC CODE

H.7 NONEXPENDABLE PROPERTY PURCHASES AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES

H.8 LOGISTIC SUPPORT

H.9 LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

H.10 SUBCONTRACTING PLAN AND THE SF 294 – SUBCONTRACTING REPORT FOR INDIVIDUAL

CONTRACTS AND SF 295 – SUMMARY CONTRACTING REPORT

H.11 EXECUTIVE ORDER ON TERRORISM FINANCING (FEB 2002)

H.12 FOREIGN GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS TO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES (JAN 2002)

H.13 REPORTING OF FOREIGN TAXES (JUL 2007)

H.14 AIDAR 752.7007 PERSONNEL COMPENSATION (JUL 2007)

H.15 HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE-12 (HSPD-12) (SEP 2006)

H.16 SALARY SUPPLEMENTS FOR HOST GOVERNMENT (HG) EMPLOYEES (OCT 1998)

H.17 USAID DISABILITY POLICY - (DEC 2004)

H.18 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

H.19 EXCHANGE VISITORS AND TRAINING

H.20 COMPLIANCE WITH THE TRAFFICKING VICTIMS PROTECTION REAUTHORIZATION ACT

H.21 DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

H.22 NONDISCRIMINATION (JUN 2012)

H.23 USAID-FINANCED THIRD-PARTY WEB SITES (AUG 2013)

H.24 CONFERENCE PLANNING AND REQUIRED APPROVALS (AUG 2013)

H.25 Organizational Conflicts of Interest: PRECLUSION FROM IMPLEMENTATION CONTRACT H.26 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST: PRECLUSION FROM FURNISHING CERTAIN SERVICES

AND RESTRICTION ON USE OF INFORMATION (EVALUATION)

H.27 USAID IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTION 508 OF THE REHABILITAITON ACT OF 1973 AND FEDERAL

ACQUISITION CIRCULAR (FAC) 97-27 “ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

ACCESSBILITY

PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSES

SECTION I - CONTRACT CLAUSES

I.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

I.2 52.204-1 APPROVAL OF CONTRACT (DEC 1989)

I.3 52.227-23 RIGHTS TO PROPOSAL DATA (TECHNICAL) (JUN 1987)

I.4 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

I.5 AIDAR 752.7032 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL APPROVAL AND NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS (JAN

1990) I.6 752.7101 VOLUNTARY POPULATION PLANNING ACTIVITIES (June 2008)

I.7 752.242-70 PERIODIC PROGRESS REPORTS (OCT 2007)

PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS

SECTION J - LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

ATTACHMENT 1: IDENTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL GEOGRAPHIC CODE NUMBER

ATTACHMENT 3: SF LLL - DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES

ATTACHMENT 4: KEY INDIVIDUAL CERTIFICATION NARCOTICS OFFENSES AND DRUG TRAFFICKING .. 77

ATTACHMENT 5: ACRONYMS

ATTACHMENT 6: DRAFT MISSION RESULTS FRAMEWORK

ATTACHMENT 7: ILLUSTRATIVE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT PLAN INDICATORS

ATTACHMENT 8: KEY EVALUATIONS PLANNED

ATTACHMENT 9: CRITERIA TO ENSURE THE QUALITY OF EVALUATION REPORTS

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 52.204-8 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS (JUL 2013)

K.5 52.230-1 COST ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOTICES AND CERTIFICATION (MAY 2012)

K.6 52.230-7 PROPOSAL DISCLOSURE--COST ACCOUNTING PRACTICE CHANGES (APR 2005)

K.7 INSURANCE - IMMUNITY FROM TORT LIABILITY

K.8 52.204-3 TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION (OCT 1998)

K.9 52.227-15 STATEMENT OF LIMITED RIGHTS DATA AND RESTRICTED COMPUTER SOFTWARE (DEC

2007)

K.8 SIGNATURE

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

L.1 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

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

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

L.4 52.252-1 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

L.5 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

L.6 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

L.7 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COST PROPOSAL

SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

M.1 GENERAL INFORMATION

M.2 TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA

M.3 DETERMINATION OF THE COMPETITIVE RANGE AND CONTRACT AWARD

M.4 CONTRACTING WITH SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS

M.5 CONTRACTING WITH U.S SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN THE MENTOR-PROTÉGÉ PROGRAM .. 69

SECTION B

PART I - THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE (CPFF)

The purpose of this contract is to provide services as described in detail in Section C, Statement of Work.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE AND SERVICES (CPFF)

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

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

(a) The estimated cost for the performance of the work required hereunder, exclusive of fixed fee, if any, is To be determined (TBD). The fixed fee is TBD. The estimated cost plus fixed fee is TBD.

The estimated cost for the option period exclusive of fixed fee is TBD. The fixed fee, if any, for the option years is TBD.

The estimated cost plus fixed fee, if any, for the base and option years is TBD.

(b) Within the estimated cost plus fixed fee specified in paragraph (a) above, the amount currently obligated and available for reimbursement of allowable costs incurred by the Contractor (and payment of fee, if any) for performance hereunder is TBD. The Contractor shall not exceed the aforesaid obligated amount unless authorized by the Contracting Officer (CO) pursuant to FAR clause 52.232-22, Limitation of Funds.

(c) Funds obligated hereunder are available during the performance period of this contract and are anticipated to be sufficient for program activities through TBD.

B.4 BUDGET SCHEDULE

(a) Format: to be determined (TBD)

B.5 INDIRECT COSTS (DEC 1997)

The contract clause entitled “Allowable Cost and Payment (MAR 2000)”, FAR 52.216-7, specifies that the indirect cost rates shall be established for each of the Contractor’s accounting periods that apply to this contract. Pending establishment of revised provisional or final indirect cost rates, allowable indirect costs shall be reimbursed on the basis of the following negotiated provisional or predetermined rates and the appropriate bases:

Description Rate Base Type Period

1/ 1/ 1/

[To be determined]

For the Major Subcontractor(s):

Description Rate Base Type Period

1/ 1/ 1/

[To be determined]

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

INDIRECT COSTS

(1) Reimbursement for allowable indirect costs shall be at final negotiated rates but not in excess of the following ceiling rates:

Description Rate Base Type Period

[To be determined]

For the Major Subcontractor(s):

Description Rate Base Type Period

[To be determined]

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

(3) The Government shall not be obligated to pay any additional amount on account of indirect costs above the ceiling rates established in the contract.

(4) This understanding shall not change any monetary ceiling, obligation, cost limitation, or obligation established in the contract.

B.7 COST REIMBURSABLE

The costs allowable shall be limited to reasonable, allocable and necessary costs determined in accordance with FAR 52.216-7, Allowable Cost and Payment, FAR 52.216-8, Fixed Fee, if applicable, and AIDAR 752.7003, Documentation for Payment.

FAR 52.232-20 Limitation of Cost (applies while the contract is fully funded).

FAR 52.232.22 Limitation of Funds (applies while the contract is funded in an amount less than the total estimated cost).

Payment of fixed fee will be made upon receipt of a proper invoice and shall be allocated based upon the proportion of the work performed in the period covered by the invoice. In accordance with FAR 52-216-8, Fixed Fee, the Contracting Officer 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

- End of Section B -

SECTION C - STATEMENT OF WORK

1. TITLE

USAID/Vietnam Evaluation, Monitoring, and Survey Services

2. OBJECTIVE

The objective of this Statement of Work (SOW) is to obtain the technical and consultancy services to design and carry out various evaluations, monitoring surveys, performance management studies, and targeted monitoring and evaluation (M&E) training for partners and Mission staff in support of USAID/Vietnam programs over the course of the next three years, with a possible option period of two years.

3. BACKGROUND

The Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act of 2009 requires objective evaluation of the impact and results of all development and foreign aid programs undertaken by the U.S. Government. Under its new USAID Evaluation Policy, USAID is working to maximize development impact with measurable results and accountability.

Over the past several months, the Mission has undertaken a strenuous effort to analyze the geographic focus of Mission programs and determine a more targeted, strategic approach. The result is a more limited geographic focus which is more likely to achieve maximum impact in target regions. The geographic approaches proposed in this Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) vary for each Development Objective (DO) and Special Objective, given different conditions for work in each area. (See Section J for the Mission’s Draft Results Framework).

In order to ensure that the Mission is advancing towards these goals and understanding the effect activities are having on high level outcomes, the Mission seeks to implement a robust evaluation, monitoring, and survey services mechanism consistent with USAID’s Evaluation Policy (http://www.usaid.gov/evaluation/USAID_Evaluation_Policy.pdf) and the Automated Directives System (ADS) chapter 203 Assessing and Learning (http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/200/203.pdf).

4. TASKS

The Contractor must undertake a broad range of evaluation and monitoring services. This requirement includes designing and implementing quantitative and qualitative independent evaluation studies of development programs in Vietnam as well as providing technical assistance to manage a performance monitoring and evaluation system in the Mission.

The Contractor must provide services including, but not limited to, performance evaluations, impact evaluations, just-in-time progress monitoring services; opinion-based surveys, and other evaluative studies to assist in program design and learning. In particular, the Contractor must evaluate activities to assess the performance and impact of USAID’s development programs, identify lessons learned, and provide recommendations based on evaluation findings for utilization and dissemination. This will include designing evaluation approaches, involving male and female stakeholders in the evaluation planning process, developing evaluation design and gender sensitive data collection methods, defining audiences of the intended users of evaluation and preparing materials for the intended users of the evaluation. The Contractor must conduct evaluations that inform evidence-based decision-making concerning ongoing Mission activities, as well as provide objective analysis of completed programs and activities that can be used to inform future designs.

The Contractor must provide information to inform and respond to the following minimum general evaluation questions:

Performance: Has the implementing partner (IP) achieved set output and outcome level targets?

Impact: What are the impacts (direct and indirect, positive and negative and anticipated and unanticipated) of the activity on beneficiaries, both male and female, communities, civil society, and local, provincial, as well as central government? To what extent and how relevant gaps between male and females were closed? What needs and gender inequalities emerged or remain?

Sustainability: What measures have been taken to ensure the sustainability of results?

Results Management: Are associated development hypothesis and assumptions underlying results framework valid? Is the performance monitoring plan relevant and valid? Does it include specific and relevant gender-sensitive indicators? What needs revision?

At USAID direction, the Contractor must provide M&E services throughout Vietnam with expertise including, but not limited to, the following fields:

Governance, Economics, Health and social services, Climate change and environment, Higher education, and Vulnerable populations

In addition to sector-specific expertise, the Contractor must offer evaluation services that reflect the most recent and innovative techniques and approaches in evaluation design, including rigorous impact evaluation methods.

The Contractor must incorporate program M&E tools to assess progress towards USAID gender equity goals in Mission Activities as noted in the USAID Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policy and ADS 205 on decreasing gender inequality, reducing gender based violence, and promoting female empowerment, which are being integrated in all mission programs and activities.

The Contractor must design and implement a wide range of M&E services as identified by USAID/Vietnam over the course of contract period of performance.

The Contractor must, to the maximum degree possible, involve Vietnam national, provincial, local government, local experts, non-governmental stakeholders, male and female beneficiaries in M&E activities with the aim of using the existing local knowledge about the relevant cultural and contextual factors and developing high quality local M&E capacities and competencies.

The Contractor must maintain a continuous presence in Vietnam through at least one key local M&E expert, with the aim of developing and maintaining contextual knowledge as well as an understanding of ongoing USAID/ Vietnam activities.

The Contractor must also coordinate with other bilateral and multilateral donors involved in M&E to seek out synergies in data collection and analysis, as appropriate.

Evaluations under this SOW must meet the Evaluation Standards issued by the Planning and Performance Management Unit, Office of the Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance on March 25, 2009 and USAID’s Evaluation Policy.

Task 1. Providing Technical Assistance in Implementing Mission’s Performance Management Plan (PMP):

The Contractor will be responsible for supporting USAID/Vietnam in management of the performance management plan covering the CDCS. This may include facilitating Mission and partner meetings to discuss new M&E policies and practices in USAID, providing technical assistance in data quality assessments, and operationalizing indicators by assisting in the formulation of definitions and data collection methods. The Contractor will be engaged in necessary data collection efforts to ensure that high quality and gender sensitive data is presented on all PMP indicators. This may include developing manageable and innovative system to collect data from project-level M&E plans or USAID implementing partners, summarize third-party data, or conduct original data collection efforts with the assistance of a local organization. See Attachment J.7 for a list of illustrative PMP indicators.

Task 2. Performance Evaluations:

The Contractor must conduct performance evaluations during the period of performance of this Contract.

Performance evaluations focus on descriptive and normative questions describing what a particular activity has achieved, including achievement in narrowing gender gaps and in female empowerment, (either at an intermediate point in execution or at the conclusion of an implementation period): how it is being implemented; whether expected results are occurring; how it is perceived and valued including consideration of all significant stakeholders including those in Vietnam; and other questions that are pertinent to program design, management and operational decision making. Performance evaluations incorporate before-after comparisons, but generally lack a rigorously defined counterfactual. See Attachment J.8 for Key Evaluations Planned.

Task 3. Impact Evaluations:

The Contractor must conduct impact evaluations during the period of performance of this Contract. Impact evaluations measure the change in a development outcome that is attributable to a defined intervention or a set of interventions; impact evaluations are based on models of cause and effect and require a credible and rigorously defined counterfactual to control for factors other than the intervention that might account for the observed change.

Impact evaluations in which comparisons are made between beneficiaries, male and female, that are randomly assigned to either a “treatment” or a “control” groups provide the strongest evidence of a relationship between the intervention under study and the outcome measured. This task will include collection of gender sensitive baseline data that will include variables that correspond to key outcomes, developing baseline data collection scenarios (use data from established baselines, conduct baseline surveys, reconstruct data, or use other techniques as appropriate), and advising USAID/Vietnam on setting up precise and measurable indicators of the intended changes. See Attachment J.8 for Key Evaluations Planned.

Task 4. Monitoring Surveys and Indexes:

The Mission will undertake a nationwide public opinion survey in all regions of the country reaching 1,000 respondents yearly that will: 1) build upon earlier surveys to analyze trends in attitudes, both male and female, towards USAID assistance in Vietnam and possibly the region and 2) ask respondents a number of key open and closed questions about development priorities in Vietnam to further inform the implementation of the Mission’s CDCS. The survey will be commissioned locally and will include questions already developed by the Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA) on USAID and U.S. Government recognition in country and additional questions that will give the mission key demographic information, most-used channels of receiving information and news, and perceptions of development issues and the role of USAID as a donor agency in supporting Vietnam’s further development.

The Contractor must design one or more of the following indexes and collect and report annual data:

A resiliency index to assess progress on improving the capacity of target civil society organizations.

An inclusiveness index to assess progress at achieving broader-based economic and social development, including gender equality and female empowerment.

A governance index to assess progress in achieving greater transparency, accountability, and public participation.

The purpose of these surveys and indexes is to track high-level outcomes useful for the PMP and expects that the PMP development stage will be the appropriate opportunity to determine how these surveys will prove useful in tracking higher-level outcomes.

The Contractor must conduct up to three (3) surveys per year.

The Contractor shall follow the standard and ethical practices of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (http://www.aapor.org/Standards_and_Ethics.htm) or another comparable internationally recognized organization in developing and conducting survey work.

The Contractor shall comply with USAID’s Human Subject Protection Policy and other survey-relevant policies, as applicable. Safeguarding the rights and welfare of human subjects involved in the survey research supported by USAID is the responsibility of the Contractor. USAID has adopted the Common Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects, Part 225 of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations (the "Policy").

http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/200/200mbe.pdf.

Task 5. Capacity building on M&E of local partners:

The Contractor must provide one (1) two-day training session per year to USAID partners with the participation of AORs/CORs and selected potential partners in Vietnam to enhance the capacity of these organizations in collecting, analyzing, and reporting on performance management data. In addition, the Contractor must provide dedicated 2-3 day consultations (approximately two per year) to other partners on M&E, to include the Vietnamese Government, upon request.

Task 6. Other Program Design and Learning Activities:

The Contractor must conduct other program design and learning activities, upon the request of the Mission. These activities may include, but are not limited to, up to two assessments per year on a specific subject and to inform the design of a new project or help provide insight into a new development sector. The level of effort and amount of fieldwork required for an assessment shall be significantly less than that required in a performance or impact evaluation.

5. GENDER

As a policy goal for USAID globally, USAID investments in support of gender equality and female empowerment seek to improve the lives of citizens around the world by advancing equality between women and girls and men and boys, and empowering women and girls to participate fully in and benefit from securing better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities. Within this goal, gender equality is the process of being fair to women and men, including measures to compensate for historical and social disadvantages that prevent men and women from operating on level playing fields. It is the state or condition that affords women and men equal enjoyment of human rights, socially valued goods, opportunities and resources.

Activities supported by USAID/Vietnam aim to benefit both men and women and maximize potential benefits for their target populations. USAID/Vietnam has a Special DO which specifically targets gender equality and female empowerment. The Contractor will support the Mission’s efforts to operationalize gender equality and female empowerment throughout its programming, monitoring and evaluation. This will include collaborating Mission staff, Regional Gender Advisor and IPs to identify gender sensitive indicators and incorporate evaluation questions that gauge impacts on men and women. At a minimum, all performance management activities, assessments, surveys, studies, and reports must include gender‐disaggregated data. The Contractor may be asked to support IPs regarding required gender monitoring and reporting, collecting and analyzing sex disaggregated data, and tracking gender indicators related to the Agency’s Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policy. The Contractor will pay attention to—and highlight—gender based constraints and issues in connection to the conduct of all deliverables. For example, the Contractor should highlight gender‐specific issues that arise from the data collection of IPs. The Contractor should inform USAID of such issues and offer corrective measures to be taken to address them. The Contractor will also be expected to adhere to gender principles when constructing its core team as well as in fielding additional short‐term consultants during the life of the contract.

- End of Section C -

SECTION D - PACKAGING AND MARKING

D.1 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.2 BRANDING POLICY

USAID’s mandatory branding/marking requirements are contained in ADS 320 as revised on May 5, 2009. The Contractor can review and download the regulations, guidance, and graphics at www.usaid.gov/branding.

The Contractor shall follow the approved Branding Strategy and Marking Plan submitted on TBD and incorporated into this Contract as Attachment TBD.

D.3 REQUIRED BRANDING STRATEGY AND MARKING PLAN

This branding web page provides guidance for all USAID funded acquisition awards. It contains the electronic version of the Graphic Standards Manual for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This manual is compulsory for all Agency employees and contractors producing communications and program materials funded by USAID. Contractors should download a copy from this site by clicking link on http://www.usaid.gov/branding/acquisition.html

The branding strategy will be in accordance with ADS 320.

- End of Section D -

SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The following contract clauses pertinent to this section are hereby incorporated by reference (by Citation Number, Title, and Date) in accordance with the clause at FAR "52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE" in Section I of this contract. See FAR 52.252-2 for an internet address (if specified) for electronic access to the full text of a clause.

NUMBER TITLE DATE

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (48 CFR Chapter 1)

52.246-5 INSPECTION OF APR 1984

SERVICES--COST-REIMBURSEMENT

E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

USAID inspection and acceptance of services, reports and other required deliverables or outputs shall take place at USAID in Hanoi, Vietnam, or at any other location where the services are performed and reports and deliverables or outputs are produced or submitted. The COR listed in Section G 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

The following contract clauses pertinent to this section are hereby incorporated by reference (by Citation Number, Title, and Date) in accordance with the clause at FAR "52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE" in Section I of this contract. See FAR 52.252-2 for an internet address (if specified) for electronic access to the full text of a clause.

NUMBER TITLE DATE

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (48 CFR Chapter 1)

52.242-15 STOP-WORK ORDER AUG 1989

ALTERNATE I APR 1984

F.2 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE (CPFF)

The period of performance for this contract is three base years o/a 2014 to 2017 with a two year optional performance period o/a 2018 and in 2019.

F.3 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

Evaluation of the Contractor's overall performance will be conducted jointly by the COR and the Contracting Officer, and shall form the basis of the Contractor's permanent performance record with regard to this contract as required by FAR 42.15 and AIDAR 742.15. The following general performance standards will be included in the basis of the performance evaluation:

Quality Schedule Cost control Business relations Management of Key Personnel.

F.4 REPORTS AND DELIVERABLES OR OUTPUTS

In addition to the requirements set forth for submission of reports in AIDAR clause 752.7026, Reports, the Contractor must submit the following deliverables or outputs to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) specified in Section G in the form of written reports.

The cover page of all reports prepared by the contractor, pursuant to AIDAR 752.242.70, shall include a descriptive title, the author's name(s), the activity name, the activity number, the contract number, the contractor's name, the name of the USAID activity office and the COR, and the publication or issuance date of the report.

Each of the reports must be submitted electronically, unless otherwise specified. Electronic versions of the reports should be submitted using Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint software, and at the request of the COR must also be converted and submitted in PDF format. All reports must be written in English (U.S. style) and/or in Vietnamese as specified, and all reports are subject to review and acceptance by the COR.

All activities identified in Section C.4.TASKS must be completed within the period specified above in F.2 Period of Performance, in accordance with the following delivery schedule (Note that this schedule may need to be revised based on anticipated new dates for annual reporting according to USAID’s Operational Plan and Performance Plan and Report processes):

a. Annual Work Plan

The Contractor shall work with the USAID/Vietnam COR to set both analytical and evaluation agendas for the coming year based on the Contract strategy, objectives, and expected results. The work plans shall describe the activities and assignments required to meet the Contract results, including:

a. Proposed core activities for the given year with related timelines with critical performance benchmarks for the responsible parties;

b. Anticipated activities to be accomplished Information on how activities will be implemented in a collaborative and coordinated manner with USAID, IPs, and counterpart organizations;

c. Review previous year’s accomplishments, problems/challenges and ways to address them, and progress toward achieving Contract outputs; and

d. Proposed M&E plan covering a range of M&E system of the Contract from infrastructure, personnel, indicators with baseline and targets, data collection and analysis, and data use.

For the purpose of the Annual Work Plan, “Annual” is defined according to the U.S. Government fiscal year: i.e.

October 1st to September 30th. Within 30 calendar days after award, the Contractor shall submit and finalize, with input from the USAID/Vietnam COR, an Annual Work Plan for the remainder of year one or as advised by the USAID/Vietnam COR. Subsequent full year work plans are due on August 31st. The USAID/Vietnam COR shall approve, in writing, the work plan by September 30th. Any substantial revisions to the work plan shall require the written approval of the USAID/Vietnam COR.

b. Semi-Annual Performance Reports

The Contractor shall submit semi-annual performance reports 30 calendar days after the end of the quarter. Semi-annual performance reports will present progress on all activities and will include the following information, at a minimum:

Brief outline of project purpose and project approach;

Brief description of significant events during the reporting period;

Status of activities of each task as defined in the work plan;

Status of overall project progress per impact indicators as defined in the work plan on a cumulative basis;

List of reports/deliverables completed in the reporting period;

Performance problems during the reporting period;

Status of budget expenditures;

List of major activities planned for next quarter;

Any relevant information that has affected or will affect project progress.

c. Quarterly Financial Reports

The Contractor must also provide the USAID/Vietnam COR a Quarterly Financial Status Report in a useful format to allow an examination of the cost of carrying out major action plan activities. The Contractor must submit quarterly financial reports to USAID within 30 calendar days following the end of each quarter. The reports must be disaggregated at the task area and contain, at a minimum:

Total contract budget;

Total funds awarded (obligated) to date by USAID into the Contract;

Total funds previously reported as expended by Contractor;

Total funds expended in the current quarter by the Contractor;

Total funds expended (actual plus estimated accrued) towards the end of the report period;

Total unliquidated obligations;

Unobligated balance of USAID funds;

Estimated expenditures for remainder of year; and Pipeline analysis.

Financial reports must track budget and expenditure by Task.

The Contractor must submitted an Accrual Report to the COR no later than the 20th of March, June, September and December of each year, covering the period through the end of the reporting quarter.

d. Final Report

The Contractor shall prepare and submit electronically to the COR, no later than the estimated end-date of this contract, a detailed final/completion report which summarizes the accomplishments and impact in relation to the expected results, and recommendations regarding future and unfinished work.

The final/completion report shall also contain an index of all reports and information products produced under this contract. The completion report may provide recommendations for follow-on work that might complement the work completed under the contract. The COR will provide written comments, and the CO may likewise add written comments, which the Contractor will address in revising the draft and submitting a final report.

The Contractor shall submit a detailed final performance and financial report within 90 calendar days after completion of the contract, which will include but not be limited to the following items:

A summary of major findings under by each of the tasks A description of the extent to which in-country M&E capacity has improved as a result of the project Recommendations on ways to further build in-country M&E capacity

e. Deliverables by Tasks

Base Period

Task 1 – Technical Assistance on Annual Mission PMP (at least 3 times) Task 2 – Performance Evaluations (at least 7 evaluations) Task 3 – Impact Evaluations (at least 2 evaluations) Task 4 – Surveys or Indices (at least 9 surveys or indices) Task 5 – M&E Capacity Building (at least 9 training sessions) Task 6 – Other Program Design and Learning Activities: Assessments (at least 6 assessments)

Deliverables Delivery date Task 1 deliverables (annually):

Consultations Annually according to the workplan Performance Management Tool and Database Annually according to the workplan Annual Performance Management and Data Quality Reports Annually each October/November Task 2 deliverables (for each of 7 performance evaluations):

Evaluation Design Within 30 calendar days after notification of evaluation Evaluation Workplan Within 30 calendar days after notification of evaluation Evaluation Briefing TBD according to the workplan Draft Evaluation Report TBD according to the workplan Final Evaluation Report TBD according to the workplan Task 3 deliverables (for each of 2 impact evaluations):

Evaluation Design Within 30 calendar days after notification of evaluation Evaluation Workplan Within 30 calendar days after notification of evaluation Evaluation Briefing TBD according to the workplan Draft Evaluation Report TBD according to the workplan Final Evaluation Report TBD according to the workplan Task 4 deliverables (for each of 9 surveys or indices):

Survey or Index Methodology Within 30 calendar days after notification of evaluation Survey or Index Workplan Within 30 calendar days after notification of evaluation Questionnaires (Surveys only) TBD according to the workplan Pre-survey Focus Groups (Surveys only) TBD according to the workplan Post-survey Focus Groups TBD according to the workplan Topline Report and Dissemination Plan TBD according to the workplan Survey or Index Briefings TBD according to the workplan Draft Survey or Index Reports TBD according to the workplan Final Survey or Index Report TBD according to the workplan

Survey Datasets Within 45 calendar days of the completion of data collection

Task 5 deliverables (for each of 9 training sessions):

Training Syllabus for Training Sessions TBD according to the workplan Participant List TBD according to the workplan Participant Skills and Competencies Pre- and Post-Training TBD according to the workplan Course Reference Materials on CD TBD according to the workplan Task 6 deliverables (for each of 6 assessments):

Assessment Workplan Within 30 calendar days after notification of evaluation Assessment Briefing TBD according to the workplan Draft Assessment Report TBD according to the workplan Final Assessment Report TBD according to the workplan

Two-year Option Period

Task 1 – Technical Assistance on Annual Mission PMP (2 times) Task 2 – Performance Evaluations (at least 3 evaluations) Task 4 – Surveys or Indices (at least 6 surveys or indices) Task 5 – M&E Capacity Building (at least 6 training sessions) Task 6 – Other Program Design and Learning Activities: Assessments (at least 4 assessments)

Deliverables Delivery date Task 1 deliverables (annually):

Consultations TBD according to the workplan Performance Management Tool and Database TBD according to the workplan Annual Performance Management and Data Quality Reports Annually each October/November Task 2 deliverables (for each of 3 performance evaluations):

Evaluation Design Within 30 calendar days after notification of each planned evaluation Evaluation Workplan Within 30 calendar days after notification of each planned evaluation Evaluation Briefing TBD according to the workplan Draft Evaluation Report TBD according to the workplan Final Evaluation Report TBD according to the workplan Task 4 deliverables (for each of 6 surveys or indices):

Survey or Index Methodology Within 30 calendar days after notification of evaluation Survey or Index Workplan Within 30 calendar days after notification of evaluation Questionnaires (Surveys only) TBD according to the workplan Pre-survey Focus Groups (Surveys only) TBD according to the workplan Post-survey Focus Groups (Surveys only) TBD according to the workplan Topline Report and Dissemination Plan within 15 calendar days after a survey or index is completed Survey or Index Briefings TBD according to the workplan Draft Survey or Index Reports TBD according to the workplan Final Survey or Index Report TBD according to the workplan Survey Datasets within 45 calendar days of the completion of data collection Task 5 deliverables (for each of 6 training sessions):

Training Syllabus for Training Sessions TBD according to the workplan Participant List TBD according to the workplan Participant Skills and Competencies Pre- and Post-Training TBD according to the workplan Course Reference Materials on CD TBD according to the workplan Task 6 deliverables (for each of 4 assessments):

Assessment Workplan Within 30 calendar days after notification of evaluation Assessment Briefing TBD according to the workplan Draft Assessment Report TBD according to the workplan Final Assessment Report TBD according to the workplan

Task 1 Deliverables:

1. Consultations. The Contractor must annually organize and facilitate two one-day USAID/Vietnam staff and partner meetings to discuss indicators and targets, developing plans for data quality assessments and assisting in their completion, and operationalizing indicators by assisting in the formulation of definitions and data collection methods.

2. Performance Management Tool and Database. The Contractor must develop gender sensitive Data

Collection Tools and compile PMP indicators in collaboration with USAID/Vietnam staff in a database system, preferably web-based, to store and track indicator data from the Mission, Mission partners, and other sources. This deliverable includes regular maintenance of the database over the period of performance to ensure data quality, as well as handover and training on database usage upon contract completion.

3. Annual Performance Management and Data Quality Reports. The Contractor must submit performance management and data quality reports that analyzes and presents data on all performance indicators included in the Mission PMP. The reports must note trends in the data; determine whether targets have been met; determine whether reported outputs and outcomes are consistent with planned changes identified in the Mission strategy; and, determine if the activities are achieving the intended results. The report must include information on: a) To what extent and how relevant gender gaps were closed?; b) What new opportunities were created for women and men?; c) What differential impacts on males and females were addressed; and, d) What needs and gender inequalities emerged or remain? The Contractor must engage in necessary data collection efforts to ensure that data is presented on all PMP indicators, of good quality, and gender sensitive. This may include collecting data from the data systems and M&E plans of USAID implementing partners, summarizing third-party data, assessing data quality or conducting original data collection efforts.

Task 2 and Task 3 Deliverables:

For each performance and…