ENCL_1_SSA_ICT_DS_SOW_RFQ_PO201611251_SERIES.pdf

SECTION D – ANY CONTRACT DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS OR ATTACHMENTS

D.1 PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

D.1.1. OVERVIEW:

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is a foreign assistance agency that delivers its program commitments through grants and contracts. The projects supported by USTDA activities represent strong and measurable development priorities in the host country and offer opportunities for the sale of U.S. goods and services. Requests for USTDA assistance are made by either public or private sector project sponsors for implementation in developing and middle income countries.

D.1.2. SCOPE OF WORK:

USTDA requires services under this non-personal services Contract to support or improve its decision-making relative to the funding of project planning activities in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector in sub-Saharan Africa. The Contractor shall provide reports to USTDA, which will:

Assess and provide a recommendation on whether or not USTDA should provide funding for proposed feasibility studies, technical assistance, pilot projects, or other project planning activities, hereinafter referred to as “activities;”

Provide supporting analysis for the recommendation in Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation reports that analyze all relevant issues; and

Assess the potential of the ICT sector and sub-sectors in sub-Saharan Africa for U.S.

suppliers of goods and services in Public Market Reports suitable for public distribution.

USTDA intends to contract with a U.S. company (the “Contractor”) to perform a Desk Study Series to review up to twelve (12) preliminary proposals and/or project concepts and complete six (6) Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation reports for USTDA funding requests in the ICT sector in sub-Saharan Africa. For each Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation report the Contractor shall: (1) assess whether or not the request meets USTDA’s basic funding criteria (see Section D.1.2.1); (2) develop and recommend the appropriate Terms of Reference (TOR) for the activity; and (3) develop an appropriate budget for the TOR recommended for the activity. For each Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation report, the Contractor shall also complete prepare a stand-alone Public Market Report that provides current market information about the relevant host country(ies) and sector(s).

D.1.2.1. USTDA Funding Criteria:

The Contractor’s recommendations shall be based upon USTDA funding criteria, which are that the proposed project must: (1) be likely to receive implementation financing, (2) have a procurement process that provides “equal access” to U.S. companies; (3) represent an opportunity for sales of U.S. goods and services that is many times greater than the initial investment of USTDA assistance; (4) be a development priority of the project sponsor and host country where the project is located and have the endorsement of the U.S. Embassy in that host country, and (5) involve U.S. companies that are facing market entry problems and/or strong competition from foreign companies which often receive subsidies and other support from their governments.

The Contractor shall also be required to: (1) perform preliminary assessments of project viability; (2) evaluate project implementation financing; (3) verify U.S. industry competitiveness and assess U.S. export potential: (4) assess foreign competition and market entry issues; (5) perform preliminary assessments of environmental and developmental impacts; (6) perform climate resilience screenings; (7) analyze potential impacts on U.S. labor; and (8) assess U.S.

firm capabilities and qualifications.

D.1.2.2. Climate Resilience Screening:

Per Executive Order (EO) 13677, USTDA is required to consider climate resilience in its international development work. The Agency has determined that in order to be compliant with the EO, climate resilience screenings must be conducted at the project scoping stage for all feasibility studies (FS) and technical assistance (TA) activities. Accordingly, the Contractor shall conduct climate resilience screenings utilizing the guidance provided in Attachment IX.

Categorical exclusions to climate resilience screening include: all Global Procurement Initiative activities, all de minimis training grants, and all International Business Partnership Programs (i.e.

reverse trade missions, conferences, and workshops). Activities that fall into the categorical exclusions do not need to undergo a climate resilience screening.

D.1.2.3. Project Profile:

Sub-Saharan Africa has experienced dramatic increases in mobile and internet connectivity in the past decade. Between 2000 and 2014, mobile phone subscriptions jumped from 11 million to 684 million; 71 percent of the population now has access to a mobile phone. Many banks, governments, and other institutions have seized upon the opportunities presented by mobile penetration into remote areas, developing applications that use cellular networks to extend their services. The significant growth in mobile usage accounted for much of the sustained growth in Africa’s ICT sector throughout the early 2000s, when it registered an annual compounded growth rate of 40 percent.

While internet coverage in sub-Saharan Africa grew from one to 19 percent from 2000 to 2014, slow, expensive connections have prevented the majority of the population from obtaining online access. Coverage varies sharply even between neighboring countries. For example, while Kenya’s internet usage rate is well above the sub-continental average at 43 percent, neighboring Ethiopia has only three internet users per 100 people; Burundi, only one. The recent completion of several submarine data connections in the region is expected to increase capacity and lower costs for access. Combined with steady economic growth and improvements in complementary infrastructure such as electrical supply, many countries in sub-Saharan Africa are well-positioned for sharp increases in internet connectivity. Along with the private sector, governments and financial institutions in the region serve an increasingly connected pool of constituents and clients that are looking to ICT solutions to expand available services and improve internal systems and business processes. USTDA funding for ICT sector activities in sub-Saharan Africa will support the U.S. government’s Global Connect initiative, which seeks to bring 1.5 billion people who lack Internet access online by 2020.

Within the past five years, USTDA has funded several activities in the ICT sector in sub-Saharan Africa, including a feasibility study that evaluated the expansion of a fiber optic cable network from Lagos to Port Harcourt in Nigeria, technical assistance to support the development of plans to update central banking systems in Tanzania and Rwanda, and a feasibility study that evaluated the implementation of a wireless access network for households and businesses in underserved townships in South Africa. USTDA anticipates that proposals reviewed pursuant to this Contract will be in multiple ICT sub-sectors, such as: cable and wireless systems, telephone/cellular, satellite, broadcasting, data accumulation and processing, cybersecurity, emergency communication systems, and others.

D.1.2.3. Methodology:

In the course of carrying out this Desk Study Series, the Contractor must take the following steps:

D.1.2.3.1. Kick-Off Meeting: The Contractor shall arrange a conference call or meeting with the COR to discuss the work plan and expectations for the Contract. USTDA will provide the Contractor with additional guidance on the Agency’s requirements for the preparation of TOR and budgets, climate resilience screenings, and other Agency requirements. The Contractor shall also consult with USTDA's Evaluations Department regarding the drafting of host country development impact measures for the Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation reports (see Attachment I, Section O.6 and Attachment VIII).

D.1.2.3.2. Evaluation of Preliminary Proposals: The Contractor shall assist USTDA in the review of up to twelve (12) preliminary proposals and/or project concepts. The preliminary proposals and concept papers may be in various formats, stages of readiness/completeness, and may originate from foreign public or private sector project sponsors and/or U.S. companies. USTDA will notify the Contractor when a preliminary proposal or project concept is ready for review. To complete the review of each preliminary proposal or project concept, the Contractor shall review the preliminary proposal or project concept and supporting documentation, then arrange a call or meeting with the COR to discuss the proposed activity. Following the discussion with the COR, the Contractor shall contact the project sponsor(s) and relevant third parties, as needed, to discuss the proposed activity and request any additional information necessary to complete an initial evaluation of the preliminary proposal or project concept. Based on the information reviewed in the preliminary proposal or project concept, the discussions with the COR, project sponsor(s) and relevant third parties, and any additional information received, the Contractor shall provide a written statement (“Evaluation Statement”) to USTDA that includes, but is not limited to: (1) a summary of the proposed project and request for USTDA assistance; (2) a high-level assessment of whether or not the proposed project meets USTDA’s basic funding criteria (see Section D.1.2.1); and (3) a recommendation on whether or not USTDA should undertake a full evaluation of the proposed activity, including the identification of any outstanding information, documentation, and/or other criteria that should be met before a full proposal evaluation can proceed.

In the event that the Contractor does not recommend a proposed activity for further consideration or it is not competitive with other proposals under evaluation, the Contractor’s Evaluation Statement shall identify the specific factors leading to this determination. The Contractor’s feedback in the assessment may be used by USTDA to inform the project sponsor(s) of the areas for improvement in their proposals and/or technical factors that may make the proposed activity not suited for further consideration by USTDA.

The Contractor shall provide their Evaluation Statement for each preliminary proposal or project concept to USTDA via email (Microsoft Word file) within one (1) week of receiving the preliminary proposal or project concept from USTDA for review. If it is anticipated that the Evaluation Statement cannot be provided within one (1) week, the Contractor shall immediately contact the COR to note the specific reasons for the delay and establish a new target date for submission of the Evaluation Statement.

D.1.2.3.3. Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation Reports: Upon direction from the COR, the Contractor shall complete six (6) full Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation reports for USTDA funding requests in the ICT sector in sub-Saharan Africa in accordance with the guidelines provided in this Statement of Work and the Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation Outline (Attachment I). The Contractor shall consult with USTDA for further guidance on developing the Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation reports.

Once the COR has indicated that a full Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation report should be completed for a proposed activity, the Contractor shall review the proposal, then arrange a call or meeting with the COR to discuss the proposed activity. Following the discussion with the COR, the Contractor shall contact the project sponsor(s) and relevant third parties, as needed, to discuss the proposed activity and request any additional information, documentation, and/or clarifications necessary to complete the Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation. The Contractor shall provide to USTDA a copy of any such requests or correspondence with the project sponsor(s) and/or third parties.

Based on the Contractor’s review of the proposed activity and any additional information, documentation, and/or clarifications provided by the project sponsor(s) and relevant third parties, the Contractor shall prepare and provide to USTDA a first draft Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation report via email (Microsoft Word/Excel files). The DS Contractor shall provide the first draft Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation report to USTDA within three (3) weeks of receiving direction from USTDA to complete the report.

The first draft report must be clearly marked “First Draft” on the cover. If it is anticipated that the draft cannot be provided within three (3) weeks, the Contractor shall immediately contact the COR to explain the specific reasons for the delay and establish a new target date for submission of the draft report. USTDA will review the first draft Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation report and provide comments.

The Contractor shall provide to USTDA and the project sponsor(s) for review and comment a second draft Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation report that incorporates USTDA’s comments on the first draft Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation report via email (Microsoft Word/Excel files) within one (1) week of receiving USTDA’s comments on the first draft Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation report. The second draft report must be clearly market “Second Draft” on the cover.

The Contractor shall discuss the comments from the project sponsor(s) and any third parties with the COR and, based on that discussion, prepare and provide to USTDA within one (1) week a final Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation report. The Contractor shall also email the final Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation report to the COR (both Microsoft Word/Excel files and a combined PDF file). The final Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation report shall be grammatically correct and free of typographical errors. The Contractor may submit an invoice upon completion of each final Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation report approved by USTDA.

D.1.2.3.4. Public Market Reports: For each of the Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation reports completed by the Contractor, the Contractor shall also prepare a stand-alone Public Market Report that provides current market information about the host country(ies) and sector(s) considered under the Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation report (rather than the project-specific analysis contained in the Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation report). The Public Market Report shall include information gathered and reviewed pursuant to the Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation that will support the capacity of U.S. companies considering the market to assess and pursue export opportunities.

The Contractor shall provide a draft of the Public Market Report to USTDA for comment within one (1) week of receiving USTDA’s approval of the final Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation report. The draft Public Market Report must be clearly marked “Draft” on the cover. If it is anticipated that the draft Public Market Report cannot be provided within one (1) week of receiving USTDA’s approval of the final Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation report, the Contractor shall immediately contact the COR to explain the specific reasons for the delay and establish a new target date for submission of the draft Public Market Report. USTDA will review the draft Public Market Report and provide comments.

The Contractor shall prepare and provide to USTDA a final Public Market Report that incorporates USTDA’s comments. The final Public Market Report shall be grammatically correct and free of typographical errors. The Contractor is advised that USTDA may publish the Public Market Report on its website and/or in other media, therefore the Contractor shall ensure that Public Market Report is suitable for publication and public distribution. The Contractor shall not include any business confidential information in the Public Market Report and shall include the following confidentiality certification in the invoice for the Public Market Report:

“I hereby certify that the Public Market Report contains no business confidential information.”

D.1.2.3.3. Deliverables:

D.1.2.3.3.1. The Contractor shall provide to USTDA:

(a) Evaluation Statements for up to twelve (12) preliminary proposals or project concepts reviewed by the Contractor (See Section D.1.2.3.2)

(b) Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation reports for up to six (6) USTDA funding requests in the ICT sector in sub-Saharan Africa. The Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation reports must conform to the outline found in Attachment I and provide the requested information and analysis unless otherwise agreed to in writing by USTDA (See Section D.1.2.3.3)

(c) A Public Market Report for each Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation report completed by the Contractor. The Public Market Reports must conform to the outline found in Attachment II and, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by USTDA, provide the requested information and analysis in sufficient detail to be useful to prospective U.S. equipment and service providers. The Public Market Reports must be suitable for public distribution and must not contain any confidential information.

Note that USTDA may publish the Contractor’s Public Market Report on its website and/or in other media. The Contractor shall ensure that Public Market Report is suitable for publication and public distribution.

All deliverables submitted pursuant to this Desk Study Series shall incorporate all mutually agreed upon materials, revisions, and supporting documentation. The deliverables shall be grammatically and factually correct in all respects, internally consistent, and all statements and tables shall be clear and easily understood by a competent reader, and contain no typographical errors. The deliverables shall also be paginated and clearly labeled. Upon direction from the COR, the Contractor shall submit an electronic copy of the final deliverable to USTDA via email (PDF file) at the following email address: finalreports@ustda.gov. No hardcopy submissions will be accepted. The email subject line must include the title and USTDA activity number of the Desk Study Series so that it is easily identifiable.

Upon government acceptance of a final deliverable, the Contractor shall submit the corresponding invoice to USTDA.

D.1.2.3.3.2. The Contractor shall submit all deliverables under this Contract to USTDA within twenty-four (24) months from the date of the Contracting Officer's signature on the Contract.

D.1.3. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

The Period of Performance for this Contract shall be twenty-four (24) months from the date of the Contracting Officer's signature on the Contract.

D.1.4. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:

The places of performance shall be at USTDA's Office in Arlington, VA and at the Contractor’s facility.

D.1.5. QUALITY CONTROL AND PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT:

D.1.5.1. Quality of Contract Deliverables:

All deliverables submitted pursuant to this Desk Study Series shall be grammatically and factually correct in all respects, internally consistent, and all statements and tables shall be clear and easily understood by a competent reader, and contain no typographical errors. The Contractor is responsible for quality control actions necessary to achieve quality in the delivery of the required services, which may include the services of a professional editor. The COR will reject any deliverables that do not conform in all respects to the Contract requirements, including but not limited to, the written quality of the deliverables. The Contractor shall correct all deficiencies at no additional cost to the Government.

D.1.5.2. Performance Assessment

1. Monitoring Performance. During the course of contract period, the COR will track Contractor’s performance. At the end of the performance period, the COR will assess the Contractor’s performance in accordance with FAR 42.15 and report to the Contracting Officer for submission to the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System

(CPARS).

2. CPARS Assessment. The COR will consider all pertinent information during the preparation of the Contractor’s performance assessment. The Contractor will be afforded the opportunity to identify factual errors. The COR’s assessment is not subject to negotiation and the COR will not engage in discussions with the Contractor. Any errors identified by the Contractor will be addressed by the Reviewing Official. A copy of the final performance assessment will be available in the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS).

D.1.6. CONFIDENTIALITY:

All proposal materials submitted by foreign project sponsors and/or U.S. firm are proprietary documents and should not be distributed without permission from USTDA and the corresponding project sponsor and/or U.S. firm. The Contractor shall treat any proposal and supporting information submitted by foreign project sponsors and/or U.S. firms as business confidential in its entirety, unless otherwise stated in writing by the foreign project sponsor and/or U.S. firm. The Contractor shall not include any business confidential information in the Public Market Reports and shall include the following confidentiality certification in the invoice for the Public Market Report:

“I hereby certify that the Public Market Report contains no business confidential information.”

D.1.7. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY:

This Contract is funded by the United States Government. All intellectual property generated and/or delivered pursuant to this Statement of Work shall be subject to appropriate federal acquisition regulations which entitle the Government to unlimited rights to technical data developed exclusively with Government funds. The Government may: (1) use; (2) disclose; (3) reproduce; (4) prepare derivative works; (5) distribute copies to the public; (6) perform publicly;

and (7) display publicly, the “data” in any manner and for any purpose, and have or permit others to do so (i.e., the Government may sublicense these rights to another contractor). See FAR 52.227-14(a).

D.1.8. IMPARTIALITY:

It is essential that the Desk Study Series be conducted with complete impartiality and objectivity and that the Contractor and its Subcontractors not obtain an unfair competitive advantage in USTDA-funded activities resulting from this Contract. In accordance with the principles of FAR Subpart 9.5 and USTDA policy, the Contractor and its Subcontractors, if any, for this Contract shall be ineligible to compete for, as a prime or subcontractor or otherwise, USTDA-funded activities that result from this Contract, unless USTDA through its Office of Acquisition Management, shall have granted a waiver, based upon FAR 9.503, that preclusion of the Contractor or its Subcontractors from the follow-on activity would not be in the Government’s interest. This restriction shall remain in effect for three (3) years from the termination of this Contract. The Contractor is responsible for including this restriction in all subcontracts under the Contract.

D.1.9. COORDINATION WITH OTHER CONTRACTORS:

The government may award other contracts for additional work not prescribed in this contract. The Contractor shall fully cooperate with such other contractors in performance of the requirement herein, and as directed by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor shall not commit or permit any act, which will interfere with the performance of work by any other USTDA Contractor.

D.2 ATTACHMENTS

ATTCH/ TITLE PAGES

EXHIBIT

I Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation Outline II Public Market Report Guidance and Outline III Impact on U.S. Labor Statement IV USTDA Nationality Requirements V Required Budget Format VI Task Completion Schedule VII Budget Narrative Requirements VIII Guidance on Development Impact Assessment IX Guidance on Climate Resilience Screening

Attachment I- 1

Attachment I

Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation Outline

A. Executive Summary.

The Contractor shall provide an executive summary of the Contractor’s findings and recommendations.

B. Project Description.

The Contractor shall provide a brief description and history of the project, including, among other things, host country and/or other project sponsors, sector, project location, source of raw materials, infrastructure requirements, proposed technological approach, legal and regulatory framework (licenses, permits, etc.), implementation schedule, economic fundamentals (estimated capital cost, operating costs, interest expense, taxes, expected revenues, etc.), the specific objectives of the proposed activity, and any other variables or issues the Contractor deems critical as part of a thorough activity/project evaluation.

C. Project Sponsor’s Capabilities and Commitment.

The Contractor shall describe the project sponsor’s commitment and capabilities to undertake the activity and the subsequent project. The purpose is to understand the experience of the project sponsor and any previous work undertaken by the project sponsor in the sector. This section should also include a discussion of any potential risks of working with the project sponsor that could delay project implementation. This can take many forms but should at a minimum address the applicable points below:

A thorough description of the host country project sponsor, including its structure, capabilities, operations, and decision-making ability pursuant to the project, and

An assessment of the project sponsor’s commitment and ability to implement the project (e.g. the project sponsor’s previous experience, current commitments, responsiveness, business activities, and government mandate).

D. Implementation Financing.

The Contractor shall describe the project sponsor’s plans to secure financing to implement the project. This can take many forms but should at a minimum address the points below:

An assessment of the overall cost estimate of the project;

For projects involving potential equity investment, the project’s proposed debt-equity structure to ensure that it corresponds to the requirements of the prospective lenders (this aspect is critical to USTDA’s decision making); and

A review of the financing options for project implementation.

The Contractor is required to contact officials from the potential financing institutions, including, where appropriate, multilateral lending institutions, Export Import (Ex-Im) Bank, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), and private/commercial sources, to ensure that the project sponsor has adequately explored all financing options. The Contractor shall provide names and phone numbers of contacts at the potential financing institutions and summarize their comments. The Contractor must determine the most likely source(s) of implementation financing for the project.

The Contractor must ensure that the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the activity fulfill the requirements of the most likely financing source(s).

E. U.S. Export Potential.

The Contractor shall describe the U.S. export potential that may result if the project is implemented. The purpose is to estimate the U.S. export potential in order to justify USTDA funding for the activity. This can take many forms but should at a minimum address the points below.

The Contractor shall provide a best estimate of potential procurement of U.S. goods and services for project implementation. This estimate should be supported by a breakdown by category and dollar value of goods and services likely to be imported for the project and an illustrative list of potential U.S. suppliers of the goods and services listed as likely U.S. exports. The Contractor shall include U.S. content in their evaluation of U.S. exports, including an analysis of U.S.

manufacturing and services sourced from the United States that would most likely be used for the project. The Contractor shall cross-check U.S. companies’ estimates of U.S. export potential with independent relevant sources, such as:

- USTDA program staff and USTDA’s evaluations data;

- The U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration;

- Industry and trade associations; and

- Outreach with other U.S. suppliers in the sector.

The Contractor shall describe how procurements are typically conducted: 1) in the sector; 2) by the project sponsor; and 3) in the host country. The Contractor shall confirm whether there are local content requirements or procurement restrictions in this sector or for the project and whether a local provider/distributor will be or is likely to be involved in project implementation.

The Contractor shall also list any import licensing requirements or permits needed by U.S.

companies to participate in and supply goods for the project. The Contractor shall also identify any U.S. companies already working with the project sponsor or working in the respective sector in the host country.

The Contractor shall provide a report that summarizes its discussions with U.S. companies that provide goods or services required for project implementation, including a description of their level of interest in the project, as well as the relevant sub-sector(s) and host country(ies). The Contractor shall analyze how competitive the U.S. companies’s goods or services would be if the project reaches the implementation stage. To ensure no one is given an unfair advantage to compete for USTDA’s funding or the project implementation, the Contractor should be sensitive to disclosing information about the proposed USTDA activity.

The Contractor shall submit a complete list of U.S. companies and other entities contacted, with the name and contact information of individuals interviewed and their responses.

F. Foreign Competition and Market Entry Issues.

The Contractor shall describe foreign competition and market entry issues in the host country(ies). The purpose is to demonstrate why USTDA funding may be needed in order to level the playing field for U.S. companies. This can take many forms but should at a minimum address the points below.

The Contractor shall provide a discussion of the foreign competition for goods and services likely to be procured for project implementation by category. The Contractor shall include a discussion of U.S. industry competitiveness in each category, taking into account geographic factors, host country industry capabilities, technology and licensee issues, past procurement tendencies of the project sponsor, and how the procurement is likely to be conducted. Where relevant, the Contractor shall discuss the extent to which market entry issues impede exports and trade and how the activity will help overcome these obstacles.

G. Evaluation Strategy.

The Contractor shall describe the strategy by which the project, if implemented, should be evaluated. The purpose is to concisely describe the baseline goals and objectives of the project, along with any potential risks or timeline hindrances, so the actual implementation results can be evaluated accordingly. This can take many forms but should at a minimum address the points below:

Goals and objectives:

o Clearly define the goals of the project and identify what will constitute success

Ex: For trade capacity building or legal project, any change in law as result of project o Identify key sources for information needed to determine if USTDA’s activity attained its objective o Identify potential methods of measurement for evaluation specific to the project Process and Timeline:

o What is the step-by-step process the project will follow to be implemented, following USTDA’s funding?

o What is the anticipated project development timeline? This may change, but it is important to know what the original goal is as it will influence USTDA’s evaluation effort.

o How are procurements typically conducted in the sector for the host country(ies)?

o Will there be local content requirements?

o Will a local provider/distributor be involved?

o Will there be one big procurement or several smaller ones? Will other entities be involved if the procurements are small?

Risks:

o Identify potential difficulties in measuring results and ways to mitigate those difficulties o Is any regulation needed before the project can be developed (e.g. power purchase agreement standards)?

o Are there other entities that must authorize/approve implementation? List them according to their priority in the approval chain.

Key Leads:

o Are there US companies that already have business with the project sponsor or in the sector in the host country(ies)? If so, what is USTDA’s added value for these companies’ ability to pursue additional business?

o Are there any companies short-listed for procurements? If so, are they short listed via direct sales, distributor, etc.?

H. Developmental Impact.

The Contractor shall identify at least one viable and quantifiable Development Impact Measure that will result from the project being implemented based on the recommendations of the USTDA activity. The Contractor shall work with the proposed project sponsor(s) and USTDA to identify the most viable Development Impact Measure(s) that will result for the host country.

Please refer to the Development Impact Guide provided in Attachment VIII for the complete list of indicators and further instruction on how these indicators should be selected and estimated. The Program Evaluation Office may provide additional guidance. The indicators should be chosen according to the sector. More than one Development Impact Measure may be identified for an activity but they must be viable and quantifiable. If the Contractor believes it is necessary to recommend a Development Impact Measure that is not contained in the list, please contact the COR and the Program Evaluation Office.

The Contractor shall provide the following information for each indicator identified for each activity: 1) current status, prior to the USTDA activity and project implementation (Baseline); 2) anticipated outcomes should the project be implemented, based on the recommendations of the USTDA activity; 3) the anticipated timeline for the realization of these outcomes; and, 4) how such information can be measured and what sources could be utilized to determine whether the outcome was realized.

I. Impact on the Environment.

The Contractor shall provide a statement regarding the likely consequences the project may have on the environment. The Contractor shall ensure that the TOR for the USTDA activity includes, at a minimum, a preliminary review of the project’s impact on the environment, with reference to local requirements and requirements of potential financing source(s) of the project. The Contractor should identify potential negative impacts and discuss the extent to which they can be minimized or mitigated.

The Contractor shall conduct a climate resilience screening utilizing the guidance provided in Attachment IX and, based on the results of the climate resilience screening, provide details, including rationale, on whether (a) an in-depth analysis is recommended; (b) an in-depth analysis is not recommended; or (c) the climate resilience screening has indicated that a project should not move forward. If an in-depth analysis is recommended, the Contractor shall propose appropriate language for the TOR (see Section O, #4).

J. Impact on U.S. Labor.

The Contractor shall provide an assessment of the impact of the project on U.S. labor. The Contractor shall address the legislative prohibitions on the use of Foreign Assistance funds described in Attachment III and any implication such prohibitions may have on the USTDA activity and/or the project.

K. Qualifications.

The Contractor shall describe the capabilities and qualifications required to successfully complete the USTDA activity. If the proposal includes a sole-source U.S. contractor, the Contractor shall provide a review of the capabilities and qualifications of the proposed sole-source U.S. contractor and its proposed personnel for the USTDA activity. If the proposal does not include a sole-source U.S. contractor, the Contractor shall provide recommended evaluation criteria for the competitive selection of a U.S. contractor for the USTDA activity.

L. Justification.

The Contractor shall provide an explanation of why USTDA grant funding is needed, including a description of how the project would support U.S. government policy priorities and promote trade, how USTDA's participation would add value to the project's development, and how the success of the project would be measured in terms of trade capacity and development impact.

M. Recommendations.

The Contractor shall provide analysis and recommendations as to whether or not the project meets USTDA’s basic funding criteria as defined in Section D.1.2.1 in the Desk Study Series Statement of Work.

If the Contractor recommends that USTDA should fund the activity, but in a phased approach or only if certain outstanding issues are resolved or conditions met, those phases, issues or conditions should be clearly delineated and discussed in the recommendation.

N. Contacts.

The Contractor shall provide a list of individuals contacted during the Business Confidential Analysis and Recommendation. The list shall include the business address, phone number(s), and e-mail address of each individual.

O. Terms of Reference.

The Contractor shall be responsible for submitting to USTDA a Terms of Reference (“TOR”) and budget for the activity that conforms to USTDA’s requirements. The Contractor shall work with the project sponsor and, if relevant, the proposed sole-source U.S. contractor and/or third parties, to develop the TOR and budget for the activity using the project sponsor’s and/or proposed sole-source U.S. contractor’s draft proposal as a basis. The TOR, which must be approved by the project sponsor and, if relevant, the proposed sole-source U.S. contractor, shall include, at a minimum, the following:

1. Purpose and objective of the activity. This section shall contain a concise statement describing the activity.

2. A technical assessment. This section shall include relevant background information and analysis that is pertinent to the technical feasibility of the project (e.g. site selection, gap analysis, data collection, comparative analysis, parameters for project implementation, baseline indicators and key performance indicators, a review of any previous reports or studies related to the project, and an assessment of technologies to be used in project implementation).

3. An economic analysis of the project. This section shall include a detailed analysis on all of the costs associated with the implementation of the project, and relevant additional economic analyses relevant to the viability of the project. This section shall provide all relevant information pertaining to the economic analysis of the project (e.g.

a cash flow analysis, analysis of market conditions, raw material availability, supply agreements, off-take agreements, competing alternative methods of achieving the same or similar project objectives). This analysis shall also include the internal rate of return under a variety of different assumptions (e.g. different interest rates, depreciation, licensing fees, and import duties).

In addition, in order to provide the project sponsor with sufficient information to responsibly implement, manage, and maintain the project for the duration of the investment, this section shall provide a Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) as part of the overall project cost estimate. The LCCA shall examine the total initial capital costs to plan, design, develop, and build the project. The LCCAshall also include a detailed analysis of the costs associated with the medium-term and long-term operation of the project, which includes maintaining the facilities, equipment, and other assets financed as part of the project, as well as any anticipated decommissioning costs, if relevant.

Such costs include, but are not limited to, warranties, operation, maintenance, acquisition, installation, refurbishment, disposal, and decommissioning costs that could be encountered throughout the life of the project.

A financing plan for the project. This section shall provide an analysis on the different types of financing (e.g. equity, debt) available for project implementation.

This section shall assess whether or not potential public and private financing organizations (e.g. the World Bank, relevant regional multilateral development banks, Ex-Im and OPIC) are interested in providing financing for project implementation. This section shall include a financing plan and a financing strategy, including several approaches to securing financing for the project based on discussions with the project sponsor, potential lenders and potential financiers. This section shall outline the rationale for the financing plan and financing strategy and shall take into account a number of relevant factors (e.g. timing, interest rates, and potential financing terms).

This section shall also provide a recommendation for the most effective financing sources for the project.

This section shall also include a sensitivity analysis of the return on investment (ROI) for the project. The sensitivity analysis shall account for the cost recovery indicators based on different assumptions for key project variables, such as tariffs, sales volumes, capital and operating cost estimates, and interest rates and investment requirements.

If sources of financing are not yet confirmed, this section shall identify the potential sources of financing. The U.S. firm, with the project sponsor’s express permission, shall contact the potential sources of financing to assess the likelihood of receiving financing from such sources. This section shall outline the sources including, but not be limited to, bilateral financing institutions, multilateral financing institutions, international financing institutions and local and regional commercial banks.

This section shall also identify any and all project risk factors and includ a risk avoidance/reduction plan for each factor by means of insurance and bonding or other means. The plan shall meet the requirements of the potential financing sources, including host country sources, multilateral financiers, international financing institutions and others.

4. An appropriate preliminary environmental analysis of the project. This section shall include a preliminary review of the project’s anticipated impact on the environment with reference to host country requirements and those of potential financiers (e.g. the World Bank). This review shall identify potential negative impacts, discuss the extent to which they can be mitigated, and develop plans for a full environmental impact assessment of the project that adheres to all relevant requirements, including the identification of steps that will need to be undertaken by the project sponsor subsequent to the activity’s completion and prior to project implementation. Based on the Contractor’s climate resilience screening, if an in-depth analysis for the project is needed, then the Contractor shall propose language detailing how the U.S. firm should complete such an in-depth analysis for the project (see Attachment IX).

5. A review of regulatory issues and the legal framework related to the project. This section shall include a discussion of the relevant regulatory structure needed, including an assessment of any regulations that would impact the project's viability, a prognosis to move forward, and a need for additional regulations. Unless otherwise specified, this review shall include a review of current and proposed regulations, permitting requirements, licensing requirements, legal framework, construction approvals, foreign participation regulations, regulations that impact environmental requirements, and any other regulatory issues that may have a significant impact on the project. This section shall identify policy and/or legislative actions that could either act as potential barriers to the implementation of the project or would be necessary for implementation of the project. This section shall also review any pending or potential regulatory actions that may impede project implementation. If the project does not meet all requirements, the U.S. firm shall identify methods to overcome those deficiencies.

6. An analysis of key host country development impacts. This section shall detail the anticipated host country impacts of the project, in accordance with USTDA’s Development Impact Measures, should the project be implemented following the recommendations provided through the activity. This task shall incorporate the baseline information gathered by the Contractor, in accordance with Section H of this Attachment I, and provide clear instructions to the project sponsor and U.S. firm to update this baseline information to accurately reflect new projections based on the analysis of project feasibility and recommendations set forth in other tasks. This task shall instruct the U.S. firm to utilize the Development Impact Guide provided in Attachment VIII, in conjunction with the baseline data. The U.S. firm shall work closely with the project sponsor during this task to ensure that the projected development impacts are viable and measurable.

7. U.S. sources of supply. This section shall contain a task for an assessment of U.S.

sources of supply for all goods and services required to implement the project. This section shall include a list that includes (i) the possible U.S. sources of supply and/or services for the project, (ii) a detailed description of relevant products, solutions and/or services to be provided, and (iii) contact information for the party or parties responsible for marketing/sales in the host country. The business name, point of contact, address, telephone number, and e-mail address shall be included for each identified party. This shall include different types of U.S. suppliers that would be relevant to the implementation of the project (e.g. technology license providers, engineering and construction companies, project management and oversight companies; equipment providers; and U.S. suppliers of environmental protection and compliance equipment).

The list may also include information on potential U.S sources of services that the project sponsor may need for the successful technical and commercial operation of the project, such as operating management, maintenance management, product quality control, and product marketing assistance.

The U.S. firm shall be expected to be in direct contact with potential U.S. suppliers.

The U.S. firm shall meet with U.S. companies to better understand their interest in the project. The U.S. firm shall also identify any potential challenges for U.S. suppliers and ways to mitigate these challenges. For competed projects, the U.S. firm shall prepare a project announcement that can be publicly distributed to various U.S. based equipment and service firms announcing the project and the requirements (at an informational level).

The U.S. firm shall engage relevant potential suppliers in discussions and analyze their interest in supplying equipment and services for the project. The U.S. firm shall inform the project sponsor of which U.S. suppliers have expressed interest in the project.

8. An implementation plan. This section shall include the work required, after the conclusion of the activity, to implement the project, with a corresponding timeline of when each step is anticipated to occur. This section shall include all relevant information pertaining to the implementation of the project and specifically address any gaps and inefficiencies identified during the course of the activity. The implementation plan shall provide the project sponsor with a detailed description of the gaps and the options to mitigate each of them, coupled with a cost/benefit breakdown for each option (e.g. technology procurement, installation, site preparation, any facility renovations/construction, civil modifications required during construction, short and long-term training requirements, operations and maintenance, a proposed annual budget requirement for the project, any relevant changes to the project sponsor’s corporate structure that could bolster the implementation of the project, Key Performance Indicators including their baselines and proposed annual targets, power purchase agreements, and construction requirements). The implementation plan shall also include a detailed strategy on how the project will meet any regulatory, licensing, permitting, and environmental requirements identified in Tasks 4 and 5. The implementation plan shall be of sufficient scope and detail for presentation to potential financing source(s).

The U.S. firm’s implementation plan and budget shall be based on the final agreed-upon strategy for project implementation as recommended by the U.S. firm and adopted by the project sponsor.

9. Final Report. The U.S. firm shall prepare and deliver to the project sponsor and

USTDA a substantive and comprehensive final report of all work performed under the TOR. The final report shall be organized according to the above tasks, and shall include all deliverables and documents that have been provided to the project sponsor. The final report also shall include an Executive Summary. The final report shall be prepared in accordance with Clause I of Annex II of the Grant Agreement.

The TOR must be designed to meet the requirements of the most likely source(s) of implementation financing. The requirements of some of the potential financing sources may be found at the following web sites:

www.opic.gov/finance.home.html www.exim.gov/tools.index.html www.ifc.org/proserv…