SOL-623-2022-01 - Tusome - Notice of Intent.pdf

Postal Address:

U.S. Agency for International Development

USAID Kenya

P.O. Box 629

Village Market 00621

Nairobi, Kenya

Courier Address:

USAID/Kenya c/o American Embassy

United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya

Pouch Address:

American Embassy

8900 Nairobi Place

Department Of State

Washington D.C. 20521-8900

Tel: 254-20-363-2000

Fax: 254-20-363- 2680 / 2682 https://www.usaid.gov/kenya https://www.usaid.gov/east-africa-regional

Notice of Intent for Other than Full and Open Competition

Solicitation Number: 623-2022-01 - Tusome

Notice Type: Special Notice

Agency: US Agency for International Development (USAID)

(USAID) Office: Kenya and East Africa (KEA)

Location: Kenya

Date: February 9, 2022

USAID/KEA intends to negotiate a non-competitive seven-month extension to contract number AID-

615-C-14-00007 (USAID Tusome Education Activity) with Research Triangle Institute International

(RTI), 3040 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The above contract was originally awarded to RTI International, using full and open competition on August 1, 2014, with a period of performance ending July 31, 2018. The contract period of performance has since been non-competitively extended to May 30, 2022.

USAID/KEA’s Tusome activity has achieved a 1:1 textbook ratio for primary school reading. Every child in Kenya’s public primary school has a textbook and every teacher has a teacher’s guide. This ratio is rare on the African continent and was made possible through innovative textbook design, vetting, procurement and distribution processes. RTI has exceeded all expectations and is a model for

USAID in how to successfully implement early grade reading programs and position a country to deliver basic education services in its journey to self-reliance. Tusome exceeded its targets in terms of the number of schools, teachers, and children who have benefited from the program, as well as the number of books successfully delivered. The purpose of this extension is to carry out an in-person teachers’ training, adaptation of materials for SNE learners from revised books and production of 60 videos of grade 3 English lessons.

USAID/KEA intends to negotiate non-competitively with only one source (RTI International) under the authority of USAID Acquisition Regulation AIDAR 706.302.70(b)(5) which authorizes the waiver of full and open competition “for the continued provision of highly specialized services when award to another resource would result in substantial additional costs to the Government or would result in unacceptable delays.” The extension will extend the period of performance of the contract by approximately seven months from May 31, 2022, to December 30, 2022, and the estimated cost of this extension is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold.

This is not a request for proposals. However, the Government may consider all expressions of interest received within fifteen (15) calendar days after date of publication of this notice. A determination not to compete this proposed follow-on contract based upon responses to this notice, if any, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information or responses received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

Therefore, any responses to this notice must demonstrate clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to USAID and would not hinder USAID/KEA objectives. Please direct any responses to this notice to Mr. Patrick Kollars, Supervisory Contracting Officer, at pkollars@usaid.gov with a copy to Sandra Asiedu at sasiedu@usaid.gov and Winnie Hinga at whinga@usaid.gov https://www.usaid.gov/kenya https://www.usaid.gov/east-africa-regional https://www.usaid.gov/east-africa-regional mailto:pkollars@usaid.gov mailto:sasiedu@usaid.gov mailto:whinga@usaid.gov