SOL 72011420R00010.pdf

72011420R00010

SOLICITATION, OFFER AND AWARD

4. TYPE OF SOLICITATION2. CONTRACT NUMBER 3. SOLICITATION NUMBER

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

ORDER UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700)

6. REQUISITION/PURCHASE NUMBER

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

NEGOTIATED (RFP)

SEALED BID (IFB)

5. DATE ISSUED

1. THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED RATING PAGE OF PAGES

1 124

C. E-MAIL ADDRESS

EXT.NUMBERAREA CODE

B. TELEPHONE (NO COLLECT CALLS)A. NAME

10. FOR

INFORMATION

CALL:

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.

(Date)(Hour) local timeuntildepository located in copies for furnishing the supplies or services in the Schedule will be received at the place specified in Item 8, or if hand carried, in the

SOLICITATION

9. Sealed offers in original and

PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

INSTRS., CONDS., AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

CONTRACT CLAUSES

PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACH.

I

J

K

L

M SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

PACKAGING AND MARKING

DESCRIPTION/SPECS./WORK STATEMENT

SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSESPART I - THE SCHEDULE

H

G

F

E

D

C

B

A

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

11. TABLE OF CONTENTS

18. OFFER DATE17. SIGNATURE

SUCH ADDRESS IN SCHEDULE.

IS DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE - ENTER

15C. CHECK IF REMITTANCE ADDRESS

EXT.NUMBERAREA CODE

15B. TELEPHONE NUMBER

(Type or print)AND

ADDRESS

OF

OFFEROR

CODE FACILITY

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

DATEAMENDMENT NO.DATEAMENDMENT NO.

and related documents numbered and dated):

amendments to the SOLICITATION for offerors

(The offeror acknowledges receipt of

14. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF AMENDMENTS

CALENDAR DAYS (%)30 CALENDAR DAYS (%)20 CALENDAR DAYS (%)10 CALENDAR DAYS (%)

(See Section I, Clause No. 52.232.8)

13. DISCOUNT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT

designated point(s), within the time specified in the schedule.

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

NOTE: Item 12 does not apply if the solicitation includes the provisions at 52.214-16, Minimum Bid Acceptance Period.

OFFER (Must be fully completed by offeror)

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

28. AWARD DATE

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

27. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

25. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY

26. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

CODE 24. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 7)

ITEM

(4 copies unless otherwise specified)

23. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN

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

22. AUTHORITY FOR USING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION:

21. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION20. AMOUNT19. ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS NUMBERED

AWARD (To be completed by government)

CODE

REQ-114-20-00005607/27/2020

X

720114

USAID/Georgia 29 Georgian-American Friendship Ave 0131 Tbilisi Georgia

1000 GM 09/14/2020

Yana Adelberg +99 44x144 yadelberg@usaid.gov

532-9228

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

PAGE(S)

Robert Claussen

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

Previous edition is unusable

STANDARD FORM 33 (Rev. 9-97)

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.214(c)

SF 33

B-1

C-1 D-1 E-1 D-1 G-1 H-1

I-1

J-1

K-1

L-1

M-1

12. In compliance with the above, the undersigned agrees, if this offer is accepted within _____270_________ calendar days (60 calendar days unless a different period is inserted

ITEM NO. SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

NAME OF OFFEROR OR CONTRACTOR

2 124

CONTINUATION SHEET

REFERENCE NO. OF DOCUMENT BEING CONTINUED PAGE OF

72011420R00010

(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F)

0001 USAID/Georgia Industry-led Skills Development

Program

OPTIONAL FORM 336 (4-86)

Sponsored by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.110

NSN 7540-01-152-8067

TABLE OF CONTENT Page

B SUPPLIES OR SERVICES/PRICES B-1

B.1 PURPOSE B-1

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE B-1

B.3 ESTIMATED COST, FIXED FEE, AND OBLIGATED AMOUNT B-1

B.4 BUDGET B-1

B.5 INDIRECT COSTS B-1

B.6 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE B-2

B.7 ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING ON CEILING INDIRECT COST RATES AND

FINAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR INDIRECT COSTS

B-2

B.8 COST REIMBURSABLE B-2

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK C-1

C.1 INTRODUCTION C-1

C.2 BACKGROUND C-1

C.3 SCOPE OF WORK C-3

C.4 DETAILED WORK REQUIREMENTS C-3

C.5 APPROACH TO PROVIDING COSR-SHARE GRANTS C-7

C.6 CONTRACT DELIVERABLES C-7

C-7 TECHNICAL GUIDELINACE AND CONSIDERATIONS C-9

C-8 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE C-11

SECTION D - PACKAGING AND MARKING D-1

D.1 AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (JAN 1993) D-1

D.2 BRANDING STRATEGY AND MARKING POLICY D-1

D.3 BRANDING STRATEGY D-1

D.4 BRANDING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND MARKING PLAN D-3

SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE E-1

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE E-1

E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE E-1

E.3 MONITORING EVALUATION AND LEARING (MEL) PLAN E-1

E.4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS E-1

SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE F-1

F.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE F-1

F.2 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE F-1

F.3 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE F-1

F.4 AUTHORIZED WORK WEEK F-1

F.5 AIDAR 752.242-70 PERIODIC PROGRESS REPORTS (OCT 2007) F-1

F.6 REPORTS AND DELIVERABLES F-1

F.7 REPORTING PARTICIPANT TRAINING ACTIVITIES F-9

F.8 PERFORMANCE EVALUATION F-10

F.9 KEY PERSONNEL F-10

F.10 SUBMISSION OF DATASETS TO THE DEVELOPMENT DATA LIBRARY (DDL)

(OCT 2014)

F-11

F.11 ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS F-13

F.12 AIDAR 752.7005 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT

EXPERIENCE DOCUMENTS (SEP 2013)

F-13

SECTION G - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA G-1

G.1 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S AUTHORITY G-1

G.2 CONTRACTING OFFICER REPRESENTATIVE G-1

G.3 TECHNICAL DIRECTION AND RELATIONSHIP WITH USAID G-1

G.4 ACCEPTANCE AND APPROVAL G-2

G.5 AIDAR 752.7003 DOCUMENTATION FOR PAYMENT (NOV 1998) G-3

G.6 INVOICES G-4

G.7 PAYING OFFICE G-4

G.8 ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA G-5

G.9 CONTRACTOR'S PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT G-5

G.10 CONTRACTOR'S PAYMENT ADDRESS G-5

SECTION H - SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS H-1

H.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE H-1

H.2 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLOCT OF INTEREST DISCOVERED AFTER AWARD

(JUN-1993)

H-1

H.3 AUTHORISED GEOGRAPHIC CODE H-1

H.4 LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS H-1

H.5 LOGISTIC SUPPORT H-1

H.6 AIDAR 752.222-70 USAID DISABILITY POLICY (DEC 2004) H-2

H.7 AIDAR 752.225-70 SOURCE AND NATIONALITY REQUIRENETS (FEB 2012) H-2

H.8 AIDAR 752..228-3 WORKER’S COMPENASATION INSURANCE (DEFENCE

BASE ACT) (DEC 1991)

H-3

H.9 INSURANCE AND SERVICES H-3

H.10 AIDAR 752.228-7 INSURANCE-LIABILITY TO THIRD PERSINS (JUL 1997) H-5

H.11 AIDAR 752.228-70 MEDICAL EVACUATION SERVICES (JUL 2007) H-5

H.12 AIDAR 752.231-71 SALARY SUPPLEMENTS FOR HOST GOVERNMENT

EMPLOYEES (MAR 2015)

H-6

H.13 AIDAR 245-71 TITLE TO AND CARE OF PROPERTY (APR 1984) H-6

H.14 AIDAR 752.7004 EMERGENCY LOCATOR INFORMATION (JUL 1997) H-7

H.15 AIDAR 752.7007 PERSONNEL COMPENSATION (JUL 2007) H-7

H.16 AIDAR 752.7031 LEAVE AND HOLIDAYS. (OCT 1989) H-9

H.17 752.7032 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL APPROVAL AND NOTIFICATION

REQUIREMENTS

H-11

H.18 ADS 302.3.5.19 USAID-FINANCED THIRD-PARTY WEB SITES (NOV 2017) H-11

H.19 CONSENT TO SUBCONTRACT H-13

H.20 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE – IEE H-13

H.21 ELECTRONIC PAYMENT SYSTEM H-15

H.22 STANDARDS OF CONDUCT -- IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES H-15

H.23 FOREIGN GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS TO INTERNATIONAL

CONFERENCES

H-16

H.24 DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION H-16

H.25 COMPLIANCE WITH THE TRAFFICKING VICTIMS PROTECTION

REAUTHORIZATION ACT

H-16

H.26 COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 508 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF

1973, AS AMENDED

H-17

H.27 PRESS RELATIONS H-17

H.28 BUSINESS CLASS TRAVEL H-17

H.29 731.205-71 SALARY SUPPLEMENTS FOR HOST GOVERNMENT

EMPLOYEES

H-17

H.30 LIMITATION ON ACQUISITION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(DEVIATION NOs. M/OAA-DEV-FAR-18-2c and M/OAA-DEV-AIDAR-18-2c)

(APRIL 2018)

H-18

H.31 CONSIDERATIONS FOR GRANTS UNDER CONTRACT H-19

PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSES I-1

SECTION I - CONTRACT CLAUSES I-1

I.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE I-1

I. 2 52.204-1 APPROVAL OF CONTRACT (DEC 1989) I-4

I. 3 52.216-24 LIMITATION OF GOVERNMENT LIABILITY (APR 1984) I-4

I.4 52.222-50 COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (MAR 2015) I-4

I.5 52.204-25 PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING FOR CERTAIN

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR

EQUIPMENT (AUG 2019)

I-10

I.6 52.204-26 COVERED TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT OR SERVICES-

REPRESENTATION

I-12

I.7 52.216-24 LIMITATION OF GOVERNMENT LIABILITY (APR 1984) I-12

I.8 52.222-35 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR VETERANS (OCT 2015) I-13

I.9 52.222-36 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES

(JUL 2014)

I-13

I.10 52.247-67 SUBMISSION OF TRANSPORTATION DOCUMENTS FOR AUDIT

(FEB 2006)

I-13

I.11 752.219-70 USAID MENTOR- PROTÉGÉ PROGRAM (JUL 2007) I-14

1.12 AIDAR 731.7013 CONTRACTOR-MISSION RELATIONSHIPS (DEVIATION

NOs. M/OAA-DEV-AIDAR-18-04c (JUNE 2018)

I-14

I.13 AIDAR 752.222-71 NONDISCRIMINATION (JUN 2012) I-14

I.14 752.225-9 BUY AMERICAN ACT - TRADE AGREEMENTS ACT -BALANCE OF

PAYMENTS PROGRAM

I-15

I.15 AIDAR 752.229-71 REPORTING OF FOREIGN TAXES (JUL 2007) I-15

I.16 AIDAR 752.231-72 CONFERENCE PLANNING AND REQUIRED APPROVALS

(AUG 2013)

I-16

I.17 AIDAR752.245-70 GOVERNMENT PROPERTY - USAID REPORTING

REQUIREMENTS (JUL 1997)

I-17

I.18 AIDAR 752.7034 ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND DISCLAIMER (DEC 1991) I-18

I.19 AIDAR 752.7036 USAID IMPLEMENTING PARTNER NOTICES (IPN)

PORTAL FOR ACQUISITION (JUL 2014)

I-19

PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS J-1

SECTION J - LIST OF ATTACHMENTS J-1

SECTION K - REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF

BIDDERS

K-1

K.1 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY

REFERENCE

K-1

K.2 52.204-3 TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION (OCT 1998) K-1

K.3 52.204-8 Annual Representations and Certifications (OCT 2016) K-2

K.4 52.204-24 REPRESENTATION REGARDING CERTAIN TELECOMUNICATIONS

AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT (DEC 2019)

K-6

K.5 52.209-5 CERTIFICATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS

(OCT 2017)

K-7

K.6 52.209-7 INFORMATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS

(JUL 2013)

K-8

K.7 52.209-11 REPRESENTATION BY CORPORATIONS REGARDING

DELINQUENT TAX LIABILITY OR A FELONY CONVICTION UNDER ANY

FEDERAL LAW (FEB 2016)

K-10

K.8 52.215-6 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE (OCT 1997) K-10

K.9 52.222-22 PREVIOUS CONTRACTS AND COMPLIANCE REPORTS (FEB 1999) K-11

K.10 52.222-25 AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COMPLIANCE (APR 1984) K-11

K.11 52.227-15 REPRESENTATION OF LIMITED RIGHTS DATA AND

RESTRICTED COMPUTER SOFTWARE (DEC 2007)

K-11

K.12 52.230-1 COST ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOTICES AND CERTIFICATION

(OCT 2015).

K-12

K.13 52.230-7 PROPOSAL DISCLOSURE--COST ACCOUNTING PRACTICE

CHANGES (APR 2005)

K-14

K.14 SIGNATURE K-14

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO BIDDERS L-1

L.1 FAR 52.252-1 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

(FEB 1998)

L-1

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

L.3 FAR 52.215-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS - COMPETITIVE ACQUISITION

(JAN 2017)

L-1

L.4 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS L-5

L.5 SUBMISSION/DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS L-6

L.6 INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARATION OF TECHNICAL PROPOSAL L-7

L.7 INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF THE

COST/BUSINESS PROPOSAL

L-10

L.8 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF BRANDING AND MARKING

PLANS

L-14

L.9 52.233-2 SERVICE OF PROTEST (SEP 2006) L-16

SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD M-1

M.1 GENERAL INFORMATION M-1

M.2 TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA M-1

M.3 COST/BUSINESS EVALUATION M-3

M.4 DETERMINATION OF COMPETITIVE RANGE M-4

M.5 SOURCE SELECTION M-4

72011420R00010 SECTION B

B-1

B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES/PRICES

B.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is to provide the services and deliverables as described in detail in

Section C, Statement of Work, for the implementation of the Industry-led Skills Development Project.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE

This is a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) Completion type contract. For the consideration set forth below, the Contractor will achieve the performance objectives and deliverables or outputs described in Section C, Statement of Work, and in accordance with the performance standards specified herein.

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

(a) The estimated cost for the performance of the work required hereunder, exclusive of fee is: $ . The fixed fee is $ . The estimated cost plus fixed fee is $ . {Blanks to be completed at time of award}.

(b) Within the estimated cost plus fixed fee (if any) specified in paragraph (a) above, the amount currently obligated and available for reimbursement of allowable costs incurred by the Contractor (and payment of fee, if any) for performance hereunder is $ . The

Contractor must not exceed the aforesaid obligated amount in accordance with Federal

Acquisition Regulation (“FAR”) 52.232.22, “Limitation of Funds.”

(c) Funds obligated hereunder are anticipated to be sufficient through {TBD based on the date of award}.

[NOTE: The actual amount to be obligated will be determined at the time of award.]

B.4 BUDGET

The total cost stated for the budget categories specified below may not be adjusted without a modification to the contract signed by the Contracting Officer. No amounts in excess of the amounts specified for each category will be billed to the Contract.

CLIN Item Total ($)

001 Total Direct Cost ___

002 Grants under Contract $13,000,000

003 Total Indirect Costs

004 Contract Total Cost (excluding fee)

005 Fixed Fee

Total Estimated Cost Plus Fixed Fee

B.5 INDIRECT COSTS

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:

B-2

Description Rate Base Type Period

TBD TBD% 1/ 1/ 1/

TBD TBD% 2/ 2/ 2/

1/ Base of Application: TBD

Type of Rate: TBD

Period: TBD

2/ Base of Application: TBD

Type of Rate: TBD

Period: TBD

B.6 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE

(a) The Government shall pay the Contractor for performing this contract the fixed fee specified in the Schedule.

(b) In accordance with FAR 52.216-8 “Fixed Fee (JUN 2011),” USAID reserves the right to withhold a reserve not to exceed $100,000. The Contracting Officer shall release 75 percent of all fee withholds under this contract after receipt of an adequate certified final indirect cost rate proposal covering the year of physical completion of this contract, provided the Contractor has satisfied all other contract terms and conditions, including the submission of the final patent and royalty reports, and is not delinquent in submitting final vouchers on prior years’ settlements. The Contracting Officer may release up to 90 percent of the fee withheld under this contract based on the Contractor’s past performance related to the submission and settlement of final indirect cost rate proposals.

B.7 ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING ON CEILING INDIRECT COST RATES AND

FINAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR INDIRECT COSTS

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

(b) Reimbursement for indirect costs must be at the lower of the negotiated final provisional/pre-determined rates or the following ceiling rates:

Description 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

[Rate 1 description to be inserted] % % % % %

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

(d) This advance understanding must not change any monetary ceiling, cost limitation or on established in the contract.

B.8 COST REIMBURSABLE

The U.S. dollar costs allowable shall be limited to reasonable, allocable and necessary

B-3 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.”

END OF SECTION B

72011420R00010 SECTION C

C-1

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

INDUSTRY-LED SKILLS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

C.1 INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the USAID Industry-led Skills Development Program (the Program) is to develop industry-relevant human capacity that will contribute to high-value employment opportunities and increased economic competitiveness in Georgia. The Program will achieve this by systematically engaging employers to equip Georgians with skills demanded in sectors with high growth potential and create direct linkages between training programs and employment opportunities.

C.2 BACKGROUND

While there is broad consensus that Georgia has most of the key basic requirements for economic competitiveness in place -- strong institutions, macroeconomic and financial stability, and improving infrastructure, among others -- Georgia’s firms have not been able to leverage these favorable macroeconomic conditions into job creation and economic prosperity. Over the past several years, Georgia’s economy has experienced “jobless” economic growth: between 2015 and 2018, the number of individuals employed declined despite average annual economic growth of roughly 4% per year.

While part of lack of net job creation can be attributed to a reallocation of workers from rural, subsistence activities to better work opportunities, many Georgians are still engaged in activities for which they are overqualified or remain outside of the productive economy, either informally employed or having given up looking for work altogether. This is especially true for Georgia’s ethnic minorities, youth, women, and persons with disabilities, who tend to be less engaged in productive economic opportunities.

Many interrelated factors contribute to this disconnect between growth and high-value job creation, including lack of access to investment resources, slow economic diversification to higher-value economic activities, growth in sectors which are less labor intensive, and gaps between economic governance on paper and what firms experience in practice. A wealth of existing and emerging evidence, however, indicates that the skill level of Georgia’s workforce is central to this challenge.

According to international competitiveness rankings, the lack of appropriately skilled individuals significantly limits Georgia’s competitiveness. Employers consistently flag their inability to find qualified labor as the top binding constraint to expanding their operations. According to the 2019 Labor

Market Information Survey (LMIS), more than 90% of Georgia’s firms faced problems filling vacancies, mostly due to the inability to find individuals with relevant qualifications and work experience.

The mismatch between potential workers’ training and employers’ needs -- the “skills mismatch” -- is a significant driver of these challenges. According to research and stakeholder consultations, this skills mismatch contributes to low levels of productivity, unemployment, underemployment, and the disengagement of young adults from economic activity in Georgia. According to recent studies, Georgia lags behind on all three indicators used to measure skills mismatch, with its labor force being overqualified, under-qualified, or with obsolete skills. Over-qualification as a result of over-education is common in Georgia. More than half of workers with a tertiary education are over-educated for their current jobs, and half work in occupations that do not require a university diploma. At the same time, labor market surveys find that existing training programs do not match with the needs of the business sector, routinely producing graduates that are under-qualified. In addition, the same survey reported that several skill sets needed by domestic industries are not taught in Georgia. According to the 2019

Labor Market Information Survey (LMIS), nearly 10% of Georgian enterprises employed foreign citizens, noting in half of the cases (over 9,000 employees) that they were not able to find the technical skills they were looking for domestically. These factors create inefficiencies in the domestic job market, C-2 leading to hurdles for economic development, and frustration on the part of both the employer and job seeker.

Georgia has recognized the existence of this skills mismatch and has demonstrated that it is committed to modernizing its labor force in ways that address the skills mismatch and support economic development. The Government has invested heavily in improving the physical infrastructure of skills development facilities, increased VET teachers’ salaries by 35% in 2019 and implemented number of important policy changes in the last several years, and is closely coordinating with donors including the EU, the US, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, the UK, and UNDP, as well as engaging with

International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and National Development Banks (NDBs) including the

Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, and KfW, to implement initiatives to promote skills development in Georgia. For example, Georgia has adopted the new National Qualification Framework and new program authorization standards that align with international practices; adopted a new VET

Law that provides a framework for a number of important changes in the system, such as moving all

VET programs to modular learning that enables trainees to gain skills more effectively; introduced lifelong learning principles that enable individuals to build on their existing skill sets; allowing new models of financing, supported pilots of work-based and dual education models that strengthen the linkage between education and employment, adopted the law on public-private partnerships (PPPs) and designed a strategy to utilize PPPs to attract additional investment into skills development; put in place a Labor Market Information System that implements annual Labor Market Information Surveys (LMIS) to forecast future demand for skills; and is establishing unemployment and career guidance services that will better link job seekers to new employment opportunities.

These initiatives have begun to yield positive results. Unemployment and agricultural self-employment have decreased in recent years. The number of salaried employees, a proxy for higher-value employment, grew by 6% in 2017, an additional 4% in 2018, and, for the first time in 2018, the share of salaried employees in the workforce (51%) exceeded the share of those who reported being self-employed (49%), which includes agricultural self-subsistence and other lower-value activities. Sectors that have experienced growing foreign direct investment (FDI) in recent years, including finance, energy, tourism, construction, manufacturing, and transport, have increased their demand for skilled employees.

However, there remain aspects of skills development that, if not addressed, will slow this momentum, decrease the effectiveness of the initiatives described above, and hinder Georgia’s ability to more rapidly create high-value employment opportunities for its citizens. Areas that remain problematic and un- or under-addressed by the Government and other donors include the following:

Ineffective private sector engagement in skills development that results in a lack of high-quality training programs. Georgia has implemented several initiatives to foster engagement between training programs and employers to provide the skills that the private sector demands. These measures include efforts to engage employers in skills development through creation of the National VET Council, thematic groups, sector skills councils, the introduction of examples of dual and work-based education, the introduction of the requirement that all VET programs should provide 40% of practical trainings at the workplace, authorizing employers to deliver skills development courses, and funding tuition fees in fields prioritized by employers at all levels of education, including higher, VET and short-term courses.

These initiatives have yielded some promising results, including raising the private sector’s awareness of skills development initiatives and some examples of successful cooperation between training programs and the private sector. However, according to labor statistics, recent analyses, and consultations with Government, training providers, and employers, Georgia still lacks sustainable mechanisms that systematically and meaningfully engage employers in skills development. For example, the 2018 LMIS concluded that only 1% of enterprises have a relationship with a VET institution in Georgia, compared to 31% of enterprises in the EU. Of those companies that did report having a relationship with a VET institution, most (54%) saw their role as being limited to offering unpaid internships to students and did not engage in more meaningful cooperation in areas such as offering work-based learning opportunities, contributing to the development of professional standards or curricula, or participating in quality assurance measures. Employers, as well as skills providers, C-3 have been passive about offering training or retraining courses for the adult population to adapt to changing skills requirements; only 1% of the employed population aged 25-68 received any type of job training during their whole work-life.

Lack of access to high-quality training programs for rural and underserved populations. Access to high quality skills development programs is problematic in Georgia, and much worse for rural and ethnic minority populations, and for persons with disabilities. Most skills development opportunities delivered by both VET providers and universities are either in Tbilisi or Batumi, leaving the rest of

Georgia with little or no access to skills training programs. This lack of access disproportionately affects ethnic minorities, youth, women, and persons with disabilities, whose workforce participation rates and average salaries are lower than the rest of the population despite policies designed to promote the employability of these underserved groups. To improve accessibility for rural populations, the Government is in the process of developing VET centers in nine new locations, has increased the list of institutions that could be authorized to deliver skills development programs, and plans to support the creation of networks between regional and central institutions. While these are important steps, mechanisms to effectively engage employers in skills development and start delivering high quality programs are still to come.

C.3 SCOPE OF WORK

The purpose of the USAID Industry-led Skills Development Program (the Program) is to develop industry-relevant human capacity that will contribute to high-value employment opportunities and increased economic competitiveness in Georgia. The Program will achieve this by systematically engaging employers to equip Georgians with skills demanded in sectors with high growth potential and create direct linkages between training programs and employment opportunities.

The Program does not prescribe the sectors of the economy to be targeted by Program interventions.

Georgia’s economy’s needs for skills development are dynamic and diverse, especially in light of

COVID-19; by keeping the sectors flexible, the Program will be able to respond rapidly to emerging opportunities. Rather, the Program will prioritize interventions under each of the three components described below based on the following criteria:

• Value of employment opportunities for which the skills training is designed

• Extent of current employment opportunities for high-value employment for which the skills training is designed

• Projected growth of high-value employment opportunities for which the skills training is designed

• Extent to which interventions to promote high-value employment through a skills training intervention builds upon past and current USAID economic growth programming

C.4 DETAILED WORK REQUIREMENTS

The Program has three components. Under the first component, the program will pilot and advocate for initiatives that incentivize private sector engagement in skills development and in the transition from education to employment. Under the second component, the program will create and/or significantly improve training opportunities demanded by employers. Under the third component, the program will expand access to existing, high-quality training programs in rural areas and for the priority populations outside of Tbilisi.

Component 1: Incentivize private sector engagement in skills development

Under this Component, the Contractor must design and pilot initiatives that incentivize employers, sectoral associations/councils, industry groups, and other private sector bodies to participate in innovative practices of cooperation with skills training providers that strengthen linkages between skills training and high-value employment opportunities. These practices will be related to their participation

C-4 in skills training program curricula development; the delivery of skills training programs; the development and implementation of quality assurances and standards for skills training programs; and creating direct linkages between skills training programs and employment opportunities. The

Contractor must actively showcase and publicize successful examples of employers’ engagement in skills development designed under this Component to increase their impact and uptake. The initiatives designed and piloted under this Component must be applied to ensure employers’ meaningful participation in Components 2 and 3. Within the first 120 days of start of the Program, the Contractor must conduct a constraints analysis of private sector engagement in skills development and use findings from this analysis, along with results from capacity building and employer/sectoral associations engagement activities already conducted by USAID programs and other donors and international best practices, to design initiatives to be implemented under this Component.

Illustrative examples of potential interventions that could be supported under the Component 1 include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Piloting different mechanisms for employers, sectoral associations/councils, industry groups, and other private sector bodies to provide input into training curriculum design and delivery;

2. Developing partnerships between training providers and incentivize employers, sectoral associations/councils, industry groups, and other private sector bodies to improve teachers’ capacity at training institutions;

3. Creating opportunities for training providers to provide instruction at employers’ facilities;

4. Engaging specialists from employers to deliver training modules;

5. Increasing employer participation in career guidance; in organizing job-fairs and other activities to promote employment;

6. Designing on-the-job learning modalities, including apprenticeships and internships;

7. Increasing employer engagement in quality assurance/certification boards, sector skills councils;

8. Targeted capacity building of sectoral/industry/professional associations to increase their participation in skills development.

Component 2: Establish skills training programs demanded by the private sector

Under this Component, the Contractor must establish training programs demanded by the private sector in sectors with high growth potential in ways that contribute to high-value employment opportunities, including short-term programs that immediately address skills mismatches that pose current constraints to the growth of high potential sectors and long-term programs that create skills that are highly demanded by the industry currently and are anticipated to be in the near future. The development and delivery of these training programs must systematically integrate initiatives developed under

Component 1 to strengthen linkages between skills training programs and high-value employment opportunities, and, where relevant, result in the establishment of internationally-certified courses or courses of comparably high quality.

Sub-component 2A: Establish short-term skills training programs demanded by the private sector

The objective of this Sub-component is to establish high quality short-term certificate courses to upgrade the skills of the working age population to meet employers’ needs in sectors with high growth potential in ways that contribute to high-value employment opportunities. This Sub-component will target the unemployed population to support their employment, and/or employed population to improve their income and increase value for employers. Courses developed under this Sub-component can focus on both specific, technical skills demanded by the private sector, as well as general and transferable skills such as language, computer and soft skills. The short-term courses provide flexibility to meet employers’ immediate needs and build customized trainings; however, the Contractor must ensure that the interests of the trainees are protected, and that each short course supported by the Program provides value to its participants in their longer career track. Skills training programs supported by this Sub-

C-5 component must, where relevant, result in a certificate recognizing achievement in qualifications compatible with the National Qualification Framework and/or internationally recognized certification.

Skills training programs supported by this Sub-component must, where relevant, be integrated with initiatives developed under Component 1 to strengthen linkages between skills training programs and high-value employment opportunities.

The Contractor must use cost-share grants to establish or significantly improve short-term skills training programs under this Sub-component.

The Contractor must design and implement a competitive cost-share grants program with detailed, transparent selection criteria that include, but are not limited to, how employment opportunities for which the skills training is designed will be prioritized. The COR must be significantly involved in establishing grant selection criteria and must approve grant recipients.

Eligible grant recipients include public and private VET colleges and universities; employer, professional, or business associations; and NGOs registered in Georgia and their partnerships.

Eligible grant expenditures include technical assistance and other costs related to the development/improvement of curricula and processes ensuring and maintaining international certifications; improving teaching infrastructure; the training of instructors; implementing innovative practices developed under Component 1; and monitoring student outcomes.

The maximum grant size for this Sub-component must be $300,000 per recipient. Grants must not exceed 50% of the total estimated investment required to establish or significantly improve short-term certificate courses. Loans and in-kind contributions may be used to meet matching requirements.

Sub-component 2B: Establish long-term skills training programs demanded by the private sector

The objective of this Sub-component is to establish or significantly improve higher level (levels III and higher as defined by the National Qualification Framework) and high-quality skills development programs demanded by the employers in sectors with high growth potential in ways that contribute to high-value employment opportunities. This Sub-component will target the unemployed population to support their employment, and/or employed population to improve their income and increase value for employers. Courses developed under this Sub-component must focus on providing Georgians with the skills forecasted to be in high demand by the private sector in the immediate future and should emphasize higher level skills (levels III and higher), including both specific, technical skills demanded by the private sector, as well as general and transferable skills such as language, computer and soft skills. Skills training programs supported by this Sub-component must either be internationally certified or be compatible with an internationally-recognized certification by the end of the Program, and provide graduates with defined qualifications of the National Qualification Framework. Skills training programs supported by this Sub-component must, where relevant, be integrated with initiatives developed under Component 1 to strengthen linkages between skills training programs and high-value employment opportunities. Any skills training program supported by this Sub-component must demonstrate capacity and commitment to sustain training provision beyond the end of the Program.

The Contractor must use a cost-share grants to establish or significantly improve long-term skills training programs under this Sub-component.

transparent selection criteria that include, but are not limited to, how employment opportunities for establishing grant selection criteria and must approve recipients.

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Eligible grant expenditures include improving teaching infrastructure; technical assistance and other costs related to the development/improvement of curricula and processes and ensuring and maintaining international certifications; training instructors; implementing innovative practices developed under

Component 1; and monitoring student outcomes.

The maximum grant size for this Sub-component must be $1.5M per recipient. Grants must not exceed

50% of the total estimated investment required to establish or significantly improve short-term certificate courses. Loans and in-kind contributions may be used to meet matching requirements.

Component 3: Increase access to training opportunities for rural and priority populations

The objective of the Component 3 is to increase the employability and incomes of un- and under-employed populations in the regions and increase employers’ productivity by expanding access to existing, high-quality skills training programs to rural and priority populations in ways that contribute to high-value employment opportunities. In contrast to interventions under Component 2 that are designed to create new skills training programs and significantly improve existing skills training programs, under Component 3, the Contractor must leverage existing and planned investments in high-quality skills training programs by Government, the EU, the US, and other donors to expand access to these skills training programs to rural and priority populations. The Contractor must prioritize expanding and replicating these skills training programs to rural areas with strong potential to increase employment and incomes for underserved populations including ethnic minorities, youth, women, persons with disabilities, and persons living in communities in close proximity to the ABLs. The

Contractor must build on the experience and lessons learned through past and ongoing donor programs designed to target these populations including, but not limited to, USAID’s PITA, Zrda, and YES programs to integrate these populations into training program recruitments and job placement plans.

Based on the lessons learned in Georgia and international best practices, the Contractor must propose approaches to ensure affordability and equitable access for the priority population.

Skills training programs supported by this Sub-component must, where relevant, be integrated with initiatives developed under Component 1 to strengthen linkages between skills training programs and high-value employment opportunities. The Component must support creation of networks between the rural and central skill providers, through facilitating professional cooperation, innovative ways of training delivery, online teaching, and student exchanges. Skills training programs supported through this Component can be both long-and short-term, and should result either in diploma or in a certificate recognizing achievement in qualifications compatible with the National Qualification Framework.

The Contractor must use cost-share grants to establish or significantly improve long and short-term certificate courses under this Sub-component.

transparent selection criteria that include, but are not limited to, how employment opportunities for establishing grant selection criteria and must approve recipients.

Eligible grant expenditures include improving teaching infrastructure; technical assistance and other costs related to the development/improvement of curricula and processes and ensuring and maintaining international certifications; training instructors; implementing innovative practices developed under

Component 1; and monitoring student outcomes.

The maximum grant size for this Sub-component must be $500,000 per recipient. Grants must not exceed 50% of the total estimated investment required to establish or significantly improve long and

C-7 short-term certificate courses. Loans and in-kind contributions may be used to meet matching requirements.

C.5. APPROACH TO PROVIDING COST-SHARE GRANTS

Components one, two and three include a cost-share grants program. Below are the requirements and parameters for the implementation of the cost-share grants program for each component.

The aggregate amount of grants allocated under all three components must be $13 million.

The Contractor must design and implement a competitive cost-share grants program with detailed, transparent selection process and criteria for each component. The COR must be significantly involved in establishing grant solicitation and selection process, and selection criteria and must approve recipients.

Eligible grant recipients for all components include public and private VET colleges and universities;

employer, professional, or business associations, and NGOs registered in Georgia and their partnerships.

The ultimate purpose of the cost-share grants is to systematically engage employers in provision of skills and knowledge demanded in sectors with high growth potential and creation direct linkages between training programs and employment opportunities.

Cost-share grants under the Component 1 will be used to incentivize private sector to pilot initiatives and innovative practices of engagement in skills development. The maximum grant size for this

Component must be $30,000 per recipient.

Cost-share grants under the Component 2A will support establishment of high-quality short-term certificate courses to meet employer’s needs in sectors with high growth potential. The maximum grant size for this Sub-Component must be $300,000 per recipient.

Cost-share grants under the Component 2B will be used to establish or significantly improve long-term skills training programs demanded by employers. The maximum grant size for this Sub-component must be $1.5M per recipient.

Cost-share grants under the Component 3 will be used to expand existing, high-quality skills training programs to rural areas. The maximum grant size for this Sub-component must be $500,000 per recipient.

Grants under the Components 2 and 3 must not exceed 50% of the total estimated investment required to establish or significantly improve courses. Loans and in-kind contributions may be used to meet matching requirements. Matching requirements for the Component 1 will be proposed by the

Contractor based on proposed types of activities.

Eligible grant expenditures for all Components include improving teaching infrastructure; technical assistance and other costs related to the development/improvement of curricula, cost related to acquiring and maintaining international certifications; training of instructors; implementing innovative practices developed under Component 1; and monitoring student outcomes.

Prior to issuing a grant, the COR must provide approval. See Section H.31 entitled, “Considerations for Grants Under Contract”.

C.6. CONTRACT DELIVERABLES

USAID is committed to quantifiable results. As this is a completion-type contract, completion shall be defined by the accomplishment of the results indicated. Through the three contract components, during its life the Program must achieve the results listed below:

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RESULTS TABLE

No Result Contract Year Minimum expected total 1 2 3 4 5

Across all components

1 Number of individuals who complete

USG-assisted workforce development programs

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD 4,800

2 Number of individuals with new or better employment following participation in skills development courses developed by the Program

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD 3,600

3 Number of businesses that have established long-term partnerships with training providers

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD 20

4 Dollar value of cost-share mobilized by grantees from the private sector, GoG

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD $6M

5 Share of individuals from rural areas and ethnic minority population trained

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD 30%

6 Share of female participants in skills development courses developed by the

Program

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD 40%

Component 1: Incentivize private sector engagement in skills development

7 Number of employers’, associations/councils’, and industry groups’ demonstrating improved/innovative skills training engagement practices

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD 20

8 Number of employers, associations/councils, and industry groups that have received outreach about innovative skills engagement practices

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD 200

Component 2: Establish skills training programs demanded by the private sector

Sub-component 2a: Establish short-term skills training programs demanded by the private sector

9 Number of new programs established with employers’ participation and accepting students for training

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD 20

10 Number of businesses that have established long-term partnerships with training providers

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD 10

11 Number of individuals enrolled in training

(disaggregate by completed/in-process)

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD 3600

Sub-component 2b: Establish long-term skills training programs demanded by the private sector

12 Number of improved or new programs established with employers’ participation and accepting students

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD 35

13 Number of individuals enrolled

(disaggregate by completed/in-process)

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD 2600

14 Number of authorized training slots in

USG-supported training programs

(sustainability indicator)

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD 1000

Component 3: Increase access to training opportunities for rural and priority populations

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15 Number programs established with employers’ participation and accepting students in rural areas

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD 20

16 Number of businesses that have established long-term relationships with the training provider in rural areas

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD 10

17 Number of individuals enrolled in rural areas (disaggregate by completed/in-process)

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD 1500

18 Number of authorized training slots in

USG-supported training programs in rural areas (sustainability indicator)

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD 600

[TBDs will be proposed by offeror and will be incorporated at time of award. The Minimum Expected

Total will be replaced by the actual Total agreed upon at time of award.]

C.7 TECHNICAL GUIDELINES AND CONSIDERATIONS

The Contractor must integrate the following requirements into its implementation approach.

Journey to Self-Reliance (J2SR). Through this program, USAID ultimately aims to leverage

Georgia’s recent progress in skills development and resources to create employment opportunities by building enduring linkages between the private sector and skills providers and establishing training programs that will continue to result in high-value employment opportunities beyond the life of the

Program.

The Program must work closely with the Government and secure commitment to support implementation and sustain results over the long-term. Government has recently prioritized private sector engagement as a way to eliminate skills mismatch in the labor market and implemented a number of policy changes and measures to create an enabling environment. The Program must build on these achievements, on successful models developed by the US and other donors (EU, Switzerland, Denmark, the UK, and others), IFIs, and NDBs, and collaborate with the employers, private and public training providers to co-create and co-design skills development programs to support economic growth.

USAID's investments in engaging the private sector in skills development and training programs will be contingent on private sector and Government of Georgia contributions. The contractor will be expected to design interventions in ways that maximize leverage of investments made in skills development by GOG and other donors to ensure burden sharing.

Donor and host country coordination. While working closely with employer and industry representatives, professional and business associations and skills providers, the Contractor must coordinate and complement activities closely with government, USAID projects, and other donor-led initiatives designed to enhance skills development and employers engagement in the country.

The Contractor must work closely with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Welfare and agencies under them to monitor labor market and skills supply developments. The Contractor must closely follow economic developments in the country, including priorities and trends in Government and Foreign Direct Investments, and ensure that skills training programs respond to immediate and long-term economic development needs, and sustainably integrated into the skills development system.

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The Contractor must collaborate with and leverage investments, and build on results and lessons of

USAID programs focused on economic and rural development (USAID Economic Security, Zrda, Agriculture Program), on energy security, and ethnic minority engagement (USAID PITA, Zrda), Georgian skills development sector is being extensively supported by donors. The Contractor must leverage their investments and build upon their achievements and lessons learned.