SOL 72011423R00009.pdf

Issuance Date: September 15, 2023

Questions Due Date and Time September 29, 2023, 9:00 AM Tbilisi Time

Past Performance Submission Deadline: October 24, 2023, 9:00 AM Tbilisi Time

Technical and Cost Proposal Submission Deadline:

November 8, 2023, 9:00 AM Tbilisi Time

Subject: Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 72011423R00009 USAID Green Transportation and Logistics Program

Dear Prospective Offerors:

The United States Agency for International Development in Georgia (USAID/Georgia) is seeking proposals from qualified companies and organizations interested in implementing the above-referenced activity for the purpose of strengthening the Middle Corridor, catalyzing mass passenger transport, and reducing the climate impact of Georgia’s transport and logistics sector.

USAID anticipates awarding one (1) stand-alone Cost-Plus-Fixed Fee (CPFF) completion type contract with a period of performance of five (5) years. The maximum available funding is $24,500,000.

USAID invites all interested and responsible organizations to submit offers in accordance with the requirements of this solicitation. USAID will conduct this procurement as a full and open competition under which any type of organization may submit a proposal. The procedures set forth in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) will govern the procurement. The competition will utilize a Highest Technically Rated with Fair and Reasonable Price and Realistic Cost (HTR) selection process.

The principal geographic codes for this contract are 937 and 110; the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 541618 Other Management Consulting Services.

Please note that the award of this contract and its period of performance is based on the Section 889 Modified Foreign Assistance (FA) Waiver USAID received from the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), which expires on September 30, 2028. Therefore, although this is anticipated to be a five year period of performance, the base period will be for four years and four months (e.g., 52 months) and an option period for an additional eight (8) months. If and when the Contractor submits the representation for FAR 52.204-24 Covered

USAID Green Transportation and Logistics Program

SOL #72011423R00009

Telecommunications Equipment or Services-Representation, which may be submitted no later than March 31, 2028 that the Contractor represents that it does not use covered equipment and services, or there is a renewed or alternative waiver in place before that date, the Contracting Officer will provide written notice of its intent to exercise the option.

If your organization decides to submit a proposal in response to this solicitation, it must be submitted in accordance with Section L of this RFP. Offerors must also carefully review Section M – Evaluation Factors. Proposals must be submitted to USAID/Georgia no later than the closing date and time stated above, to the email addresses designated in Section L for receipt of proposals. If the proposal is received after the closing date and time, or if it is incomplete, it will neither be accepted nor considered unless authorized by the Contracting Officer pursuant to

FAR 15.208.

Any questions regarding the RFP requirements must be submitted to A&A Specialist Ms. Yana Adelberg via e-mail at yadelberg@usaid.gov , with courtesy copy to TbilisiRCO-EG@usaid.gov no later than the submission deadline set forth above.

Along with this RFP, any amendments to this solicitation will be issued and posted on the System for Award Management website (www.sam.gov). Offerors are encouraged to check the website periodically. It is the responsibility of the Offeror to ensure that solicitation or any amendments to it has been received from the Internet in its entirety and USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.

This RFP in no way obligates the USAID to award a contract, nor does it commit USAID to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of your proposal. Thank you for your interest. We look forward to receiving and reviewing your proposals.

Sincerely, Alexis McGinness Supervisory Regional Contracting Officer USAID/Caucasus mailto:yadelberg@usaid.gov mailto:TbilisiRCO-EG@usaid.gov http://www.sam.gov

72011423R00009

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

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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.

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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

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11. TABLE OF CONTENTS

18. OFFER DATE17. SIGNATURE

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EXT.NUMBERAREA CODE

15B. TELEPHONE NUMBER

(Type or print)AND

ADDRESS

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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

09/15/2023 X

720114

Regional Contracting Office USAID/Georgia 29, Georgian-American Friendship Av 0131, Tbilisi, Georgia

0900 D 11/08/2023

Yana Adelberg +99 44x144 yadelberg@usaid.gov

532-9228

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PAGE(S)

Alexis McGinness

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

Previous edition is unusable

STANDARD FORM 33 (Rev. 9-97)

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

12. In compliance with the above, the undersigned agrees, if this offer is accepted within _____220_________ calendar days (60 calendar days unless a different period is inserted

Contents:

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES/PRICES 4

SECTION C - STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW) 8

SECTION D PACKAGING AND MARKING 19

SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE 22

SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE 23

SECTION G - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA 42

SECTION H - SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS 48

SECTION I - CONTRACT CLAUSES 72

SECTION J - LIST OF ATTACHMENTS 88

SECTION K - REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS 89

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS 117

SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD 138

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES/PRICES

B.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is to provide technical assistance and services described in detail in Section C, Statement of Work, for the implementation of the USAID Green Transportation and Logistics Program.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE

This is a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) completion type contract. For the consideration set forth in the contract, the Contractor must provide the deliverables or outputs described in Sections C and F and comply with all contract requirements.

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

(a) The Total Estimated Cost of the base contract for the performance of the work required hereunder, exclusive of fixed fee, is [ TBD ]. The Total Fixed Fee is [ TBD ]. The Total Estimated Cost Plus Fixed Fee, if any, is [ TBD ].

(b) The Total Estimated Cost for the performance of the work under the option period, if exercised, exclusive of fixed fee, is [ TBD ]. The Total Fixed Fee is [ TBD ]. The Total Estimated Cost Plus Fixed Fee, if any, is [ TBD ].

(c) Within the estimated cost plus fixed fee specified above, the amount currently obligated and available for reimbursement of allowable costs incurred by the Contractor (and payment of fee) for performance hereunder is [ TBD ] . The Contractor must not exceed the aforesaid obligated amount, unless authorized by the contracting officer pursuant to the clause of this contract entitled “Limitation of Funds (APR

1984)” FAR 52.232-22.

(d) Funds obligated hereunder are anticipated to be sufficient through [ TBD ] .

B.4 BUDGET

(a) The following itemized budget sets forth the estimates for reimbursement of dollar costs for cost categories and the fixed fee.

Section B – Page 4

Base Contract (TBD, 2024 - TBD, 2028)

CLIN Item Total ($)

0001a Direct Costs TBD

0001b Grants under Contract TBD

0001c Catalytic Financial Pool TBD

0001d Indirect Costs TBD

0001e Fixed Fee TBD

Base (CLIN 0001) Total Estimated Cost Plus Fixed Fee

TBD

Option Period (TBD, 2028 - TBD, 2029)

CLIN Item Total ($)

0002a Direct Costs TBD

0002b Grants under Contract TBD

0002c Catalytic Financial Pool TBD

0002d Indirect Costs TBD

0002e Fixed Fee TBD

Option(CLIN 0002) Total Estimated Cost Plus Fixed Fee

TBD

[Note to Offerors: For purposes of offeror proposals, the Base Period will be a total of four years and four months (e.g., fifty-two months) and the Option Period will be for a total of eight months. The total period of performance of base plus option year must not exceed five

(5) years. Based on the award date, the dates for the Base Period and the Option Period will be established at time of award]

[Note: If the successful offeror represents that the Section 889 FA Waiver is not required, the final award may be altered to have a single CLIN combining the total amounts of the Base Period and Option Period.]

Section B – Page 5

(b) The amounts in the above cost categories may not be adjusted without a written modification signed by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor must not bill any amounts against this contract in excess of the amounts specified for each line item.

B.5 INDIRECT COSTS

The contract clause entitled “Allowable Cost and Payment (JUN 2013)”, FAR 52.216-7, specifies that the indirect cost rates must be established for each of the contractor’s accounting periods that apply to this contract. Pending establishment of revised provisional or final indirect cost rates, allowable indirect costs shall be reimbursed on the basis of the following negotiated provisional or predetermined rates and the appropriate bases pursuant to the Contractor’s current executed Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA):

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 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 consent of the Contracting Officer.

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

Description 2025 2026 2027 2028

TBD % % % %

Section B – Page 6

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

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

B.7 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE

USAID will pay a proportion of the Contractor’s fixed fee each month pursuant to FAR 52.216-8, “Fixed Fee,” upon the receipt of an invoice deemed proper by the USAID/Georgia Office of Financial Management. The paying office is USAID/Georgia, Office of Financial Management, as specified in Section G.7.

B.8 COST REIMBURSABLE

The U.S. dollar costs allowable will be limited to reasonable, allocable, and necessary costs determined in accordance with FAR 31 (Contract Cost Principles and Procedures), FAR 52.216-7 Allowable Cost and Payment, FAR 52.216-8 Fixed Fee, FAR 52.232-20 Limitation of Cost, FAR 52.232-22, Limitation of Funds, if applicable, and AIDAR 752.7003 Documentation for Payment.

END OF SECTION B

Section B – Page 7

SECTION C - STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)

C.1. PURPOSE

The USAID Green Transportation and Logistics Program (“Program”) aims to generate value for Georgia’s economy by strengthening the Middle Corridor1, catalyzing mass passenger transport, and reducing the climate impact of Georgia’s transport and logistics sector, thereby reducing the economic dependence of Georgia, the South Caucasus, Central Asia, and Europe on the Russian Corridors2.

C.2. BACKGROUND

C.2.1. General Background and Problem Analysis

Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine has left many countries eager to find alternatives to the Northern Corridor for the shipment of goods from Asia and Central Asia to the EU.

Georgia, as a key player in the Middle Corridor, has a significant opportunity to capitalize on its geographic location to generate investment and employment opportunities throughout the country. However, to do so, Georgia must address the interrelated challenge of increasing commercial transport and passenger transit while meeting its EU Association Agreement3 requirements and climate commitments.

Georgia needs to improve the interconnectivity of multimodal transportation, both at its borders and within its territory, to address significant systemic weaknesses in its cargo transport and logistics systems. Georgia must also address systemic challenges facing mass passenger transit, which is currently under-regulated and as a result, highly fragmented, unreliable, unsafe, environmentally unsustainable, and inefficient. Road safety and air quality management must also be improved to address Georgia’s EU Association Agreement requirements. As such, the transformation of cargo and passenger transport sectors is critical for Georgia’s EU membership aspirations.

The cargo transport and passenger transit sectors both significantly contribute to Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and air pollutants harmful to human health and the environment. Improved air quality standards is also a requirement of the EU Association Agreement. Therefore, Georgia will need to address all three components - cargo transport, passenger transit, and environmental factors - at the same time - in order to meet its EU Association Agreement requirements, its international GHG reduction commitments, to improve the health of its people and natural resources, and to provide valuable employment opportunities for its people.

3 association_agreement.pdf (europa.eu) -https://www.eeas.europa.eu/sites/default/files/association_agreement.pdf

2 Also referenced as the Eurasian Northern Corridor.

1 The Middle Corridor is an emerging transit route connecting economies from Central Asia to the South Caucasus and on into eastern Europe.

Section C - Page 8 https://www.eeas.europa.eu/sites/default/files/association_agreement.pdf

C.2.2. Relationship to the USAID/Georgia’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS)

The Program will support USAID Georgia’s Development Objective 3: Inclusive High-Value Employment Opportunities Provided through Increased Economic Growth.

The majority of the Program will directly support Intermediate Result (IR) 3.2:

Competitiveness of Key Sectors Increased. A portion of the work will also support IR 3.1 Last Gaps in Euro Atlantic Oriented Economic Reforms Addressed, as a significant portion of the regulations needed to raise the standards, safety, and environmental footprint of Georgia’s transportation and logistics sectors are also needed for the EU Association Agreement and eventual EU Accession. Additionally, the Program will counter malign influence by helping Georgia, and Central Asia, become less dependent on Russia for its Northern Corridor trade route.

C.2.3. Development Hypothesis

IF trade is increased across the Middle Corridor through improved transport and logistics systems; IF safety, quality, and efficiency of passenger and cargo transportation is increased; IF Georgia’s economy reaps the economic benefits of increased trade and transit of cargo and passengers; IF Georgia’s capacity to implement improvements to air quality and meet climate targets is strengthened; THEN Georgia’s economy will benefit and grow, high-value jobs will be created, and Georgia will be closer to meeting EU Association Agreement requirements and its international environmental commitments.

C.3 SCOPE OF WORK

The Program will have two mutually reinforcing components. These two components are interwoven and designed to mutually reinforce one another - transforming the way Georgia thinks about and manages the movement of goods and people. The two components for this program are:

Component 1: Strengthening Georgian Trade, Transport, and Logistics Component 2: Catalyze Mass Passenger Transport

The Contractor must implement activities that are designed to make sustainable impacts on both the movement of cargo and of passengers.

C.3.1. Detailed Description of Components

C.3.1.1. Component 1: Strengthening Georgian Trade, Transport, and Logistics System

Under Component 1, the Contractor must strengthen Georgia’s trade, transport, and logistics systems for cargo transport along the Middle Corridor, reducing Georgia’s and global dependence on Russia. This component is focused on: (1) increasing the volume of

Section C - Page 9 cross-Georgia east-west trade; (2) decreasing the time and cost for a cargo unit to cross Georgia; (3) decreasing the environmental footprint of that crossing, with the ultimate aim of increasing the value to Georgia of east-west trade; (4) improving Georgia’s standing on international trade and logistics indices; and (5) meeting Georgia’s EU Association Agreement requirements.

The Contractor must rely on public and private sector-led strategies to identify interventions that catalyze and drive systemic change, with an eye towards supporting long term public private partnerships (PPP). Contractor must support implementation of Georgia’s recently approved 2023-2030 Transport and Logistics National Strategy4. Interventions must seek to improve the efficiency, value, and environmental footprint of cargo transport in particular. The Contractor must provide support to more than one of the multimodal transportation options available to Georgia (road, rail, air, sea). This must be done in a manner that is in line with international standards, focusing on EU standards where practicable, and which directly, wherever possible, reduces GHG and other air pollutants.

The Contractor must provide flexible support that is responsive to the challenges and opportunities associated with an evolving environment and political challenges inherent in the multi-country Middle Corridor. The Contractor must strengthen the capacity of public and private sector actors to facilitate transport and logistics facilitation, in areas such as:

digitalization of transportation, cargo tracking, and logistics system, improving warehouse capabilities, vehicle safety and road maintenance standards, innovative, sustainable and environmentally sound transport technologies, and export/import operations and procedures.

The Contract must also incentivize adoption and sustainable adherence to internationally recognized customs, transportation and logistics standards so that Georgia is able to fully participate in the Middle Corridor and benefit from increased EU-Central Asia trade.

The Contractor must identify and support practices, technologies, and strategies that seek to modernize and transform Georgia’s transport and logistics sectors to be climate-resilient and reduce their environmental impact, while future-proofing them from anticipated climate shocks. These efforts must align with the objectives of Georgia’s 2030 Climate Change Strategy5, EU Association Agreement, and the updated Nationally determined contributions (NDC) supporting low-carbon development.

Additional and specified interventions to achieve the expected results and perform the tasks identified under Component 1 will be incorporated into the activity work plans.

The expected outcomes under Component 1 are to strengthen the capacity of enterprises and stakeholders at all levels of the transportation and logistics ecosystem to increase reliability, safety, and quality standards, improve the enabling environment, and facilitate linkages across

5 Georgia’s 2030 Climate Change Strategy - mepa.gov.ge/En/Files/ViewFile/50123

4 https://www.economy.ge/uploads/files/2017/transport/2023/draft_logistics_strategy.pdf

Section C - Page 10 https://mepa.gov.ge/En/Files/ViewFile/50123 the Middle Corridor. The Contractor must use the following indicators to measure its progress and achievement of these outcomes:

● Value of private capital leveraged to improve transportation and logistics within Georgia, of which at least 20 percent supports adoption of climate innovation

● Value of public sector investment leveraged to improve transportation and logistics within Georgia, of which at least 20 percent supports adoption of innovation with a net climate benefit

● Number of institutions with improved capacity to advance adherence of the transportation and logistics sectors with EU Association Agreement requirements

● Number of strategies, policies, plans, or regulations developed and implemented, to advance transportation systems for cargo and people

● Number of enterprises in the transport and logistics sectors operating at improved efficiency

● Number of enterprises in the transport and logistics sectors with improved environmental practices and/or improved climate resilience

● Number of jobs created by supported enterprises in the transport and logistics sectors

● Percent increase in volume or value of goods traded across the Middle

Corridor

● Number of tons of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas emissions reduced or avoided from adopted laws, policies, regulations, or technologies related to clean energy as supported by USG assistance (EG. 12-7)

For indicators where a baseline does not exist, the Contractor must perform a baseline assessment.

C.3.1.2. Component 2: Catalyze Mass Passenger Transport

Under Component 2, the Contractor must catalyze the improved safety, quality, and efficiency of mass passenger transport, focusing on formalizing the sector, reducing harmful air pollutants, and increasing compliance with EU Association Agreement requirements.

As part of the EU Association Agreement, the GoG initiated reforms to rationalize and dramatically improve mass passenger transport. To support implementation of this reform, the Contractor must work with relevant GoG stakeholders to align and harmonize inter- and intra-city transit networks. The Contractor must support the coordination and capacity building of national and subnational public sector actors with

Section C - Page 11 authorities over different aspects of mass passenger transit development. The Contractor must identify appropriate policy interventions and promising interventions with the potential to catalyze additional public and private sector investments and have transformative impacts. The Contractor is expected to prioritize interventions that specifically address requirements of the EU Association Agreement and NDCs, reduce GHG emissions, and increase efficiency.

Investments must not be limited to physical infrastructure and technology but also serve to address critical skills gaps, particularly with regard to planning and operating interconnected regional, national, and subnational transportation systems. This could be done potentially in partnership with the USAID Industry Led Skills Program or other donors. Likewise, the Contractor must include a focus on improving the capacity of government entities, businesses, and associations, to provide modern, safe, efficient, and environmentally sound transportation options. The Contractor must work closely with the USAID Resilient Communities Program, the USAID Local Governance Program, and other USAID programs as appropriate in order to maximize stakeholder buy-in and leverage at the sub-national level.

Additional and specified interventions to achieve the expected results and perform the tasks identified under Component 2 will be incorporated into the activity work plans.

The expected outcomes under Component 2 are to strengthen the capacity of enterprises and stakeholders at all levels and catalyze the improved safety, quality, and efficiency of mass passenger transport. The Contractor must use the following Indicators to measures its progress and achievement of these outcomes:

● Number of beneficiaries with improved transportation services due to

USG assistance

● Number of enterprises operating at improved efficiency in the mass passenger transport sector

● Number of enterprises with improved environmental practices and/or improved climate resilience in the mass passenger transport sectors

For indicators where a baseline does not exist, the Contractor must perform a baseline assessment.

C.3.2 Adaptive Management

While Georgia has long positioned itself as a regional hub for trade and transport, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the attractiveness of the Middle Corridor as an alternative to Russia’s Northern Corridor has created new opportunities and complexities for this ambition. In addition, attempting to integrate an environmentally sound approach to these challenges and opportunities introduces many unknown factors that will not be evident until the Program is in implementation and assessments

Section C - Page 12 are undertaken. Further, with the dynamic nature of the private sector and changing economic and political conditions, the Contractor must utilize adaptive management practices built around evidence-based decision making, reflection points, tight feedback loops with USAID, and close collaboration with Program stakeholders. In order to maintain relevance, the Contractor must be able to pivot and adapt interventions to capture opportunities and address complexities as they emerge. This may include periodic adjustments to tasks and targets based on performance and learning.

Furthermore, the Contractor must remain agile and open to ideas from potential beneficiaries (both private and public actors) as a means of safeguarding the innovative nature of the Program.

The Contractor must use an approach that incorporates mechanisms and tools to provide evidence to support adjustments in implementation and includes adaptive management practices and contingency plans to ensure responsive programming.

Further, the Contractor must be agile to take requests from USAID to address changing circumstances and unanticipated events. Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and collaboration, learning and adapting (CLA) efforts will be key components of the activity’s approach to adaptive management and its CLA agenda. The Contractor must develop a systematic method of collecting and analyzing performance data and other information to track progress toward planned results, ensure effective management and oversight, and enable data-based decision-making and refinements to the activity.

The Contractor must provide sufficient human and financial resources for MEL and CLA, including the development and launch/release of outreach materials to promote activity accomplishments and replication of success.

C.3.3. Climate Priority Requirements

The Program is in line with both Strategic Objectives (SO) of USAID’s Climate Change Strategy6. The Program must support SO 1 Targeted Direct Action first by reducing the emissions related to transport, trade, and logistics, and by increasing access to finance for investments related to greening the sectors. The Program must reduce emissions and improve air quality by decreasing the direct impacts of passenger and cargo vehicles through improving and implementing standards for roadworthiness, and through transitioning movement of goods to lower-carbon modalities, including a focus on improving rail capacity for cargo. The U.S. Government has set substantial, ambitious targets to reduce climate-impacting emissions, targeting a 50 percent reduction from 2005 levels in economy-wide net greenhouse gas pollution in 2030, and a net zero carbon economy by 2050. Investments made under this activity are expected to comply with the spirit of these commitments, and, where possible and appropriate, help develop a cleaner, greener economy. The Contractor must integrate best practices and approaches from USAID’s Climate Change Strategy across all components.

6 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2022-11/USAID-Climate-Strategy-2022-2030.pdf

Section C - Page 13

C.3.4. Private and Public Sectors

As the engine of economic growth, the private sector should drive the implementation of this program. In-depth USAID consultations with related enterprises revealed opportunities for private sector-led partnerships and their readiness for co-creating solutions that will unlock investment. At the same time, many of the system-wide challenges are at the level of national and sub-national governments, and may involve stakeholders from multiple GoG Ministries and Institutions. As such, the Contractor must act as a facilitator, catalyst, and convener, bringing together the public and private sectors to collaborate in identifying constraints and designing solutions. The Contractor’s approach should ensure the realities of the local context are accounted for, instill greater private sector ownership and investment, foster the environment for public private partnerships, and strengthen replicability and scalability.

The Contractor is expected to proactively and continually engage and collaborate with strategic stakeholders in the delivery of the Program for maximum impact and sustainability.

USAID Private Sector Engagement (PSE) Policy:

As per the USAID PSE Policy, the Contractor must closely consult, strategize, align, and collaborate with the private sector for greater scale, sustainability, and effectiveness of activity outcomes. The Contractor must rely on public- and private-sector-led strategies to identify opportunities for catalytic, systemic-change-driving interventions, with an eye towards supporting long term public private partnerships (PPP) and catalyzing additional public and private sector investments.

C.7 Other Stakeholder Coordination

A wide variety of donors are also engaged in this sector. The Contractor must leverage these investments, building upon past achievements, and incorporating lessons learned.

The Contractor must ensure the best use of policy and legislative reforms, investments, lines of credit, guarantees, technical assistance and other types of support by the European Union (EU) and European bilateral donors, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European Investment Bank (EIB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank, and the International Financial Corporation (IFC). The Contractor must coordinate closely with the above-mentioned donors and international financial institutions, among others, in order to ensure complementarity and avoid duplication of efforts.

C.7.1. Coordination with the Government of Georgia (GoG), other USAID Programs, Other USG and Donors

The Contractor must closely coordinate with the GoG, the private sector, other ongoing US Government activities, and other donor-led initiatives to support Middle Corridor development, trade and logistics integration, transportation modernization and

Section C - Page 14 expansion, East-West integration, and environmental footprint reduction efforts in Georgia.

1. Strategic Alignment with GoG Policies and Priorities

The Contractor must work closely with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture (MEPA), the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development (MoESD), the Ministry of Rural Development and Infrastructure (MRDI), and other GoG Ministries and Agencies with a mandate to contribute to transportation and logistics modernization and promote efficiency and environmental impact reduction. Activities should be aligned with the GoG’s National Transportation and Logistics Strategy (under development) and Georgia’s 2030 Climate Change Strategy, in addition to future-proofing for consistency with EU Association Agreement regulations across multiple interrelated sectors, including air quality, transport safety, and climate. The Contractor must closely follow transportation, logistics, and related developments in the country and region, including political priorities, economic trends, and foreign direct investments in order to ensure that Program activities respond to immediate and long-term sectoral development needs.

2. Cooperation with USG-funded Programs

Where possible, the Contractor must collaborate and work with ongoing USG programs to attract investments in the Transport and Logistics Sectors; address critical skills gaps;

support enabling policy environment and climate resilient development; engage communities and non-governmental organizations in transportation and logistics sector discussions that impact them. It is also expected that the Contractor will collaborate with USAID programs in other Middle Corridor countries across the Caucasus and Central Asia, as well as regional programs funded by USAID/Washington

The Contractor must also collaborate closely with other ongoing programs from the US Government. This will include, but is not limited to: Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) work with the Maritime Transport Agency on creating a Maritime Single Window;

the Commercial Law Development Program’s (CLDP) work on integrating the countries along the Middle Corridor into a cohesive transit corridor; and the Development Finance Corporation’s interest in investing in development-oriented private-sector-led opportunities across the country.

C.8 Grants under Contract (GUC) & Catalytic Financial Pool

Program success requires stakeholders in the transportation and logistics sectors to make significant changes in their behavior and systems, as well as, to adopt new practices and make significant investments in new resources. In order to encourage and de-risk these changes, the Program will use up to $6 million in Grants Under Contracts (GUC) as one of the tools that will be used to implement the program.

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All grants must have a strong justification, including a clear development purpose and must consider environmental impacts. Grants must require a minimum of 1:1 matching, wherever possible. The Contractor must manage the pool of cost-matching funds in a manner that (a) ensures the desired outcomes; (b) maximizes leverage of non-USAID funds; (c) minimizes the potential for significant market-distortions; and, (d) ensures additionality. The Contractor should consider using pay for performance approaches and include the percentage of co-investment as criteria for receiving support.

Grants, where applicable, should be directed toward local entities, unless there is an exceptional reason to engage with an international entity. The Contractor must work with companies, sectoral associations, business service providers, or similar members of the transport and logistics sectors that are administratively capable to receive and utilize USAID’s support for the development of the sectors.

For cases where application of grants is not an effective instrument, the Contractor may use Catalytic Financial Pool (Subawards). This Financial Pool may be used for the establishment of PPPs and Global Development Alliances (GDAs), as defined by USAID, in the transportation and logistics sector. In addition, the Catalytic Financial Pool may be used to implement targeted technical assistance to key stakeholders, such as:

conducting feasibility studies, designing infrastructure plans, developing transport and logistics development strategies, organizing Business to Business and investment forums.

There are no limitations on the geographic coverage in the country. Investments under this program, and especially strong applicants, are expected to be bolstered by linkages to the formal banking sector, including the loan portfolio guarantees with the Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and also linkages with the wider capital market, including potentially direct investment from DFC and/or other IFIs.

C.9. Additional Cross-Cutting Requirements and Considerations

C.9.1. Innovation and Digital Solutions

Opportunities for innovation in improving cargo transport, logistics, and passenger transportation are substantial, and even greater when considering environmental solutions. Digital platforms, and platform interoperability, were identified by stakeholders across all sectors as both challenges and opportunities for transformative sectoral development. The Contractor must identify solutions, with priority given to innovation that improve sector competitiveness, reduce transit and transportation times and costs, improve efficiency and overall environmental footprint of the sector.

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C.9.2. Gender and Marginalized Populations

The Biden Administration released the National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality7 in October 2021 that adopts an intersectional approach to tackling the barriers and challenges faced by those experiencing compounding forms of bias and discrimination.

Investments made under this Program are expected to comply with the spirit of the applicable priorities - economic security, equality, climate change - and intersectional approach. Where possible and appropriate, the Contractor must integrate best practices and approaches described under the applicable priorities of the Strategy. The Contractor must identify gaps in the current analyses of gender relations in relevant sectors and propose effective ways to address them, as relevant, targeted assessment must be conducted. Interventions should be designed in a way that tackles the identified gaps and challenges while contributing to the advancement of the aforementioned Strategy priorities.

As noted above, women have limited access to information, knowledge, resources, and markets. They do not always have equitable access to opportunities for building and sustaining business and leadership skills that are key to overcoming the social and cultural barriers to their participation. Moreover, women often have different needs from transportation systems that go unmet. They often face greater barriers in accessing transportation systems, such as lack of safety, and are not part of the transportation planning process. The Contractor must assess, design, and implement activities to benefit and meet the unique needs of marginalized populations.

C.9.3 Sustainability

The Contractor must design and implement interventions whose results will be sustainable beyond the life of the Program. Sustainability can be achieved in many ways and will be buoyed by building the capacity of the public sector, focusing on the needs of the private sector, engaging the private sector and GoG (including subnational governments, where appropriate) in the design and implementation of specific interventions, ensuring ownership by local actors, increasing linkages across the country and the Middle Corridor, and requiring grant and other support applicants to write a sound sustainability plan as part of their proposal. The Contractor must examine the incentives and motivations of key stakeholders in targeted sectors for sustaining interventions and incorporate these findings into intervention designs.

C.10 Organizational Capabilities and Contact Management

The Contractor must have the necessary mix of staff and requisite levels of professional expertise, adapted as needed, to implement the activity and must identify, recruit, hire, and support appropriate candidates for the key personnel positions.

7 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/National-Strategy-on-Gender-Equity-and-Equality.pdf

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The Contractor’s successful track record must demonstrate that it can ensure the sustainability of intervention outcomes, including proven methodologies for cultivating local ownership, engaging the private sector, replicating and scaling models, promoting knowledge management, pursuing creative approaches, and institutionalizing reform.

The Contractor must have a combination of core staff to manage regularly scheduled work and deliverables as well as short-term advisors, experts, and specialists to conduct periodic or one-off tasks, in accordance with all components. The team collectively must possess a deep cadre of high-level specialists to implement the activity.

Consistent with the Agency Policy of Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, USAID/Georgia promotes social equity and inclusion in its hiring and management practices. The Contractor must demonstrate institutional commitment to gender equality and social inclusion and must consider equitable balance in staffing and staff requirements; personnel systems, hiring, and management; and capacity development principles and approaches. It is critical for the sustainability of the activities to be initiated under this program that the Contractor engages local experts. When qualified personnel are available, the Contractor should utilize local personnel with appropriate prior experience and expertise.

Professional-level skills and management practices are required in the performance of this contract. Accordingly, the Contractor must establish an effective quality control program to assure that deliverables and other products meet professional standards and comply with requirements.

END OF SECTION C

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SECTION D PACKAGING AND MARKING

D.1 AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (JAN 1993)

(a) It is USAID policy that USAID-financed commodities and shipping containers, and program construction sites and other program locations be suitably marked with the USAID emblem.

Shipping containers are also to be marked with the last five digits of the USAID financing document number. As a general rule, marking is not required for raw materials shipped in bulk (such as coal, grain, etc.), or for semi-finished products which are not packaged.

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

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

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

D.2 COMPLIANCE WITH BRANDING STRATEGY AND BRANDING IMPLEMENTATION &

MARKING PLANS

(a) The Contractor must comply with the approved Branding Implementation Plan (BIP) and Marking Plan (MP)

(b) The Activity BIP/MP will be incorporated as a material part of the Contract.

(c) The Contractor must comply with the following Branding Strategy:

Program Name: USAID Green Transportation and Logistics Program

The project will be positioned as a partnership between USAID and Government of Georgia as well as private enterprises, associations, and other stakeholders that have critical roles in the development and modernization of Georgia’s Transportation and Logistics sector.

Visibility: The project will have high visibility in Georgia among its targeted audiences. As such, USAID expects it to be actively publicized and requests pre-production review of all materials that include the USAID logo. All materials must be marked in compliance with the USAID Graphic standards manual at https://www.usaid.gov/branding/gsm.

Acknowledgements: Should a partnership arise between other counterparts, they will be acknowledged as appropriate in all work per USAID’s regulations. In any collaboration with other donors, those donors will be acknowledged per USAID’s regulations.

Section D - Page 19 https://www.usaid.gov/branding/gsm

Project Main Messages: Through Program activities, the USAID Green Transportation and Logistics Program will (1) Strengthen Georgia’s trade, transportation, and logistics systems for cargo transport along the Middle Corridor and (2) Catalyze the improved safety, quality, and efficiency of mass passenger transport, focusing on formalizing the sector, reducing harmful air pollutants, and increasing compliance with EU Association Agreement requirements. The main message is that the USAID Green Transportation and Logistics Program will strengthen Georgia’s capacity to sustainably support an increase in transportation and trade brought by the increased interest in east-west movement of goods along the Middle Corridor, thereby reducing the economic dependence of Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia on the Russian Northern Corridor

Project Audiences: The primary audience for project publicity is the Georgian public, including private sector, policy makers, opinion leaders, and the media. The project will engage with the government agencies, associations, and private companies focused on the modernization of Georgia’s Transportation and Logistics System.

Materials & Communications Positioning: The project will incorporate the message that this “assistance is from the American people” in all oral and written communication, in accordance with the ADS 320, the USAID Graphic Standards Manual, and per USAID guidance.

D.3 EXCEPTIONS AND WAIVERS TO USAID BRANDING AND MARKING REQUIREMENTS

USAID may consider programmatic exceptions to its requirements for branding and marking, as outlined in ADS 320.3.2.5 are rare, programmatic in nature, and reflect the categories of foreign assistance USAID generally does not want marked. USAID may approve exceptions post-award when appropriate. Guidance for applying for exceptions can be found at USAID ADS 320, Branding and Marking.

USAID will only grant waivers in rare circumstances, after considerable deliberation and analysis, and will be narrowly targeted in terms of geography, time, and programmatic application.

Guidance for applying for waivers can be found at USAID ADS Chapter 320, Branding and Marking.

In accordance with ADS 320, only the Contracting Officer has the authority to inform the Contractor of USAID’s decision to approve an exception or grant a waiver to the branding and marking requirements. Only the CO has the authority to inform the Contractor to comply with such exceptions or waivers. Any branding and marking requirement waiver will be subject to review every six months.

D.4 BRANDING AND MARKING FOR GRANTS UNDER CONTRACT

The Contractor is responsible for including branding and marking requirements for grants under this contract (GUC) in accordance with 2 CFR 700.16. To ensure the marking requirements “flow down” to grantees, subgrants must include the provision as outlined in 2

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CFR 700.16(a)(4).

As part of the Contractor’s responsibility for managing grants, the Contractor must ensure that all grantees follow the same rules for branding and marking as assistance awards, as described in ADS 320, Branding and Marking, and incorporated herein by reference.

USAID reserves the right to require the USAID Identity to be larger and more prominent if it is the majority donor, or to require that a cooperating country government's identity be larger and more prominent if circumstances warrant; any such requirement will be on a case-by-case basis depending on the audience, program goals and materials produced.

USAID reserves the right to request pre-production review of USAID funded public communications and program materials for compliance with the approved Branding Strategy, Branding Implementation Plan, and Marking Plan.

USAID reserves the right to require marking with the USAID Identity in the event the grantee does not choose to mark with its own identity or logo.

END OF SECTION D

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SECTION E - INSPECTION AND…