SOL-165-17-000001.pdf

Request for Proposals (RFP) No.: SOL-165-17-000001 Issue Date: 05/05/2017 Questions Due: 05/12/2017, 16:00 Skopje time Closing Date: 06/08/2017, 16:00 Skopje time

Subject: RFP No. SOL-165-17-000001

USAID/Macedonia Business Ecosystem Project (BEP)

To All Prospective Offerors:

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Mission in Macedonia (USAID/Macedonia), is soliciting proposals from qualified organizations interested in providing the services described in the attached solicitation.

USAID/Macedonia anticipates awarding one cost plus fixed fee completion type contract with a period of performance of four (4) years, subject to the availability of funds. The estimated cost range of this contract (cost plus fee) is up to $6.5 million. The principal geographic code for this contract is

937. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541990.

This procurement will be conducted through a full and open competition process under which any type of organization is eligible to compete. The procedures are set forth in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 15.

Only electronic proposals will be accepted. Proposals must be sent to rknezevic@usaid.gov and femini@usaid.gov. Detailed requirements for Offerors’ proposals are outlined in Section L of this solicitation. Proposals must be signed by an official who is authorized to bind the organization and are to be submitted to USAID no later than the closing date and time stated above.

Any questions regarding this solicitation must be submitted in writing via email to Mr. Rade Knezevic at rknezevic@usaid.gov and Mr. Florentin Emini at femini@usaid.gov by the date and time specified herein. USAID intends to follow a very tight procurement timeline for this award:

Solicitation Issued: May 05, 2017

Questions Due: May 12, 2017

Answers Posted: May 19, 2017

Proposals Due: June 08, 2017

Competitive Range (if applicable): July 21, 2017

Revised Proposals Due: August 11, 2017

Award: September 15, 2017

This solicitation, amendments to this solicitation, and announcement of contract award will be made available through the government point of entry at https://www.fbo.gov/. It is the Offeror’s responsibility to check this site periodically for official updates to this solicitation. Issuance of this solicitation and the submittal of a proposal do not constitute a commitment on the part of the U.S.

mailto:rknezevic@usaid.gov mailto:femini@usaid.gov mailto:rknezevic@usaid.gov mailto:femini@usaid.gov https://www.fbo.gov/

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B – SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE

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

B.4 CONTRACT BUDGET AND CEILINGS

B.5 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE

B.6 COST REIMBURSABLE

B.7 INDIRECT COSTS

B.8 ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING ON CEILING INDIRECT COST RATES AND FINAL

REIMBURSEMENT FOR INDIRECT COSTS

B.9 MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT AND CANCELLATION CEILINGT

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION / SPECIFICATIONS / STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 TITLE OF ACTIVITY

C.2 PURPOSE

C.3 BACKGROUND

C.4 GOAL AND OBJECTIVES

C.5 SCOPE OF WORK

C.6 TRANSITION AND LOCAL PARTNER CAPACITY BUILDING

C.7 COLLABORATING, LEARNING AND ADAPTING

C.8 MID-TERM PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

C.9 MONITORING AND EVALUATION

SECTION D – BRANDING AND MARKING

D.1 MARKING AND BRANDING STRATEGY

D.2 AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (JAN 1993)

SECTION E – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

SECTION F – DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

F.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

F.2 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

F.3 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

F.4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

F.5 AUTHORIZED WORK WEEK

F.6 REPORTS, DELIVERABLES AND FEE SCHEDULE

F.7 KEY PERSONNEL AND STAFFING PLAN

SECTION G – CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

G.1 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S AUTHORITY

G.2 AIDAR 752.7003 DOCUMENTATION FOR PAYMENT (NOV 1998)

G.3 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

G.4 PAYING OFFICE

G.5 ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

G.6 TECHNICAL DIRECTIONS/RELATIONSHIP WITH USAID

G.7 CONTRACTOR’S PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT

G.8 CONTRACTOR’S PAYMENT ADDRESS

SECTION H – SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

H.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

H.2 AIDAR 752.225-70 SOURCE AND NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS (FEB 2012) ... 27

H.3 AIDAR 752.229-71 REPORTING OF FOREIGN TAXES (JULY 2007)

Business Ecosystem Project

SOL-165-17-000001

H.4 ADS 302.3.5.19 USAID-FINANCED THIRD-PARTY WEB SITES (AUG 2013)

H.5 ADS 302.3.5.22 SUBMISSION OF DATASETS TO THE DEVELOPMENT DATA

LIBRARY (DDL) (OCT 2014)

H.6 AIDAR 752.7004 EMERGENCY LOCATOR INFORMATION (JUL 1997)

H.7 AIDAR 752.7007 PERSONNEL COMPENSATION (JULY 2007)

H.8 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONNEL COMPENSATION

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

H.10 752.228-70 MEDICAL EVACUATION (MEDEVAC) SERVICES (JUL 2007)

H.11 AIDAR 752.222-70 USAID DISABILITY POLICY (DEC 2004)

H.12 AUTHORIZED GEOGRAPHIC CODE

H.13 EXECUTIVE ORDERS ON TERRORISM FINANCING

H.14 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED FACILITIES OR PROPERTY

H.15 FOREIGN GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS TO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

H.16 LOGISTICAL SUPPORT

H.17 LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

H.18 AIDAR 752.7032 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL APPROVAL AND NOTIFICATION

REQUIREMENTS (APR 2014)

H.19 FRAUD REPORTING

H.20 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

H.21 DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

H.22 FACILITIES USED FOR RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES

H.23 GRANTS UNDER CONTRACT

H.24 ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS SYSTEM

H.25 DBA INSURANCE

H.26 AIDAR 752.222-71 NONDISCRIMINATION (JUNE 2012)

H.27 CONFIDENTIALITY AND OWNERSHIP OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

H.28 CONSENT TO SUBCONTRACT

PART II – CONTRACT CLAUSES

SECTION I

I.1 FAR 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

I.2 AIDAR 752.252-2 AIDAR CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (MAR 2015) 45

I.3 FAR 52.203-13 CONTRACTOR CODE OF BUSINESS ETHICS AND CONDUCT (OCT

2015)

I.4 FAR 52.203-99 PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING WITH ENTITIES THAT REQUIRE

CERTAIN INTERNAL CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS (APR 2015)

I.5 FAR 52.204-1 APPROVAL OF CONTRACT (DEC 1989)

I.6 FAR 52.217-2 CANCELLATION UNDER MULTIYEAR CONTRACTS (OCT 1997)

I.7 FAR 52.217-8 OPTION TO EXTEND SERVICES (NOV 1999)

I.8 FAR 52.222-50 COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (MAR 2015)

I.9 FAR 52.227-14 RIGHTS IN DATA – GENERAL (MAY 2014)

I.10 FAR 52.229-8 TAXES – FOREIGN COST-REIMBURSEMENT CONTRACTS (MAR

1990) 59

I.11 FAR 52.247-67 SUBMISSION OF TRANSPORTATION DOCUMENTS FOR AUDIT

(FEB 2006)

I.12 AIDAR 752.209-71 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST DISCOVERED

AFTER AWARD (JUN 1993)

I.13 AIDAR 752.242-70 PERIODIC PROGRESS REPORTS (OCT 2007)

I.14 AIDAR 752.7025 APPROVALS (APR 1984)

I.15 AIDAR 752.7036 USAID IMPLEMENTING PARTNER NOTICES (IPN) PORTAL FOR

ACQUISITION (JUL 2014)

I.16 AIDAR 752.7101 VOLUNTARY POPULATION PLANNING ACTIVITIES (JUNE

2008) 61

I.17 AIDAR 752.7037 CHILD SAFEGUARDING STANDARDS (AUG 2016)

PART III – LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS, AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS

SECTION J – LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

PART IV – REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

SECTION K - REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF

OFFERORS

K.1 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY

REFERENCE

K.2 FAR 52.204-8 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS (JAN 2017) 65

K.3 FAR 52.209-5 CERTIFICATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (OCT

2015) 68

K.4 FAR 52.209-7 INFORMATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (JUL

2013) 69

K.5 FAR 52.209-11 REPRESENTATION BY CORPORATIONS REGARDING

DELINQUENT TAX LIABILITY OR A FELONY CONVICTION UNDER ANY FEDERAL

LAW (FEB 2016)

K.6 FAR 52.222-22 PREVIOUS CONTRACTS AND COMPLIANCE REPORTS (FEB 1999)

K.7 FAR 52.222-25 AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COMPLIANCE (APR 1984)

K.8 FAR 52.230-1 COST ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOTICES AND CERTIFICATION

(OCT 2015)

K.9 FAR 52.230-7 PROPOSAL DISCLOSURE—COST ACCOUNTING PRACTICE

CHANGES (APR 2005)

K.10 FAR 52.203-98 PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING WITH ENTITIES THAT

REQUIRE CERTAIN INTERNAL CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS-REPRESENTATION

(APR 2015)

K.11 INSURANCE—IMMUNITY FROM TORT LIABILITY

K.12 AUTHORIZED NEGOTIATORS

K.13 SIGNATURE

SECTION L – INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

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

(FEB 1998)

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

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

L.4 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

L.5 PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

L.6 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

L.7 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COST PROPOSAL

SECTION M – EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

M.1 GENERAL INFORMATION

M.2 TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA

M.3 EVALUATION OF PAST PERFORMANCE

M.4 COST PROPOSAL EVALUATION

M.5 DETERMINATION OF COMPETITIVE RANGE

M.6 SOURCE SELECTION

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B – SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is to provide technical assistance and other services as described in detail in Section C for the implementation of USAID/Macedonia’s activity entitled “Business Ecosystem Project (BEP)”.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE

This is a cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF) completion type contract. For the consideration set forth below, the Contractor will provide the performance requirements described in Section C and the deliverables described in Sections C and F.

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

a) The estimated cost for the performance of the work required hereunder, exclusive of fixed fee, is $TBD. The fixed fee for the contract period is $TBD. The total estimated cost plus all fixed fee is

$TBD.

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 of the contract period hereunder is $TBD. The Contractor must not exceed the aforementioned obligated amount.

c) Funds obligated hereunder are anticipated to be sufficient through TBD. Funding for this contract will be on an incremental basis, subject to the availability of funds.

B.4 CONTRACT BUDGET AND CEILINGS

a) The contract budget found herein is based on the Contractor’s original proposal and/or final proposal revision, which was accepted by USAID through award of this contract.

b) The following itemized budget sets forth the estimates for individual line items of cost:

Cost Category Amount Total Estimated Cost* TBD Fixed Fee TBD Total Estimated Cost Plus Fixed Fee TBD *includes GUC line item of $1,500,000

B.5 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE

Fixed fee will be paid in accordance with FAR 52.216-8, Fixed Fee.

A percentage of the Contractor’s total fee (25%) is subject to the achievement of two deliverables specified in Section F.6. Failure to complete the two deliverables in Section F.6 by the end of the contract period results in the Contractor forfeiting the corresponding portion of fixed fee for that deliverable. Upon successful achievement of a deliverable, the Contractor must provide evidence of its achievement to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and the Contracting Officer (CO) and must submit an invoice for its associated fee.

The remaining percentage of the Contractor’s total fee (75%) shall be allocated based upon the percentage of allowable costs being reimbursed to the Contractor in the period covered by each invoice.

B.6 COST REIMBURSABLE

The U.S. dollar costs reimbursable must be limited to those costs determined to be necessary, allocable, allowable and reasonable. Payment must be made 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.

B.7 INDIRECT COSTS

The contract clause entitled “Allowable Cost and Payment (DEC 2002)”, 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 rates, allowable indirect costs must be reimbursed on the basis of the following negotiated provisional or predetermined rates and the appropriate bases:

Description Rate Base Type Period

TBD 1/ 1/ 1/

1/Base of Application:

Type of Rate: Predetermined Period:

For each of the major subcontractor(s)*

Description Rate Base Type Period

TBD 1/ 1/ 1/

1/Base of Application:

Type of Rate: Predetermined Period:

*“Major Subcontractors” are those subcontractors whose proposed cost exceeds 10% of the total estimated contract cost.

B.8 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 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

TBD % % % % %

For each of the major subcontractor(s)* Description 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

TBD % % % % %

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 obligation established in the contract.

B.9 MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT AND CANCELLATION CEILINGT

This contract is considered non-severable, and is therefore a multi-year contract as defined in FAR

17.103. Therefore, this contract is subject to the requirements of FAR 17.106.

a. Performance under this contract during the second and subsequent years is contingent upon the appropriation of funds. All program years except the first are subject to cancellation. Cancellation shall occur by the dates specified below if the Contracting Officer:

1. notifies the Contractor that funds are not available for contract performance for any subsequent program year or

2. fails to notify the Contractor that funds are available for performance of the succeeding program year.

b. Cancellation Ceiling:

This is a CPFF type contract where the Contractor is authorized to be reimbursed for all costs which are allowable in accordance with FAR 52.216-7, “Allowable Costs and Payment.”

Therefore, the Contractor will not incur any costs which would have been amortized over the life of the contract should the contract be cancelled in accordance with FAR 52.217-2.

The Government’s liability for cancellation charges shall not exceed $0. This amount will be reduced in accordance with FAR 17.106-1(c)(1) at the conclusion of each program year, as follows:

Program Year Cancellation Date Cancellation Ceiling Year 1: 2017/2018 N/A N/A Year 2: 2018/2019 DATE TBD, 2018 $0 Year 3: 2019/2020 DATE TBD, 2019 $0 Year 4: 2020/2021 DATE TBD, 2020 $0

[END OF SECTION B]

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION / SPECIFICATIONS / STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 TITLE OF ACTIVITY

USAID Business Ecosystem Project

C.2 PURPOSE

The Business Ecosystem Project will be USAID Macedonia’s main economic growth project and has the overall goal of increased MSME productivity, revenues, and jobs for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs1).

C.3 BACKGROUND

USAID Macedonia has a long history of projects supporting economic growth, which ranged from general SME development, improving competitiveness of selected sectors (agriculture, ICT, textile, footwear, light manufacturing, food and wine production, and tourism), establishment of non-bank financial institutions, improving the business environment and increasing energy efficiency in production facilities. In the following period, USAID intends to focus on strengthening the existing business support organizations to provide better services to the SMEs and increase access to finance for SMEs. Based on the conducted analysis (see Attachment 5), improved services and support to SMEs on the long run and easier access to capital for SMEs with growth potential, will significantly improve SME’s productivity, revenues from new markets and increase private sector jobs.

This approach is suitable for the current Macedonian context given that over the previous decade some Business Support Organizations (BSOs) have been able to establish themselves on the market, build a modest constituency base among the MSMEs, and provide some basic business services.

Delivering support to MSMEs through these existing organizations will enable them to implement some of the activities from their strategies and action plans, empower them to become more innovative and entrepreneurial, and thus be more relevant to MSMEs.

C.4 GOAL AND OBJECTIVES

To reach the goal of increased MSMEs’ productivity, revenue, and jobs, the project, as implemented by the Contractor, has three complementary and mutually reinforcing objectives. These are:

1. Improved BSOs’ services to MSMEs;

2. Improved MSMEs’ access to sources of financing; and

3. Increased investment by lead companies to improve their MSMEs productivity and labor force’s skills.

Expected results:

• Increased MSMEs’ revenue

• Increased number of MSME jobs

• Increased worker productivity

Required targets:

• Percentage of annual revenue growth rate of assisted MSMEs (based on Central Registry data)

(Target: average TBD% annual growth; Baseline reference: average revenue growth of micro and small companies in Macedonia is less than 3%)

• Number of new jobs created in the assisted MSMEs (based on Central Registry data) (Target:

TBD new jobs) (baseline reference: about 30,000 private sector jobs were created in Macedonia in the past three years)

1 MSMEs are defined as companies with less than 250 employees, including individual farmers and microenterprises

In all results, the Contractor must strive to achieve adequate distribution of beneficiaries (both MSMEs and individuals) as follows:

• geographic - 60% not in Skopje,

• gender - 35% female

• ethnic -20% of non-Macedonian ethnicity

C.5 SCOPE OF WORK

Objective 1: Improved BSOs’ services to MSMEs

The Contractor must develop a selection process to select local BSOs2 that would receive capacity building, technical assistance and grants in order to provide quality service to MSMEs and start-ups, and design and implement activities and services to adequately respond to MSMEs’ needs. The Contractor must plan a Grants Under Contract fund of $1.5 million to award grants under contract to 10-15 BSOs. USAID does not have a preference toward any particular sector, and they must emerge based on the demand and capacity of BSOs to support them. Furthermore, the Contractor must ensure that proper organizational structures and funding mechanisms are put in place within the BSOs to ensure continuous provision of BSO services to MSMEs. The BSOs must implement activities with these grants that attract new clients to the BSOs, especially out of the capital city, as well as to create new revenue generation streams for the BSO.

Expected Results:

• Business Support Organizations deliver quality services to MSMEs that allow them to improve their performance and expand to new markets.

• MSMEs are satisfied with the services provided by BSOs

At a minimum, the Contractor must conduct the following activities:

• Capacity Building of BSOs to better design and implement sustainable MSME services

• Grants under contract to BSOs to introduce services that will improve the performance of the

MSMEs3

• Facilitate inter-BSO networking and partnerships for joint implementation of activities

Objective 2: Improved MSMEs’ access to sources of financing4

Through this component, the Contractor must facilitate increased investment in MSMEs, including start-ups, as a main driver for MSME growth and job creation. The current perception is that there is funding available for loans, investments and grants, but that the MSMEs are not well positioned to apply for it, while the financial institutions are not willing to invest time and resources to look for and develop potential borrowers among the MSMEs. The focus will be primarily on non-bank financial institutions, such as, but not limited to, business angels networks, start-up accelerators, and investment funds, as well as government and EU funding. The increased access to finance will support the creation of new start-up companies and the growth of existing ones. These activities can also help create a pipeline of clients for the financial institutions involved in the Agriculture Development Credit Authority (DCA).

2 Non-governmental BSOs may include chambers of commerce (there are currently four registered), business associations and clusters, professional associations, various non-governmental organizations with economic development mission on national and local level (foundations, think-thanks, NGOs, Local Action Groups), educational institutions and training centers (registered as NGOs), information sharing entities (web - portals), cooperatives, start-up accelerators and incubators.

3 Activities implemented by the BSO through the grants could address various aspects of sector competitiveness and company performance, such as, business and sector strategy development, know-how transfer from local and international experts, workforce development (for both existing and future employees) based on the expressed demand of businesses, access to new markets, entrepreneurship support and formalization of existing unformal businesses. The grants are not intended for rehabilitation of buildings or purchase of equipment.

4 This component should complement the Mission’s other access to finance projects such as Factoring, Microfinance innovation and inclusion and DCAs.

Expected Results:

• Increased investment in MSMEs through alternative and traditional sources of financing

• Improved investment readiness of the MSMEs

• Diversification of the alternative sources of MSME and start-up financing

At a minimum, the Contractor must conduct the following activities:

• Support MSMEs to improve their financial literacy and management, prepare “bankable proposals”, and access appropriate financial resources

• Work with traditional and alternative sources of finance to develop new financial products for

MSMEs

• Conduct information campaign, targeting MSMEs, on the different types of financing

Objective 3: Lead firms invest in development of their supply chain and labor force

Lastly, the Contractor must leverage private sector resources (through matching financial and in-kind contributions) from lead firms—which are larger companies that have MSME providers or supply MSMEs—to support the enhancement of the MSMEs in their respective value-chains, increase the technical capacity of the labour force, and/or promote Local Economic Development (LED) in a community. For example, the Contractor and a lead firm may co-finance with a workforce improvement program that helps local youth gain job skills; or they can co-finance a program that help MSMEs access credit to introduce new technologies which will help improve their production.

The lead firm(s) must have significant ownership of the designed activity and be committed to provide both in-cash and in-kind contribution. The Contractor’s co-financing must not exceed 50% of the cost of any one activity. Through these activities, the project will foster private sector engagement in development efforts.

Expected Results:

• Increased private sector funding for economic development activities

• Increased MSMEs’ sales to lead firm

At a minimum, the Contractor must conduct the following activities:

• Outreach to lead firms to raise awareness of the benefits of private sector engagement in economic development

• Providing technical assistance and co-financing of $500,000 for MSME-development, workforce development, and/or LED activities implemented in partnership with lead firms

C.6 TRANSITION AND LOCAL PARTNER CAPACITY BUILDING

As early during implementation as possible, but within the first six months after award, the Contractor must identify and subcontract with at least one existing local organization that will be responsible for management of one or more of the program’s components. The subcontractor must not be a direct provider of services to MSMEs, but have a project management, facilitation, and strategic direction role. The subcontractor must be able to interact with other organizations that will receive grants under contract without being their competitor. Over time, the subcontractor must earn the trust and respect from the grant recipients and become their knowledge and resource center. The Contractor must provide capacity building support to the local organization, similar to a small business mentor/protégé arrangement, to improve their systems, take on increasing responsibilities under the contract, and become competitive for future USAID awards.

C.7 COLLABORATING, LEARNING AND ADAPTING

While USAID’s Evaluation Policy calls for evaluative activities that focus on performance and impact, learning can also include activities between monitoring and impact evaluation and can underscore the need for mid-course corrections, while improving the results of project implementation. The Business Ecosystem Project has been designed to enable adaptive approaches to achieving objectives, informed by ongoing systems and contextual analysis. The Contractor must continually assess the effectiveness of the interventions, evaluate whether those interventions are succeeding, apply lessons learned and adapt work appropriately.

If the originally selected BSOs and other local partners come to find the collaboration with the project is no longer in their interest, or no longer have the enthusiasm to participate and devote organizational resources to the activities, the Contractor will be free to let them go and seek interest elsewhere. The desire to invest in the change must come from within the local system.

USAID/Macedonia is committed to obtaining stakeholder input to our activities, coordinating all implementing partners’ efforts for greater efficiency and effectiveness, and measuring high-level indicators in an effort to apply the following Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning objectives:

• Evaluate the level of collaboration with other USAID programs and improve synergies.

• Use lessons learned to strengthen management systems and activity implementation.

• Provide recommendations and improvements to adapt current activities and follow-on programs.

To facilitate coordination, USAID/Macedonia or one of the implementing partners (on rotating basis) may convene semiannual meetings which may include sharing of summary annual work-plans, progress reports, best practices, and challenges. The Contractor is required to attend the above-mentioned meetings unless directed otherwise by the COR. The Contractor may be required to convene and organize one of the above-mentioned meetings.

C.8 MID-TERM PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

According to USAID’s Evaluation Policy and Automated Directive System (ADS) 203.3.2.3 USAID must evaluate all large and pilot activities and the evaluation must be included in the activity design.

If USAID/Macedonia decides to conduct a mid-term performance evaluation of this activity, the Contractor must comply with USAID requirements regarding the evaluation, including selection of sites / beneficiaries, providing contact information and relevant documentation, collection of data, and working closely with USAID and the Evaluation Contractor to integrate the evaluation into the annual work plan. Furthermore, the Contractor must seriously consider the recommendations in the evaluation report and adequately integrate them in the following work plan.

C.9 MONITORING AND EVALUATION

In addition to the project’s main results (see C.4 Goal and Objectives), the Contractor must develop specific outcome level indicators, benchmarks and targets, and establish baseline data against which subsequent performance can be measured. These indicators must be related to investment by MSMEs, leveraged funding from bank and non-bank financial institutions, increased worker productivity, job creation, adopted technologies and management practices and introduced innovations, and other that would help capture the effects and relevancy of the provided assistance (see Attachment 6 for Illustrative Performance Management Plan). A final list of indicators, including mandatory Foreign Assistance Framework Standard Indicators and relevant B-REDI development indicators, will be confirmed in collaboration with USAID after award.

In addition to presenting a Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Plan (MEL), the Contractor must implement a methodology that identifies the Contractor’s approach to integrating monitoring, evaluation and learning throughout contract implementation, how they will capture how results are being achieved and how they will integrate the results of ongoing analysis as well as feedback from partners, stakeholders and beneficiaries into project implementation.

[END OF SECTION C]

SECTION D – BRANDING AND MARKING

D.1 MARKING AND BRANDING STRATEGY

The Contractor shall submit a final branding implementation plan and marking plan no later than 30 days after award. The plan must be in accordance with ADS 320.3.2. The plan must be submitted to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for approval.

The Contractor shall comply with the requirements of the policy directives and required procedures outlined in USAID Automated Directive System (ADS) 320.3.2 “Branding and Marking in USAID Direct Contracting” at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/320.pdf; and USAID “Graphic Standards Manual” available at https://www.usaid.gov/branding or any successor branding policy.

Anticipated elements of marking plan: Deliverables to be marked, include products, equipment and inputs delivered; places where program activities are carried out; external public communications, studies, reports, publications and informative and promotional products; and workshops, conferences, fairs, media related activities and any such events. Publications authored by Contractors or other non- USAID employees must include the following disclaimer on the title page: “The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government.” Threats and restrictions to the security of the program need to be identified and assessed in order to request any necessary exception from the marking requirement in accordance with ADS 320.3.2.

USAID’s web page contains the electronic version of the Graphic Standards Manual that is compulsory for all Contractors. Marking under this contract shall comply with the “USAID Graphics Standards Manual” available at https://www.usaid.gov/branding/acquisition-awards.

D.2 AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (JAN 1993)

a) It is USAID policy that USAID-financed commodities and shipping containers, and project construction sites and other project locations be suitably marked with the USAID emblem. Shipping containers are also to be marked with the last five digits of the USAID financing document number.

As a general rule, marking is not required for raw materials shipped in bulk (such as coal, grain, etc.), or for semi-finished products which are not packaged.

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

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

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

[END OF SECTION D]

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/320.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/branding https://www.usaid.gov/branding/acquisition-awards

SECTION E – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

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

NUMBER TITLE DATE

FAR (48 CFR Chapter 1)

52.204-14 SERVICE CONTRACT REPORTING

REQUIREMENTS OCT 2016

52.246-5 INSPECTION OF SERVICES –

COST-REIMBURSEMENT APR 1984

E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

USAID inspection and acceptance of services, reports and other required deliverables or outputs shall take place at principal place of performance or at any other location where the services are performed and reports and deliverables or outputs are produced or submitted. Unless otherwise stated, the designated COR has been delegated authority to inspect and accept all services, reports and required deliverables or outputs.

[END OF SECTION E]

SECTION F – DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

F.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

In accordance with FAR "52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE" in Section I of this contract, the following contract clauses are hereby incorporated by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. See http://acquisition.gov/far/index.html and http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf for electronic access to the full text of a clause.

FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (48 CFR Chapter 1)

NUMBER TITLE DATE

52.242-15 STOP-WORK ORDER AUG 1989

ALTERNATE I APR 1984

F.2 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance is four (4) years from date of contract award.

F.3 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The place of performance is Macedonia.

F.4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

USAID will evaluate the Contractor’s performance in accordance with FAR 42.15, corresponding USAID procedures, and the Contractor’s adherence to the annual work plan, reporting against its Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan, and quality reports described in Section F.6 below.

USAID will evaluate the Contractor’s performance during the initial, intermediate, and final periods of the contract in accordance with the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System

(CPARS).

Evaluation of the Contractor's overall performance will be conducted on an annual basis jointly by the COR and the CO, and will form the basis of the Contractor's permanent performance record with regard to this contract. The following general performance standards will form the basis of the evaluation for the Contractor Performance Assessment Report (CPAR):

1. Quality of Product and Service;

2. Schedule;

3. Cost Control;

4. Management;

5. Regulatory Compliance.

F.5 AUTHORIZED WORK WEEK

The standard work week is from Monday through Friday. No overtime or premium pay is authorized under this contract. The Contractor is authorized up to a five-day work week for long-term staff. A six-day work week may be authorized on a case by case basis with the prior written approval of the designated Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).

F.6 REPORTS, DELIVERABLES AND FEE SCHEDULE

In addition to other required reports and deliverables in this contract, the Contractor must deliver the following for the approval of the COR. Unless otherwise specified, the Contractor will allow at least 10 business days for review and comments from the COR on any draft report submission.

All reports and plans are subject to written approval by the COR, except for the Grants Under Contract Manual and the Property Disposition Plan, which are subject to the Contracting Officer’s approval.

The following table summarizes the deliverables and reports under this award. Other reports/deliverables may be required during the course of the award. These reports/deliverables will be within the scope of the contract, and the due dates for these will be agreed to between the Contractor and the COR as needed.

The percentages in the below table reflect the percentages of the Contractor’s fixed fee. Evidence of the achievement of deliverables must be submitted to the COR and the CO. Payment of fee is subject to FAR 52.216-8, Fixed Fee and FAR 52.233-1, Disputes. If the Contractor does not meet the requirement, the associated fee will be forfeited.

No. Report/Deliverable Reference Due Date % of Fixed Fee

Average TBD% annual revenue growth rate of assisted MSMEs achieved

C.4 Within the contract period of performance 12.5%

2 TBD number of new jobs created in the assisted MSMEs C.4 Within the contract period of performance 12.5%

3 Annual Work Plan (AWP) F.6(a)

Draft 1st Year AWP: Within 30 days of effective date contract

N/A

Final 1st Year AWP: Within 15 days of receipt of COR comments Draft Subsequent AWPs: 30 days before anniversary of contract award date Final Subsequent AWPs:

Within 15 days of receipt of COR comments

4 Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (MEL) F.6(b)

Draft: Within 30 days of effective date of contract

N/A Final: Within 15 days of receipt of COR comments

5 Quarterly Progress Reports F.6(c) Within 15 days after end of each fiscal quarter N/A

6 Quarterly Financial Reports F.6(d) Submitted with Quarterly Progress Reports N/A

7 Grants Under Contract Manual F.6(e)

Draft: Within 30 days of effective date contract

N/A Final: Within 60 days of effective date contract

8 Demobilization Plan F.6(f) 90 days before contract completion date N/A

9 Final Report F.6(g) 30 days before contract completion date N/A

In accordance with AIDAR clause 752.242-70, Periodic Progress Reports, the Contractor must submit reports, deliverables or outputs to USAID as further described below. All reports and other deliverables must be in the English language.

Note: USAID’s fiscal year starts on October 1 and ends on September 30. Four fiscal quarterly periods begin on October 1, January 1, April 1 and July 1.

F.6(a) ANNUAL WORK PLAN (AWP)

1. Initial Annual Work Plan

Within 30 calendar days after the start date of the Contract, the Contractor shall present an Initial Work Plan to the USAID COR for review and approval (electronic copy). The COR must provide written comments on the draft Plan and when the Plan is finalized, the COR will provide written approval.

The Initial Work Plan should include a list of tasks to be completed during the year, grouped under the objective that they seek to support. For each task, the Contractor should 1) explain in brief its connection to the objective; 2) define the necessary steps to complete the tasks; 3) assign responsibilities for completing those steps; 4) provide any quantitative or qualitative targets; and 5) a timeline for the implementation of the task.

The COR will review the Plan and provide comments and recommendations for changes no later than 30 days after receipt of the draft. No later than 15 calendar days after receipt of the COR’s comments the Contractor will incorporate the COR’s comments and recommendations into the final version of the Initial Work Plan and submit it for the COR’s written approval. All substantial changes to the Initial Work Plan require prior written approval of the COR.

2. Subsequent Annual Work Plans

Subsequent Annual Work Plans are due no later than 30 calendar days before the beginning of succeeding contract years. The Contractor shall submit the Annual Work Plan to the USAID COR for review and written approval in electronic format. The Contractor will incorporate any required revisions into a Final Work Plan no later than 15 calendar days after receipt of the COR’s comments.

The Annual Work Plan must define in detail how the Contractor intends to organize its work to implement the tasks outlined in the SOW and achieve expected results within each of the tasks. The Annual Work Plan must be consistent with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan. If necessary and given USAID consent, the Contractor may revise the Annual Work Plan. USAID reserves the right to review and re-approve Annual Work Plans quarterly or on an as-needed basis.

In all Annual Work Plans, the Contractor must:

(a) Provide a brief narrative to define each task assignment, propose a completion date and state who will accomplish the task;

(b) Identify milestones as well as deliverables under each task and propose deadlines for their completion;

(c) Identify any assumptions used in preparing the Annual Work Plan, suggest possible modifications to the approach, if needed, and describe anticipated problems or potential barriers with regard to achieving BEP objectives; and

(d) Propose a milestone-based schedule for BEP evaluation and review.

F.6(b) MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING (MEL) PLAN

Within 30 calendar days after the start date of the contract the Contractor shall submit an activity MEL Plan together with the Initial Work Plan to the USAID/COR for review and approval.

The COR will review the plan and provide comments and recommendations for changes no later than 30 days after receipt of the draft. The Contractor shall incorporate COR comments and recommendations into the final version of the MEL Plan and submit it for COR written approval within 15 days. After the plan is finalized, the COR will provide written approval. All substantial changes in the MEL Plan require prior written approval of the COR.

The activity MEL Plan submitted to USAID should include only those indicators that the USAID Mission needs for activity management, rather than the entire set of all indicators an activity implementer uses for its management purposes. The activity budget must include costs of data collection, analysis, and reporting as a separate line item to ensure that adequate resources are available.

The MEL Plan should include a comprehensive strategy for monitoring and reporting progress made towards activity purpose and results. The MEL Plan should contain the following required elements:

• activity purpose and results as well as brief description of the linkages between the activity outputs and its expected results;

• performance indicators and their descriptions;

• unit of data measurement;

• disaggregation by sex (as appropriate and feasible);

• data sources;

• description of data collection methods;

• baseline information (year and value) or a timeline for collecting it;

• annual targets;

• schedule for data collection;

• names of individuals responsible for data collection;

• availability of data at USAID; and,

• detailed plans for data analysis, review and reporting.

Performance indicators should comply with the following criteria: direct, objective, practical, adequate, and useful in managing for results. The MEL Plan data should be based on the U.S.

Government fiscal year (October 1 - September 30).

According to USAID regulations, performance indicator data reported externally, including annual Performance Reports sent to USAID/Washington, must have a data quality assessment (DQA). The purpose of the DQA is to ensure that managers are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the data and the extent to which the data can be trusted to influence management decisions. DQA must be conducted within six months prior to reporting data to USAID for new indicators, and every three years thereafter. Conducting DQA on a rolling basis will reduce the burden of handling indicators all at once.

To be useful in managing for results and credible for reporting, the implementing partner should ensure that the performance data meet the following five data quality standards: validity, reliability, timeliness, precision and integrity. If performance data do not fully meet all five standards, the known data limitations should be documented. The activity COR can combine a random check of partner data during a regularly scheduled site visit and include data quality items into site visit reports. This minimizes the costs associated with the DQA. When conducting a DQA, t h e COR will examine the data in light of the five quality standards noted above, reviewing the systems and approaches for collecting data and whether they are likely to produce data of an acceptable quality over time.

An activity implementer, as part of the award, can conduct the DQA, provided that USAID staff review and verify DQAs. This may entail site visits to physically inspect records maintained by the activity implementing partner. The activity implementer will document DQA findings, including decisions concerning data quality problems and steps identified to address them. The activity implementer will share DQA findings and action plan to address data quality issues with the COR. The COR will follow up with the activity implementer to check progress on implementation of the action plan within the timeline outlined in the action plan against each action.

The MEL Plan is subject to final approval by USAID and is separate from the regular financial and other reports required by the standard contract provisions.

USAID reserves the right to propose to the Contractor to integrate into the MEL Plan a number of indicators to help USAID measure the immediate program results.

USAID may elect to organize and carry out an independent performance evaluation of this program. The Contractor shall fully cooperate with USAID and the evaluation team to ensure that the evaluation accurately reflects program results, outcomes, and/or impacts.

NOTE: The MEL Plan must be developed strictly in accordance with the criteria stipulated in ADS 201.

F.6(c) QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORTS

Quarterly Reports must discuss progress within the reporting period as well as cumulative progress in the context of the agreed upon accomplishments and indicators. They must discuss existing and potential problems in BEP implementation and variance from the AWP and MEL Plan.

At a minimum, Quarterly Reports must include the following information:

(a) Summary of cumulative progress and accomplishments achieved from the award date until the end of the reporting period.

(b) Deliverables: List of reports and other deliverables completed in the reporting period.

(c) Description of progress and accomplishments during the reporting period: Detailed assessment and analysis of progress made on each of the tasks, milestones and performance indicators.

(d) Schedules: When appropriate, a discussion of any significant potential or actual slippage in schedule and the steps being taken to avoid or make recovery.

(e) Problems: Problem areas, current or foreseen, together with recommendations for resolving these problems and attendant schedules for their resolution. Problems requiring USAID intervention should be highlighted.

(f) Plans: List of major activities and key milestones planned for next quarter.

The three reporting documents (the MEL Plan, the AWP and the Quarterly Report) must be consistent, interrelated, and must complement each other. The Annual Work Plan, based upon the Statement of Work, must define how the Contractor will organize its work to achieve the objectives and expected results outlined in the Statement of Work. The MEL Plan must provide measurable reference points and set up measurable indicators that track progress towards the objectives and expected results and define whether this progress is satisfactory. The Quarterly Report must account for BEP’s performance against agreed upon accomplishments (AWP) and indicators (MEL Plan).

F.6(d) QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORTS https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1870/201.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1870/201.pdf

These reports must be submitted to the COR in conjunction with the Quarterly Progress Reports.

These reports must have a financial summary page that lists the amounts expended for the quarter by major cost item, showing cumulative expenditures to date, and a variance analysis. The variance analysis will use the detailed cost proposal submitted for the contract award, or any revision made for subsequent contract budget revision (authorized by the CO), as the baseline budget plan, and, as requested, will be able to explain significant actual expenditure variance in relation to the detailed baseline. The Contractor will also include a brief note on any significant or accrued expenditures for the quarter that have not yet been billed to the contract, along with the specific amount involved, to enable the COR to accurately track the expenditure rate.

F.6(e) GRANTS UNDER CONTRACT MANUAL

The Contractor must develop in consultation with and for USAID’s approval a Grants Under Contract Manual. The Grants Under Contract Manual must describe the objectives, target beneficiaries, procedures for approval, disbursal process, and monitoring mechanisms for utilizing the available grant funds. The Grants Under Contract Manual must be approved by the Contracting Officer.

F.6(f) DEMOBILIZATION PLAN

The Contractor will submit a demobilization plan to the COR for approval. It will include an illustrative property disposition plan, a plan for phase out of in-country operations, a delivery schedule for all reports or other deliverables required under the contract and a timetable for completing all required actions in the demobilization plan, including the submission date of the final property disposition plan to the CO. USAID will approve or disapprove the proposed plan in writing, at least 60 days before completion of the contract. However, regardless of any prior approval of all or portions of the proposed disposition plan for assets, USAID reserves the right to direct or redirect such disposition plan.

F.6(g) FINAL REPORT

The Contractor must submit a detailed final report 30 days before the contract completion date, for approval of the COR. The report must at least address the following:

(1) Financial report showing the amounts expended by major cost categories.

(2) Summary of accomplishments achieved under this contract tied to the contract objective and

Intermediate Results.

(3) Clearly show how the contract objectives, deliverables…