REVISED_PROMOTE_IQC.pdf

USAID AFGHANISTAN

FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

U.S. Agency for International Development Great Massoud Road Tel: (202) 216-6288 Kabul Fax: (202) 216-6288 ext. 4162 Afghanistan http://www.usaid.gov/locations/asia_near_east/afghanistan

Date Posted: July 18, 2013 Cut-off Date for Questions: August 6, 2013 Pre-Proposal Conference: August 15, 2013

Second Round Cut-off Date for Questions: September 18, 2013, 12:00 PM Kabul Time Closing Date: October 5, 2013 12:00 AM Kabul Time

SUBJECT: Amendment 2 to Request for Proposals (RFP) SOL-306-13-000033

PROMOTE Indefinite-Quantity Contracts

Dear Offerors, ATTENTION OFFERORS: USAID has made changes to many sections in this solicitation. As a result, the closing date has been extended to allow one more opportunity for questions.

USAID/Afghanistan is pleased to release the attached Request for Proposals (RFP) for Promoting Gender Equity in the National Priority Programs (PROMOTE) project. This anchor program demonstrates the strong commitment of USAID to a brighter future for Afghan women and to Afghanistan’s economic development.

The PROMOTE program is designed to be implemented through an indefinite quantity contract mechanism (IQC) for five years. The combined ceiling is set at $416 million, which would allow for possible contributions of up to $200 million from other international donors. Subject to the availability of funds, the PROMOTE program implementation is divided into the following major components and a notional percentage of effort assigned:

Women in the Economy (56%) Women's Rights Groups and Coalitions (14%) Women in Government (11%) Women’s Leadership Development (19%)

PROMOTE will invest in opportunities that enable educated women (i.e., women between 18 and 30 years of age who have at least a secondary education) to enter and advance into decision-making positions in Afghanistan’s public, private and civil society sectors. This cohort is estimated at over 200,000 strong—and growing fast, with approximately 164,000 girls attending secondary school nationwide. These women represent a valuable source of talent and expertise for the country.

Focused on these target groups, PROMOTE will activate a sustainable process leading to a critical mass1 of new and upcoming generations of Afghan women assuming decision making and leadership roles in mainstream social, political and economic spheres. PROMOTE will directly benefit a minimum of 75,000 women within the targeted cohort.

1 Critical mass is estimated at 30 percent deemed the minimum acceptable level of women‘s representation that may be capable of changing the status quo in a given context. This is based on a United Nations Economic and Social Council endorsed target of having 30 percent of women in positions at decision making levels by 1995, Aide

Request for Proposals (RFP) SOL-306-13-000033

Task Order 1 of this RFP will focus on Baseline Data Collection for all components under the IQC and is reserved for Afghan firms only.

Task Order 2 will focus on Women’s Leadership Development (WLD) Training for more than 25,000 Afghan women. It is essential that beneficiaries of this program become effective advocates for Afghan women on a range of vital issues such as gender-based violence; women, peace and security; child marriage; and trafficking in persons. In addition, while the program specifically targets educated women, as they move into influential positions in government and private sectors, participants are expected to work towards ensuring the welfare, rights and opportunities for all Afghan women. PROMOTE aims to ensure that a “gender agenda” is not an issue on the fringes of national policy and programming but central to the advancement of Afghanistan’s political, social and economic development.

As part of USAID/Afghanistan’s goals, two PROMOTE Legacy Initiatives: a) the USAID American- Afghan Education Fund for Afghan Women and b) the Institute for Gender and Development Studies at an Afghan university will be established. The first Legacy initiative will provide scholarships with 80% reserved for Afghan universities, and the remainder for regional and U.S. scholarships.

The establishment of the Institute will provide an enabling environment to foster policy advocates and technology entrepreneurs and to generate influential analytic products leading to advances in women’s status. PROMOTE technical assistance might be deployed to help with the Legacy Initiatives, however, they are not components of the PROMOTE RFP and will be managed under different mechanisms.

In the Tokyo Mutual Accountability Framework, the Afghan Government has committed to achieving a rate of 30% female staff in the Afghan Civil Service and PROMOTE will assist them in working toward this goal. Analysis of the critical mass theory can be found in section C.5 of the RFP, Program Purpose, and in the project concept paper, located here:

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=ef25d2e39bd494da6f95ffb5da0535a0&t ab=core&_cview=0.

Offerors are encouraged to demonstrate innovative approaches to empowering women across all components of this RFP. This must include addressing the use of technologies such as mobile money, etc., within the technical approach of the proposal, where appropriate.

Questions regarding this RFP must be submitted by email to the following address:

kabulaidoaamailbox@usaid.gov

Questions must be received by the time and date indicated on page one of this letter. USAID has provided another opportunity for potential Offerors to ask questions in response to the changes made through Amendment 2. Questions received after that date will be answered at the Contracting Officer's discretion.

A pre-proposal conference on the Baseline Data Collection Services Request for Task Order Proposals (RFTOP), was held on Thursday August 15, 2013, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The Baseline Data Collection Services RFTOP is restricted to Afghan firms. Presentations given, questions received, and answers provided during the pre-proposal conference are attached to this amendment.

If your organization decides to submit a proposal in response to this solicitation, it must be submitted by the designated date and time indicated in Block 9 of the RFP (Standard Form 33). Proposals received after the closing date and time will be processed as late and handled in accordance with

FAR 15.208.

Only electronic submissions will be accepted. Please note that the designated initial point of entry to the government infrastructure for proposal submissions is the USAID internet server. Please pay careful attention to, and complete in full, RFP section K – Representations, Certifications, and Acknowledgements. Offerors should also carefully consider section L – Instructions to Offerors, and section M – Evaluation Factors for Award. Sections B through I of the solicitation will become the substantive part of the anticipated contract with blanks to be completed by the Contracting Officer upon award. Proposals must be signed by an official authorized to bind the Offeror’s organization.

Issuance of this solicitation does not in any way obligate the U.S. Government to award a contract nor does it commit the U.S. Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal. Furthermore, the Government reserves the right to reject any and all offers, if such action is considered to be in the best interest of the U.S. Government.

We thank you all for your interest in this important program and look forward to receiving your proposals.

Sincerely, /s/ Sonila Hysi

Supervisory Contracting Officer Office of Acquisition & Assistance

USAID/Afghanistan

PROPOSALS ARE DUE ELECTRONICALLY TO THE ADDRESS SHOWN IN SECTION L

1. THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED ORDER RATING PAGE OF PAGES

UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700)

2. CONTRACT NUMBER 3. SOLICITATION NUMBER 4. TYPE OF SOLICITATION 5. DATE ISSUED 6. REQUISITION/PURCHASE NUMBER

SEALED BID (IFB)

NEGOTIATED (RFP)

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

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

9. Sealed offers in original and ___________________ copies for furnishing the supplies or services in the Schedule will be received at the place specified in Item 8, or if handcarried, in the depository located in until local time _______________________ (Hour) (Date)

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.

A. NAME B. TELEPHONE (NO COLLECT CALLS) C. E-MAIL ADDRESS

AREA CODE NUMBER EXT.

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

PART I - THE SCHEDULE PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSES

A SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM I CONTRACT CLAUSES

B SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACH.

C DESCRIPTION/SPECS./WORK STATEMENT J LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

D PACKAGING AND MARKING PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

E INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

F DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

G CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA L INSTR., CONDS., AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

H SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS M EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

K

REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER

STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

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

12. In compliance with the above, the undersigned agrees, if this offer is accepted within ___ 180_____ calendar days (60 calendar days unless a different period is inserted 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 designated point(s), within the time specified in the schedule.

13. DISCOUNT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT 10 CALENDAR DAYS (%) 20 CALENDAR DAYS (%) 30 CALENDAR DAYS (%) CALENDAR DAYS (%)

(See Section I, Clause No. 52-232-8)

14. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF AMENDMENTS AMENDMENT NO. DATE AMENDMENT NO. DATE

(The offeror acknowledges receipt of amendments to the SOLICITATION for offerors and related documents numbered and dated:

CODE FACILITY

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

ADDRESS

OF OFFEROR

(Type or print)

15B. TELEPHONE NUMBER 17. SIGNATURE 18. OFFER DATE

AREA CODE NUMBER EXT.

15C. CHECK IF REMITTANCE ADDRESS IS DIFFERENT FROM

ABOVE - ENTER SUCH ADDRESS IN SCHEDULE

19. ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS NUMBERED 20. AMOUNT 21. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION

22. AUTHORITY FOR USING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION: 23. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN ITEM 26 (4 copies unless otherwise specified)

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

24. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 7) 25. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BYCODE CODE

26. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print) 27. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 28. AWARD DATE

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

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

(REV. 9-97)

10. FOR INFORMATION CALL:

11. TABLE OF CONTENTS

STANDARD FORM 33

SOLICITATION OFFER AND AWARD

SOLICITATION

OFFER (Must be fully completed by offeror)

AWARD (To be completed by Government)

1 N/A 370

SOL-306-13-000033

X

July 18, 2013 REQ-306-13-000039

Office of Acquisition and Assistance (OAA) USAID/Afghanistan

APO AE 09806

12:00 PM Kabul October 5, 2013

Abdullah Akbar 202 216-6288 4458 estrong@usaid.gov

See Attached Table of Contents

X 1

X 3-8

X 9-47

X 48-49

X 50

X 51-63

X 64-68

X 69-107

X 108-122

X 123-124

X 125-146

X 147-163

X 164-168

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROMOTE Indefinite-Quantity Contract

PART I – THE SCHEDULE 3

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS 3

SECTION C – STATEMENT OF WORK 9

SECTION D- PACKAGING AND MARKING 48

SECTION E – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE 50

SECTION F – DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE 51

SECTION G – CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA 64

SECTION H – SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS 69

PART II – CONTRACT CLAUSES 108

SECTION I – CONTRACT CLAUSES 108

PART III – LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS 123

SECTION J – LIST OF ATTACHMENTS 123

ATTACHMENT J.1 IDENTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL GEOGRAPHIC CODE NUMBERS 166

ATTACHMENT J.2 CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEE BIOGRAPHICAL DATA SHEET 170

ATTACHMENT J.3 SF LLL DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES 171

ATTACHMENT J.4 GUIDANCE FOR USAID-FUNDED COMMUNICATIONS PRODUCTS 172

ATTACHMENT J.5 PAST PERFORMANCE INFORMATION 178

ATTACHMENT J.6 MODEL SUBCONTRACTING PLAN 180

ATTACHMENT J.7 CONTRACTOR AND MAJOR SUBCONTRACTOR POLICY FOR WORKDAY,

WORKWEEK, AND PAID ABSENCES 191

ATTACHMENT J.8 [RESERVED] 192

ATTACHMENT J.9 REGISTRATION AND TAX EXEMPTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN 193

ATTACHMENT J.10 AFGHAN FIRST POLICY 201

ATTACHMENT J.11 DD254 - DEPT. OF DEFENSE CONTRACT SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

SPECIFICATIONS 204

ATTACHMENT J.12 GUIDANCE IN DEVELOPING A SECURITY PLAN 205

ATTACHMENT J.13 GENDER ANALYSIS (PROMOTE) Executive Summary 206

ATTACHMENT J.14 LIST OF INTERESTED ORGANIZATIONS 212

ATTACHMENT J.15 COMMENTS/RESPONSES TO DRAFT RFP 215

ATTACHMENT J.16 ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS HORTATORY LANGUAGE FOR ACQUISITION

AND ASSISTANCE SOLUTIONS 254

ATTACHMENT J.17 RFTOP - BASELINE DATA COLLECTION (TASK ORDER 1) 256

ATTACHMENT J.18 RFTOP - WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT (TASK ORDER 2) 293

ATTACHMENT J.19 TASK ORDER ANNEXES 352

ATTACHMENT J.20 INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION 371

PART IV – REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS 125

SECTION K – REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS and OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS 125

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS 147

SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD 164

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is to provide services that fall within the statement of work (SOW) specified in Section C. USAID Task Order Contracting Officers (TOCO) will request the work through the issuance of task orders during the ordering period as specified in Section F of the contract. Task orders will be awarded to IQC contract holders through a competitive, fair opportunity process.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE AND SERVICES

This is a multiple-award Indefinite-Quantity Contract (IQC). The Government will issue task orders that are either Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) or Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF). The Government intends to make maximum use of FFP, or FFP with cost-reimbursable line items task orders. The Contractor must perform the work set forth in task orders at prices consistent with Section B of this contract. Cost-type task orders will indicate if they are completion or term form.

B.3 MINIMUM OBLIGATED AMOUNT

The basic contract includes an initial obligation of funds in the amount of $50,000 to cover the minimum order guarantee. USAID is required to order and the Contractor is required to furnish the minimum order amount of services.

Following this initial obligation, individual task orders will obligate funds to cover the work required under that task order. The obligated amount for each task order will be established by the TOCO. The initial obligation may be used as part of the funding for the task order awarded.

B.4 MAXIMUM CONTRACT CEILING

This is a multiple award Indefinite Quantity Contract (IQC) with a combined ceiling of US $416,000,000 ($416 million). The maximum aggregate dollar value of task orders awarded to all Contractors cannot exceed the contract ceiling. This ceiling is not being subdivided among the number of awardees, nor is it being multiplied by the number of awardees.

B.5 OBLIGATED AMOUNT, ESTIMATED COST, FIXED FEE

B.5.1 Obligated Amount. The basic contract includes an initial obligation of funds in the amount of $50,000.00 to cover the minimum order guarantee.

B.5.2 CPFF Task Orders

The Total Estimated Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) for each task order must be negotiated in accordance with the terms of the IQC contract and must be appropriate for the SOW defined in each Request for Task Order Proposal (RFTOP). In no event may the indirect rates or fixed fee for a task order exceed the ceilings set forth in Section B.9 and B.11 of this IQC contract. The U.S. dollar costs must be limited to reasonable, allocable, and allowable costs determined in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.216-7, Allowable Cost and Payment, and FAR 52.216-8, Fixed Fee, A-21 (for universities), and A-122 (non-profits).

B.5.3 Fixed Fee Payment

Depending on whether a CPFF task order issued under this contract is term or completion type, a reasonable portion of the Fixed Fee will be paid by USAID and specified in the schedule of each Task Order. The Fixed Fee payment schedule in each task order must be commensurate with progress made to justify payment, up to the total agreed amount of Fixed Fee. Because the clauses entitled "Allowable Cost and Payment" (FAR 52.216-7) and "Fixed Fee" (FAR 52.216-8) are incorporated into this contract, the terms and conditions of these clauses apply after total payments of fixed fee reach eighty five percent (85%) of the total fixed fee.

B.5.4 FFP Task Orders

The Firm-Fixed Price for each task order will be negotiated based on the price to complete the work in its entirety. After acceptance of a FFP task order by the Contractor, the task order price will only be adjusted to reflect changes in scope or conditions governed by other clauses (Changes, Differing Site Conditions, etc.).

Cost reimbursable line items may be allowed in Fixed Price task orders for elements of the task order that cannot be reasonably estimated.

B.6 LABOR

(a) Compensation: Compensation of personnel under this contract or any resulting subcontract must be in accordance with AIDAR 752.7007 Personnel Compensation (July 2007) and section H.7 of the IQC.

(b) Salary Approval: Acceptance of the Contractor labor rates presented during IQC or task order negotiation does not constitute approval of final salary rates above the Contractor Salary Threshold (CST). (ADS 302.3.6.10) All TOCOs will comply with the approval requirements in ADS 302. See section H for additional guidance on approvals.

(c) Labor Categories: The Contractor shall furnish personnel with the necessary education, training and/or relevant experience, as specified in the task orders to be issued under this contract. Task order proposals must justify proposed rates to the satisfaction of the TOCO.

(d) Locally Hired National Personnel or Other Non-U.S. Expatriates

(1) Third Country Nationals (TCNs) and Cooperating Country Nationals (CCNs) who are working in the United States or are legal residents of the United States at the time they are hired, must be extended benefits and subject to restrictions on the same basis as U.S. citizens who work in the United States. The U.S. labor rates may be applied to TCNs and CCNs conforming to this regulatory provision.

(2) Salaries for locally-hired personnel and other non-U.S. labor under this contract or any resulting subcontract must be in accordance with AIDAR 752.7007, Personnel Compensation (July 2007) and Section H.7 of the IQC.

(3) Pursuant to AIDAR 72218, the total compensation for locally hired CCN and TCN labor shall be consistent with the contractor’s established policies and procedures and the total mix of cash and non-cash payments shall not exceed, without Mission approval, the total, prevailing compensation paid to personnel performing comparable work in Afghanistan.

(e) IQC Manager: The Contractor’s IQC Manager will be responsible for all central management functions under the base IQC. The labor and associated costs for this manager will be included either as part of the Contractor’s indirect costs, or as a percentage of an individual position’s effort under task orders to the extent the functions are allocable to the particular task orders. The Contractor will clearly state in each Task Order proposal how it intends to allocate these central management costs.

B.7 OTHER DIRECT COSTS (MATERIALS)

(a) In addition to direct labor, other direct costs necessary for the performance of the work under task orders, such as travel and transportation, lodging and subsistence expenses, and allowances may be authorized by the task order.

(b) The Contracting Officer determines which other direct costs are allowable, allocable, and fair and reasonable in accordance with the applicable federal cost principles (i.e., FAR 31.2 and AIDAR 731.2 for commercial (for profit) organizations or FAR 31.3 and AIDAR 731.3 for educational institutions, or FAR 31.7 and AIDAR 731.7 for other not-for-profit organizations). For those other direct costs the TOCO authorizes, Contractors are allowed to recover applicable indirect costs on these costs, if doing so is part of the Contractor's usual accounting procedures, consistent with the applicable cost principles, and are included in the Contractor's Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement.

B.8 INDIRECT COST (CPFF ONLY)

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:

Description Rate Base Type Period [Rate 1 description to be inserted] ____% 1/ 1/ 1/ [Rate 2 Description to be inserted] ____% 2/ 2/ 2/ [Rate 3 Description to be inserted] ____% 3/ 3/ 3/

1/ Base of Application: [Basis of rate 1 to be inserted] Type of Rate: [Rate 1 description to be inserted] Period: [to be inserted] Source: [to be inserted]

2/ Base of Application: [Basis of rate 2 to be inserted] Type of Rate: [Rate 2 description to be inserted] Period: [to be inserted] Source: [to be inserted]

3/ Base of Application: [Basis of rate 3 to be inserted] Type of Rate: [Rate 3 description to be inserted] Period: [to be inserted] Source: [to be inserted]

Contractors are allowed to recover applicable indirect costs (i.e., overhead, G&A, etc.) on other direct costs (ODCs) if it is part of the Contractor's usual accounting procedures, consistent with FAR Part 31, and Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA).

The Contractor will make no change in its established method of classifying or allocating indirect costs without the prior written approval of the Contracting Officer and

OAA/CAS.

Reimbursement for indirect costs shall be at the final negotiated rates, but not in excess of the ceiling rates specified below.

The Government shall not be obligated to pay any additional amount on account of indirect costs above the ceiling rates established in the contract. This advance understanding shall not change any monetary ceiling, cost limitation, or obligation established in the contract.

B.9 ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING ON CEILING ON INDIRECT COST

RATES AND FINAL PERFORMANCE FOR INDIRECT COSTS

(a) For each of the Contractor's accounting periods during the term of this contract, the parties agree as follows:

(1) The distribution base for establishment of final [rate 1 description to be inserted] is [to be inserted at award].

(2) The distribution base for establishment of final [rate 2 description to be inserted]

(3) The distribution base for establishment of final [rate 3 description to be inserted]

(b) The Contractor will make no change in its established method of classifying or allocating indirect costs without the prior written approval of the contracting officer.

(c) Reimbursement for indirect costs shall be at the final negotiated rates, but not in excess of the following ceiling rates:

Description 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 [Rate 1 description to be inserted] __% ___% ___% ___% ___% [Rate 2 description to be inserted] __% ___% ___% ___% ___% [Rate 3 description to be inserted] __% ___% ___% ___% ___%

(d) The government shall not be obligated to pay any additional amount on account of indirect costs above the ceiling rates established in the contract. This advance understanding shall not change any monetary ceiling, cost limitation, or obligation established in the contract.

B.10 TASK ORDER LIMITATIONS

B.10(a) Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) Task Orders. When issuing CPFF task orders, the TOCO will state in the task order the total estimated cost plus fixed fee, which is the total amount of the task order and the maximum amount the Contractor may be paid without advance written approval of the Cognizant Contracting Officer.

B.10(b) Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) Task Orders. When issuing FFP task orders, TOCOs must state in the task order the firm fixed price, which represents the total amount of the task order and the maximum price the contractor may be paid to perform the services, reports, or other deliverables in the task order. In the event a cost reimbursable line is included in a task order, said cost reimbursable line item shall be clearly stated and not included in the FFP.

B.10(c) Minimum Order. When USAID requires services or reports and other deliverables covered by this contract in a Task Order in the amount of less than $50,000, the Contractor is not obligated to accept an order to furnish those services or reports and other deliverables under this contract. However, if the Contractor agrees to furnish services or reports and other deliverables required by USAID in an amount of less than $50,000 and is awarded a Task Order to do so, the Contractor is required to provide these services and reports / deliverables in accordance with the contract's terms and conditions.

B.10(d) Maximum Order. When USAID requires services or reports and other deliverables covered by this contract in a Task Order amount of more than $20,000,000, the Contractor is not obligated to accept an order to furnish those services or reports and other deliverables under this contract. However, if the Contractor agrees to furnish services or reports and other deliverables required by USAID in excess of $20,000,000 and is awarded a Task Order to do so, the Contractor is required to provide these services and reports / deliverables in accordance with the contract's terms and conditions.

B.10(e) Notwithstanding the above, if issuance of a task order to, and acceptance of a task order by, the Contractor would: (1) result in the Contractor (or its personnel or its subcontractors or their personnel) having an organizational conflict of interest for which restrictions would be placed on the Contractor's (or its personnel’s or its subcontractors’ or their personnel’s) future activities; or (2) violate the provisions of the Procurement Integrity legislation, i.e., Section 27 of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 423), as amended by Section 814 of Pub. L. 101-189, the Contractor, after written notification to the Contracting Officer, is not obligated to furnish those services or reports and other deliverables under this contract, and USAID may acquire the supplies or services from another source.

B.11 CEILING ON FIXED FEE

(a) For each CPFF task order issued under this IQC, the TOCO and the Contractor agree to negotiate a set dollar amount for fixed fee. In negotiating the fixed dollar amount for fee, the TOCO must consider the policies and factors for establishing fee in FAR 15.404- 4 as well as any applicable USAID policy on establishing a fixed fee amount. In no event, however, may the amount of fixed fee in any individual task order exceed ____ percent of the task order's estimated cost; excluding fee.

(b) For each CPFF task order issued under this IQC, the Contractor shall negotiate set dollar amounts for subcontractor fixed fees. In negotiating the fixed dollar amount for fee, the Contractor shall consider the policies and factors for establishing fee in FAR 15.404-4 as well as any applicable USAID policy on establishing a fixed fee amount. In no event, however, may the amount of subcontractor fixed fee in any individual task order for (name subcontractor(s)) exceed ____ percent of the subcontractor's estimated cost, excluding fee.

(c) The fixed fee for any subcontractor, whether a new subcontractor approved by the IQC Contracting Officer or TOCO or included as a non-major subcontractor in the Contractor’s original teaming arrangement, shall not exceed the prime Contractor’s fee ceiling.

[END OF SECTION B]

SECTION C – STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS

The following terms and acronyms are used in this IQC and subsequent task orders with meanings as reflected below:

Term/Acronym Meaning

ADS USAID Automated Directives System

Afghan Firm An Afghan Firm is (1) an entity with an Afghan business license (“AISA”) and ownership of at least 51% of the entity by one or more Afghan citizen (s) resident in Afghanistan or (2) a joint venture which includes substantial and material participation of an Afghan Firm. Substantial participation means performance of at least 60% of the contract work, measured by contract/task order value, by the Afghan Firm’s own forces.

AIDAR USAID Acquisition Regulation

AO Assistance Objective

ABADE USAID-funded Assistance in Building Afghanistan by Developing Enterprises project

ACBR Afghanistan Central Business Registry

ACE Afghanistan Agricultural Credit Enhancement

ACSC Afghan Civil Service Commission

ACSI Afghanistan Civil Service Institute

ADF Agriculture Development Fund

AGRED USAID-funded Afghan Agricultural Research and Extension Development program

AIHRC Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission

AISA Afghanistan Investment Support Agency

ANDS Afghanistan National Development Strategy

APAP2 Afghanistan Parliamentary Assistance Project

AREU Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit

AWDP Afghanistan Workforce Development Project

AWN Afghan Women’s Network

BIP Branding Implementation Plan

Term/Acronym

Meaning

CEDAW Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women

CIDA Canadian International Development Agency

CO Contracting Officer

COM/FRAGO Chief of Mission/Fragmentary Order

COR Contracting Officer’s Representative

CPR Contractor Performance Report

CST Contractor Salary Threshold

CSO Civil Society Organizations

CTO Cognizant Technical Officer (wherever this acronym or term appears, it shall mean COR)

DAILs GIRoA Directorates of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock

DEC Development Experience Clearinghouse

DFID Department For International Development

EGGI USAID Economic Growth and Governance Initiative

EVAW Elimination of Violence Against Women

FAIDA USAID-funded Financial Access for Investing in the Development of Afghanistan project

FFP Firm-Fixed-Price

FLC Future Leaders Club

FLO Future Leaders Organization

GDCG Gender Donor Coordination Group

GIRoA Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

GSMA Groupe Speciale Mobile Association

IARCSC Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission

ICT Information and Communication Technologies

IDLG Independent Directorate for Local Governance

IEE Initial Environmental Examination

IQC Indefinite Quantity Contract

INL International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs

IPACS II Initiative to Promote Afghan Civil Society

Term/Acronym Meaning

IR Intermediate Result

LARA USAID-funded Land Reform in Afghanistan project

MAIL GIRoA Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock

M&E Monitoring and Evaluation

MAS Movement of Afghan Sisters

MOE GIRoA Ministry of Education

MoHE GIRoA Ministry of Higher Education

MoLSAMD GIRoA Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled

MoPH GIRoA Ministry of Public Health

MORE USAID-funded Ministry of Women’s Affairs Reorganization and Empowerment program

MoWA GIRoA Ministry of Women’s Affairs

MP Marking Plan

MRRD GIRoA Ministry of Rural Reconstruction and Development

NAPWA National Action Plan for the Women of Afghanistan

NICRA Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement

NTP Notice to Proceed

NPP GIRoA National Priority Programs

OAG USAID Office of Agriculture and Growth

ODC Other Direct Costs

ODG USAID Office of Democracy and Governance

OEGI USAID Office of Economic Growth and Infrastructure

OPPD USAID Office of Program and Project Development

OSCE Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

OSSD USAID Office of Social Sector Development

PMP Performance Management Plan

POWER Providing Opportunities for Women through Enabling Resources

PROJECT Work or tasks assigned to the Contractor by specific task orders

Term/Acronym Meaning

PSC Private Security Contractors

QCP Quality Control Plan

RFP Request for Proposal

RFTOP Request for Task Order Proposals

Region Afghanistan

RSF Reporters Sans Frontieres

RWB Reporters Without Borders

SC Security Council (UN)

SEA USAID-funded Strengthening Education in Afghanistan project

SME Small or Medium-sized Enterprise

SOW Scope of Work

SUPPORT Services under Program and Project Office for Results Tracking

TAFA USAID-funded Trade Accession Facilitation for Afghanistan project

TCN Third Country National

TO Task Order

TOCO Task Order Contracting Officers

TOCOR Task Order Contracting Officer’s Representative

TOT Training of Trainer

TVET Technical Vocational Education and Training

UNDP United Nations Development Program

USAID United States Agency for International Development

USG United States Government

WE Women in the Economy

WEBS Women’s Employment and Business Service

WIG Women in Government

WLD Women’s Leadership Development

WOI Women of Influence and Joint Advocacy Training

WRGC Women’s Rights Groups and Coalitions

C.2 INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)/PROMOTE Indefinite- Quantity Contracts (IQC) will provide the USAID/Afghanistan Office of Program and Project Development (OPPD)/Gender Unit with a mechanism to award, on both a fair opportunity basis and through set-aside awards, task orders to enable educated women to enter and advance into decision-making positions in Afghanistan’s public, private and civil society sectors. PROMOTE will provide access to advanced professional development opportunities through four specific components: women in the economy, women’s rights groups and coalitions, women in government, and women’s leadership development.

C.3 BACKGROUND

When USAID and the international community resumed their work in Afghanistan in 2001, the condition of Afghan women was deplorable. Women were forbidden from working, going to school or leaving their homes without a male relative; female literacy dropped to 5 percent; and life expectancy for women was a mere 44 years.

A decade later, with the support of USAID, the international community and the cooperation of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIROA), Afghan women have achieved remarkable gains: Today, nearly 40 percent of school-aged girls—over 3 million—are enrolled in school, including 165,000 girls in secondary school. An additional 40,0002 young women attend public or private universities or technical and vocational training institutes, with more enrolling each year; life expectancy has increased to 64 for both women and men; 27 percent of seats in the Afghan National Assembly Lower House, 22 percent in the Upper House and 17 percent in provincial councils are reserved for women through a quota system; women’s organizations are working to end violence and discrimination against women; and equal rights for women are enshrined in the Afghan Constitution and official Afghan national policy. Afghanistan is also a signatory to international treaties and conventions such as the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW), the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Security Council Resolution 1325 and others.

Afghan attitudes towards women have also evolved. According to The Asia Foundation’s 2012 A Survey of the Afghan People:

87% of Afghans support equal educational opportunities for women and men, including 92% of women and 83% of men;

84% think women should be allowed to stand up for their individual rights, including 90% of women and 79% of men;

2 Keeping Faith in Afghanistan, by Donald Steinberg and Melanne Verveer, Tuesday, July 10, 2012, http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/07/06/keeping_faith_in_afghanistan

66% of Afghans say women should be allowed to work outside the home, including 80% of women and 55% of men; in urban areas, 81% agree, compared with 61% in rural areas;

53% of respondents say that when voting, women should decide for themselves, including 62% of women and 46% of men; more urban residents (69%) than their rural counterparts (48%) say that women should decide themselves; and.

56% of women and 37% of men say there should be equal representation in political leadership; in urban areas, 58% of respondents agree compared with 41% in rural areas.

These achievements have produced a large group of educated young women, who possess at least a secondary school diploma, some university study or a university degree, a demographic group that did not exist a decade ago. Estimated at over 200,000 strong—and growing fast—these women represent a valuable source of talent and expertise for the country.

At the same time, the gains are newly won, not yet firmly grounded or unconditionally accepted in Afghan society or psyche, vary widely by geography and ethnicity, and nowhere are they effectively enforced. A key risk faced by Afghan women during Transition is the declining visibility and influence of women leaders in the public arena. This is due to a number of factors: decreased influence of the donor community and foreign governments, less freedom of movement due to concerns about security and safety, and decreased salaries from foreign donors and NGOs, which might cause a “brain drain” of the upper class of Afghan families, including educated women, leaving the caretaking of women’s rights largely in the hands of Afghan men. Many women fear a Taliban resurgence would render women’s rights as vulnerable to the vagaries of politics as they have been historically.3 Recent events, including attacks on girls’ schools, executions of women leaders, such as the murder of the Director of Women’s Affairs and the Acting Director in Laghman province, and the officially endorsed Shiite “Code of Conduct,4” which condones wife beating under certain circumstances and restricts women’s mobility, and an increase in reported domestic violence cases, are causing many Afghan women to fear that Transition will herald a reversal of their decade-long struggle for safety and rights.

The 2012-2014 Transition refers to the durable and irreversible transition of security responsibility from ISAF to GIROA’s Afghan National Security Forces to defend the independence, national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan and to ensure internal security and public order. Transition is an evolving process, not a single event. In addition to transferring full responsibility

3 Timeline of Women’s Rights in Afghanistan, http://www.pbs.org/wnet/women-war-and-peace/uncategorized/timeline-of-womens-rights-in-afghanistan/ 4 Afghan President Endorses Shocking ‘Code of Conduct’ for Women that Allows Wife-Beating, March 6, 2012, http://www.theblaze.com/stories/afghan-president-endorses-shocking-code-of-conduct-for-women-that-allows-wife-beating/ for security, the shared strategy for a sovereign, stable Afghanistan has four other elements: ongoing training and equipping Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF); building an enduring partnership with Afghanistan; reconciliation among Afghans; and promoting regional stability and economic integration. Should Transition restrict or reverse even the most basic human rights and educational opportunities women have gained over the last decade, the country would be deprived of the productive contributions of half its population, greatly diminishing national development prospects. Even today, despite official GIRoA mandates endorsing equal rights for women, they are seriously under-represented in all sectors of society, professionally marginalized, and lack institutionalized opportunities to assume decision making and leadership roles in government, the private sector and civil society. Further restricting women’s rights, education, employment, and the ability to participate in public life would not only come at an enormous cost to women, it would greatly diminish Afghanistan’s ability to grow sustainably, ensure participatory and inclusive governance, and reduce poverty.

Research shows that women serve as a catalyst for many positive changes at all levels of society. Access to education, for example, improves women’s long-term economic prospects and helps lift themselves and their families out of poverty.

Healthy, educated women are also far more likely to have, healthier and better educated children and to participate in political and civic life, adding their valuable perspectives to the shaping of the country’s future. With 42 percent of the Afghan population under the age of 15, healthy, educated mothers will ensure that the next generation of Afghans – both male and female – will fare better than the current one.5

Research also shows that women’s rights and opportunities are key to maximize the economic and development potential of a country.6 Women’s empowerment is inextricably linked to security, economic opportunity, effective governance, and social development around the world. “Just as investing in women and girls can create a positive development cycle, however, the opposite is also true: countries that fail to empower half their population will suffer from lower productivity, slower economic growth, and weaker development outcomes.”7

With the stakes so high, the case for securing and sustaining a productive role for Afghan women is as compelling for Afghanistan as it is for women. Restrictions on Afghan women’s rights, education, employment, credit, and the ability to participate in public life come at an enormous cost to women and to

5 Engendering development through gender equality in rights, resources, and voices, A World Bank policy research report, http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2001/02/02/000094946_010125053115 22/Rendered/PDF/multi_page.pdf 6 The Global Gender Gap Report 2011, World Economic Forum Geneva, Switzerland, http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GenderGap_Report_2011.pdf 7 2012 World Bank Development Report: Gender Equality as Smart Economics, http://asiafoundation.org/in-asia/2011/10/05/2012-world-bank-development-report-gender-equality-as-smart-economics/

Afghanistan’s ability to grow sustainably, govern effectively and reduce poverty.

Ensuring that Afghan women are part of the decision making about the country’s future can help address these challenges and assure that solutions include the needs of the entire population.

C.4 DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE AND PROMOTE

Development Challenge: although significant gains have been achieved for women and girls over the last decade within Afghan society with support from the international community, and despite official endorsements by the Government of Afghanistan for equal rights for women, Afghan women remain under-represented in all sectors of society, professionally marginalized, and lack opportunities to assume decision making and leadership roles in government, the private sector and civil society. This restricts women’s rights and deprives the country of women’s contributions to development. To address this situation, there is a need to build on past investments and advances for women to both foster a cohort of women with the necessary leadership skills and to create opportunities for Afghan women to contribute more to strengthen Afghan communities, society, governance, and the economy. A critical mass of skilled women leaders in all key sectors will help Afghanistan achieve an inclusive and sustainable economic and social development over the coming decades.

Four factors combine to make intensive and sustained attention to Afghan women both urgent and compelling: (a) Transition by 2015; (b) the still-fragile status of Afghan women; (c) the yet-unrealized development potential of 50% of the population; and (d) their relative absence from Afghan government and international security and development plans.

As the U.S. and Afghanistan prepare for Transition and the Transformation decade, the role of women is critical. The Transformation decade is from 2015 to 2024 whereby Afghanistan targets to be increasingly self-sufficient by: (1) steadily decreasing it reliance on donor funds; (2) becoming fully integrated into the region as a sovereign state; and (3) becoming able to field a national security force that provides adequate protection for the state and its people. Unleashing the productive potential of Afghanistan’s women could greatly improve the country’s development prospects during and after Transition. Yet the benefits that could accrue to the country and to women will be largely lost if they are not allowed to join the ranks of decision makers and leaders in productive pursuits outside the home. If Afghanistan is to realize the potential for social, political and economic progress that the inclusion of women’s productivity promises, opportunities for them to enter and advance within these sectors must be available and accessible. Currently, they are not. Advances in women’s rights are newly won, not yet firmly grounded or accepted in Afghan society or psyche, vary widely by geography and ethnicity, and nowhere are they effectively enforced.

There is unlikely to be a better confluence of financial resources and political will to influence the long-term preservation and advancement of Afghan women’s rights and opportunities than now. This is our best opportunity to demonstrate the commitment to women that the USG has repeatedly underscored; it is the ideal moment in time to substantiate the USG’s pledge to Afghan women.

PROMOTE will invest in opportunities that enable educated women (i.e., women between 18 and 30 years of age who have at least a secondary education) to enter and advance into decision-making positions in Afghanistan’s public, private and civil society sectors. This cohort is estimated at over 200,000 strong—and growing fast, with approximately 164,000 girls attending secondary school nationwide. These women represent a valuable source of talent and expertise for the country. Focused on these target groups, PROMOTE will activate a sustainable process leading to a critical mass of new and upcoming generations of Afghan women assuming decision making and leadership roles in mainstream social, political and economic spheres. PROMOTE will directly benefit a minimum of 75,000 women within the targeted cohort.8

While the program specifically targets educated women, as they move into influential positions in government and private sectors, the Contractor will be required to focus efforts through all PROMOTE participants on ensuring the welfare, rights and opportunities for all Afghan women—to advocate for the rural and urban poor who have been deprived of education or opportunities for personal growth. PROMOTE aims to ensure that a “gender agenda” is not an issue on the fringes of national policy and programming but central to the advancement of Afghanistan’s political, social and economic advancement.

Primary interventions and inputs include: (a) business/employment centers where women learn to apply their education in productive, demand-driven businesses or employment through both business development and technical/vocational training, followed by job placement for employees or credit for entrepreneurs; (b) support to network approximately 50 activist-oriented groups of educated women electronically, to enable them to forge alliances with major women’s organizations regionally and internationally and to design and implement large scale activities with the potential for high impact on women’s rights and welfare;

(c) opportunities for qualified university graduates who desire a career in the government service to gain functional knowledge, skills and experience through job training and supervised on-the-job internships with government institutions, ultimately leading to long-term employment with advancement potential; and (d) state-of-the-art management and leadership programs for women that build self-confidence, self-efficacy and knowledge and proficiencies in communication, 8 Critical mass is estimated at 30 percent deemed the minimum acceptable level of women‘s representation that may be capable of changing the status quo in a given context. This is based on a United Nations Economic and Social Council endorsed target of having 30 percent of women in positions at decision

negotiation, conflict resolution, team building, decision making and other skills and abilities necessary to serve as effective leaders.

The currently skewed perceptions of women’s abilities will only change when women are given a chance to demonstrate their value and potential contributions to their families, communities and country. PROMOTE is designed to give women that chance. Providing educated women with opportunities to develop new skills, acquire new knowledge and assume leadership roles is a gender equitable response to the historical discrimination against women and their continued marginalization in public life. Throughout the life of the program, perceptions of women’s abilities will be monitored to detect improvements over time.

Finally, not only do the country’s Constitution and all official policies support the advancement of women, but Afghan women themselves have been calling for opportunities for years. PROMOTE was designed in response to requests from Afghan women for a chance to develop their own potential to participate in productive pursuits and contribute to their country’s progress.

C.5 PROGRAM PURPOSE

PROMOTE will provide educated Afghan women with opportunities to develop strong, demand-driven technical knowledge and skills, plus senior level management and leadership abilities, and to facilitate women’s entry and advancement into mid-high level positions in government, the private sector and civil society.