SOL-486-14-000004.pdf

Issuance Date: January 15, 2014

Questions Due Date: January 24, 2014

Questions Due Time: 9:00 AM, Bangkok time

Closing Date: March 5, 2014

Closing Time: 4:00 PM, Bangkok time

Subject: Request for Proposals (RFP) No. SOL-486-14-000004

Technical and Support Services for Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and

Knowledge Management Services in Asia

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking proposals from

U.S. or non-U.S. non-profit or for-profit organizations, in providing Technical and Support

Services for Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Knowledge Management Services in Asia as described in the attached Request for Proposals (RFP). USAID anticipates a single award

Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity Contract (IDIQ) with a period of performance of up to 5 years.

USAID anticipates that the maximum aggregate ordering limitation for the contract resulting from this RFP will be $50,000,000 over the ordering period. The maximum aggregate dollar value of task orders awarded cannot exceed this contract ceiling. There is no guarantee on the number of task orders that the successful Contractor will receive or the amount of money beyond the minimum order guarantee set forth in the RFP.

This procurement will be conducted under full and open competition procedures, pursuant to Part

15 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) (48 CFR Chapter 1). If your organization decides to submit a proposal in response to this solicitation, it must be submitted in accordance with Section L of this RFP. Offerors must also carefully review Section M - Evaluation Factors for Award. Sections B through I of the solicitation will become a substantive part of the anticipated contract with blanks to be completed by the Contracting Officer upon award. Section

K - Representations, Certifications and Acknowledgements must be filled out in full.

This RFP in no way obligates USAID to award a contract nor does it commit USAID to pay any costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal. Award of a Contract under this

RFP is subject to availability of funds and other internal USAID approvals.

This RFP can be viewed and downloaded from www.fedbizopps.gov. USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes. Further, be aware that amendments to solicitations are occasionally issued and will be posted on the same website from which you downloaded this solicitation. USAID advises interested parties to regularly check the above website for amendments.

Sincerely, /s/

Martha L. Aponte

Regional Contracting Officer

USAID, RDMA, Bangkok, Thailand http://www.fedbizopps.gov/

USAID/RDMA

Solicitation No: SOL-486-14-000004

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I - THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

PURPOSE ........................................................................................................................ 8 B.1

CONTRACT TYPE AND SERVICES ............................................................................ 8 B.2

MINIMUM OBLIGATED AMOUNT ............................................................................ 8 B.3

MAXIMUM CONTRACT CEILING .............................................................................. 8 B.4

FIXED FEE CEILING (COST-PLUS-FIXED-FEE TYPE ONLY) ............................... 8 B.5

APPROVED SUBCONTRACTORS ............................................................................... 9 B.6

LABOR ............................................................................................................................ 9 B.7

LABOR (UNBURDENED CDR) RATE CHANGES .................................................. 16 B.8

INDIRECT COSTS AND ADVANCED UNDERSTANDING ON CEILINGS ......... 16 B.9

PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE (CPFF TYPE TO ONLY) ............................................... 17 B.10

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

TITLE OF ACTIVITY ................................................................................................... 18 C.1

PURPOSE ...................................................................................................................... 18 C.2

BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................ 18 C.3

OBJECTIVE................................................................................................................... 19 C.4

STATEMENT OF WORK ............................................................................................. 20 C.5

EXPECTED RESULTS ................................................................................................. 26 C.6

GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES ................................................................... 27 C.7

EXPECTED STANDARDS .......................................................................................... 29 C.8

SECTION D - PACKAGING AND MARKING

D.1 AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (JANUARY 1993)

D.2 BRANDING STRATEGY, IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND MARKING PLAN .. 30

SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE . 31

E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE/RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL

SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

F.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE . 32

F.2 PERFORMANCE PERIOD

F.3 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

F.4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

F.5 REPORTS AND DELIVERABLES OR OUTPUTS

F.6 ORDERING PROCEDURES

F.7 TASK ORDER ADMINISTRATION

F.8 KEY AND NON-KEY PERSONNEL

F.9 AUTHORIZED WORK DAY / WEEK

F.10 POST-AWARD CONFERENCE

SECTION G - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE . 43 G.1

CONTRACTING OFFICER .......................................................................................... 43 G.2

CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR) ....................................... 43 G.3

CONTRACTOR’S PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT ............................................... 44 G.4

PAYING OFFICE .......................................................................................................... 44 G.5

ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA ....................................................... 44 G.6

CONTRACTOR'S PAYMENT ADDRESS .................................................................. 44 G.7

TECHNICAL DIRECTION/RELATIONSHIP WITH USAID .................................... 44 G.8

SECTION H - SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

H.1 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONNEL COMPENSATION

H.2 AUTHORIZED GEOGRAPHIC CODE

H.3 DEFENSE BASE ACT (DBA) INSURANCE

H.4 LOGISTIC SUPPORT

H.5 LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

H.6 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: PRECLUSION FROM

FURNISHING CERTAIN SERVICES AND RESTRICTION ON USE OF

INFORMATION

H.7 EXECUTIVE ORDER ON TERRORISM FINANCING (FEB 2002)

H.8 FOREIGN GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS TO INTERNATIONAL

CONFERENCES (JAN 2002)

H.9 CONFIDENTIALITY AND OWNERSHIP OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

H.10 REPORTING OF FOREIGN TAXES (JULY 2007)

H.11 USAID DISABILITY POLICY - (DEC 2004) (ACQUISITION AND ASSISTANCE

POLICY DIRECTIVE 04-17)

H.12 PROHIBITIION OF ASSISTANCE TO DRUG TRAFFICKERS

H.13 NONDISCRIMINATION (JUN 2012)

H.14 NONEXPENDABLE PROPERTY PURCHASES AND INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES

H.15 TITLE TO AND CARE OF PROPERTY

H.16 MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES

H.17 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

H.18 EXCHANGE VISITORS AND TRAINING

H.19 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED FACILITIES OR PROPERTY

H.20 COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 508 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973,

AS AMENDED

H.21 PERSONAL IDENTITY VERIFICATION OF CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL (JULY

2007)

H.22 HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE-12 (HSPD-12)

(SEPTEMBER 2006)

H.23 DATA COLLECTION

H.24 SPECIAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR EVALUATION REPORTS TO

THE DEC

PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSES

SECTION I - CONTRACT CLAUSES

I.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE . 59

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

I.3 52.216-18 ORDERING (OCT 1995)

I.4 52.216-19 ORDER LIMITATIONS (OCT 1995)

I.5 52.216-22 INDEFINITE QUANTITY (OCT 1995)

I.6 52.217-8 OPTION TO EXTEND SERVICES (NOV 1999)

I.7 52.227-23 RIGHTS TO PROPOSAL DATA (TECHNICAL) (JUN 1987)

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

1990)

I.9 FAR 52.232-99 PROVIDING ACCELARATED PAYMENT TO SMALL BUSINESS

SUBCONTRACTORS (DEVIATION) (AUG 2012)

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

(FEB 2006)

I.11 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

I.12 752.231-71 SALARY SUPPLEMENTS FOR HG EMPLOYEES (OCT 1998)

I.13 752.7005 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE

DOCUMENTS (SEP 2013)

I.14 752.7027 PERSONNEL (DEC 1990)

I.15 752.7032 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL APPROVAL AND NOTIFICATION

REQUIREMENTS (JAN 1990)

I.16 752.7034 ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND DISCLAIMER (DEC 1991)

I.17 752.7101 VOLUNTARY POPULATION PLANNING ACTIVITIES (JUNE 2008) .. 70

PART II – LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS

SECTION J - LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

SECTION K - REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER

STATEMENTS OF THE OFFEROR

K.1 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY

REFERENCE

K.2 52.203-2 CERTIFICATE OF INDEPENDENT PRICE DETERMINATION (APR

1985)

K.3 52.204-8 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS (JUL 2013) ... 73

K.4 52.209-5 CERTIFICATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (APR

2010)

K.5 52.209-7 INFORMATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (JUL 2013)

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

K.7 52.222-22 PREVIOUS CONTRACTS AND COMPLIANCE REPORTS (FEB 1999) 81

K.8 52.222-25 AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COMPLIANCE (APR 1984)

K.9 52.225-20 PROHIBITION ON CONDUCTING RESTRICTED BUSINESS

OPERATIONS IN SUDAN--CERTIFICATION (AUG 2009)

K.10 52.227-15 REPRESENTATION OF LIMITED RIGHTS DATA AND RESTRICTED

COMPUTER SOFTWARE. (DEC 2007)

K.11 COST ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOTICES AND CERTIFICATION

(MAY 2012)

K.12 52.230-7 PROPOSAL DISCLOSURE--COST ACCOUNTING PRACTICE

CHANGES (APR 2005)

K.13 INSURANCE - IMMUNITY FROM TORT LIABILITY

K.14 AUTHORIZED NEGOTIATORS

K.15 SIGNATURE

SECTION L – INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS OR

RESPONDENTS

L.1 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY

REFERENCE

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

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

L.4 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

L.5 DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

L.6 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL . 93

L.7 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COST/BUSINESS

PROPOSAL

SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

M.1 GENERAL INFORMATION

M.2 TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA

M.3 DETERMINATION OF THE COMPETITIVE RANGE

M.4 COST AND PRICE PROPOSAL EVALUATION

M.5 SOURCE SELECTION

ATTACHMENT J.1: TASK ORDER NO. 01

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE AND SERVICES

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

B.4 PAYMENT

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 CORE SERVICES REQUIRED

C.2 PERSONNEL

C.3 COORDINATION

C.4 EXPECTED RESULTS

C.5 APPLICABILITY OF THE BASE IDIQ

SECTION D – PACKAGING AND MARKING

D.1 BRANDING AND MARKING

SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

SECTION F – DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

F.1 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

F.2 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

F.3 REPORTS AND DELIVERABLES

F.4 KEY AND NON-KEY PERSONNEL

SECTION G – TASK ORDER ADMINISTRATION DATA

G.1 CONTRACTING OFFICER

G.2 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

G.3 ACCEPTANCE AND APPROVAL

G.4 PAYING OFFICE

G.5 ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

SECTION H – SPECIAL TASK ORDER REQUIREMENTS

SECTION I – CONTRACT CLAUSES

ATTACHMENT J.2: SAMPLE LABOR RATE EVALUATION MATRIX

ATTACHMENT J.3: USAID BRANDING STRATEGY

ATTACHMENT J.4: CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

ATTACHMENT J.5: IDENTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL GEOGRAPHIC CODE

NUMBER

ATTACHMENT J.6: INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION

ATTACHMENT J.7: EVALUATION SUMMIT FLYER

ATTACHMENT J.8: LIST OF ACRONYMS

PART I - THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

PURPOSE B.1

The purpose of this Contract is to provide services that fall within the Scope of Work (SOW) as specified in Section C for Technical and Support Services for Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Knowledge Management in Asia. USAID Task Order Contracting Officers (TO

COs) will request the work through the issuance of Task Orders (TOs) during the ordering period as specified in Section F of the Contract.

CONTRACT TYPE AND SERVICES B.2

This is a single award, Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) type Contract. USAID will issue TOs that are either Fixed-Priced or Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) type. The Contractor must perform the services set forth in the Contract and TOs to be issued at prices consistent with

Section B of this Contract.

MINIMUM OBLIGATED AMOUNT B.3

The basic Contract includes an initial obligation of funds in the amount of $25,000 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 TOs will obligate funds to cover the work required under that TO.

MAXIMUM CONTRACT CEILING B.4

This is a single award IDIQ with an overall ceiling price of $50,000,000 for monitoring, evaluation, learning, and knowledge management services. The maximum aggregate dollar value of the Contract and TOs awarded to the Contractor cannot exceed this Contract ceiling.

FIXED FEE CEILING (Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee Type Only) B.5

(a) For each TO under this IDIQ, the TOCO and 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. This fee must not be applied to the cost of grants under contracts (GUCs), if applicable, or fees which have a separate ceiling established below. The fee ceiling applies to the Prime Contractor and any subcontractors.

NOTE: The ceiling on fixed fee does not apply to Fixed-Price TOs.

(b) The Total Estimated CPFF for each TO must be negotiated in accordance with the terms of this Contract.

(c) For any TO that is issued under this Contract, at the time of each payment of allowable costs to the Contractor, the USAID paying office ordinarily pays the Contractor a percentage of fixed fee that directly corresponds to the percentage of allowable costs being paid. Two exceptions to paying fixed fee in this manner apply:

(1) If the TOCO determines that this method results in paying a disproportionately higher ratio of fixed fee than the percentage of work that the Contractor has completed, then the

TOCO may suspend further payment of any fixed fee until the Contractor has made sufficient progress to justify further payment, up to the agreed percentage.

(2) 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.

APPROVED SUBCONTRACTORS B.6

[FAR clause 52.244-2, SUBCONTRACTS is incorporated in Section I, below is the fill in for paragraph (j) for this clause.]

Name Cage Code (Reference for Contractor Performance Assessment Report (CPAR) and other

Federal Reports)

[TBD]

B.6. (a) Resource Organizations

[TBD]

TOCO’s may grant separate subcontract approvals for subcontractors not listed above for TOs in accordance with FAR part 52.244-2 and 44.202-2.

LABOR B.7

(Only applicable to CPFF type TOs)

(a) IDIQ Contract management costs will be handled through the following method:

See Section F.

(b) The work day and work week policies and method of accounting for paid absences including holidays for the Contractor and major subcontractors shall be in accordance with the

Contractor’s organizational policies and acceptable accounting procedures which should be compliant with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) cost principles.

Compensation of personnel under this Contract or any resulting subcontract must be in accordance with AIDAR 752.7007 Personnel Compensation (July 2007) (See Section H.).

B.7 (a) Unburdened Ceiling Daily Rates (CDR)

(1) The TO labor rates must not exceed the CDRs set forth in the table below.

Each CDR for personnel listed below is “unburdened” and must only include salary costs or consulting rates of the individual providing the services.

The CDR for employees must not include the following:

Payroll costs (fringe benefits, FICA, allowances, differentials, etc.);

Indirect costs applicable to labor; and

Profit or fee, if any.

The CDRs set forth below are fixed for Year 1 of the Contract period and is for a productive eight (8) hour day, and apply to all subcontractors set forth in Section B.6. The escalation factor ceiling is fixed for the entire Contract period. If a new subcontractor is proposed for a specific

TO on CPFF basis, the CDRs set forth below will apply, and the subcontract is subject to consent by the TOCO in accordance with FAR part 42.

Actual salaries for all personnel will be negotiated under TOs and final approval will be provided by the TOCO. The CDRs presented below do not constitute approval of final salary rates above the Contractor Salary Threshold (CST) (see ADS 302). Any salary rate above the CST requires

Pre-approval.

(2) The single unburdened CDR for each labor category/group below represents the mid- and senior level rate in each category/grouping. One unburdened CDR for each labor category/grouping is included in the Contract to provide more flexibility under TOs. If junior-level personnel are required under TOs, they must be proposed at rates below the unburdened CDR.

No. Labor Category Groupings (Technical) Daily Rate

(Senior)

Daily Rate

(Mid-level)

Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist, Principle

Investigator, or Research Specialist

2 Statistician or Data Analyst

Economic & Trade, Private Sector, or Public

Finance Specialist/ Analyst

4 Health, Population, or Nutrition Specialist

5 Agriculture or Food Security Specialist/Analyst

Climate Change, Environmental, or Natural

Resource Management Specialist/Analyst

7 Education Specialist

Democracy, Rights, Governance, or Conflict

Mitigation & Management Specialist/Analyst

Gender Equality and Female Empowerment

Analyst (Gender Specialist)

10 Organizational Capacity Building Specialist

11 Behavior Change Communication Specialist

Disability, Vulnerable Populations or Other Cross-cutting Technical Specialist

13 Communication Specialist

The escalation factor ceiling to be applied to each rate for each subsequent year of the IDIQ after the first year is [TBD]. The formula for applying the rate in Year 2 and subsequent years is:

Previous Year Rate * Escalation Factor = Current Rate

Note 1: The Unburdened CDRs apply to any CPFF type TO(s) that are awarded under this

Contract.

Note 2: The Unburdened CDRs apply to all labor (the Prime Contractor, subcontractor, Third Country Nationals (TCNs), Cooperating Country Nationals (CCNs), and consultants). CCN and TCN labor are also governed by the prevailing local compensation as further provided in Note 3 below. For consultants that typically bill using a loaded rate, the Contractor may propose any charges above direct salary separately.

Note 3: Locally Hired National Personnel or Other Non-U.S. Expatriate Rates

All locally hired national personnel and other non-U.S. expatriates must be paid in accordance with AIDAR 722.170(a). Salaries for individual locally-hired personnel and other non-U.S. expatriates under this Contract and any resulting subcontract must be in accordance with AIDAR 752.7007, Personnel

Compensation (July 2007), and should be based upon a combination of factors including the prevailing compensation paid to personnel performing comparable work in the cooperating country as determined by USAID and consideration of the individual's education, work experience and recent relevant salary history.

Unless otherwise authorized USAID, the compensation for CCN and TCN labor shall not exceed the prevailing compensation paid to personnel performing comparable work in the cooperating country as determined by USAID and shall be paid in the currency of the cooperating country. However, TCNs and CCNs who are working in and/or are legal residents of the U.S. at the time they are hired under this Contract must be extended benefits, and be subjected to restrictions on the same basis as U.S. citizens who work in the U.S.

Note 4: The Unburdened CDRs above do not apply to Fixed-Price TOs issued under this

IDIQ. The TOCO and Contractor will negotiate a set dollar amount for Fixed-

Price type TOs.

(3) Definition of Labor Categories

All personnel are required to keep abreast of USAID’s policies and guidance including but not limited to:

i. Program Cycle Guidance,

ii. Project Design Guidance,

iii. Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policy,

iv. USAID Forward Policy, and

v. The 200 and 300 Series of the USAID Automated Directives System (ADS)

(http://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/agency-policy).

All short-/long-term personnel deployed under TOs are expected to be familiar with

Country/Regional Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS/RDCS) established by USAID

Missions in Asia, as well as their areas of expertise in the Asian contexts. Depending on TO requirements, they must have appropriate and up-to-date technical knowledge and expertise related to their technical areas. It is highly preferable that all personnel – except the

Statistician/Data Analyst and Communication Specialist – have knowledge and experience in designing and implementing Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) activities.

If the required expertise for individual TOs has not been captured in the relevant labor categories, USAID reserves the right to add new labor categories at a later date. Below are specific definitions of labor categories (minimum qualifications are listed in B.7(b)).

1. Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist (see also Section F), Principle Investigator, or

Research Specialist: Depending on TO requirements, these personnel must have appropriate technical knowledge and expertise on M&E related to their technical areas. This will range from development, management, and the use of performance indicators and various research/evaluation methodologies to determine outcomes and impacts throughout the project/program cycle. S/he should also be familiar with global and regional development indicators/indexes. In addition to leading/serving as a member of an evaluation team, s/he http://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/agency-policy will provide inputs into evaluation design, work plan, and tools development. S/he may also be required to deliver various types of services related to M&E capacity strengthening that covers a broad range of activities for staff of USAID and/or IPs as well as organizational

M&E system strengthening.

2. Statistician or Data Analyst: The Specialist/Analyst may be requested to conduct data cleaning, management, and analysis which will likely include also advanced statistical analysis, especially in the case of impact evaluation. S/he must have advanced skills in using common quantitative and/or qualitative data analysis software such as SPSS-X , Stata, ATLAS-ti, and NVivo. The Specialist/Analyst may also be requested to provide customized training and/or to provide technical assistance related to their expertise to staff of USAID and/or IPs.

3. Economic & Trade, Private Sector, or Public Finance Specialist/Analyst: The Specialist/

Analyst must be familiar with global and Asia regional development indicators/indexes relevant to their areas of expertise, including those in the context of the Association of South-

East Asian Nations (ASEAN). S/he must be familiar with the USAID Forward Policy, especially that of Implementation and Procurement Reform, focusing on effective partnerships.

4. Health, Population, or Nutrition Specialist: The Specialist must be familiar with the global, Asia regional, World Health Organization’s and U.S. Government’s initiatives/guidance on his/her relevant subject of expertise such as Roll Back Malaria, President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, President’s Malaria Initiative, Emerging Pandemic Threat, and Health

System Strengthening.

5. Agriculture or Food Security Specialist/Analyst: The Specialist/Analyst must be familiar with the United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organization’s guidance as well as the U.S.

Government’s Feed the Future Initiative.

6. Climate Change, Environmental, or Natural Resource Management Specialist/Analyst:

The Specialist/Analyst must be familiar with relevant global and USAID’s policies/guidance such as Environmental Compliance, Global Climate Change and Development Strategy, Biodiversity, and Collaborative Agricultural Biotechnology (CABIO) Initiative. The

Specialist may also be requested to provide technical support on M&E of Community-based

Natural Resource Management activities.

7. Education Specialist: The Specialist/Analyst must be keen on developing school curriculum/course syllabus as well as improving girl’s education within the Asian context.

The Specialist may also be requested to provide technical assistance on the design, implementation, and M&E on higher and/or vocational/alternative education programs.

8. Democracy, Rights, Governance, or Conflict Mitigation & Management Specialist/

Analyst: The Specialist/Analyst must be familiar with relevant international laws and U.S.

Government’s policies/strategies such as Palermo Protocol (2000); the various United

Nations Charters/Conventions/Action Plans on Human Rights and Human Trafficking;

Presidential Executive Memorandum on the International Initiatives to Advance the Human

Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Persons (2011); USAID’s Improving

Democracy Assistance (2008) and Conflict Mitigation and Management Policy (2005); and

Inter-Agency LGBT Foreign Assistance Strategy (2011), .

9. Gender Specialist (see also Section F.): The Gender Specialist may be asked to develop and deliver training programs to build USAID’s and IPs’ capacity to; a) design strategies, projects and activities that address gender equality gaps and improve development outcomes, and b) incorporate appropriate gender-sensitive indicators to monitor and/or evaluate the effect of development assistance. S/he may also be requested to provide customized (sector and/or country specific) training and/or to provide technical assistance on gender analyses.

10. Organizational Capacity Development Specialist (see also Section F.): The OCD Specialist must be familiar with the USAID Forward Policy, especially that of Local Solutions and other internationally-practiced strategies, approaches, tools, implementation, and M&E for

OCD.

11. Disability, Vulnerable Populations or Other Cross-cutting Technical Specialist: Technical

Specialists/Analysts on cross-cutting issues such as disability and vulnerable populations may be asked to provide their expertise if the project/program to be assessed/evaluated directly addresses these issues and/or if USAID would like to examine these issues in specific sectors such as health, economic development, governance, education, and so on.

They must be familiar with USAID’s Disability Policy , Policy and Program Guidance on

Building Resilience to Recurrent Crisis that addresses vulnerable population, and other relevant policies and guidance.

12. Behavior Change Communication (BCC) Specialist: The BCC Specialist must be familiar with various BCC theories and their applications in various types of beneficiaries and technical/thematic areas as listed in the labor categories above. S/he must also be familiar with and able to appropriately apply the BCC theories/approaches to the diverse and unique

Asian context.

13. Communications Specialist: The Communication Specialist will be required to keep abreast of USAID’s Branding and Marking Policies. Depending on TO requirements, s/he may be asked to provide writing and editorial expertise to design and develop publications, briefings, and presentations. S/he may also be asked to provide expertise in both content development and in applying the principles of visual design to effectively display electronic information online. In addition, s/he may be asked to serve as an information architect for the creation or redesign of online communication tools and toolkits, utilizing software tools for the creation of high quality and easy to use online communications.

http://www.ncd.gov/publications/2013/032013/032013Ch5#_ftn13 http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1870/USAIDResiliencePolicyGuidanceDocument.pdf http://www.ncd.gov/publications/2013/032013/032013Ch5#_ftn13 http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1870/USAIDResiliencePolicyGuidanceDocument.pdf

B.7 (b) Minimum Qualifications

In order to perform the SOW set forth in Section C, the Contractor must provide personnel that meet the minimum education and experience requirements set forth below. These minimum qualifications for mid-level and senior personnel correspond to the CDR.

NOTES:

1) Language proficiency, relevant regional/national experience, and international development experience requirements will be specified in the Contract and individual

TOs.

2) Junior personnel must have a relevant Bachelor’s Degree and at least 2 years of related work experience, with exception of personnel in the Data Clerk category who require no years of experience.

3) The minimum qualifications defined shall be strictly adhered to in the selection and payment of personnel. Only the IDIQ’s CO has the authority to waive these requirements upon the recommendation of the IDIQ’s or the TO’s Contracting

Officer’s Representative (COR). However, these waivers will only be granted under exceptional circumstances.

B.7 (c) Subcontractor Rates

The following provides guidance for various subcontracting arrangements:

i. The Prime Contractor subcontracts with an approved subcontractor from the original IDIQ competition (approval must be in accordance with Section B.6 of the IDIQ)

Highest degree obtained should be related to work being performed.

Experience should be related to the work being performed.

Education + Experience Requirements

Level Academic Degree

AND

Years of Relevant Work

Experience

Mid

Ph.D. 4 or JD/ABD 5 or MS/MA/MB/MPH 6 or BS/BA 8 or Less than BS/BA 10

Senior

Ph.D. 8 or JD/ABD 10 or MS/MA/MB/MPH 12 or BS/BA 15 or Less than BS/BA 20

The unburdened CDRs for the Prime Contractor apply to the subcontractor.

ii. The Prime Contractor subcontracts with a new subcontractor not yet approved

The unburdened CDRs for the Prime Contractor apply to the new subcontractor.

iii. The Prime Contractor subcontracts with a new subcontractor not yet approved and may or may not have a different cost accounting system that only processes fully burdened rates.

Further, subcontractor proposes rates that are “above” the Prime Contractor’s IDIQ rates.

The Prime Contractor may then include in their proposals, (i) the fully burdened rate proposed to the Prime Contractor by the Subcontractor, (ii) allocation of the Prime

Contractor indirect costs in accordance with established accounting practices, and (iii) a reasonable profit. If the rates proposed to USAID, inclusive of the Prime Contractor‘s allocable indirect costs and a reasonable profit are above the Prime Contractor‘s unburdened

CDRs, the Prime Contractor must disclose the amount of the indirect costs, and the amount of the profit that were added to the subcontractor’s proposed rates. A reasonable profit will be determined by the TOCO for the specific requirement. The CDRs of the subcontractor must not exceed the Prime Contractor’s CDRs, unless approved by the TOCO.

LABOR (UNBURDENED CDR) RATE CHANGES B.8

The labor rates are fixed for Year 1, the escalation factor ceiling is fixed for the entire contract period; however, the Contractor may submit a proposal reducing the labor rates and/or indirect rates at any time during the life of this Contract. The IDIQ’s CO will review these proposals and determine if the revised rates are realistic and in the best interests of the Government. If the rates are accepted, the IDIQ will be modified by incorporating the new rates into the Contract.

INDIRECT COSTS AND ADVANCED UNDERSTANDING ON CEILINGS B.9

[Ceilings are not applicable to Small Business Offerors or local organizations. Indirect rates are only applicable to CPFF type TOs.]

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 for the Contractor and their major subcontractors:

[Contractor] Fringe

Rate %

Overhead

Rate %

Overhead

Ceiling

Rate%

G&A

Rate %

G&A

Ceiling

Rate %

Contractor

Base of Application

Source

Period

Approved Major

Subcontractor(s)

Base of Application

Source

Period

NOTE: Insert additional indirect rates as needed for the major subcontractors in the above table.

*Special Note: The un-shaded columns in the indirect cost table are the current approved indirect cost rates for the Contractor and major subcontractor(s).

The Contractor will make no change in its established method of classifying or allocating indirect costs without the prior written approval of the IDIQ’s CO.

Reimbursement for indirect costs shall be at final negotiated rates, but not in excess of ceiling rates specified above (ceiling rates are not applicable to small business).

The USAID 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.

NOTE 1: For Fixed-Price TOs, the overhead ceilings serve as the basis for negotiation only.

NOTE 2: The Contractor is allowed to recoup indirect costs (overhead, general & administrative cost, etc.) as other direct costs if it is part of the Contractor’s usual accounting procedures, consistent with FAR 31 and the Contractor’s Negotiated Indirect Cost

Rate Agreement (NICRA).

PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE (CPFF Type TO Only) B.10

Payment of fixed fee will be made upon receipt of a proper invoice and shall directly correspond to the percentage of allowable costs being paid. In accordance with FAR 52-216-8, Fixed Fee, the Contracting Officer will withhold 15% of the total fee or $100,000, whichever is less until the required awards conditions under the reference clause have been met.

[END OF SECTION B]

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

TITLE OF ACTIVITY C.1

Technical and Support Services for Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Knowledge

Management in Asia.

PURPOSE C.2

The purpose of this Contract is to support the implementation of USAID Forward Initiatives related to M&E as well as learning by providing M&E and other related technical and/or advisory services to USAID Missions, implementing partners (IPs), and key stakeholders throughout the Asia Region. It is anticipated that this Contract will assist USAID and its partners in the Asia region to generate empirical data as well as foster learning and knowledge management through a participatory process in order to support stronger results and improve evidence-based programming. This, in turn, will promote more effective use of the Agency’s development assistance resources and provide greater transparency.

BACKGROUND C.3

The Asia-Pacific Region is home to over half of the world’s population and is the fastest growing region in the world. Stretching from the Central Asian Republics through the population-dense countries of South Asia across the dynamic countries of East Asia to the expansive stretch of the

Pacific Islands, the region has become a key driver of global politics and economies, and is closely tied to U.S. security and prosperity. While much of Asia has recently experienced robust economic growth, the region continues to grapple with large pockets of poverty, malnutrition, food insecurity, environmental degradation, and fragile governance institutions. Trans-border threats such as climate change, human trafficking, and pandemic diseases are increasingly affecting global health and security.

USAID partners with Asian governments, business sectors, civil society and non-profit organizations to tackle these challenges. By harnessing the innovation and expertise that exists throughout the region, USAID and its partners work to create a healthier, safer, and more prosperous future for the people of Asia and the United States. USAID operates twelve regional and bilateral missions in Asia: Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, Central Asian Republics, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Timor Leste, and Vietnam. USAID’s

Pacific Islands Office based in Papua New Guinea covers 11 countries in the Pacific. In addition, USAID also operates the Regional Development Mission for Asia (USAID/RDMA) in Bangkok, Thailand which implements regional programs across 24 countries in Asia that address critical and trans-boundary development challenges; provides core and technical services to bilateral missions in the region; and manages overseas assistance in Thailand, Lao PDR, and China, including Tibet. In addition, USAID/RDMA serves as a strategic learning platform by convening development stakeholders from the Asia region to share and disseminate state-of-the-art development findings and practices.

USAID activities throughout the region primarily focus on improving environmental conditions and addressing global climate change; promoting democratic governance and education;

supporting trade, agriculture and economic reforms; promoting an integrated Association of

Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) community; increasing effective responses to infectious diseases; managing humanitarian assistance for vulnerable populations; mitigating the impact of natural and human-made disasters; and promoting gender equality and female empowerment as well as other cross-cutting issues.

In order to more effectively measure the impact of U.S. development assistance, USAID seeks to enhance the M&E capacity of its staff, implementing partners, and stakeholders in the region.

All Missions in the Asia region support the implementation of the USAID Forward Initiatives through a managing for results approach characterized by defining realistic expected results, monitoring progress toward achievement, measuring impact, integrating lessons learned into management decisions, and reporting on performance.

OBJECTIVE C.4

The Contractor will provide technical support and/or advice on the robust monitoring of programs, projects, and activities; conduct rigorous multiple impact and performance evaluations; enhance the M&E capacity of USAID Missions in Asia; and provide evidence to improve effectiveness as well as to shape strategic direction for future USAID programming in the Asia region. Additionally, the Contractor will provide technical support and/or advice in instituting operational five-year strategies that are responsive and adaptive to changes in Mission operating environments. Overall, the ultimate expected results of this Contract are to strengthen

USAID’s M&E systems in the Asia region and to enhance M&E capacity of local/regional entities in order to improve accountability and the use of empirical evidence for programming, learning and adapting. The four key objectives of this Contract are described below:

1) To provide a broad range of technical services to improve the M&E capacity of USAID, IPs, and other relevant stakeholders including, but not limited to, performance monitoring and impact and performance evaluations at various implementation levels;

2) To provide innovative knowledge management and advisory services to inform decision-making in order to strengthen development programming;

3) To improve and enhance the capacity for learning and adaptation within USAID Missions in the Asia region; and

4) To strengthen technical and management capacities, ensure sustainability, and improve knowledge of USAID policies, regulations, and practices related to M&E of local/regional partners in order to increase the pool of potential M&E service providers for USAID and other donors in the Asia region.

STATEMENT OF WORK C.5

The ability to engage across all technical and support offices at USAID Missions throughout

Asia, including IPs and other stakeholders, is critical for the success of this Contract. This engagement will provide an opportunity for the Contractor to aggregate information at a higher level, develop a comprehensive understanding of challenges and opportunities in the M&E area across the entire USAID portfolio, and foster a more collaborative working relationship with both USAID and external staff. This approach will help USAID to focus on long-term goals and accomplishments and facilitate the development of a vibrant and sustainable community of M&E service providers throughout the Asia region.

The Contractor must provide direct services and operational support to fulfill all requirements of the potential TOs as illustrated below. When implementing M&E activities, the Contractor will take into account USAID principles and requirements, including those within USAID’s

Evaluation Policy and the 200 series of the Automated Directives System (ADS). In addition to sector-specific expertise, the Contractor shall offer services to reflect the most recent and innovative techniques and approaches in M&E design, including rigorous impact evaluation methods.

C.5.1 Management of the Base IDIQ Contract (To be delivered under the Core Services

TO)

The Contractor will manage the base IDIQ and TOs through the following tasks:

1.1) Establishing full operations in Bangkok, Thailand;

1.2) Establishing a variety of mechanisms to recruit qualified experts and firms/ organizations/institutions with expertise in USAID’s programmatic areas in Asia including health, economic growth, governance, environment, vulnerable populations, and priority policies such as gender equality and female empowerment. Emphasis shall be placed on sourcing regional and national expertise;

1.3) Developing and regularly updating a database of qualified international, regional, and national experts and firms/organizations/institutions that can be engaged for M&E technical assistance. The database is to be made available to all USAID Missions and

U.S. government counterparts;

1.4) Managing the solicitation, screening, scheduling and deployment processes for the services tasked under TOs, and ensuring the quality and timeliness of the services delivered;

1.5) Developing and regularly updating a database to record the Contract’s deliverables such as the number and types of TOs, their status, as well as the types of services provided;

1.6) Providing oversight for all services delivered under this Contract; and

1.7) Regularly consulting with the IDIQ’s COR to share challenges faced and ways to mitigate them, as well as reporting progress and results of services under this Contract.

C.5.2 Expected Task Order Services

Given the varying needs of USAID Missions in Asia, TOs under this Contract may require the following illustrative work assignments. USAID reserves the right to order other tasks/services related to M&E that are not explicitly stated below. Some of the tasks/services listed below might be considered inherently governmental functions and the Contractor will, therefore, only be expected to support USAID in meeting its M&E obligations. Those particular tasks/services are listed below under: 1.1) Technical assistance in M&E design, planning, and implementation;

2) M&E Related Advisory Services and Knowledge Management; and 3) Improved Capacity for

Learning and Adapting.

Below are examples of possible required services.

1. M&E Technical Services (Objective 1)

Reliable and sound M&E data are prerequisites for effective program performance management, informed decision making and optimal resource allocation. Such data shall enable USAID to build a stronger, valid, evidence-oriented base of programming experiences, enabling the Agency to better direct interventions and account for improved outcomes. Below are examples of possible required services.

1.1) Technical assistance in M&E design, planning, and implementation such as:

a) Strengthening the internal M&E capacity of USAID and its IPs through classroom and on-the-job trainings tailored to the needs of the Missions and IPs;

b) Assisting in the development of Mission-Wide Performance Management

Plans (PMP) and M&E plans at project and/or activity levels. This may also include assisting in the selection and/or development of appropriate indicators, as well as the collection, verification and analysis of PMP data especially those obtained from sources other than USAID-funded activities;

c) Mapping USAID interventions through the use of Geographic Positioning

System (GPS) coordinates and cataloguing relevant data such as activity name, activity type, IP name, brief activity description, beneficiaries, etc.;

d) Assisting in establishment of AIDTracker Plus, an Agency-wide Management

Information System (MIS), and a Geographical Information System (GIS) that will collect, input, store, and manage key M&E and other related data;

e) Conducting field monitoring visits in those instances when USAID staff are unable due to political, logistical or insecurity barriers;

f) Assisting USAID staff to prepare for portfolio reviews by aggregating data as required;

g) Supporting other monitoring efforts led by USAID staff such as Data Quality

Assessments, as required and deemed appropriate; and

A tool to plan and manage the process of monitoring, evaluating, and analyzing progress toward achieving results identified in the USAID Missions’ overall strategies (CDCS/RDCS) in order to inform decision-making, resource allocation, learning, and adapting projects and programs. It serves as an umbrella framework for M&E plan designed for project and/or activity levels. (Adapted from ADS 203.3)

h) Supporting the systematic use of empirical data derived from M&E efforts to assist USAID to modify current projects/activities or to develop new projects as deemed appropriate. This may also include the utilization of a MIS/GIS platform for data management and use.

1.2) Full implementation of high quality and timely M&E related studies by employing different types of research methods that will include experimental/quasi-experimental designs and mixed methods. These will primarily include but will not be limited to the following:

a) Performance and/or impact evaluations of program, project, and activity implementations and/or results which may include experimental/quasi-experimental designs;

b) Quantitative and/or qualitative baseline, mid-term and final evaluation surveys and/or studies;

c) Situation analyses, rapid and formative assessments, feasibility studies, and GIS and other types of mapping;

d) Costing and/or cost-effectiveness analyses;

e) Periodic analyses and assessments on the effectiveness of USAID projects relative to Development Objectives and/or development hypothesis;

f) M&E design and planning such as development of monitoring and/or evaluation work plans and selection/development of appropriate indicators; and

g) Collecting and maintenance of baseline data and developing protocols for consistent and ongoing quality data collection by IPs under USAID staff guidance.

2. M&E Related Advisory Services and Knowledge Management (Objective 2)

Effective systems for managing M&E information are necessary to translate data into knowledge. Organizing data collection efforts, analyzing monitoring data and interpreting evaluation findings will not only meet USAID’s information demands; it will also assist USAID to track changes in Asia’s development context. Below are examples of possible required services.

2.1) Developing protocols for quality data collection on various development sectors in diverse environmental, cultural, and political settings.

2.2) Supporting the collection of information that will lead to a better understanding of challenges and opportunities in the M&E arena across USAID portfolios, as well as cross-cutting program areas such as gender equality and female empowerment and the employment of science and technology in development projects and M&E efforts.

2.3) Assisting in the tracking and/or evaluating the progress of USAID Missions toward achieving Development Objectives and Intermediate Results as measured by indicators in the Missions’ Results Frameworks and Performance Management Plans

(PMP), and recommending revisions of the Results Frameworks and/or the PMP as appropriate.

2.4) Assisting USAID to conduct comprehensive reviews of M&E findings and disseminating key recommendations across Missions through traditional and innovative means.

3. Improved Capacity for Learning and Adapting (Objective 3)

The Contractor shall support USAID in Asia to become a more effective development organization by providing services that will establish the necessary foundation for learning and adaptive programming. Below are examples of possible required services.

3.1) Facilitating the development and implementation of organizational and technical learning agendas.

3.2) Supporting USAID Missions to align policies, practices and processes with learning and adaptation.

3.3) Organizing innovative learning platforms and activities to facilitate knowledge sharing.

3.4) Assisting in the development or selection of indicators to measure learning and adapting at USAID Missions.

3.5) Documenting and making available in useful form analytic results, studies and evaluation reports, meeting notes, decisions made and follow up from learning engagements.

3.6) Assisting in the dissemination of evaluation findings, good practices, and lessons learned from studies tasked by USAID Missions to promote good practices and lessons learned from M&E practices, in close consultation with relevant Technical

Offices/Missions, implementing partners, and Development Outreach and

Communication (DOC) teams of USAID Missions.

3.7) Compiling findings and recommendations on key priority areas such as gender equality and female empowerment; identifying common trends/issues; presenting recommendations on how to improve project design, management,…