FINAL_BIODIVERSITY_RFP_SEPT_1_2017.pdf

Subject: Request for Proposal (RFP) No. SOL-520-17-000002

Activity Name: USAID/Guatemala Biodiversity Project

Date of issuance: August 29, 2017

Questions due: September 21, 2017 at 10:00 am Guatemala time

To e-mail: guatemalaproposals@usaid.gov

Proposals due date & time: October 24, 2017 at 10:00 am, Guatemala time

To e-mail: guatemalaproposals@usaid.gov

NAICS Code: 541990 – All Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Services

USAID Authorized

Geographic Code for

Procurement of Goods

And Services: 937 – (The United States, the recipient country, and developing countries other than advanced developing countries, but excluding any country that is a prohibited source)

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Guatemala/Office of Acquisition & Assistance, intends to award a Cost Plus Fixed Fee Completion type Contract to implement the USAID/Guatemala Biodiversity

Project.

You are invited to submit a proposal in accordance with the requirements of the RFP. This procurement will be conducted through full and open competition, under which any type of organization [large or small commercial (for profit) firms, educational institutions, non-profit organizations] is eligible to compete. The procedures set forth in FAR Part 15 will apply. The Government anticipates an award of a cost plus fixed fee completion type contract for a period of performance of five years. Cost proposals will be evaluated as a part of a Best Value determination for contract award.

Written questions and requests for clarifications for this Request for Proposals may be submitted to guatemalaproposals@usaid.gov no later than the date specified above. The subject line of the e-mail should read: Request for Proposal (RFP) No. SOL-520-17-000002 - Request for Clarification.

Contractors are encouraged to read the entire solicitation, which includes the closing date and time, all pertinent contract requirements, and the conditions and instructions required for submitting a proposal. Proposals will be delivered electronically to the following addresses: guatemalaproposals@usaid.gov and via Courier Service:

USAID/Guatemala

Km. 6.5 Final Boulevard Los Próceres

Santa Catarina Pinula, Guatemala, Postal Code 01051

Attention: Office of Acquisition and Assistance mailto:guatemalaproposals@usaid.gov

Issuance of this solicitation does not obligate the USAID to award a contract, nor will USAID pay any cost associated with the attendance of interested firms or individuals to the pre-proposals conference or for costs associated with the preparation or submission of proposals. Because USAID reserves the right to award a contract without discussions, initial proposals should represent a Contractor’s best proposal.

Thank you for your interest in USAID/Guatemala development programs.

Sincerely, Charis Nastoff

Contracting Officer

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 _one__________ copies for furnishing the supplies or services in the Schedule will be received at the place specified in Item 8, or if hand carried, in the depository located in See Section L.7 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 122

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 ___ 260 days_____ 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 OFFER 15A. 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

(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 BY CODE CODE

26. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

Charis Nastoff Contracting Officer

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)

1 196 N/A

SOL-520-17-000002

X

REQ-520-16-000023

Office of Acquisition and Assistance (OAA)

USAID/Guatemala

3190 Guatemala Place

Washington, DC 20521-3190 a

Acquisition and Assistance Office

3190 Guatemala Place

Washington DC 20521-3190

10:00 a m 10/24/2017

Carolina Villegas 502 2422-4126

Supervisory Contracting Officer guatemalaproposals@usaid.gov

See Attached Table of Contents pages 1-3

X 1

X 2

X 6

X 41

X 42

X 43

X 57

X 60

X 80

X 104

X

X 135

X 159

SOL-520-17-000002

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE

B.3 ESTIMATED COST, FIXED FEE AND OBLIGATED AMOUNT

B.4. CANCELLATION CEILING

B.5 PAYMENT

B.6 INDIRECT COSTS

B.7 COST REIMBURSABLE

B.8. FIXED FEE - FAR 52.216-8 (JUN 2011)

B.9 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE

SECTION C – STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 PROJECT PURPOSE

C.2 BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE

C.3 BIODIVERSITY FUNDS

C.4 RELATIONSHIP TO UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT (USG) PRIORITIES & CDCS

……………………………………………………………………………………………….24

C.5 COORDINATION WITH OTHER PROJECTS

C.6 RELATIONSHIP TO GOVERNMENT OF GUATEMALA PRIORITIES

C.7 DEVELOPMENT HYPOTHESIS & SITUATION MODEL…………………………… 27

C.8 SCOPE, TASKS & EXPECTED RESULTS

C.9 ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT APPROACH

C.10 MONITORING, EVALUATION & LEARNING

C.11 CROSS-CUTTING THEMES………………………………………………………………44

C.12 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

SECTION D - PACKAGING AND MARKING……………………………………………………… 53

D.1 AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (JAN 1993)

D.2 BRANDING AND MARKING

SECTION E – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE…………………………….……………..……55

F.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

F.2 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

F.3 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

F.4 REPORTS, DELIVERABLES, AND OUTPUTS

F.5 MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING (MEL)

F.6 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

F.7 752.7005 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE

DOCUMENTS (SEPTEMBER 2013)

F.8 752.242-70 PERIODIC PROGRESS REPORTS (OCTOBER 2007)

F.9 52.211-8 TIME OF DELIVERY. (JUN 1997)

SECTION G - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION…………………………………………………

G.1 CONTRACTING OFFICER'S AUTHORITY

G.2 TECHNICAL DIRECTION

G.3 TECHNICAL DIRECTIONS/RELATIONSHIP WITH USAID

G.4 ACCEPTANCE AND APPROVAL

G.5 ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA ( will be filled out prior to award)

G.6 CONTRACTING OFFICER

G.7 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE

SECTION H – SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

H.1 AIDAR 752.7032 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL APPROVAL AND NOTIFICATION

REQUIREMENTS (APR 2014)

H.2 AIDAR 752.7027 PERSONEL (Dec 1990)………………………………………………...73

H.3 AIDAR 752.7004 EMERGENCY LOCATOR INFORMATION (JUL 1997)

H.4 FOREIGN GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS TO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES 75

H.5 AIDAR 752.225-70 SOURCE AND NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS (FEB 2012)

H.6 INSURANCE AND SERVICES

H. 7 AIDAR 752.228-70 MEDICAL EVACUATION (MEDEVAC) SERVICES (July 2007) ... 79

H.8 AUTHORIZED GEOGRAPHIC CODE

H.9 KEY PERSONNEL

H.10 SUBCONTRACTING PLAN AND THE SF 294 – SUBCONTRACTING REPORT FOR

INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS AND SF 295 – SUMMARY CONTRACTING REPORT ... 80

H.11 EXECUTIVE ORDER ON TERRORISM FINANCING

H.12 REPORTING OF FOREIGN TAXES (July 2007)

H.13 PROHIBITION AND ASSISTANCE TO DRUG TRAFFICKING

H.14 GRANTS UNDER USAID CONTRACTS

H.15 AIDAR 752.7007 PERSONNEL COMPENSATION (July 2007)

H.16 CONFIDENTIALITY AND OWNERSHIP OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

H.17 USAID DISABILITY POLICY - ACQUISITION (DECEMBER 2004)

H.18 PERSONNEL COMPENSATION

H.19 TRAVEL TO GUATEMALA

H.20 USAID IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTION 508 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF

1973 AND FEDERAL ACQUISITION CIRCULAR (FAC) 97-27 "ELECTRONIC AND

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY

H.21 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND MANAGEMENT

H.22 CONTRACTOR’S STAFF SUPPORT, ADMINISTRATIVE AND LOGISTICS

ARRANGEMENTS AND LEGAL REGISTRATION IN THE COOPERATING

COUNTRY

H.23 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED FACILITIES OR PROPERTY

H.24 ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS

H.25 CONSENT TO SUBCONTRACT

H.26 PRESS RELATIONS

H.27 PROJECT ACTIVITY FUND

H.28 ADS 302.3.5.22 SUBMISSION OF DATASETS TO THE DEVELOPMENT DATA

LIBRARY (DDL) (OCTOBER 2014)

H.29 ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY (MAY 2016) 92

H.30 SOFTWARE LICENSE ADDENDUM (MAY 2016)……………………………………..84

H.31 CLOUD COMPUTING (MAY 2016)………………………………………………………84

SECTION I - CONTRACT CLAUSES……………………………………………………………….99

I.1. NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES

52.202-1 DEFINITIONS. (NOV 2013)

52.203-3 GRATUITIES. (APR 1984)

52.203-5 COVENANT AGAINST CONTINGENT FEES. (MAY 2014)

52.203-6 RESTRICTIONS ON SUBCONTRACTOR SALES TO THE GOVERNMENT (SEP

2006)……………………………………………………………………………………………………...99

52.203-7 ANTI-KICKBACK PROCEDURES. (MAY 2014)

52.203-8 CANCELLATION, RESCISSION, AND RECOVERY OF FUNDS FOR

ILLEGAL OR IMPROPER ACTIVITY. (MAY 2014)

52.203-10 PRICE OR FEE ADJUSTMENT FOR ILLEGAL OR IMPROPER ACTIVITY (MAY

2014)……………………………………………………………………………………………………99

52.203-12 LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS TO INFLUENCE CERTAIN

FEDERAL TRANSACTIONS. (OCT 2010)

52.203-13 CONTRACTOR CODE OF BUSINESS ETHICS AND CONDUCT.(0CT 2015)

52.203-17 CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEE WHISTLEBLOWER RIGHTS AND REQUIREMENT TO

INFORM EMPLOYEES OF WHISTLEBLOWER RIGHTS. (APR 2014)

52.204-4 PRINTED OR COPIED DOUBLE-SIDED ON POSTCONSUMER FIBER

CONTENT PAPER. (MAY 2011)

52.204-10 REPORTING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND FIRST-TIER SUBCOONTRACT

AWARDS

52.204-13 SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT MAINTENANCE (OCT 2016)

52.209-6 PROTECTING THE GOVERNMENT'S INTEREST WHEN SUBCONTRACTING WITH

CONTRACTORS DEBARRED, SUSPENDED, OR PROPOSED FOR DEBARMENT. (OCT 2015) 100

52.209-7 INFORMATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (JUL 2013)

52.209-9 UPDATES OF PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION REGARDING

RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS. (JUL 2013)

52.209-10 PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING WITH INVERTED DOMESTIC

CORPORATIONS. (NOV 2015)

52.215-2 AUDIT AND RECORDS – NEGOTIATION. (OCT 2010)

52.215-8 ORDER OF PRECEDENCE - UNIFORM CONTRACT FORMAT. (OCT 1997)

52.215-10 PRICE REDUCTION FOR DEFECTIVE CERTIFIED COST OR PRICING DATA. (AUG

2011)

52.215-15 PENSION ADJUSTMENTS AND ASSET REVERSIONS. (OCT 2016)

52.215-23 LIMITATIONS ON PASS-THROUGH CHARGES. (OCT 2009)

52.215-23 LIMITATIONS ON PASS-THROUGH CHARGES. (OCT 2009) --ALTERNATE I (OCT

2009)

52.216-7 ALLOWABLE COST AND PAYMENT. (JUN 2013)

52.217.8 OPTION TO EXTEND SERVICES (NOV 1999)

52.217-9 OPTION TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT (MAR 2000)

52.222-41 SERVICE CONTRACT LABOR STANDARDS. (MAY 2014)

52.222-50 COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (MAR 2015)

52.222-54 EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION. (OCT 2015)

52.223-6 DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE (MAY 2001)

52.223-17 AFFIRMATIVE PROCUREMENT OF EPA-DESIGNATED ITEMS IN SERVICE AND

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS (MAY 2008)

52.223-18 ENCOURAGING CONTRACTOR POLICIES TO BAN TEXT MESSAGING WHILE

DRIVING. (AUG 2011)

52.225-13 RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN FOREIGN PURCHASES. (JUN 2008)

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

52.228-7 INSURANCE - LIABILITY TO THIRD PERSONS. (MAR 1996)

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

1990)……………………………………………………………………………………………… …...101

52.232-18 AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS. (APR 1984)

52.232-22 LIMITATION OF FUNDS. (APR 1984)

52.232-23 ASSIGNMENT OF CLAIMS. (MAY 2014)

52.232-25 PROMPT PAYMENT (JULY 2013)

52.232-33 PAYMENT BY ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER - SYSTEM FOR AWARD

MANAGEMENT. (JUL 2013)

52.232-35 DESIGNATION OF OFFICE FOR GOVERNMENT RECEIPT OF ELECTRONIC FUNDS

TRANSFER INFORMATION. (JUL 2013)

52.232-39 UNENFORCEABILITY OF UNAUTHORIZED OBLIGATIONS. (JUN 2013)

52.232-40 PROVIDING ACCELERATED PAYMENTS TO SMALL BUSINESS

SUBCONTRACTORS. (DEC 2013)

52.233-1 DISPUTES. (MAY 2014)

52.233-1 DISPUTES. (MAY 2014) - ALTERNATE I (DEC 1991)

52.233-3 PROTEST AFTER AWARD (AUG 1996) - ALTERNATE I (JUN 1985)

52.233-4 APPLICABLE LAW FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT CLAIM. (OCT2004)

52.237-9 WAIVER OF LIMITATION ON SEVERANCE PAYMENTS TO FOREIGN NATIONALS.

(MAY 2014)

52.242-1 NOTICE OF INTENT TO DISALLOW COSTS. (APR 1984)

52.242-3 PENALTIES FOR UNALLOWABLE COSTS. (MAY 2014)

52.242-4 CERTIFICATION OF FINAL INDIRECT COSTS. (JAN 1997)

52.242-13 BANKRUPTCY. (JUL 1995)

52.243-2 CHANGES - COST-REIMBURSEMENT. (AUG 1987)

52.244-2 SUBCONTRACTS. (OCT 2010)

52.244-2 SUBCONTRACTS. (OCT 2010) - ALTERNATE I (JUN 2007)

52.244-5 COMPETITION IN SUBCONTRACTING. (DEC 1996)

52.246-25 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY - SERVICES. (FEB 1997)

52.247-63 PREFERENCE FOR U.S.-FLAG AIR CARRIERS. (JUN 2003)

52.249-6 TERMINATION (COST-REIMBURSEMENT). (MAY 2004)

52.249-14 EXCUSABLE DELAYS. (APR 1984)

52.253-1 COMPUTER GENERATED FORMS. (JAN 1991)

NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED IN FULL TEXT

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

52.216-25 CONTRACT DEFINITIZATION. (OCT 2010)

52.222-35 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR VETERANS. (OCT 2015) - ALTERNATE I (JUL

2014)………………………………………………………………………………………

52.222-36 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES. (JUL 2014) -

ALTERNATE I (JUL 2014)

52.247-67 SUBMISSION OF TRANSPORTATION DOCUMENTS FOR AUDIT. (FEB 2006)

ADS 302.3.5.21 USAID IMPLEMENTING PARTNER NOTICES (IPN) PORTAL FOR

ACQUISITION (JULY 2014)

52.203-98 PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING WITH ENTITIES THAT REQUIRE CERTAIN

INTERNAL CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS-REPRESENTATION (DEVIATION 2015-02) 106

52.203-99 PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING WITH ENTITIES THAT REQUIRE CERTAIN

INTERNAL CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS (DEVIATION 2015-02)

752.232-70 LETTER OF CREDIT ADVANCE PAYMENT

752.236-70 STANDARDS FOR ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE DISABLED IN USAID

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS (JULY 2007)………………………………………………………108

752.252-1 AIDAR SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (MAR 2015)

752.219 PARTICIPANT TRAINING ( JAN1999)……………………………………………………..110

752.219-8 UTILIZATION OF SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND SMALL DISADVANTAGED

BUSINESS CONCERNS. (MAR 2015)

752.222-70 USAID DISABILITY POLICY. (DEC 2004)

752.222-71 NONDISCRIMINATION. (JUN 2012)

752.225-9 BUY AMERICAN ACT - TRADE AGREEMENTS ACT - BALANCE OF PAYMENTS

PROGRAM

752.228-3 WORKER'S COMPENSATION INSURANCE (DEFENSE BASE ACT). (DEC 1991)

752.229-70 FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES

752.245-70 GOVERNMENT PROPERTY - USAID REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. (JUL 1997) . 111

752.245-71 TITLE TO AND CARE OF PROPERTY. (APR 1984)

752.7001 BIOGRAPHICAL DATA. (JUL 1997)

752.7002 TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION. (JAN 1990)

752.7003 DOCUMENTATION FOR PAYMENT. (NOV 1998)

752.7006 NOTICES. (APR 1984)

752.7008 USE OF GOVERNMENT FACILITIES OR PERSONNEL. (APR 1984)

752.7010 CONVERSION OF U.S. DOLLARS TO LOCAL CURRENCY. (APR 1984)

752.7011 ORIENTATION AND LANGUAGE TRAINING. (APR 1984)

752.7013 CONTRACTOR-MISSION RELATIONSHIPS. (OCT 1989)

752.7014 NOTICE OF CHANGES IN TRAVEL REGULATIONS. (JAN 1990)

752.7015 USE OF POUCH FACILITIES. (JUL 1997)

752.7016 RESERVED

752.7018 HEALTH AND ACCIDENT COVERAGE FOR USAID PARTICIPANT TRAINEES. (JAN

1999)

752.7023 REQUIRED VISA FORM FOR USAID PARTICIPANTS. (APR 1984)

752.7025 APPROVALS. (APR 1984)

752.7028 DIFFERENTIAL AND ALLOWANCES. (JUL 1996)

752.7029 POST PRIVILEGES. (JUL 1993)

752.7031 LEAVE AND HOLIDAYS. (OCT 1989)

752.7032 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL APPROVAL AND NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

(APR 2014)

752.7033 PHYSICAL FITNESS. (JUL 1997)

752.7034 ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND DISCLAIMER. (DEC 1991)

752.7036 USAID IMPLEMENTING PARTNER NOTICES (IPN) PORTAL FOR ACQUISITION.

(JUL 2014)

752.7037 CHILD SAFEGUARDING STANDARDS. (AUG 2016)

752.7038 NONDISCRIMINATION AGAINST END-USERS OF SUPPLIES OR SERVICES. (OCT

2016)

SECTION J – LIST OF DOCUMENTS EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS

ATTACHMENT J.1 DETAILED SITUATION MODEL

ATTACHMENT J.2 LIST OF ACRONYMS…………………………………………………………..119

ATTACHMENT J.3 USAID GUATEMALA STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS RESULTS

FRAMEWORK……………………..…………………………………………………………………..121

ATTACHMENT J.4 MARKING AND BRANDING TEMPLATE

ATTACHMENT J.5 INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION………………………………….135

ATTACHMENT J.6 LIST OF IMPORTANT WEBSITE LINKS

ATTACHMENT J.7 LIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT TABLE……………………………………...139

ATTACHMENT J.8 SJSRP ENVIRONMENT FINAL REPORT……………………………………145

SECTION K - REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER

STATEMENTS…………………………………………………………………………………………143

K.1 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

……………………………………………………………………………………………...146

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

K.3 52.204-8 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS (FEB 2012)

K.4 52.209-5 CERTIFICATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILIT MATTERS (Apr 2010) .. 148

K.5 52.222-22 PREVIOUS CONTRACTS AND COMPLIANCE REPORTS (Feb 1999)

K.6 52.222-25 AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COMPLIANCE (APR 1984)

K.7 52.230-1 COST ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOTICES AND CERTIFICATION (OCT

2008)

K.8 52.230-7 PROPOSAL DISCLOSURE--COST ACCOUNTING PRACTICE CHANGES

(APR 2005)

K.9 INSURANCE - IMMUNITY FROM TORT LIABILITY

K.10 AGREEMENT ON, OR EXCEPTIONS TO, TERMS AND CONDITIONS

K.11 AUTHORIZED NEGOTIATORS

K.12 SIGNATURE

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO CONTRACTORS………156

L.1 52.252-1 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB

1998)

L.2 52.215-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS — COMPETITIVE ACQUISITION (JAN

2017)

L.3 52.215-22 LIMITATIONS ON PASS-THROUGH CHARGES - IDENTIFICATION OF

SUB CONTRACT EFFORT..……………………………………………………………..162

L.4 52.216-1 TYPE OF CONTRACT. (APR 1984)

L.5 52.233-2 SERVICE OF PROTEST (SEP 2006)

L.6 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO CONTRACTORS

L.7 DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

L.8 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

L.9 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COST PROPOSAL

L. 10 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS COMPLIANCE PLAN

SECTION M – EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

M.1 GENERAL INFORMATION……………………………………………………….……..179

M.2 TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA……………………………………………….179

M.3 EVALUATION OF COST PROPOSAL…………………………………………………..182

M.4 SOURCE SELECTION……………………………………………………………………183

M.5 DETERMINATION OF THE COMPETITIVE RANGE…………………………………183

M.6 BEST VALUE……………………………………………………………………………..184

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of the Guatemala Biodiversity Project is to build national capacity to improve management and governance throughout Guatemala’s System of Protected Areas (SIGAP), and pilot interventions in three areas. To achieve this, the project will employ a focused strategy that improves conservation approaches through better information on key species and ecosystems, supports national and sub-national policy and legislative reforms, builds capacity for effective enforcement and prosecution of crimes committed within protected areas, and engages local stakeholders in conservation efforts, and as more fully detailed in Section C.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE

The U.S. Government represented by the United States Agency for International Development Mission in Guatemala intends to award a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee Completion type contract.

B.3 ESTIMATED COST, FIXED FEE AND OBLIGATED AMOUNT

(a) Period of Performance: Five Years

The total estimated cost plus fixed fee for the performance of this project is approximately $20,000,000.00. The final negotiated amounts will be entered in the table below at the time of award.

The summary budget for the five year period is as follows:

The total estimated cost for this Contract is $ ___TBD_______

Direct Labor (including Fringe) $ ___TBD_______

Other Direct Costs $ ___TBD_______

Project Activity Fund (PAF) $ 650,000.00__

Construction $ _____TBD_____

Grants under Contracts $ 3,000,000.00

Indirect Costs (includes overhead, G&A, and MHO) $___TBD________

Fixed Fee $___TBD________

Ceiling Price $___TBD________

a) The Total Estimated Cost for the Period the contract is $TBD. The Fixed Fee for the period of the contract is $TBD. The Total Estimated Cost Plus Fixed

Fee for the Period is $TBD;

b) Obligated amount: Within the estimated Cost Plus Fixed Fee (if any) specified above, the amount currently obligated and available for reimbursement of allowable costs incurred by the Contractor for performance of the contract period hereunder is $TBD. The Contractor will not exceed the aforesaid obligated amount unless authorized by the Contracting Officer pursuant to the clause of the contract entitled Limitation of Funds- FAR

52.232-22.

NOTE: The Contractor will not be paid any sum in excess of the ceiling price. The only person authorized to commit or obligate additional funds is the Contracting Officer.

Incurrence of costs in excess of the total amount obligated based on directions received from any individual other than the Contracting Officer and without prior Contracting

Officer’s approval, will not be reimbursed to the Contractor.

B.4. CANCELLATION CEILING

This is a multi-year contract as defined in FAR 17.103. Therefore, this contract is subject to the requirements of FAR 17.106. In the event that the Government cancels requirements for services in subsequent program years under this contract, the following conditions will apply: [Amount and dates to be filled in at time of award]

Cancellation Dates:

Contract Year 2: DATE TBD, [Award year + 1 year] Cancellation Ceiling: TBD

Contract Year 3: DATE TBD, [Award year + 2 years] Cancellation Ceiling: TBD

Contract Year 4: DATE TBD, [Award year + 3 years] Cancellation Ceiling: TBD

Contract Year 5: DATE TBD, [Award year + 4 years] Cancellation Ceiling: TBD

The cancellation dates and ceiling amounts will be established at the time of award. The amounts will be based on the nonrecurring costs to be incurred by the awardee, which would be applicable to, and which normally would be amortized over the life of the contract, and the items or services to be furnished under the multi-year requirement.

This is a CPFF type contract, pursuant to which all costs for which the contractor seeks reimbursement must be allowable in accordance with FAR 52.216-7, “Allowable Costs and Payment.

B.5 PAYMENT

The Contractor must submit invoices to the payment office indicated on the Cover Page of the Contract. Each invoice must be emailed and submitted on an SF-1034 Public Voucher for Purchases and Services Other Than Personal to the Financial Management Office/USAID/Guatemala. One copy of the voucher and the invoice must also be submitted to the Contract COR.

Electronic submission of invoices is encouraged. The SF-1034 must be signed, and it must be submitted along with the invoice and any other documentation in Adobe.

The paying office is:

USAID/San Salvador 3450 San Salvador Place Washington, DC 20521-3450 guatevouchers@usaid.gov

Paper Invoices must be sent to the paying office, at the address above. If submitting invoices electronically, do not send a paper copy.

mailto:guatevouchers@usaid.gov

B.6 INDIRECT COSTS

For the Prime Contractor:

Pending establishment of revised provisional or final indirect cost rates, allowable indirect costs will be reimbursed on the basis of the following negotiated provisional or predetermined rates and the appropriate bases:

Description Rate Base Type Period

TBD 1/ 1/ 1/

1/Base of Application:

Type of Rate: Predetermined Period:

For Major Subcontractor(s):

Pending establishment of revised provisional or final indirect cost rates, allowable indirect costs will be reimbursed on the basis of the following negotiated provisional or predetermined rates and the appropriate bases:

Description Rate Base Type Period

TBD 1/ 1/ 1/

1/Base of Application:

Type of Rate: Predetermined Period:

“Major Subcontractors” are those subcontractors whose proposed cost exceeds 20% of the Total Estimated Cost

B.7 COST REIMBURSABLE

The U.S. dollar costs allowable will be limited to reasonable, allocable and necessary costs determined in accordance with FAR 52.216-7, Allowable Cost and Payment, FAR 52.216-8, Fixed Fee, if applicable, and AIDAR 752.7003, Documentation for Payment.

B.8. FIXED FEE - FAR 52.216-8 (JUN 2011)

USAID paying office ordinarily pays the Contractor a percentage of a 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 CO 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 CO 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) 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.9 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE

Pursuant to FAR 52.216-8, Fixed Fee, payment of fixed fee shall be allocated based upon the execution of tasks outlined in Section C, the approval of required deliverables listed in Section F, and the proportion of allowable and allocable costs incurred to accomplish the tasks and deliverables.

[END OF SECTION B]

SECTION C – STATEMENT OF WORK

USAID/GUATEMALA BIODIVERSITY PROJECT

C.1 Project Purpose

This five-year, $20 million project will build national capacity to improve management and governance throughout Guatemala’s System of Protected Areas (SIGAP), and pilot interventions in three areas. This project will employ a focused strategy that improves conservation approaches through better information on key species and ecosystems, supports national and sub-national policy and legislative reforms, builds capacity for effective enforcement and prosecution of crimes committed within protected areas, and engages local stakeholders in conservation efforts. This project will be implemented primarily with congressionally mandated Biodiversity Conservation funds.

C.2 Background and Development Challenge

Background

Biodiversity underpins ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services essential to human well-being. It contributes to food security, clean air and water, local livelihoods, and economic development.1 Creating and maintaining protected areas is a fundamental approach to biodiversity conservation – maintaining key habitats, allowing for species migration and movement, ensuring the maintenance of natural processes across landscapes, and supporting livelihoods. Protected areas are also essential to meeting ambitious global conservation targets, particularly commitments to ensure ecologically representative protected areas under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). To be successful, protected areas must be integrated into the wider landscape and seascape, and their contributions incorporated into national accounting and decision-making. Despite their role in safeguarding biodiversity and sustaining livelihoods, protected areas are often understaffed, underfunded, and beleaguered in the face of external threats.2 Weak governance of protected areas is a driver of biodiversity degradation.

Good governance is the foundation of effective, efficient, and equitable protected area management.3 Protected area management that is appropriate for the context, 1 Woodley, S., Bertzky, B., Crawhall, N., Dudley, N., Londoño, J. M., MacKinnon, K., . . . Sandwith, T. (2012, September).

Meeting Aichi Target 11: What Does Success Look Like for Protected Area Systems? Parks, 18(1), 23-36. Retrieved October 4, 2016, from https://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/parks_woodley_1.pdf.

2 Le Saout, S., Hoffmann, M., Shi, Y., Hughes, A., Bernard, C., Brooks, T. M., . . . Rodrigues, A. S. (2013, November 15).

Protected Areas and Effective Biodiversity Conservation. Science, 342(6160), 803-805. Retrieved October 3, 2016, from http://science.sciencemag.org/content/342/6160/803.full 3 Governance is the process by which decisions are made and carried out through formal legal and regulatory systems and informal elements at many scales and sectors of society. Governance includes the rule of law, public-sector accountability, communication with citizens, anti-corruption measures, and the ability to deliver goods and services. Governance impacts the transparent, and accounts for sustainable livelihoods and the rights of the people concerned can support lasting conservation results that contribute to sustainable economic development goals.4 Experience with natural resource governance suggests that decisions are most effective when they engage a wide range of stakeholders, utilize diverse information sources, and incorporate lessons learned.5 Therefore, the process of understanding and improving natural resource governance is at the heart of effective conservation.

The CBD, under its Programme of Work on Protected Areas, notes the importance of protected areas to national and global biodiversity strategies, and to the achievement of the CBD’s three objectives: (i) to conserve biological diversity; (ii) sustainably use its components; and (iii) equitably share the benefits arising from biodiversity.6 The growing importance of governance to protected area management was underscored by the CBD’s Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, which included 20 targets collectively known as the “Aichi Targets.” Target 11 directly addresses protected areas and states that “By 2020, at least 17 percent of terrestrial and inland water, and 10 percent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscape and seascapes.”7 This target addresses multiple facets of protected areas including increased coverage, connectivity, management, governance, and equity.8 Protected areas are also important to the achievement of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). In particular, SDGs 14 and 15 seek to conserve and sustainably manage marine and terrestrial resources and ecosystems.9 rights, use, and access to natural resources, making it a key leverage point for conservation action. Improvements in governance can also be a clear benefit of biodiversity activities.

(https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/USAID%20Biodiversity%20Policy%20-%20June%202015.pdf) 4 Borrini-Feyerabend, G., Dudley, N., Jaeger, T., Lassen, B., Pathak Broome, N., Phillips, A., & Sandwith, T. (2013).

Governance of Protected Areas: From understanding to action. IUCN. Retrieved September 20, 2016, from http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/governance_of_protected_areas___from_understanding_to_action.pdf 5 Swiderska, K. (n.d.). The Governance of Nature and the Nature of Governance: Policy that works for biodiversity and livelihoods. IIED. Retrieved October 27, 2016, from http://pubs.iied.org/pdfs/14564IIED.pdf 6 Programme of Work on Protected Areas. (n.d.). Retrieved September 5, 2016, from https://www.cbd.int/protected/pow/learnmore/intro/ 7 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Targets. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2016, from https://www.cbd.int/doc/strategic-plan/2011-2020/Aichi-Targets-EN.pdf 8 Woodley, S., Bertzky, B., Crawhall, N., Dudley, N., Londoño, J. M., MacKinnon, K., . . . Sandwith, T. (2012, September).

Meeting Aichi Target 11: What Does Success Look Like for Protected Area Systems? Parks, 18(1), 23-36. Retrieved October 4, 2016, from https://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/parks_woodley_1.pdf.

9 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2016 from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300

Development Challenge

Guatemala is one of the most ecologically diverse nations on the planet, with 14 different eco-regions ranging from mangrove forests to subtropical and tropical rainforests, cloud forests and mixed pine-oak forests. This biological diversity is due to Guatemala’s geographic position along the land bridge between North and South America and between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, as well as immense altitudinal variation that has created diverse microclimates. A total of 10 physiographic regions, seven biomes, 14 ecoregions, 66 ecosystems, and 14 life zones have been identified in the country.10 Guatemala is home to the largest protected area in Mesoamerica, the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR), which forms the heart of the Selva Maya – a tropical forest spanning Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico. In eastern Guatemala, Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve (SMBR) is home to the country’s largest remaining cloud forest as well as a diverse range of birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles.

Guatemala also has important ecosystems on the Pacific and the Atlantic coasts. Along the Pacific Coast, Guatemala’s coastal-marine zone is rich in mangrove ecosystems and is a nesting site for several species of sea turtles. The country’s considerable natural resource endowment is complemented by the remains of ancient Maya cities – particularly Tikal within the MBR. Due to its significant biological and cultural diversity, Guatemala was recognized as a megadiverse country during the 10th Conference of the Parties to the CBD convened in Nagoya, Japan in 2010. As a signatory to the CBD, Guatemala committed to safeguarding ecosystems, species, and genetic diversity through effective, representative, and sustainably managed protected areas.11

Guatemala’s early protected areas sought to preserve areas of scenic beauty, recreational interest, and major archaeological sites. Over time, protected areas evolved in purpose to preserve ecosystem functions and conserve biological diversity. The 1989 Protected Areas Law established the Guatemalan SIGAP, as well as the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP). CONAP, the entity that coordinates the SIGAP, is responsible for the conservation, protection, and improvement of Guatemala’s natural patrimony. The SIGAP is the principal mechanism through which in situ conservation is implemented in Guatemala, and its objectives are to conserve biodiversity and protect representative samples of the country’s ecosystems. The SIGAP currently includes 328 protected areas under different management categories and covers approximately 31 percent of the national territory.12 These protected areas are a crucial resource for

10 USAID/Guatemala Biodiversity and Tropical Forest Assessment (May 2010). Retrieved January 9, 2016 from http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pnaeb311.pdf 11 Aichi Biodiversity Targets. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2016, from https://www.cbd.int/sp/targets/ 12 Protected Areas. (n.d.). Retrieved July 15, 2016, from http://www.conap.gob.gt/index.php/sigap/areas-protegidas.html

Guatemalan society, owing to the multiple ecosystem services and livelihood benefits they generate. Apart from their intrinsic beauty and importance to scientific inquiry, these natural resources represent the potential for significant income through sustainable forestry and fisheries, sustainable tourism, and other ecosystem services.

Despite their rich biological resources and crucial importance to livelihoods, Guatemalan protected areas are under pressure from several threats, and suffer from chronic underfunding, insufficient human resources for management and protection, and limited institutional capacity.

While Guatemala has several laws and policies dedicated to sustainable natural resource use and conservation of biodiversity and the environmental services it provides, institutional limitations inhibit successful conservation outcomes.

Environmental policies at times lack the clarity needed for effective implementation, and there tends to be overlap in the jurisdiction of key policies. Roles and responsibilities for planning and monitoring are dispersed among various government agencies – CONAP, the Ministry of Agriculture (MAGA), the Ministry of Environment (MARN), the National Forestry Institute (INAB), among others – which can complicate management and enforcement of laws, regulations, and management plans. Similarly, while non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and institutions have carried out critical scientific research, it is often absent of broader initiatives. Thus, there is a need to define institutional responsibilities and objectives in a manner that encourages collaboration and orients activities towards shared conservation goals.

Beyond government institutions with a mandate to implement conservation priorities, there are various NGOs, civil society and private sector actors with a stake in protected area management. These actors play a crucial role in implementing and sustaining conservation priorities. NGO and institutional co-administrators of parks throughout the SIGAP fill gaps where the Government of Guatemala (GOG) has limited presence and resources. Significant benefits could be realized with greater collaboration between GOG institutions such as MARN, CONAP and INAB, and NGO and institutional partners on protected area management and enforcement activities.

Further, all the national and municipal agencies responsible for administering environmental management suffer from a severe lack of funding to carry out the extensive mandates placed upon them. Monitoring, enforcement, and decision-making are particularly constrained by the lack of reliable data on the state of key ecosystems and species and the threats impacting them. The limited resources allocated for environmental management constrains efforts to control illegal activities, enforce existing legislation, and regulate public assets that fall under the jurisdiction of national and local governments. Guatemala’s protected areas are most directly impacted by this ongoing lack of human and financial resources. If trends impacting protected areas continue, Guatemala may lose substantial conservation gains made over the past decades.

To enhance environmental governance of protected areas in Guatemala and mitigate the threats to key ecosystems and species within, this project will build national capacity to improve management and governance throughout Guatemala’s SIGAP, and pilot interventions in three areas. The pilot areas for this project are:

The MBR (Offerors may propose activities in the core and buffer zones, with limited activities permitted in southern Petén if they support the biological integrity of the reserve), SMBR (Offerors may propose activities throughout the entire reserve), Marine protected areas (MPAs) along the Pacific Coast13 (Offerors will propose no more than two of the five MPAs).14

This project will build on and translate USAID/Guatemala achievements through a new, targeted approach to bolster protected area management and governance by improving conservation approaches through better information on key species and ecosystems, supporting national and sub-national policy and legislative reforms, building capacity for effective enforcement and prosecution of crimes committed within protected areas, and engaging local stakeholders in conservation efforts.

National Level Approach

Sound policy and a government with the political will, capacity, and resources to maintain effective governance within and around protected areas are critical to long-term conservation success. Insufficient resources and capacity in the responsible institutions to achieve their mandates have impacted the ability to effectively formulate and carry-out GOG national-level conservation planning. In response, this project will include limited interventions to address gaps throughout Guatemala’s SIGAP by strengthening relevant oversight institutions, advocating national policy and legislative reform, and supporting mechanisms for institutional coordination and better use of scientific information. This national approach will also facilitate the replication of successes beyond the three pilot areas, and in so doing, support the achievement of the GOG’s national and international conservation goals.

Subnational Level Approach

1) Maya Biosphere Reserve

13 This includes existing and proposed marine protected areas along the Pacific Coast: 1) Monterrico Natural Reserve (current);

2) Sipacate-Naranjo National Reserve (current); 3) La Chorrera Private Natural Reserve (current); 4) Hawaii Multiple-use Area

(current); and 5) Las Lisas-La Barrona Multiple-use Area (proposed).

14 Although up to two MPAs will be selected, for the purposes of this project the Pacific Coast is considered one pilot area. This zone will also include departmental institutions with jurisdiction over the marine protected areas.

At nearly 2.1 million hectares, Guatemala’s MBR is the largest protected area in Mesoamerica and home to around 180,000 people, as well as globally important biodiversity and cultural heritage. The reserve is also the site of the community forest concessions, a renowned example of forest management with the twin aims of conservation and economic development. The MBR is divided into three zones to allow for varying degrees of resource management: (1) the Core Zone (36 percent of the reserve), consisting of national parks, allowing only for scientific research and tourism;

(2) the Multiple-Use Zone (40 percent), in which low-impact natural resource management activities are permitted; and (3) the Buffer Zone (24 percent), a 15-kilometer band along the southern border of the MBR, where a range of land management activities are allowed. There is great variability in the level of investment and management among Core Zone units, with parks such as Tikal benefiting from a stronger government presence. Although the MBR has received assistance from various donors, it is still vulnerable to threats driving forest conversion and jeopardizing conservation outcomes. The chief driver of deforestation in the MBR is livestock ranching, in some cases believed to have connections to organized crime. Parks in the western half of the reserve are particularly vulnerable to the expansion of cattle ranching, due to the presence of extensive wetlands and a lack of resources to support monitoring and enforcement.15 Forest fires, both human-induced and natural, are also a major threat throughout the reserve. Historically, there has been a culture of impunity towards crimes committed within the MBR due to limited government presence and enforcement. As a result of ongoing USG and other donor support to the foundations of environmental governance, and with the advent of a specialized environmental court and prosecutor’s office, there is a momentum for awareness and prosecution of environmental crimes committed within the MBR.

Inclusion of the MBR under this project reflects the international and biological significance of this reserve.16 It also reflects USAID/Guatemala’s ongoing commitment to biological monitoring, sustainable livelihoods, and governance activities within the reserve through an approach that evolves with the context. Interventions will focus solely on the core and buffer zones of the MBR, with limited interventions permitted in the southern Petén if they support the biological integrity of the reserve.

2) Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve

Located in eastern Guatemala, the SMBR is home to the country’s most pristine cloud forest. Like the MBR, the SMBR is divided into three management zones: (1) the Core

15 Hodgdon, B. D., Hughell, D., Ramos, V. H., & McNab, R. B. (2015, February). 2000-2013: Deforestation Trends in the Maya

Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala. Retrieved October 27, 2016, from http://www.usaid-cncg.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/MBR-

Deforestation_150213-2.pdf 16 The Maya Biosphere Reserve is a UNESCO-recognized reserve under the Man and the Biosphere Programme.

(http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?code=GUA+01&mode=all)

Zone; (2) the Multiple-use Zone; and (3) the Buffer Zone. The reserve provides critical ecosystem services to the region and influences the climate in adjacent areas, as well as the water supply in the Polochic and Motagua Valleys. Sixty-three rivers originate in the reserve, and serve as a water source for more than 500,000 people. The SMBR’s geographic isolation and enormous altitudinal variation have given rise to 885 species of mammals – including pumas, jaguars, and ocelots – and more than 400 bird species, including the quetzal, the peregrine falcon, and the horned guan. The mountain range also harbors rich jade and marble deposits that have been mined throughout the centuries. Local NGO Defensores de la Naturaleza co-administers the SMBR with CONAP, and has been a driving force behind conservation efforts for the past 25 years.

The threats to key ecosystems and species, however, are mounting. Forest fires have been particularly severe in recent years, along with hunting and abuse of timber harvesting licenses.

Inclusion of the SMBR under this project reflects the international and biological significance of this reserve.17 It also reflects USAID/Guatemala’s ongoing commitment to biological monitoring and related activities through an approach that evolves with the context. Interventions can be proposed throughout the entire SMBR.

3) Pacific Coast

Guatemala’s Pacific Coast includes three ecoregions – Central American dry forests, Tehuantepec-el Manchon mangroves and dry northern mangroves from the Pacific Coast, and the Chiapas-Nicaragua ecoregion. Additionally, there are four ecosystems – natural scrub, deciduous and semi-deciduous forest, mangroves and wetlands – and five coastal-marine ecosystems – estuaries, herbaceous wetlands, coastal lagoons, sandy beaches, and muddy beaches. Mangroves are the most representative ecosystem along the Pacific Coast. This region also harbors an estimated 1,012 species of fauna.18 Protected areas along the Pacific Coast provide many ecosystem services, including water filtration, protection against flooding, nurseries for commercially important fish and invertebrates, and recreational activities. However, a lack of research and valuation of these ecosystem services has led to their exclusion from economic cost-benefit analyses and decision-making processes and consequently has encouraged unsustainable practices. For example, most commercial and artisanal fishing operations are not registered with MAGA’s Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DIPESCA), and there are minimal Fisheries Inspectors to enforce these requirements. Guatemala’s Pacific Coast has also been a significant nesting site for olive ridley and leatherback sea turtles, both categorized as Vulnerable by the

17 The Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve is a UNESCO-recognized reserve under the Man and the Biosphere Programme.

(http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?code=GUA+02&mode=all) 18 Biodiversidad Marina de Guatemala: Análisis de Vacíos y Estrategias de Conservación. (November 2009).

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.19 CONAP established a quota system whereby olive ridley eggs can be consumed or sold provided 20 percent of eggs found are donated to a legally registered hatchery. This quota, however, has proven difficult to monitor, leading to 100 percent of eggs poached in many instances.

Local NGOs and co-administrators, including ARCAS and the University of San Carlos’ Center for Conservation Studies (CECON), have led the initiative in sea turtle conservation and research. Despite these efforts, there is an ongoing need for scientific data, and better coverage and coordination among official and unofficial sea turtle hatcheries. Further, mangrove forests have routinely been harvested for firewood and construction materials, with minimal regulation or oversight. The presence of agro-industry has also led to impacts on the availability of freshwater for both irrigation and household consumption. MPAs have traditionally been excluded from conservation initiatives in Guatemala, and thus it is difficult to estimate ecosystem and species status.

In the absence of robust data, strong enforcement, up-to-date laws and policies, and strong engagement from local communities and the private sector, it is impossible to conserve MPAs along the Pacific Coast.

The inclusion of Pacific Coast MPAs supports the GOG’s CBD commitments to analyze and address gaps in representative ecosystems within the SIGAP. It also reflects USAID/Guatemala priorities to improve natural resources management for enhanced conservation and livelihood outcomes.