Evaluation_Criteria_Submission_Requirements_Eradicate_TB.docx

1. EVALUATION FACTORS

a. Factor Identification – This evaluation will evaluate the offerors by the proposals received in response to the Eradicate TB Program Request for Proposals (RFP) using the following factors. The award will be made to the overall best value proposal, considering both technical factors as well as cost/price factors. USAID will use a trade-off process to determine which proposal best addresses the selection criteria. All evaluation factors other than cost or price, when combined, are more important than cost or price.

Order of Importance – The award will be made to the overall best value proposal, considering both technical factors as well as cost/price factors. USAID will use a trade-off process to determine which proposal best addresses the selection criteria. All evaluation factors other than cost or price, when combined, are more important than cost or price. The Technical Approach will weigh more than Management and Staffing and Management and Staffing will weigh more than past performance. Sub-factors under each of the four main factors are listed in descending order of importance.

1.1 Factor 1: Technical approach

1.1.1 Sub-factor 1: Overall technical approach

a. Submission Requirements:

The Offerors must submit a technical proposal of no more than 20 of pages that demonstrates an understanding of the Government's requirements under the Eradicate TB Activity and describes the approach the Offeror will take to complete the tasks and produce the deliverables identified in this Request for Proposals (RFP). The proposal should include the following aspects:

· A description of tasks to be accomplished under the Eradicate TB Activity

· Interventions and strategies to be implemented in order to reduce TB-related mortality by 50% by 2019

· A plan to collaborate with other USAID implementing partners and the Government of Zambia to maximize achievement of results through joint work planning, monitoring and evaluation, and/or co-location of activities.

· Identification of opportunities for maximizing achievement of results and how these opportunities could be leveraged

· Identification of challenges that could affect achievement of results and how these challenges could be overcome

· Demonstrate how gender, a social construct of differences between men and women, is streamlined into the Eradicate TB Activity to achieve equitable access by males and females to quality-assured TB services based on their unique needs.

· Identify a minimum of three potential gender issues associated with the Eradicate TB Activity and propose sound strategies of how to deal with these gender issues

b. Evaluation Factor Description:

The proposal will be evaluated on the extent to which:

· The proposal is clear on the tasks to be undertaken and strategies and interventions to be applied in order to reduce TB-related mortality by 50% by 2019.

· The proposal demonstrates that the interventions are relevant, feasible, and evidence-based

· The proposed structure of the Eradicate TB Activity and the methodology of working with the GRZ and other key stakeholders are sound enough to contribute to achievement of the intended results

· The proposed strategies to maximize benefits from identified contextual opportunities are feasible and useful.

· The proposed strategies to limit the negative impacts of identified challenges are feasible and useful.

· The proposal integrates Gender into the Eradicate TB Activity to assure equitable access by females and males to quality-assured TB services.

· The proposal addresses/positions relevant gender issues that will likely impact implementation and the feasibility of the proposed strategies to address these differences.

1.1.2 Sub-factor 2: Activity monitoring and evaluation plan

a. Submission Requirements:

The proposal must include an activity monitoring and evaluation plan for the Eradicate TB Activity focusing on the following aspects:

· The proposal should clearly outline the broad elements/components of the monitoring and evaluation plan for the Eradicate TB Activity

· The proposal should clearly identify output and outcome indicators, end-of-program targets, and year-to-year milestones with appropriate linkages to the major activities and tasks

· The proposal should clearly describe the anticipated sources of data, methods to be used to collect data, the flow of data and the method to be used for data analysis

· The proposal should clearly explain how information generated through this monitoring plan will be communicated to other stakeholders

b. Evaluation Factor Description:

The proposal will be evaluated on the extent to which:

· The approach illustrates a results-oriented activity monitoring and evaluation plan, including the process to gather, share, analyze and use data, and describes how program data will build on government or other existing systems, including complementarities

· The plan is logical and coherent and demonstrates links between program approaches, objectives, a timeline and expected results

· The proposed output and outcome indicators are relevant to evaluate the performance of the Eradicate TB activity

· The proposed year-to-year milestones and end-of-program targets are adequate to assure achievement of the desired outcomes of the Eradicate TB

· Clear on how information generated through the Eradicate TB monitoring and evaluation plan will be disseminated to key stakeholders

1.1.3 Sub-factor 3: Sustainability

a. Submission Requirements:

The proposal must describe sustainability plans for the Activity. The plan should include strategies and interventions targeted at maximizing the potential to sustain gains scored through the Eradicate TB Activity such as improved patient outcomes, public-private partnerships, and work with the community long after the Activity. The proposal should at the minimum propose three activities to assure sustainability.

b. Evaluation Factor Description:

The proposal will be evaluated on the extent to which:

· The proposed sustainability plan is clear, feasible to implement and able to lead to sustainability.

1.2 Factor 2: Management and Staffing Plan

1.2.1 Sub-factor 1: Staffing plan

The Offeror shall submit a staffing plan not to exceed 10 of pages as an annex that includes:

· An organogram with projected positions (key and non-key) and reporting relationships

· Division of responsibilities between in-country project staff, home office support (if applicable), and all proposed sub-contractors

· The proposed staffing plan demonstrates clearly how proposed staff shall support the proposed technical approach to achieve results, and the extent to which they intend to utilize local, well-qualified Zambian professionals and support staff.

b. Evaluation Factor Description:

The proposal will be evaluated on the extent to which:

· The overall Staffing Plan is logically organized, realistic and responds to the technical requirements of the program.

· The Plan demonstrates a rational, efficient use of resources and provides for a reporting, implementation, and operational support structure that will facilitate successful achievement of the desired programmatic results

· The Plan maximizes cost-effectiveness through strategic coordination and planning with other USAID funded projects, achieves gender equity in staffing on all levels, and relies on local resources to the maximum extent practicable by employing local staff to carry out important leadership and professional functions.

1.2.2 Sub-factor 2: Key Personnel

The Offeror shall submit Curriculum Vitae not to exceed three pages in length for four proposed key personnel. Three professional references should be included for each proposed key personnel inclusive of telephone and email contact information. CVs should also be submitted for other proposed project staff members that are considered critical to the success of the project.

b. Evaluation Factor Description:

· The proposed key personnel have the capability, experience, education and other qualifications for the designated work.

· The proposed key personnel should have at least the skill requirements stated in the solicitation.

· The proposed key personnel past performance references strongly support the candidate’s ability to successfully accomplish the requirements of the position.

1.3 Factor 3: Organizational Capacity

Offerors shall provide a detailed description of their ability and experience in the development of effective partnerships with governmental entities, donors, organizational sub-partners, and other stakeholders to facilitate the design and implementation of effective interventions to increase coverage of TB services. The Offerors should detail their institutional experience in designing, managing, implementing, and evaluating public health programs of similar size, scale, duration, nature, and complexity to improve health outcomes.

b. Evaluation Factor Description:

· The Offeror demonstrates substantial institutional ability and experience in the development of effective partnerships with governmental entities, donors, organizational sub-partners, and other stakeholders to facilitate the design and implementation of effective Activity interventions.

· The Offeror demonstrates substantial institutional experience in designing, managing, implementing, and evaluating public health programs of similar size, scale, duration, nature, and complexity to improve health outcomes.

1.4 Factor 4: Past performance

a) Submission requirement

Relevant past performance is comprised of experience in: the implementation of public health programs with measurable health outputs, outcomes, and impact. Relevant programming in public health would be in Zambia, Southern Africa, or sub-Saharan Africa with a total program budget of $25.1M+, $20.1M-$25M, or $15M-$20M. Geographically Zambia and Southern Africa are of equivalent significance, and weigh higher than sub-Saharan Africa. Experience working in the following program areas is listed in decreasing degree of importance: TB, HIV, Maternal and Child Health, Family planning, Malaria.

Offerors shall provide detailed past performance information using the PPI Data Sheet included in the RFP for the ten most relevant current or previous awards performed within the last two years that are similar in size, scope, and objectives to what is described in the Statement of Work two weeks before the closing date for proposals. Past performance information must be submitted for all sub-contractors. Each Offeror should submit no more than 10 past performance information data sheets for the entire prime/sub-contractor team. Offerors shall not provide assessments of their performance on any referenced award.

b) Evaluation Factor Descriptions The contractor performance information determined to be relevant will be evaluated in accordance with the elements below:

(1) Quality of product or service, including consistency in meeting goals and targets:

(2) Cost control, including forecasting costs as well as accuracy in financial reporting

(3) Schedule, including the timeliness against the completion of the contract, task orders, milestones, delivery schedules, and administrative requirements (e.g., efforts that contribute to or affect the schedule variance).

(4) Business relations, addressing the history of professional behavior and overall business-like concern for the interests of the customer, including the contractor’s history of reasonable and cooperative behavior (to include timely identification of issues in controversy), customer satisfaction, timely award and management of subcontracts, cooperative attitude in remedying problems, and timely completion of all administrative requirements:

(5) Management of key personnel, including appropriateness of personnel for the job and prompt and satisfactory changes in personnel when problems with clients where identified.

1.2 FACTOR 5: COST/PRICE

1.5.1 Contract Cost/Price

a. Submission Requirements The Offeror shall provide a workable (Excel) detailed budget (breakdown) with narratives explaining the basis for the estimate for each category of cost in sufficient detail to facilitate determination of cost reasonableness. All spreadsheets must be submitted in Excel format as unlocked spreadsheets with unlocked formulas – this means spreadsheets must not be password protected. The detailed narrative for the cost proposal must be written in English in Microsoft Word, be readable, and be text accessible.

The Cost Proposal must be provided in two formats:

· As a summary budget with the budget line items below, and

· The detailed budget provided through the use of spreadsheets, budget narratives and footnotes.

The guidance and format below is provided for use by Offerors in developing these documents; however, Offerors should keep in mind that it is their responsibility to ensure that the information provided is sufficient to provide a basis for USAID to determine that the costs proposed are reasonable and realistic. Offerors must include an itemized budget detail and justification that supports the technical approach.

Applicants must include each line item listed below (as applicable to your technical application):

· Total Direct Labor

· Salary and Wages

· Fringe Benefits

· Consultants

· Travel, Transportation

· Equipment

· Supplies

· Branding and Marking Costs

· Monitoring and Evaluation Costs

· Sub-contracts

· Conferences and Training

· Allowances

· Other Direct Costs

· Indirect Costs

Direct Labor Salaries and Wages - Direct labor salary and wages should be proposed in accordance with the Offeror’s personnel policies and must meet the regulatory requirements. Unit costs for each proposed position, key or not, should be expressed in an amount per work day with the corresponding level of effort required for the position (number of work days) and then calculated to a total cost for each cost period where the salary would be applicable.

Fringe Benefits - Allowances and services provided by the contractor to its employees as compensation in addition to regular wages and salaries are allowable. If fringe benefits are provided for as part of a firm’s indirect cost rate structure, see FAR 42.700. If not part of an indirect cost rate, a detailed cost breakdown by benefits types should be provided.

Consultants - Services rendered by persons who are members of a particular profession or possess a special skill and who are not officers or employees of the Offeror are allowable costs. Unit costs for each proposed position, key or not, should be expressed in an amount per work day with the corresponding level of effort required for the position (number of work days) and then calculated to a total cost for each cost period where the salary would be applicable. Completed biographical data sheets must be provided for all consultants.

Travel and Transportation - Cost principles in the FAR and OMB circulars provide for costs for transportation, lodging, meals and incidental expenses. Costs should be broken down by the number of trips, domestic and international, and the estimated cost per trip, including airfare, per diem, and other related travel costs. The origin and destination, purpose for each proposed trip, duration of travel, and number of individuals traveling must be specified. Per Diem should be based on the Offeror's normal travel policies; however, the rates cannot exceed those of the Federal Standardized Travel Regulations for cost estimates.

Equipment and Supplies - FAR 2.101 provides for supplies as all property except land or interest in land. Costs should be broken down by types and units.

Branding and Marking Costs - ADS 320.3.6.3 states the costs of branding and marking are eligible for financing in contracts, if the costs are reasonable, allocable, and allowable in accordance with applicable cost principles. Such costs should be included in the total estimated cost or bid/offer price of the implementing partner.

Monitoring and Evaluation Costs - Per ADS 203.3.5, include costs of data collection, analysis, and reporting as a separate line item to ensure that adequate resources are available.

Subcontracts - FAR 44.101 provides for any contract entered into by a subcontractor to furnish supplies or services for performance of a prime contract or a subcontract. Cost element breakdowns should include the same budget items as the prime as applicable. All vehicles need to be purchased by the prime contractor.

Allowances - AIDAR 752.7028 provides for differentials and allowances with further references to Standardized Regulations. Allowances should be broken down by specific type and by person, and should be in accordance with offeror’s policies and these regulations.

Conferences and Training - AIDAR 752.7019 and ADS 253 provides for participant training and training in development. Costs should be broken down by types and participants.

Other Direct Costs - Various types of direct costs and many cost elements are allowable. Costs should be broken down by types and units.

Indirect Costs - FAR 31.203 and FAR 42.700 provides for those remaining costs (indirect) that are to be allocated to intermediate or two or more final cost objectives. The indirect costs and bases as provided for in an offeror’s indirect cost rate agreement with the Government, or if approved rates have not been previously established with the Government, a breakdown of bases, pools, method of determining the rates and description of costs.

b. Evaluation criteria Proposed costs shall be evaluated for price reasonableness, completeness, allowability, allocability and the competitiveness of the target cost, target fee, and maximum fee proposed. This analysis is intended to determine the degree to which the costs included in the price proposal are fair and reasonable. An overall evaluated price will be determined and will be used as part of the tradeoff analysis in source selection determination.