SOL-612-13-000003.pdf

U.S. Agency for International Development 100 Totius Street, Groenkloof 0027 Pretoria South Africa

Tel: 27 12 452 2000 Fax: 27 12 460 3177 http://sa.usaid.gov/southern_africa/

Date Issued: December 20, 2012 Closing Date for Receiving Questions: December 31 , 2012 Closing Date: February 8, 2013 (Electronic) Closing Time: 5:00 PM, Malawi Time

SUBJECT : REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) No: SOL-612-13-000003

USAID/MALAWI IMPACT EVALUATION OF THE EARLY GRADE READING ACTIVITY (EGRA)

The United States Government represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission in Lilongwe, Malawi, is seeking proposals from qualified organizations to provide and perform Impact Evaluation of the Early Grade Reading Activity (EGRA) in selected districts of Malawi to accomplish the work described in Section C of this solicitation. USAID intends to award a five (5) years month contract. EGRA will be implemented under a separate contract.

The purpose of this contract is to provide evaluation services for the USAID/Malawi Mission. The Contractor shall collect data, prepare analyses, and reports that will track USAID/EGRA results related to the USAID/Malawi Country Development and Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) that covers the 2013 to 2017 time period.

USAID/Malawi anticipates awarding one cost reimbursement completion-type contract as a result of this solicitation, covering an estimated period of five (5) years, Offerors must propose costs that they believe are realistic and reasonable for the work described herein. You are invited to submit a proposal in accordance with the requirements of the enclosed RFP No. SOL-612-13-000003. Proposals must be received by the Government no later than the local time on the due date stated above and in Section L of the RFP. As set forth in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation will be used for this procurement. The RFP contains clauses incorporated by reference. The full text of the FAR clauses is available on the internet at http://www.arnet.gov/far/. The full text of the Agency for International Development Regulation (AIDAR) clauses is available at http://www.usaid.gov. Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.204-1), Uniform Contract Format, Sections A through J of the attached RFP represent the draft contract and will be the basis for the contractual relationship between USAID and the selected Prime Contractor.

Under this solicitation, USAID encourages the participation to the maximum extent possible of partnership arrangements with Malawian or regional organizations or consortia, in accordance with one of the key aspects of USAID FORWARD, Implementation and Procurement Reform (please visit http://forward.usaid.gov/ for more information).

If substantive questions are received, which affect the response to the solicitation, or if changes are made to the closing date and time, as well as any other aspects of the RFP, this solicitation will be amended. All Amendments to this solicitation will be issued and posted on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website. It is the contractor’s responsibility to check this website periodically for official updates and amendments to the solicitation.

An Interested Vendor List (IVL) is not included in this solicitation. Offerors can register and use the IVL on the FBO webpage, so that firms can contact one another for consideration of teaming arrangements and/or small business subcontracting opportunities in response to this solicitation.

It is the responsibility of the recipient of this solicitation to ensure that the solicitation has been received from the internet in its entirety. USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from download or conversion process.

Proposals must be signed by an official who is authorized to bind the offeror’s organization.

SOLICITATION, OFFER AND AWARD THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED ORDER

UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700)

RATING PAGE OF PAGE(S)

N/A 1 112

2. CONTRACT NO. 3. SOLICITATION NO. 4. TYPE OF SOLICITATION 5. DATE ISSUED 6. REQUISITION/PURCHASE NO.

TBD SOL-612-13-000003 SEALED BID (IFB)

NEGOTIATED (RFP) 12/13/2012 REQ-612-13-

000004

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

Regional Office of Acquisition & Assistance USAID/Southern Africa 100 Totius Street, Groenkloof 0027 Pretoria

See Section L

NOTE: In sealed bid solicitations “offer” and “offeror” mean “bid” and “bidder”

SOLICITATION

9. Electronic submission only – see Section L 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.

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

FOR INFORMATION

CALL: Patrick Kollars

Intl CODE NUMBER EXT.

pkollars@usaid.gov 27 12 452 2000

11. TABLE OF CONTENTS

(x) SEC. DESCRIPTION PAGE(S) (x) SEC. DESCRIPTION PAGE(S)

PART I - THE SCHEDULE PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSES

X A SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM 3 X I CONTRACT CLAUSES 8

X B SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COST 3 PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACH.

X C DESCRIPTION/SPECS./WORK STATEMENT 13 X J LIST OF ATTACHMENTS 22

X D PACKAGING AND MARKING 2 PART IV – REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

X E INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE 1

X K REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER STATEMENTS

OF OFFERORS 7

X F DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE 9

X G CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA 2 X L INSTRS., CONDS., AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS 27

X H SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS 10 M EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD 5

OFFER (Must be fully completed by offeror) 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 sixty 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

(See Section I, Clause No. 52.232-8)

10 CALENDAR DAYS (%) 20 CALENDAR DAYS (%) 30 CALENDAR DAYS (%) CALENDAR DAYS (%)

14. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENTS (The offeror acknowledges receipt of amendments to the SOLICITATION for offerors and related documents numbered and dated:

AMENDMENT NO. DATE AMENDMENT NO. DATE

15A. NAME AND

ADDRESS

OF OFFEROR

CODE FACILITY 16. NAME AND TITLE OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO SIGN OFFER (Type or print)

15B. TELEPHONE NUMBER

15C. CHECK IF REMITTANCE ADDRESS

IS DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE – ENTER

SUCH ADDRESS IN SCHEDULE.

17. SIGNATURE 18. OFFER DATE

AREA CODE NUMBER EXT.

AWARD

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

10 U.S.C. 2304(c) ( ) 41 U.S.C. 253(c) ( ) (4 copies unless otherwise specified)

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

Controller, Office of Financial Management USAID/Malawi, Lilongwe 2280 Lilongwe Place, Dulles VA 20521-2280

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

Patrick Kollars, Regional Contracting Officer (Signature of Contracting Officer)

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

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

Previous edition not usable. 33-133 STANDARD FORM 33 (Rev. 9-97)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.214(c)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LETTER TO OFFERORS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.

SOLICITATION, OFFER AND AWARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.

PART I - THE SCHEDULE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 B.1 SERVICES ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 B.2 CONTRACT TYPE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7 B.3 ESTIMATED COST, FIXED FEE, AND OBLIGATED AMOUNT --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 B.4 BUDGET ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 B.5 INDIRECT COSTS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8 B.6 COST REIMBURSABLE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 B.7 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9

C1. PURPOSE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 C2. BACKGROUND ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 C3. SCOPE OF WORK -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Error! Bookmark not defined.

C.4 PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23 C.5 PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND EVALUATION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23 C.6 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW REQUIREMENTS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26 C.7 GENDER ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26

SECTION D - PACKAGING AND MARKING ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27

D.1.AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (JAN 1993) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27 D.2 BRANDING -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27 D.3 REQUIRED BRANDING STRATEGY AND MARKING PLAN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27

SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE --------------------------------------------------------------------- 29 E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29

SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30

F.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE --------------------------------------------------------------------- 30 F.2 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30 F.3 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30 F.4 DELIVERY SCHEDULE FOR REPORTS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30 F.5 KEY PERSONNEL---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35 F.6 DELIVERABLES TABLE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35 F.7 PERFORMANCE STANDARD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 36 F.8 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE DOCUMENTS (JAN 2004) -------------------------------------------- 38

SECTION G - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 41

G.1 DOCUMENTATION FOR PAYMENT, AIDAR 752.7003 (NOV 1998) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 41 G.2 ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACTING OFFICE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 42 G.3 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 42 G.4 PAYING OFFICE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 42 G.5 ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA:---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 42

SECTION H - SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 43

H.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE ------------------------------------------------------------------ 43 H.2 SOURCE AND NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS, AIDAR 752.225-70 (FEB 2012) ------------------------------------------------------------------ 43 H.3 MEDICAL EVACUATION (MEDEVAC) SERVICES AIDAR 752.228-70 (JULY 2007) --------------------------------------------------------------- 44

H.4 AIDAR 752.231-71 SALARY SUPPLEMENTS FOR HG EMPLOYEES (OCT 1998) ----------------------------------------------------------------- 44 H.5 AIDAR 752.7027 PERSONNEL (DEC 1990) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 44 H.6 AIDAR 752.7007 PERSONNEL COMPENSATION (JUL 2007)-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 45 H.7 EXECUTIVE ORDER ON TERRORISM FINANCING (FEB 2002) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 46 H.8 USAID DISABILITY POLICY – ACQUISITION (DEC 2004) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 46 H.9 INSURANCE AND SERVICES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 46 H.10 AUTHORIZED GEOGRAPHIC CODE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 47 H.11 SUBCONTRACTING PLAN AND THE SF 294 – SUBCONTRACTING REPORT FOR INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS AND SF 295 –

SUMMARY CONTRACTING REPORT --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Error! Bookmark not defined.

H.12 FOREIGN GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS TO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES (JAN 2002) -------------------------------------------- 47 H.13 COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 508 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973, AS AMENDED --------------------------------------------- 47 H.14 CONSENT TO SUBCONTRACT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 47 H.15 NONEXPENDABLE PROPERTY PURCHASES AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES -------------------------------------- 47 H.16 LOGISTIC SUPPORT --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 48 H.17 LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 48 H.18 GRANTS UNDER USAID CONTRACTS---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 48 H.19 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 49 H.20 AIDAR 752.7004 EMERGENCY LOCATOR INFORMATION (JULY 1997) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 50 H.21 AIDAR 752.7013 CONTRACTOR-MISSION RELATIONSHIPS (OCT 1989) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 50 H.22 DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 51 H. 23 HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE-12 (HSPD-12) (SEPTEMBER 2006) --------------------------------------------------- 51

PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSES ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 53

SECTION I - CONTRACT CLAUSES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 53 I.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE --------------------------------------------------------------------- 53 I.2 52.203-13 CONTRACTOR CODE OF BUSINESS ETHICS AND CONDUCT (APRIL 2010) ------------------------------------------------------ 56 I.3 52.243-7 NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES (APR 1984) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 58

PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 61

SECTION J - LIST OF ATTACHMENTS----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 61 J-1 MATERIALS DEVELOPED IN PREVIOUS USAID FUNDED READING ACTIVITIES ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 61 J-2 EVIDENCE BASED EARLY GRADE READING PRINCIPLES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 61 J-3 LIST OF ACRONYMS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 61 J-4 SMALL BUSINESS CONTRACTING PLAN TEMPLATE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 61 J-5 KEY PERSONNEL RESUME TEMPLATE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 61 J-6 REFEREE/CLIENT AUTHORIZATION TEMPLATE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 61 J-7 PAST PERFORMANCE INFORMATION TEMPLATE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 61 J-8 USAID FORM 1420-17- CONTRACTOR BIOGRAPHICAL DATA SHEET ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 61 J-9 DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 61 J-10 BUDGET EXCEL SPREAD SHEET * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 61

SECTION K - REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS ------------------------------------------------ 62

K.1 52.204-8 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS (MAY 2012) -------------------------------------------------------------------- 62 K.2 52.230-1 COST ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOTICES AND CERTIFICATION (MAY 2012) ------------------------------------------------- 65 K.3 52.230-7 PROPOSAL DISCLOSURE—COST ACCOUNTING PRACTICE CHANGES (APR 2005) --------------------------------------------- 67 K.4 INSURANCE - IMMUNITY FROM TORT LIABILITY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 67 K.5 COMPLIANCE WITH VETERANS EMPLOYMENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ---------------------------------------------------------------- 67 K.6 AGREEMENT ON, OR EXCEPTIONS TO, TERMS AND CONDITIONS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 68 K.7 AUTHORIZED NEGOTIATORS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 68 K.8 SIGNATURE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 68

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 69

L.1 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE ------------------------------------------------------------ 69 L.2 52.215-1 Instructions to Offerors—Competitive Acquisition (JAN 2004) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 69 L.3 Requirements for Certified Cost or Pricing Data and Data Other Than Certified Cost or Pricing Data (Oct 2010) ---------------------------- 73 L.4 52.233-2 SERVICE OF PROTEST (SEP 2006) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 75 L.5 52.216-1 TYPE OF CONTRACT (APR 1984) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 75 L.6 52.252-1 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998) -------------------------------------------------------- 75

L.7 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 75 L.8 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE PROPOSAL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 78 L.9 OTHER REQUIREMENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 87 L.10 AUTHORITY TO BIND THE GOVERNMENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 88 L.11 ACQUISITION SCHEDULE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 88

SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 89

M.1 GENERAL – PROPOSAL EVALUATION --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 89 M.2 TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA (Total of 100 Points) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 90 M.3 EVALUATION/SCORING METHOD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Error! Bookmark not defined.

M.4 DETERMINATION OF THE COMPETITIVE RANGE AND CONTRACT AWARD -------------------------------------------------------------------- 93

PART I - THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 SERVICES

The Contractor shall collect data, prepare analyses, and reports that will track USAID/EGRA results related to the USAID/Malawi Country Development and Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) that covers the 2013 to 2017 time period. The evaluation services shall include baseline data collection, tracking of key indicators on an annual /bi-annual basis and report findings through the life of the five year EGRA and CDCS period as necessary to accomplish the work described in Section C.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE

This is a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) reimbursement completion-type contract consistent with Federal Acquisition Regulations 16.306(d)(1). For the consideration set forth in this Section B, the contractor shall provide the outputs as described in Section C and the deliverables as described in Section F in accordance with the performance standards specified in Section F.

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

(a) The Total Estimated Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) for this contract is $TBD, exclusive of fixed fee. The fixed fee, if any, is $TBD . Cost shall be limited to reasonable, allocable, and allowable costs determined in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.216-7I.

(b) Fixed Fee Payment: At the time of each payment of allowable costs to the Contractor, the USAID paying office ordinarily pays the Contractor a percentage of the 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 Contracting Officer determines that this method results in paying a disproportionately higher ratio of fixed fee than the percentage of work the Contractor has completed, then the Contracting Officer 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.

(c) Funds obligated hereunder are anticipated to be sufficient through _________ [To be inserted at the time of award].

B.4 BUDGET

Task No.

Description

Estimated Cost

Indirect Cost

Fixed Fee

001 Evaluation of the USAID/Malawi Early Grade Reading Activity (EGRA) on Standard 2 and 4 Students Reading Outcomes

002 Household Survey of Sub-Sampled Standard 2 and 4 Students.

National Reading Assessment for Standards 1 and 3 students

004 Final Impact Evaluation of EGRA and CDCS Hypotheses

TOTAL ESTIMATED COST PLUS FIXED FEE (CPFF)

B.5 INDIRECT COSTS

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

Description* Period** Rate Base***

* Description or type of rate indicated as a percentage, e.g., G&A ** Period, e.g., CY 2009 *** Base, e.g., Direct Labor for Labor Overhead

B.6 COST REIMBURSABLE

The U.S. dollar costs allowable shall 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.”

In addition, the requirement and conditions concerning estimated cost and funding apply as detailed in FAR 52.232-22, Limitation of Funds.

B.7 PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE

Pursuant to FAR 16.306(d), the fixed fee payable under this contract will be tied to the completion of the reports and deliverables specified in Section F.5. Further, payment of fixed fee, subject to FAR 52.216-8, may be made upon receipt of a proper invoice.

(Section B4 to be determined at time of award).

[END OF SECTION B]

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is to provide evaluation services for the USAID/Malawi Mission. The Contractor shall collect data, prepare analyses, and reports that will track USAID/EGRA1 results related to the USAID/Malawi Country Development and Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) that covers the 2013 to 2017 time period.

C.2 BACKGROUND

C.2.1 USAID/Malawi Early Grade Reading Activity (EGRA) Summary

To address low levels of early grade reading attainment in Malawi, USAID/Malawi has developed an Early Grade Reading Activity (EGRA) to support Government of Malawi (GoM) efforts to improve reading outcomes of Standard 1-3 students. The EGRA contract will be the prime mechanism for USAID/Malawi to measurably improve early grade reading outcomes in Malawi. EGRA activities will improving instructional approaches for reading in primary grades (Standards 1-3), promote parental and community engagement to support student reading by increasing interactions between schools, teachers, and communities, and improve the policy environment around student reading at the school and district level. Actual activities to achieve these objectives will begin to be implemented starting in August 2013, with teacher training prior to the start of the 2013/2014 Academic year in early September. USAID/Malawi’s EGRA will be implemented in up to 10 of the 34 education districts where potential multiplier effects from complementary USAID and other interventions will occur – particularly those related to agricultural development and health with impacts from ancillary socioeconomic, health, and school related factors contributing to learning outcomes.

C.2.2 USAID/Malawi Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) Summary

USAID‘s primary focus in its new five year Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) is on promoting Malawi’s self-reliance and economic development, which will lead to increases in the quality of essential services. The delivery of quality education services and the resulting increase in learning levels will strengthen the impact of investments in education and lead to improved human resource capacity to deliver other services such as health, agriculture and food security, decreased dependence on humanitarian assistance and increased ability of the people to make a positive contribution in the economy.

The Mission’s draft CDCS focuses on the interconnectedness of development interventions and Malawian ownership of the development process, based upon numerous analyses of the actual situation and needs of the Malawian people. Simply stated, both the supply and demand sides must be seriously bolstered, in concert, for rural Malawians to achieve sustainable development. This development hypothesis focuses and concentrates Mission resources by delivering integrated and inclusive development results to targeted communities. Two key hypotheses directly relate to USAID/Malawi’s EGRA is the CDCS focus on integration and community engagement. In the CDCS, The USAID/Malawi Mission envisions results from USAID Education investments in early grade reading and the resulting learning outcomes to contribute to increased community capacities.

C.2.3 USAID Forward

USAID Forward is an ambitious reform effort which expects to change the way USAID does business—with new partnerships, an emphasis on innovation and a relentless focus on results. This includes a renewed effort to strengthen the use of monitoring and evaluation, to build local capacity to improve aid effectiveness, and to strengthen collaboration and partnership with bilateral donors, multilateral and international organizations which will hopefully increase synergies and avoid duplication.

1 See RFP No. SOL-612-13-000004 for detailed description of interventions

Towards this goal, in January of 2011, USAID released a new evaluation policy aimed at improving accountability, learning, and evidence-based decision making. This new policy will require increased rigor, objectivity, and transparency in all of USAID’s evaluations. Notable new requirements include:

1. Identifying key evaluation questions during the project design phase;

2. Collecting high-quality baseline data for variables that correspond to key project outcomes and impacts;

3. In cases where impact evaluations are undertaken, establishing a parallel evaluation mechanism at project inception to accompany implementation;

4. Conducting at least one performance evaluation of each large project (defined as equal or exceeding in dollar value the mean (average) project size for the mission); and

5. Conducting an impact evaluation of any activity within a project involving untested hypotheses or designed as a

“pilot” or “proof of concept”

As a result, USAID/Malawi will make every effort to not only strengthen its monitoring and evaluation oversight, but to also ensure that the local capacity is built to carry on these functions and make them sustainable. USAID/Malawi is increasing its partnerships with local partners and host country governments with limited monitoring and evaluation expertise at the regional level. The impact evaluation of the Early Grade Reading Activity is part of USAID/Malawi process to align its monitoring and evaluation activities with the new Agency’s goal of building local capacity, managing for results, improving accountability, and learning efforts.

C.3 SCOPE OF WORK

The Contractor shall provide evaluation services that will include data collection, data analyses, and report writing. The contractor shall conduct evaluations, assessments and surveys in accordance to the Statement of Work (SOW) and Contract Performance Standards reflective of the Contractor’s proposed approach. The evaluation services shall include baseline data collection, tracking of key indicators on an annual /bi-annual basis and report findings through the life of the five year EGRA and CDCS period as necessary. The data collected and analyzed will measure the impact of the USAID/Malawi Early Grade Reading Activity (EGRA), with a corresponding baseline (2013), mid-line (2015), and end-line (2017). Additional assessments and surveys conducted by the contractor of reading abilities will examine additional factors that are assumed to effect reading outcomes in Malawi. The Contractor shall provide the results of these evaluations, assessments and surveys to USAID/Malawi to inform EGRA implementation, contribute to USAID Malawi’s collaborative learning approach under the CDCS, and improve the ability of USAID to adapt to changing program needs based on data.

C.3.1 Objectives

The Early Grade Reading Activity (EGRA) Impact Evaluation has two main objectives:

1. To measure the impact of USAID/Malawi’s EGRA efforts in target districts on student reading outcomes, and

2. To assess the hypotheses of integration and community strengthening related to student learning in the

USAID/Malawi CDCS:

A. to measure how integration of USAID programming across sectors (education, health, agriculture) working in the same geographic areas impacts student reading outcomes; and B. to measure how community strengthening through capacity-building of local institutions, and promotion of citizen participation impacts sustainable of reading interventions.

C.3.2 Tasks

The Contractor shall provide evaluation services of four major tasks:

Baseline Mid-point Endline

Required Tasks May 2013 May 2014 May 2015 May 2016 May 2017

1. Evaluation of the

USAID/Malawi Early Grade Reading Activity (EGRA) on Standard 2 and 4 Students Reading Outcomes

X

2. Household Survey of Sub- Sampled Standard 2 and 4 Students.

X X X

3. National Reading Assessment for Standards 1 and 3 students

X X

4. Final Impact Evaluation of EGRA and CDCS Hypotheses

Task 1: Evaluation of the USAID/Malawi Early Grade Reading Activity (EGRA) on Standard 2 and 4 Students Reading Outcomes.

1.1 Overview

The Contractor shall collect data, prepare analyses, and reports of Standard 2 and 4 reading outcomes. The Contractor shall conduct all the necessary data collection, data analysis and report writing. The Contractor shall measure the impact of the USAID/Malawi Early Grade Reading Activity2 in target districts compared to control districts. The Contractor shall have all data collected for Task 1 Evaluation by May 2013, May 2015, and May 2017, respectively.

1.2 General Approach

The contractor will implement activities under this Task in accordance with USAID principles and requirements, including those outlined in the USAID’s Evaluation Policy and ADS 203.

Prior to carrying out the evaluation, the contractor shall submit to the USAID Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) an annual Work Plan that details the work to be conducted. The Contractor will use an evaluation design that best meets USAID evaluation policy standards and principles. The design will ensure reliability and validity of the data collected and allow disaggregation by sex. The design will enables analysis of USAID/Malawi’s CDCS hypotheses of integration and community strengthening focus on geographic regions as outlined in Section C2.1.

The design shall enables analysis to determine variation in outcomes based on level of integration of USAID/Malawi sectoral and geographic integration (Level I: those in Mission integrated intervention districts (Lilongwe, Balaka, and Machinga); Level II: districts/zones where education intervention overlaps with either FtF or GHI; Level III: education only intervention districts;

and Level IV: control schools in non–intervention districts). The contractor will assess Standard 2 and 4 students to determine their reading ability. The samples will include sufficient numbers of students to disaggregate by Standard and by sex.

The Contractor will conduct classroom observations in at least one Standard 2, and 4 classroom and interview the head teacher of each school. The classroom based assessment shall be developed in close collaboration with the Malawi National

2 See RFP No. SOL-612-13-000003 for detailed description of interventions

Examination Board and the Department of Inspection and Advisory Services (DIAS) to ensure that it is grade and curriculum appropriate and will at a minimum measure early grade reading skills. Data on number of students in the class (classroom size) and its relationship to reading outcomes must be included in the assessment.

The Contractor will disseminate the annual results generated from the data collection to key stakeholders, including USAID and its implementing partners, the MoEST, Development Partners, and the larger early grade reading community of practice.

These reports will be due to USAID/Malawi by July 31 of each year. This information will provide the basis for learning and adaptive programming decisions to ensure that the program remains flexible to changing needs learned throughout the course of the evaluation.

The contractor shall further match schools in the intervention districts with schools in the non – intervention or control districts to allow for comparability. In matching the schools, the contractor shall use scientific matching methods such as propensity score matching or other scientifically rigorous methods. Baseline data collection may require oversampling to determine appropriate control districts. The following are illustrative examples that could be used:

Student Level Data such as:

a. Participation in early childhood development (ECD) program

b. Participation in a school feeding program

c. Time spent in the classroom on reading instruction

School Level Data such as:

a. Student to qualified teacher ratio,

b. Dropout rate

c. Repetition rate

d. Average number of students per class

e. Timing of school feeding in the school timetable

f. Absenteeism rates, and

g. Average number of teacher supervision/coaching visits to the teacher

h. Other interventions including: classroom block and teacher housing construction, disability education interventions, complementary basic education, child-friendly schools.

i. Text availability: textbook to student ratio

j. Level of print rich environment found in the classroom.

k. Language of instruction in the classroom

Community Level Data such as:

a. Beneficiary of GHI programming (note: will need to be triangulated with USAID health team data as households may not be aware of GHI investments they are benefitting from)

b. Beneficiary of FtF programming (note: will need to be triangulated with USAID FtF team data as households may not be aware of FtF investments they are benefitting from)

c. If secondary data source is available:

d. Prevalence of stunting, wasting, or underweight

1.3 Evaluation Questions

At a minimum, the classroom based assessment will report on how the USAID/Malawi EGRA impacts, at a minimum, the following indicators:

(i) Proportion of primary school students who are able to read with comprehension, according to their countries’ curricular goals, by the end of lower primary school (Standard 4).

a. The proportion of students who by the end of the fourth school year (Standard 4) are able to read grade level text, as measured by the number of correct words per minute

b. The proportion of students who by the end of the fourth school year (Standard 4) are able to answer comprehension questions after reading grade level text, as measured by the number of correct comprehension questions answered correctly.

(ii) Proportion of students, who, by the end of two grades of primary schooling, demonstrate that they can read and understand the meaning of grade level text (Standard 2).

a. The proportion of students who by the end of the second school year (Standard 2) are able to read grade level text, as measured by the number of correct words per minute

b. The proportion of students who by the end of the second school year (Standard 2) are able to answer comprehension questions after reading grade level text, as measured by the number of correct comprehension questions answered correctly.

1.4 Sampling Frame

The Evaluation sampling will be of sufficient size to disaggregate by district, by sex, and by Standard. The sampling framework will enable analysis to examine how levels of integration of Mission programming across sectors in various districts impacts learning outcomes differently. The sample will include a minimum of 30 schools randomly selected per district. The schools shall be selected between control and treatment schools that ensures comparability and disaggregation by the various levels of geographic integration: Level 1: those in Mission integrated intervention districts; Level 2: districts/zones where education intervention overlaps with either FtF or GHI; 3: education only intervention districts; and Level 4: control schools in non–intervention districts. This sample shall be scientifically representative. From the sampled schools (control and treatment), the contractor shall randomly draw a representative sample of children per Standard 2 and Standard 4. From each selected school, at a minimum, a random selection of 10 students, equal numbers of boys and girls, will be selected from Standard 2 and 4 for inclusion in the assessment. The Contractor will at a minimum include a classroom observation of a Standard 2 and 4 classroom and conduct interviews with a Standard 2 and 4 teacher and the head teacher for each school visited. If a different sample size is needed to achieve the requirements of this SOW, the Contractor shall provide justification based on power and confidence of estimation to the COR for approval.

The Contractor will at a minimum draw from all four levels of USAID/Malawi geographic integration for analysis of the USAID/Malawi EGRA and to test the CDCS hypothesis. The levels include: Level 1: Mission integrated districts and zones in Lilongwe, Balaka, and Machinga. The sample will also draw from Level 2: zones within Salima and Ntcheu to examine where the Early Grade Reading intervention has overlap with either FtF or Health interventions. The sample will be required to draw on two districts from Level 3: education intervention only districts (these include Mzimba North, Ntchisi, Zomba Rural, Blantyre Rural, and Thyolo). To determine the control districts, the sample will draw at a minimum three additional Level 4: districts receiving no early grade reading interventions from the remaining 24 education districts using a matched pair approach that enables the comparison of effects across intervention and non-intervention districts.

Where possible for data on community and household-level variables, the Contractor shall utilize secondary data sources such as national or population-level demographic and economic surveys, data from Education Management Information System collected by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) annually or other USAID or donor-supported household surveys. Specifically, the USAID SSDI activity is a potential source for health-related data in target areas, and the USAID FtF impact evaluation is a potential source of data on agriculture and socio-economic variables in target communities.

To enhance comparability of study data with other USAID data analyses, all questionnaires shall include appropriate geo-referenced data.

The Contractor will disseminate the annual results generated from the data collection to key stakeholders, including USAID and its implementing partners, the MoEST, Development Partners, and the larger early grade reading community of practice.

These reports will be due to USAID/Malawi by July 31 of each year. This information will provide the basis for learning and adaptive programming decisions to ensure that the program remains flexible to changing needs learned throughout the course of the evaluation. Additionally, the final impact evaluation report will be presented to key stakeholders and disseminated widely to encourage sharing of results, lessons learned and best practices and identify USAID achievements under the CDCS targets.

Task 2: Household Survey of Sub-Sampled Standard 2 and 4 Students.

2.1. Overview

The Contractor shall collect data, prepare analyses, and reports of a randomly selected sub-sample of students assessed in Task 1. The student’s sub-sample will equally represent male and female students. The contractor will conduct a household survey of a sub-sample of children assessed in Task 1 to understand the dynamics and effects of other factors that contribute to children reading outcomes. The Contractor will use data collected from the household survey to isolate household and socio-economic related factors. The Contractor will collect data at the household level to reduce external bias and measure potential multiplier effects of complementary Mission interventions at the community and household level of USAID’s programming under the Global Health Initiative (GHI) and Feed the Future (FtF). The Contractor shall incorporate data on relevant multiplier, socioeconomic and household factors and select appropriate control/comparison districts and communities to detect differential effects. The Contractor shall utilize secondary data sources from the GoM, USAID, or other sources to the greatest extent possible.

2.2. General Approach

The contractor will implement activities under this Task taking into account USAID principles and requirements, including those with USAID’s Evaluation Policy and ADS 203. The Contractor will measure the Early Grade Reading Activity’s efforts to increase parental and community engagement in supporting student reading. The Contractor will assess how social mobilization of parents, guardians, communities and other relevant stakeholders for supporting children reading has changed household behaviors and student learning outcomes. The Contractor will account for activities within the community that bridge schools and communities around reading or provide alternatives sources of reading support to students. The Contractor will examine the dynamics and effects of other factors that contribute to children learning outcomes within the household and community. The household survey of sampled Standard 2 and 4 children will isolate households and socio-economic related factors, enabling the analysis to linking children’s reading performance to household factors and community factors. The Contractor will include appropriate geo-referenced data to enhance comparability of study data with other USAID data analyses.

The Contractor will disseminate the annual results generated from the data collection to key stakeholders, including USAID and its implementing partners, the MoEST, Development Partners, and the larger early grade reading community of practice.

These reports will be due to USAID/Malawi by July 31 of each year. This information will provide the basis for learning and adaptive programming decisions to ensure that the program remains flexible to changing needs learned throughout the course of the evaluation.

Prior to carrying out the household survey, the contractor shall submit to the USAID Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) a detailed annual Work Plan describing the work to be conducted. The Contractor will use an evaluation design that best meets USAID evaluation requirements and is robust enough to measure the complexity of integration.

2.3. Evaluation Questions

1. What household and community factors relate to student reading outcomes?

2. What level of household and community resources/factors are dedicated to schooling and reading?

3. How have Health and Agricultural interventions at the household and community level affected schooling and reading outcomes?

4. What factors at the household and community level have been identified that relate to repetition and drop out and are there sex differences at the household level?

Illustrative indicators of interest include:

Participation in early childhood development (ECD) program…