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SAID I TANZANIA

FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (JOFOC)

FOR CLASS D&F TO AUTHORIZE LIMITING COMPETITION TO LOCAL

ENTITIES

TO: Jennifer Norling, Contracting Officer, USAID Tanzania

CC: Jean Horton, Agency Competition Advocate

FROM: Mei Mei Peng, Technical Officer, USAID/Tanzania Office of Education

DATE: November 25, 2011

RE: RFP #SOL-621-12-000001 Data Collection for the Impact Evaluation of USAID/Tanzania's 21" Century Basic Education Program (TZ21)

SUBJECT: Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition under the Class Determination and Findings to Authorize Limiting Competition to Local Entities

We request approval of this justification for use of other than full and open competition pursuant to the authority provided in the class determination and findings to authorize limiting competition to local entities, approved by the Administrator on August 30, 2011. Your approval of this JOFOC constitutes the justification for other than full and open competition as required by that class D&F, attached in Tab 1.

a) Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

USAID/Tanzania requires technical assistance to perform data collection for an impact evaluation of the 21st Century Basic Education Program (TZ21).

b) A description of the supplies or services required to meet USAID's needs (including the estimated value).

This is a Firm-Fixed-Price contract, with an estimated value of $715,500. This RFP is limited to the work involved in collecting detailed data for an impact evaluation in 280 schools in two regions for a three-year period, from January 2012-January 2015.

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c) Identification of statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

AIDAR 706.203-70 and 40 U.S.C. §113, as authorized in the class D&F in Tab 1.

d) A discussion of the nature of the acquisition that requires use of the authority cited.

USAID/Tanzania's TZ21 Flagship Education Program aims to increase learning achievement in primary education. It is a $48.9 million, five-year program. The underlying development hypothesis is that the quality of basic education is a function of a learner friendly environment that provides quality classroom instruction, enabled by the availability and use of information in planning and decision making, and responsive policy to support innovations, effectively at each level of the education system's governance structure. A rigorous impact evaluation will seek to measure the relative effectiveness of intervention packages on improving student learning outcomes. To support the impact evaluation, USAID/Tanzania intends to hire a data collection firm to undertake data collection from January 2012 - January 2015. During this period, the firm will undertake baseline data collection, five rounds of unannounced attendance visits, and two rounds of student assessment testing. The timeline for data collection activities is critical and must be adhered to in order for the impact evaluation to be completed, particularly since TZ21 school-based interventions are scheduled to begin in March 2012.

Competition limited to local entities is preferred due to the technical and programmatic requirements of the solicitation that necessitate the contractor to: (1) utilize local expertise in the management team; (2) mobilize immediately to meet the timeline for data collection activities;

(3) rapidly train and deploy at least 20 experienced enumerators, supervisors and data entry clerks; (4) conduct data collection activities in local language; and (5) demonstrate experience in planning, organizing and managing survey logistics in Tanzania. We believe the resulting contract with a local entity will further develop the capacity of data collection service firms in Tanzania and enhance USAID/Tanzania's direct relationship with local organizations. Use of a local organization under this award directly supports the Agency's efforts to focus on sustainable development outcomes by building local capacity, enhancing transparency and use of international standards in evaluations, and promoting country ownership. By limiting competition to local organizations, USAID will be able to leverage the wide diversity of talent within Tanzania which should strengthen partnerships between the host country ministries, USAID, and other donors, and produce sustainable impact.

Because of the reasons discussed above, we have determined that limiting competition to local entities will deliver the best development outcome.

e) A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable

Efforts will be made to solicit proposals from as many potential local sources as practicable. The USAID/Tanzania Mission intends to publish the solicitation in local newspapers that are widely disseminated with large readership.

f) A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be

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fair and reasonable'

The USAID/Tanzania Office of Education provided an Independent Government Cost Estimate to the Contracting Officer, which demonstrates that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable. The Contracting Officer, after a review of the Independent Government Cost Estimate and the circumstances of the procurement, has determined that the anticipated costs to the USG will be fair and reasonable.

g) A description of the market research conducted (see FAR Part 10) and the results.

Consultation with the World Bank and other donors confirm that there are many local entities with experience planning, organizing and managing data collection projects in Tanzania, and are therefore available to carry out the deliverables outlined in the RFP. The USAID/Tanzania Office of Education's market research indicates that more than three local businesses are capable of fulfilling this requirement at a fair market price.

h) A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed , in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

The solicitation has not been released, so the Mission has not received any formal written expressions of interest. However, we anticipate interest from local entities such as the Economic Development Institute (EDI), the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF), Research on Poverty Alleviation (REPOA), Synovate and Data Vision.

i) A statement of the actions , if any, USAID may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition of the supplies or services required.

USAID will work with its contacts, especially its development partners who are familiar with the data collection firms in Tanzania, to ensure that local competition is maximized.

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that you approve this justification for use of other than full and open competition pursuant to the class determination and findings to authorize limiting competition to local entities, approved by the Administrator on August 30, 2011. Your approval of this JOFOC constitutes the justification for other than full and open competition as required by Tab I (D&F for the Authorization of Less than Full and Open Competitive Procedures in the Modification or Award of Contracts) of the class D&F.

CERTIFICATION:

The requirement for technical certification at FAR 6 .303-2(b) is fulfilled through:

a. The signature of the Technical Officer below certifying the specific supporting data for this JOFOC; and

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SOL621-12-00001 JOFOC

b. The class determination and findings to authorize limiting competition to local entities, approved by the Administrator on August 30, 2011 (attached).

Technical Officer:

I hereby certify that the supporting data which form a basis for the justification are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Mei Mei Peng, Technical Officer Date

12/t5 l i 1 Date

CLEARANCE:

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Matthew Cohen, Regional Legal Advisor Date

UNITED STATES A.I.D. MISSION TO TANZANIA