SOL-660-17-000001.pdf

SECTION A: SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

7. ISSUED BY CODE

NOTE: In sealed bid solicitations "offer" and "offeror" mean "bid" and "bidder".

SOLICITATION

9. Sealed offers in original and copies for furnishings 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 instruction on page 93 of RFP 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.

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 1 I CONTRACT CLAUSES 62 x B SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS 9 PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACH.

x C DESCRIPTION/SPECS./WORK STATEMENT 12 J LIST OF ATTACHMENTS 75 x D PACKAGING AND MARKING 23 PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS x E INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE 25

K REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER

STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

x F DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE 27 x G CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA 38 L INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS 89 x H SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS 43 M EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD 113

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 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 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 OFFER-

OR

CODE FACILITY 16. NAME AND THE 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 EXTENSION

AWARD (To be completed by Government)

19. ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS NUMBERED 20. AMOUNT 21. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION

22. AUTHORITY FOR USING OTHER THAN FULL OPEN COMPETITION:

10 U.S.C. 2304 (c) 41 U.S.C. 3304(a) ( )

23. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN

(4 copies unless otherwise specified)

ITEM

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

26. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print) 27. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

28. AWARD DATE

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 is unusable

STANDARD FORM 33 (REV. 6/2014)

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

USAID/Democratic Republic of the Congo (USAID/DRC) Office of Acquisition and Assistance

SOLICITATION, OFFER AND AWARD 1. THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED ORDER

UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700)

RATING

N/A

PAGE OF PAGES

1 154

2. CONTRACT NUMBER

TBD

3. SOLICITATION NUMBER

SOL-660-17-000001

4. TYPE OF SOLICITATION

SEALED BID (IFB)

NEGOTIATED (RFP)

5. DATE ISSUED

10/27/2016

6. REQUISITION/PURCHASE NUMBER

REQ-660-16-000044

8. ADDRESS OFFER TO (If other than item 7)

10. FOR

INFORMATION

CALL:

A. NAME

Patrick Kollars, Supervisory Contracting Officer

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

kinshasaoaa@usaid.gov;

dkopo@usaid.gov

AREA CODE NUMBER EXTENSION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACRONYMS……..……………………………………………………………………………8

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

B.1.PURPOSE

B.2.CONTRACT TYPE

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

B.4.BUDGET LINE ITEMS

B.5.INDIRECT COSTS

B.6. ADVANCE UNDERSTANDINGS ON CEILING INDIRECT COST

RATES AND FINAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR INDIRECT COSTS

B.7.COST REIMBURSABLE

B.8.PAYMENT OF FIXED FEE

B.9.CANCELLATION, CEILINGS AND DATES

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK .. 12

C.1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE………… ………………………………………………12

C.2. BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENT CONTEXT………… ………………12

C.3. STATEMENT OF WORK.… …………………………………………………….20

C.4. ILLUSTRATIVE DRAFT ACTIVITY MOMITORING AND EVALUATION

PLAN FOR PROPOSAL……… ………………………………………………..22

SECTION D – PACKAGING AND MARKING

D.1. AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (JAN 1993)

D.2. BRANDING AND MARKING POLICY

D.3. BRANDING STRATEGY

D.4. ANTICIPATED ELEMENTS OF MARKING PLAN

D.5. APPROVAL OF CONTRACTOR BRANDING IMPLEMENTATION

AND MARKING PLAN

SECTION E – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1. NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY

REFERENCE

E.2. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.3. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

SECTION F – DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

F.1. NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY

REFERENCE

F.2. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

F.3. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

F.4. AUTHORIZED WORK DAY / WEEK

F.5. REPORTS AND DELIVERABLES OR OUTPUTS

F.6. KEY PERSONNEL

F.7. OTHER PERSONNEL

F.8. FEE SCHEDUELE:

F.9. EVALUATION

F.10. AIDAR 752.242-70 PERIODIC PROGRESS REPORTS (OCT 2007)

F.11. AIDAR 752.7005 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR

DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE DOCUMENTS (SEPT 2013).………36

SECTION G – CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

G.1. AIDAR 752.7003 DOCUMENTATION FOR PAYMENT (NOV 1998)

……………………………………………………………………………38

G.2. CONTRACTING OFFICER'S AUTHORITY AND ADMINISTRATIVE

CONTRACTING OFFICE

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

G.4. TECHNICAL DIRECTION AND RELATIONSHIP WITH USAID

G.5. PAYING OFFICE

G.6. INVOICES

G.7. ACCEPTANCE AND APPROVAL

G.8. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

SECTION H – SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

H.1. NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY

REFERENCE

H.2. AIDAR 752.7004 EMERGENCY LOCATOR INFORMATION (JUL

1997) .. ……………………………………………………………………43

H.3. INSURANCE AND SERVICES:

H.4. AIDAR 752.228-70 MEDICAL EVACUATION (MEDEVAC)

SERVICES (JUL 2007)

H.5. AIDAR 752.7007 PERSONNEL COMPENSATION (JUL 2007)

H.6. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONNEL

COMPENSATION

H.7. AIDAR 722.170 EMPLOYMENT OF THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS

(TCNs) AND COOPERATING COUNTRY NATIONALS (CCNS) ……………………………………………………………………………48

H.8. AIDAR 752.231-71 SALARY SUPPLEMENTS FOR HOST

GOVERNMENT (HG) EMPLOYEES (MAR 2015)

H.9. AIDAR 752.7031 LEAVE AND HOLIDAYS (OCT 1989)

H.10. TRANSITION OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

H.11. AUTHORIZED GEOGRAPHIC CODE

H.12. LOGISTIC SUPPORT

H.13. LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS AND REPORTING

H.14. ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

H.15. SUBCONTRACTING PLAN AND THE SF 294 – SUBCONTRACTING

REPORT FOR INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS AND SF 295 –

SUMMARY CONTRACTING REPORT

H.16. CONSENT TO SUBCONTRACT

H.17. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED FACILITIES OR PROPERTY

H.18. NONEXPENDABLE PROPERTY PURCHASES AND INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES

H.19. INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL APPROVAL (JAN 1990)

H.20. BUSINESS CLASS TRAVEL

H.21. FOREIGN GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS TO INTERNATIONAL

CONFERENCES (JAN 2002)

H.22. VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT) AND CUSTOMS DUTIES

H.23. PERSONAL IDENTITY VERIFICATION OF CONTRACTOR

PERSONNEL (JUL 2007)

H.24. EXECUTIVE ORDER ON TERRORISM FINANCING

H.25. USAID IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTION 508 OF THE

REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973 AND FEDERAL ACQUISITION

CIRCULAR (FAC) 97-27 "ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY

H.26. AIDAR 752.209-71 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

DISCOVERED AFTER AWARD (June 1993)

H.27. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

H.28. DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

H.29. AIDAR 752.222-71 NONDISCRIMINATION (June 2012)

H.30. 752.222-70 USAID DISABILITY POLICY - ACQUISITION (Dec 2004) ……………………………………………………………………………57

H.31. AIDAR 752.231-72 CONFERENCE PLANNING AND REQUIRED

APPROVALS (AUG 2013)

H.32. CONTRACTOR’S USE OF PROJECT VEHICLES AND LIABILITY

INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR PRIVATELY OWNED

VEHICLES

H.33. 752.228-7 INSURANCE -- LIABILITY TO THIRD PERSONS. (JULY

1997)

H.34. ADS 302.3.5.21 SUBMISSION OF DATASETS TO THE

DEVELOPMENT DATA LIBRARY (DDL) (October 2014)

H.35. AIDAR 752.204-72 ACCESS TO USAID FACILITIES AND USAID’s

INFORMATION SYSTEMS (AUGUST 2013)

H.36. AIDAR 752.7038 NONDISCRIMINATION IN BENEFICIARIES’

ACCESS TO SERVICES………………………………………………..61

PART II – CONTRACT CLAUSES

SECTION I – CONTRACT CLAUSES

I.1. NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY

REFERENCE

I.2. 752.252-1 AIDAR SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED

BY REFERENCE (MAR 2015)

I.3. 52.203-98 PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING WITH ENTITIES

THAT REQUIRE CERTAIN INTERNAL CONFIDENTIALITY

AGREEMENTS-REPRESENTATION (APR 2015)

I.4. 752.209‐71 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

DISCOVERED AFTER AWARD (JUN 1993)

I.5. 52.215-19 NOTIFICATION OF OWNERSHIP CHANGES. (OCT 1997)

……………………………………………………………………………67

I.6. 52.222-36 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR WORKERS WITH

DISABILITIES. (JUL 2014)

I.7. 52.222‐50 COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (mar 2015)

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

(MAR 1990)

I.9. AIDAR 752.219-8 UTILIZATION OF SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS

AND SMALL DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS CONCERNS (MAR

2015)

I.10. AIDAR 752.219-70 USAID MENTOR-PROTÉGÉ PROGRAM (JULY

2007) .. ……………………………………………………………………70

I.11. AIDAR 752.219-71 MENTOR REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION

(JULY 2007)

I.12. AIDAR 752.225-70 SOURCE AND NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

(FEB 2012) (Class Deviation No. OAA-DEV-12-01c)

I.13. AIDAR 752.229-70 FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES

I.14. AIDAR 752.7036 USAID IMPLEMENTING PARTNER NOTICES

(IPN) PORTAL FOR ACQUISITION (July 2014)

I.15. AIDAR 752.7101 VOLUNTARY POPULATION PLANNING

ACTIVITIES (JUN 2008)

I.16. AIDAR 752.7037 CHILD SAFEGUARDING STANDARDS (Aug. 2016) ……………………………………………………………………………73

PART III – LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER

ATTACHMENTS

SECTION J – LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

PART IV – REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

SECTION K - REPRESENTATIONS, INSTRUCTIONS, CERTIFICATIONS

AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

K.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY

REFERENCE

K.2 FAR 52.204-7 SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (JUL 2013) . 76

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

K.4 FAR 52.204-8 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND

CERTIFICATIONS (APR 2016)

K.5 FAR 52.209-5 CERTIFICATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY

MATTERS (OCT 2015)

K.6 FAR 52.209-7 INFORMATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY

MATTERS (JUL 2013)

K.7 FAR 52.209-9 UPDATES OF PUBLICLY AVAILABLE

INFORMATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (JUL

2013)

K.8 52.219-1 SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM REPRESENTATIONS (OCT

2014)

K.9 52.222-22 PREVIOUS CONTRACTS AND COMPLIANCE REPORTS (FEB

1999)……………………..……………………………………………………..86

K.10 52.230-1 COST ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOTICES AND

CERTIFICATION (OCT 2015)

K.11 FAR 52.230-7 PROPOSAL DISCLOSURE–COST ACCOUNTING

PRACTICE CHANGES (APR 2005)

K.12 INSURANCE – IMMUNITY FROM TORT LIABILITY

K.13 SIGNATURE

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO

OFFERORS

L.1 52.252-1 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY

REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

L.2 52.215-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS—COMPETITIVE

ACQUISITION (JAN 2004)

L.3 52.216-1 TYPE OF CONTRACT (APR 1984)

L.4 52.233-2 SERVICE OF PROTEST (SEP 2006)

L.5 ACQUISITION SCHEDULE

L.6 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

L.7 PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

L.8 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL

PROPOSAL

L.9 BRANDING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND MARKING PLAN ... 101

L.10 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE

COST/BUSINESS PROPOSAL

SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

M.1 52.252-1 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY

REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

M.2 GENERAL INFORMATION

M.3 TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA

M.4. COST PROPOSAL EVALUATION…………………………………….…...113

M.5 DETERMINATION OF THE COMPETITIVE RANGE AND

CONTRACT AWARD……………………………………...…………114

M.6 SOURCE SELECTION

ATTACHMENTS…………………………………….…………………………...………...115

J.1: CONTRACTOR BIOGRAPHICAL DATA SHEET

J.2 – SF LLL – DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES…………………...…115

J.3 : SUMMARY BUDGET FORMAT……………….…………………………116

J.4 - PAST PERFORMANCE QUESTIONNAIRE

J.5 - MODEL SUBCONTRACTING PLAN OUTLINE

J.6 - COUNTRY DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION STRATEGY

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (2015-2019) –

CDCS/CONGO……………………………………………………………..123

J.7 - APPROVED INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION (IEE) AND

APPLICABLE AMENDMENTS

ACRONYMS

AMEP - Activity Monitoring and Evaluation Plan AIDAR – USAID Acquisition Regulation CCN – Cooperating Country National CO - Contracting Officer COR - Contracting Officer’s Representative CST - Contractor Salary Threshold CPFF - Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee CDCS - Country Development Cooperation Strategy DRC - Democratic Republic of the Congo DFAP - Development Food Assistance Program DOC - Documentation Outreach and Communication Officer FAR - Federal Acquisition Regulation FBO - Federal Business Opportunities FFP – Food for Peace GDRC – Government of Democratic Republic of the Congo IVL - Interested Vendor List M4P - Making Markets Work for the Poor OAA - Office of Acquisition and Assistance TCN – Third Country National TO3 - Transition Objective 3 USAID - U.S. Agency for International Development WASH – Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

B.1. PURPOSE

The purpose of Feed the Future Democratic Republic of the Congo Kivu Value Chains is to increase household incomes and access to nutrient rich crops by linking small-holder farmers to strengthened and inclusive value chains and supportive market services.

B.2. CONTRACT TYPE

This is a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF), completion type contract for five (5) years from the date of award. For the consideration set forth below, the contractor shall provide the deliverables/outputs as described in Section F.6 in accordance with the final approved Fee Schedule.

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

(a) The estimated cost for the performance of the work required for five years, exclusive of fixed fee, if any, is $ TBD. The fixed fee, if any, is $TBD. The estimated cost plus fixed fee, if any, is $ TBD.

(b) Within the estimated cost plus fixed fee (if any) specified in paragraph (a) above, the amount currently obligated and available for reimbursement of allowable costs incurred by the Contractor (and payment of fee, if any) for performance hereunder is $TBD. The Contractor shall not exceed the aforesaid obligated amount.

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

B.4. BUDGET LINE ITEMS

To Be Completed Upon Award

The inclusion of any costs in the above budget does not obviate the requirement for prior approval from the Contracting Officer of cost items designated as requiring prior approval by any of the terms and conditions of this contract, including the applicable cost principles (see FAR §52.216-7, “allowable cost and payment (JUNE 2013)”; nor does it constitute a determination of allowability by the Contracting Officer of any item of cost, unless specifically stated elsewhere in this contract.

B.5. INDIRECT COSTS

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:

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

For the Prime Contractor:

Description Rate Base Type Period % 1/ 1/ 1/ % 2/ 2/ 2/ % 3/ 3/ 3/

1/Base of Application:

Type of Rate:

Period:

2/Base of Application:

Type of Rate:

Period:

3/Base of Application:

Type of Rate:

Period:

*“Major Subcontractors” are those subcontractors whose proposed total cost exceeds 10% of the offeror’s cost proposal.

B.6. ADVANCE UNDERSTANDINGS ON CEILING INDIRECT COST RATES

AND FINAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR INDIRECT COSTS

(a) Reimbursement for indirect costs will be at the lower of the negotiated final (or re-determined) rates or the following ceiling rates:

Description Rate Base Type Period % 1/ 1/ 1/ % 2/ 2/ 2/ % 3/ 3/ 3/

1/ Base of Application:

2/ Base of Application:

Period:

3/ Base of Application

(b) The Government will not be obligated to pay any additional amount should the final indirect cost rates exceed the negotiated ceiling rates. If the final indirect cost rates are less than the negotiated ceiling rates, the negotiated rates will be reduced to conform to the lower rates.

(c) This understanding will not change any monetary ceiling, obligation, or specific cost allowance or disallowance. Any changes in classifying or allocating indirect costs require the prior written approval of the Contracting Officer.

NOTE: Insert indirect ceiling rates as needed for all subcontractors in the above table as well.

B.7. COST REIMBURSABLE

(a) Allowable costs will be limited to reasonable, allocable and necessary costs determined in accordance with FAR 52.216-7, Allowable Cost and Payment (JUNE 2013), FAR 52.216-8, Fixed Fee (JUN 2011), if applicable, and AIDAR 752.7003, Documentation for Payment (NOV 1998).

(b) In addition, the requirement and conditions concerning estimated cost and funding apply as detailed in FAR 52.232-22, Limitation of Funds (APR 1984).

B.8. 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 and attainment of targets specified in Section F.6 of this contract and in accordance with the final approved Fee Schedule.

Upon successful achievement of the deliverable, the Contractor shall provide evidence of the achievement to the Contracting Officer’s Representative and the Contracting Officer. Upon acceptance by USAID and receipt of approval from the Contracting Officer, the Contractor shall submit an invoice for the amount of the fee associated with the deliverable.

B.9. CANCELLATION, CEILINGS AND DATES

This contract is considered non-severable, and is therefore a multi-year contract as defined in FAR 17.103. Therefore, this contract is subject to the requirements of

FAR 17.106.

a. Performance under this contract during the second and subsequent years is contingent upon the appropriation of funds. All program years except the first are subject to cancellation. Cancellation shall occur by the dates specified below if the Contracting Officer:

1. notifies the Contractor that funds are not available for contract performance for any subsequent program year or

2. fails to notify the Contractor that funds are available for performance of the succeeding program year.

b. Cancellation Ceiling:

This is a CPFF type contract where the Contractor is authorized to be reimbursed for all costs which are allowable in accordance with FAR 52.216-7, “Allowable Costs and Payment.” Therefore, the Contractor will not incur any costs which would have been amortized over the life of the contract should the contract be cancelled in accordance with FAR 52.217-2.

The Government’s liability for cancellation charges shall not exceed $[CO TO INSERT- NOT OFFEROR]. This amount will be reduced in accordance with FAR 17.106-1(c)(1) at the conclusion of each program year, as follows:

[END OF SECTION B]

Program Year Cancellation Date Cancellation Ceiling

Year 1 N/A N/A

Year 2 $TBD before award

Year 3 $TBD before award

Year 4 $TBD before award

Year 5 $TBD before award

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE

The Feed the Future DRC Kivu Value Chains (Kivu VC) activity is closely aligned with USAID/Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS). Kivu VC contributes to Transition Objective 3 (TO 3): “Foundation for durable peace strengthened in eastern DRC” by reducing extreme poverty and malnutrition in targeted populations of South Kivu. The resulting economic prosperity and enhanced health are central aspects of a foundation for durable peace. As one of three co-designed and co-located activities, Kivu VC has a specific role in reducing poverty and malnutrition. The purpose of Kivu VC is to increase household incomes and access to nutrient rich crops by linking small-holder farmers to strengthened and inclusive value chains and supportive market services.

Kivu VC interventions build on those of complementary Food for Peace (FFP) and health activities, so that together they reduce poverty and malnutrition.

The Kivu VC Contractor must closely collaborate with a new FFP Development Food Assistance Program (DFAP) that focuses on improving the food and nutrition security, economic well-being, and resiliency of vulnerable households.

Additionally, Kivu VC will collaborate with health activities that promote improved uptake of essential nutritional behaviors and services, and access to water and sanitation services.

Kivu VC will target three commodities – coffee and two nutrient rich food crops. An initial assessment identified dry beans and soybeans as top candidates for the nutrient rich food crops. While Kivu VC will have sole responsibility for coffee value chain development, it will collaborate with the FFP implementer on the nutrient rich crops.

The FFP activity will focus on farm-level productivity and household capacity to engage in markets, while Kivu VC will support development of upstream value chain actors and supportive horizontal market actors. Specifically, Kivu VC will have the following components:

1. Build capacity of vertical and horizontal actors in targeted value chains

2. Enhance coffee production

Cross-cutting components

3. Develop and implement public private partnerships

4. Enhance access to commercial finance, including through technical assistance to implement Development Credit Authority (DCA) agreements

The Kivu VC activity will largely target value chain actors that geographically overlap with health zones identified by the USAID/DRC Health Office, and communities targeted by the FFP DFAP. Consistent with USAID/DRC’s CDCS, the Contractor will plan and implement this activity in close collaboration with USAID/DRC, other complementary activities implemented by USAID/DRC, and local governments and institutions.

C.2. BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENT CONTEXT

The DRC is a land of contrasts. The vast country contains extraordinary natural resources, from minerals to forests and biodiversity to abundant fertile land. The DRC could feed much of Africa if its agricultural potential were realized. However, more than 20 years of war and conflicts that still continue in localized regions have limited the development of the DRC as compared to its neighbors. Eighty percent of the DRC’s population is estimated to live in extreme poverty, and 43% of children 0- 5 years of age are chronically malnourished. Linked to these dire statistics is a lack of capacity in the government to provide basic services, combined with a very poor business-enabling environment, and profound challenges in establishing and maintaining democratic traditions.

Recognizing these constraints, USAID/DRC launched a new CDCS that emphasizes enhancing the accountability and capacity of the government and civil society actors to provide basic services to DRC’s citizens. The CDCS also recognizes that the DRC’s development challenges are most effectively addressed through an integrated, cross-sectoral approach. The CDCS targets geographic regions so that programs will be co-located and can reinforce each other.

In the CDCS, USAID identifies eastern DRC, which has been most affected by ongoing regional and national conflict, as one of its target geographies. USAID created TO 3: “Foundation for durable peace strengthened in eastern DRC” to indicate that programs in this region occur within a context of previous (and in some cases current) conflict, have a particular focus on conflict-affected communities, and must deliver results that are foundational to a peaceful society. The TO 3 region encompasses North Kivu and South Kivu, and portions of northern ex-Katanga, Maniema, and ex-Oriental provinces. These areas of the country were historically agricultural powerhouses, generating large quantities of high value agricultural exports. Due to a variety of factors, including prolonged conflicts and lack of government investment in supportive services and infrastructure, agricultural production and sales declined precipitously. Despite this difficult context, agricultural entrepreneurs continue to be successful, holding out hope for a wider economic revitalization.

Now that parts of the east are moving toward greater stability and reduced conflict, particularly in South Kivu, USAID and the international community are initiating longer-term development activities that can begin to rejuvenate the local economy and give people a reason and the capacity to strive toward sustainable peace.

Problem statement

Years of conflict in eastern DRC have eroded the economy, diminished the productive and adaptive capacity of households, and discouraged private investment in economic activities. These dynamics have contributed to the large number of vulnerable households that have limited resiliency and capacity to respond to shocks and stresses, and to take advantage of economic opportunities.

Development hypothesis

• By improving agricultural livelihoods and household capacity to respond to shocks and stresses and take advantage of economic opportunities,

• by strengthening inclusive value chains and markets, and

• By promoting and enabling essential nutritional practices, USAID will reduce extreme poverty and malnutrition in eastern DRC, contributing to a foundation for durable peace.

Rationale and Approach

Testing the validity of this development hypothesis requires a collaborative approach.

By geographically co-locating multiple programs, USAID can design specialized activities that complement each other, enabling higher level results that contribute to a foundation for durable peace. Because TO 3 is such an expansive geographic area, USAID conducted an in-depth, multi-criteria geographic analysis to select Walungu, Kabare, and Kalehe in South Kivu as focus areas where USAID will prioritize investments in governance, agriculture, health, and education.

USAID will implement a portfolio of tightly integrated activities to reduce poverty and malnutrition in targeted communities within these three territories. Core activities include:

• A new FFP DFAP focused on improving the food and nutrition security, economic well-being, and capacity of vulnerable households,

• Health activities that promote uptake of essential nutritional behaviors and services, and

• Kivu VC focused on agricultural market and value chain development.

These activities will be further complemented by USAID investments in local governance, environmental protection, and community-level conflict resolution.

The DFAP will focus on individual, household, and community capacities, promoting among other things, household economic diversification, basic financial literacy and business skills, uptake of good nutritional practices, women’s empowerment and gender equality in the household, agricultural productivity and community-level storage and processing, and access to diverse foods. Health activities will complement these approaches with health system-linked nutritional supplementation and behavior change communication as well as community-based interventions to improve sanitation and water services.

Kivu VC will provide opportunities for households in the same communities to participate in thriving agricultural markets and receive market-provided supportive services, such as provision of agricultural inputs, equipment, finance, transportation, market information, and technical advice. Kivu VC investments will include building capacities of market actors, facilitating value chain linkages and enhanced market system functioning, and promoting downward linkages to engage poor households in these markets. Kivu VC will also promote uptake of improved nutritional practices and greater gender equality by assisting market organizations such as cooperatives or input suppliers to influence their members and customers. Kivu VC will also increase the commercial supply and sale of nutritionally-improved plant varieties.

In addition to working in the same communities, Kivu VC and the FFP activity will achieve programmatic integration by working on the same nutrient rich crops. FFP investments will be focused on the agricultural production of these crops and on enhanced capacity at the household level to participate in markets, while Kivu VC will enhance the efficiency and inclusiveness of the upstream portions of these value chains and will increase provision of supportive market services, such as those for agricultural inputs, transportation, energy, and finance.

Using a multi-criteria assessment process and a value chain screening study, USAID identified dry beans and soybeans as candidates for this collaborative approach (see “Assessment of the DRC’s Agricultural Market Systems,” LEO Report #16, www.microlinks.org). These crops were selected because they are nutrient rich, engage large numbers of poor households, provide opportunities for women, are easy to store and transport, have market potential and value addition possibilities, and are part of a potentially climate-resilient intercropping system with coffee, which is also grown by many of these households.

Kivu VC will also invest in export crops, with a particular focus on specialty coffee.

DRC was historically one of the world’s largest exporters of coffee, growing Robusta coffee across the lowlands and Arabica in the higher elevations. Due to two decades of conflict in eastern DRC, a massive outbreak of coffee wilt disease, and the collapse in coffee prices in 2001, Congolese coffee production and sales dropped dramatically.

The current global renaissance of specialty coffee provides new and different opportunities, particularly for export of high quality Arabica coffee. The success of USAID’s current “Kivu Specialty Coffee: Kahawa Bora Ya Kivu” (KBYK) activity suggests that specialty coffee can be an engine of inclusive growth and poverty reduction in the Kivus. Through Kivu VC, USAID will help to lead the revitalization of the coffee sector in the eastern DRC.

The Kivu VC contractor will have sole responsibility for coffee value chain development, although complementary FFP and health activities within the same communities will provide the full range of household and community level assistance.

The results framework was developed by the USAID mission to better coordinate agriculture and nutrition programming from the Health, Economic Growth, Food for Peace and humanitarian assistance sectors to address the shared goal of reducing poverty and malnutrition. The framework shows what each specific program contributes to achieving the overall goal and how the programs will interlink.

Although difficult to predict due to the nature of the programming, the framework also identifies possible contributions from USAID humanitarian assistance programs.

Purpose of Kivu VC

Kivu VC is closely aligned with USAID/DRC’s CDCS. Kivu VC contributes to TO 3:

“Foundation for durable peace strengthened in eastern DRC” by reducing extreme poverty and malnutrition in targeted populations of South Kivu. The resulting economic prosperity and enhanced health are central aspects of a foundation for durable peace. As one of three co-designed and co-located activities, Kivu VC has a specific role in reducing poverty and malnutrition. The purpose of Kivu VC is to increase household incomes and access to nutrient rich crops by linking small-holder farmers to strengthened and inclusive value chains and supportive market services. Kivu VC interventions build on those of complementary Food for Peace and health activities, so that together they reduce poverty and malnutrition.

As identified in the “Kivu Agriculture and Nutrition Shared Results Framework,” Kivu VC interventions contribute to all three project-level IRs, with particular emphasis on IR 2:

“Expanded markets and trade.” The shared results framework also includes a cross-cutting IR on gender equity and women’s empowerment and is framed within the need for conflict sensitivity and the TO’s emphasis on enhancing resiliency. In partnership with other co-located USAID activities, Kivu VC will build the capacity and resiliency of vulnerable populations and of other value chain actors to respond to shocks and stresses, and to take advantage of economic opportunities. Kivu VC will also contribute to mitigating conflict and empowering women, essential components of a foundation for durable peace.

Geographic scope

This contract will be implemented in South Kivu, with particular focus on the territories of Kabare, Kalehe, and Walungu. Determination of the final geographic locations will be made jointly by the Kivu VC Contracting Officer’s Representative and the FFP DFAP Agreement Officer’s Representative. USAID may direct the contractor to work in other parts of the TO 3 region, which includes South Kivu, North Kivu, Maniema, Tanganika, and Ituri. Unless otherwise directed by USAID, the main project office must be located in Bukavu.

TO 3 collaborative implementation mechanism

USAID is committed to obtaining local government input and buy-in for Mission activities, coordinating implementing partners for greater efficiency and effectiveness, and measuring high-level indicators in an effort to test the Mission hypothesis that:

“When interventions better focus resources, leverage cross-sector and geographic synergies, build the capability of local institutions to deliver services to the Congolese people, and empower citizens to engage with governments on their needs, then there will be a transformation of the citizen-state relationship and improved, sustainable delivery of services that improve lives in the long-term.”

USAID’s success in achieving its CDCS objectives will be dependent on field-level collaboration and coordination. To facilitate coordination within the geographic scope of TO 3, USAID has put a provincial-level coordination system in place to facilitate communication and coordination between implementing partners, local governments, and to some extent other donor partners. The Contractor is required to participate in the provincial coordination system.

Through this provincial coordination system, USAID will convene quarterly TO 3 meetings, held in either Goma or Bukavu, attended by all USAID implementing partners and provincial government authorities. Senior implementing partner representation will be required. All USAID partners will prepare summary annual work plans and bi-annual summary reports in French to be shared with provincial authorities. Coordination among USAID partners will include annual work plan development among USAID implementing partners that share common objectives; geographic overlap of multiple USAID implementers; establishment of joint mechanisms for coordination and dialogue with Congolese government, civil society and citizen stakeholders; and joint performance planning.

In accordance with the provincial USAID partner work plan coordination mechanisms mentioned above, the Contractor, the FFP implementer, and the Health implementer will coordinate work plan development and implementation to identify and leverage their respective activities in line with the shared results framework. As explained further in Section F of this contract, USAID intends that the FFP DFAP and this activity share common dates to submit annual work plans and periodic reports to USAID.

Kivu VC, the FFP DFAP, and the health activity will each have its own indicators, targets, and expected results in their respective Activity Monitoring and Evaluation Plans. To the extent practicable and appropriate to the respective activities, USAID expects contractors and partners to measure progress with identical indicators. USAID will independently assess progress toward achieving the shared results by commissioning a third-party baseline survey for the shared areas of geographic focus, followed by independent third party mid-term and final evaluations. USAID intends to complete the baseline within the first year of implementation.

Within the TO 3 geographic area, the contractor must also coordinate with USAID peace building, conflict resolution, gender, livelihoods, research and analysis, governance, and environment activities.

In particular, USAID intends to launch a new Integrated Governance Activity that will, among other objectives, enhance local government accountability to citizens for service delivery in exchange for rationalized local taxation. The activity will also tackle local corruption, development planning, and budgetary management. These areas of focus are clearly complementary to Kivu VC as they can directly influence the business environment for investment. The Contractor must engage with the governance activity implementer to identify topics and issues of shared interest, avoid duplication, and implement complementary interventions.

USAID’s Central Africa Regional Program for the Environment (CARPE) is also active in the TO 3 region. This program supports landscape management and conservation of forests and biodiversity in and around national conservation areas. Agricultural activities, including coffee farming funded by USAID, occur on the borders of the park, and can sometimes contribute to deforestation and biodiversity loss. The Contractor must coordinate with relevant CARPE partners to avoid duplicative activities and implement interventions that help to conserve forest cover and biodiversity.

Cross-cutting priorities The approach taken by Kivu VC is fundamentally informed by a number of cross-cutting priorities, namely: conflict sensitivity and resiliency, Feed the Future goals, gender, climate-smart agriculture, value chain and market systems development, and sustainability and local systems strengthening.

Conflict sensitivity and resiliency: The Contractor must follow a conflict-sensitive approach that avoids doing harm and reinforces social and economic factors that underlie a more peaceful economy and society. The Contractor must assume that shocks, stresses or opportunities will occur, be they environmental, social, or economic, and build resilient value chains and market systems that can respond appropriately. Working together with FFP and other partners, the Contractor must contribute to building the capacity of value chain actors to weather these shocks or stresses, while working with local institutions to strengthen supportive services and a regulatory environment that can respond appropriately to market opportunities.

Feed the Future goals: As a Feed the Future aligned country, USAID/DRC’s agriculture activities are designed to follow the principles and approaches of Feed the Future, and seek the same goals. Feed the Future calls for government commitment to create an enabling environment for agriculture. Feed the Future emphasizes private investment as the engine of growth, and seeks to link farmers to markets. Feed the Future technical approaches must be climate-smart.

Feed the Future places considerable emphasis on nutrition and linking nutrition to agricultural development. Finally, Feed the Future has a strong commitment to empowering women. The Contractor must implement a program that is aligned with Feed the Future principles and contributes to Feed the Future goals. For further information see the Feed the Future Guide, particularly pages 9-14. http://feedthefuture.gov/sites/default/files/resource/files/FTF_Guide.pdf.

Gender: Gender issues are central to the achievement of USAID’s strategic plans and Development Objectives, and the Agency strives to promote gender equality, in which both men and women have equal opportunity to benefit from and contribute to economic, social, cultural and political development; enjoy socially valued resources and rewards; and realize their human rights.

The contractor will follow the recommendations of USAID/DRC’s Gender Assessment and will specify how the activity will reach and train both men and women during the activity and analyze and mitigate for gender negative impacts. An additional resource is the 2012 report on gender considerations in agriculture, published by the International Food Policy Research Institute

(IFPRI).

For monitoring and evaluation purposes, gender must be taken into consideration. The contractor will be required to specify in its annual work-plans, those activities that are intended to benefit female beneficiaries. The implementer will also be required to disaggregate beneficiaries by sex.

As part of the proposal submission, offerors must provide USAID with an outline of potential gender issues that might be encountered during the implementation of this program, and explain how these issues will be addressed during the course of the Kivu activity. Following current guidelines of the Mission’s gender analysis, the implementer shall ensure that gender issues are suitably integrated into various program components and shall undertake specific efforts to ensure that activities do not discriminate against or disproportionally benefit either gender.

Climate-smart agriculture: In accordance with the Executive Order on Climate-Resilient International Development, the contractor must promote agricultural and business practices that incorporate adaptations to immediate and long-term climate variability and change, reduce deforestation and forest degradation pressures, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Value chain and market systems development: The Contractor must use established best practices for value chain and market systems development. Interventions must be designed to address key constraints or opportunities to support greater efficiencies and market access. By the end of the activity, improvements to the value chains and market systems should be self-sustaining and key market actors should have the capacity to continue self-improvement with minimal further support.

Sustainability and local systems strengthening: Sustainability of results is central to Kivu VC.

All activities and approaches must be designed and implemented to maximize the potential of sustained results after project closeout, including consideration of the principles and best practices for strengthening local systems.

Coordination with other donor activities

There are many donors and international organizations active in agriculture and value chain development in eastern DRC, among them the U.K. Department for International Development, the Belgian Embassy, the African Development Bank, the World Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the Norwegian Embassy.

The Contractor must, in close coordination with USAID, collaborate with other relevant donor-funded activities working on similar issues or in common geographic regions.

C.3. STATEMENT OF WORK

Build capacity of vertical and horizontal actors in targeted value chains Under this component the Contractor must provide assistance to increase the competitiveness of key actors in vertical and horizontal value chains to create greater demand for, and facilitate production, processing and sale of, crops targeted by this activity. In addition, assistance under this component will enhance coordination within value chains, including access to market information, and build coalitions to support market reforms.

Vertical actors and relationships - The objective of providing assistance to vertical actors is to increase sustainable demand and access to markets for crops targeted by this activity. Examples of vertical actors include, but are not limited to, lead farmers; farmer cooperatives; value-added processors; consolidators; traders; exporters; and other buying agents. Coffee cooperatives existing or formed to benefit coffee producers in Component 3 will be specifically supported under this component. Direct beneficiaries will be private enterprises and/or entrepreneurs that are willing and capable to expand and/or upgrade their operations to address domestic, regional or international market opportunities. Under this component the Contractor will specifically develop and promote linkages for beneficiaries of the FFP DFAP that are able to sell into targeted value chains. Additionally, other agricultural producers in the geographically targeted region of this activity will benefit from the improved competitiveness of targeted vertical actors.

Horizontal actors and relationships - The objective of providing assistance to horizontal actors is to increase sustainable demand for, capacity of, and access to value chain-supporting products and services. Examples of horizontal actors include, but are not limited to, seed and seedling producers; agricultural input and equipment dealers; transportation companies; packaging manufacturers; standards laboratories; drying, cleaning, sorting facilities; storage service facilities; technical or consulting agencies; financial services providers; market information providers; technology developers; and government entities. Direct beneficiaries will be enterprises or institutions that are willing and capable to expand and/or upgrade their operations to increase demand for, and deliver to market, supportive products and services. Where the FFP DFAP is active in supportive markets, such as seed production or fertilizer provision, the Contractor will develop a joint strategy with the FFP implementer to ensure complementarity of interventions. Under this component the Contractor will specifically develop and promote outreach to and access for beneficiaries of the FFP DFAP so they are able to take advantage of products and services offered by horizontal actors. Additionally, other agricultural producers in the geographically targeted region of this activity will benefit from the improved competitiveness of targeted horizontal actors.

Enhance coffee production The Contractor must provide TA assistance to coffee producers is to develop their capacity to consistently produce and deliver coffee that is compliant with demands and requirements of vertical actors and/or end markets. Direct beneficiaries will be small-holder coffee producers who are willing and capable to implement improved production and post-harvest handling practices to satisfy competitive market signals.

Develop and implement public private partnerships

The Contractor will implement in public private partnerships with enterprises operating in North and/or South Kivu. The objective of investing in public private partnerships is to leverage private sector funds to expand agriculture-related or other non-mining livelihood development opportunities. For example, USAID has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Banro to jointly fund a variety of development activities. Partnership activities will primarily focus on targeted value chains, but at USAID’s direction the Contractor will develop other livelihoods or crops. The FFP DFAP activity will not participate in mining sector partnerships.

Enhance access to commercial finance, including through technical assistance to implement DCA agreements The Contractor will partner with financial institutions operating in the project area to facilitate access to finance by value chain actors. USAID is negotiating DCA loan guarantees with financial institutions that operate in the Kivus. The Contractor will provide technical assistance to these DCA partner financial institutions. As identified through capacity needs assessments, the Contractor will build the capacity of value chain actors to apply for loan products.

Expected results

The Contractor must achieve the following results related to farmer income, crop productivity and sales, organizational capacity, and enabling environment:

• At least 60,000 households have access to improved agricultural inputs and market systems. Of these, at least 45,000 must also be receiving assistance from Food for Peace DFAP activities.

• At least 15,000 households realize a minimum of a 30% increase in agricultural productivity of export crops.

• At least 15,000 households have sustained increases of at least $125 in annual income from agricultural export commodities.

• At least 2,000 additional seasonal worker positions created compared to the baseline year.

• There are year-on-year increases in specialty coffee exports sourced from small-holder farmers, with at least 50 containers of specialty coffee exported in the final year.

• At least 15,000 farmers or other value chain actors implement climate-smart practices.

• At least 10 farmer cooperatives operate on a sustainable basis and are perceived by at least 75% of their members as providing valued benefits.

• At least 20 farmer or value chain associations/organizations implement conflict resolution practices, including functioning systems of internal recourse and linkages to existing community Peace Committees.

• At least 20 farmer or value chain associations/organizations/businesses implement gender and nutrition strategies that include behavior change communication interventions to reach at least 15,000 households with messaging on nutrition, gender equality, and women’s empowerment.

• At least double the numbers of women are in leadership positions across organizations receiving assistance compared to the baseline year.

• Self-sustaining market information system established.

Offerors may propose additional or alternative indicators they believe may better reflect how to measure progress toward achievement of the activity objectives.

C.4. ILLUSTRATIVE DRAFT ACTIVITY MONITORING AND EVALUATION PLAN FOR

PROPOSAL

In the proposal, the offeror must include an illustrative Draft Activity Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (AMEP) that describes how performance will be monitored. This activity contributes to Transition Objective 3 of the mission Performance Management Plan (PMP).

The contractor must include at a minimum the following indicators contributing to the Mission Performance Management Plan:

• Number of farmers who have applied improved technologies or management practices with USG assistance

For additional information on Feed the…