SOL-664-17-000001_BRCP_II.pdf

SOL-664-17-000001

SOLICITATION, OFFER AND AWARD

4. TYPE OF SOLICITATION2. CONTRACT NUMBER 3. SOLICITATION NUMBER

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

ORDER UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700)

6. REQUISITION/PURCHASE NUMBER

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

NEGOTIATED (RFP)

SEALED BID (IFB)

5. DATE ISSUED

1. THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED RATING PAGE OF PAGES

1 73

C. E-MAIL ADDRESS

EXT.NUMBERAREA CODE

B. TELEPHONE (NO COLLECT CALLS)A. NAME

10. FOR

INFORMATION

CALL:

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.

(Date)(Hour) local timeuntildepository located in copies for furnishing the supplies or services in the Schedule will be received at the place specified in Item 8, or if hand carried, in the

SOLICITATION

9. Sealed offers in original and

PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

INSTRS., CONDS., AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

CONTRACT CLAUSES

PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACH.

I

J

K

L

M SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

PACKAGING AND MARKING

DESCRIPTION/SPECS./WORK STATEMENT

SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSESPART I - THE SCHEDULE

H

G

F

E

D

C

B

A

SEC. DESCRIPTION PAGE(S) (X) DESCRIPTION SEC. (X)

11. TABLE OF CONTENTS

18. OFFER DATE17. SIGNATURE

SUCH ADDRESS IN SCHEDULE.

IS DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE - ENTER

15C. CHECK IF REMITTANCE ADDRESS

EXT.NUMBERAREA CODE

15B. TELEPHONE NUMBER

(Type or print)AND

ADDRESS

OF

OFFEROR

CODE FACILITY

16. NAME AND TITLE OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO SIGN OFFER15A. NAME

DATEAMENDMENT NO.DATEAMENDMENT NO.

and related documents numbered and dated):

amendments to the SOLICITATION for offerors

(The offeror acknowledges receipt of

14. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF AMENDMENTS

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

(See Section I, Clause No. 52.232.8)

13. DISCOUNT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT

designated point(s), within the time specified in the schedule.

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

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

NOTE: Item 12 does not apply if the solicitation includes the provisions at 52.214-16, Minimum Bid Acceptance Period.

OFFER (Must be fully completed by offeror)

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

28. AWARD DATE

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

27. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

25. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY

26. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

CODE 24. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 7)

ITEM

(4 copies unless otherwise specified)

23. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN

41 U.S.C. 253 (c) ( 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c) (

22. AUTHORITY FOR USING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION:

21. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION20. AMOUNT19. ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS NUMBERED

AWARD (To be completed by government)

CODE

REQ-664-17-00000101/09/2017

X

1000 I 02/27/2017

Seilkhan Yeleussizov syeleussizov@usaid.gov

TBD

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

PAGE(S)

Doanh Van

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

Previous edition is unusable

STANDARD FORM 33 (Rev. 9-97)

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

1-2 8-9

10-17 18-19 21-30 31-34 34-44

45-49

51-58

59-69

70-73

ITEM NO. SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

NAME OF OFFEROR OR CONTRACTOR

2 73

CONTINUATION SHEET

REFERENCE NO. OF DOCUMENT BEING CONTINUED PAGE OF

SOL-664-17-000001

(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F)

0001 Tunisia Business Reform and Competitiveness Project II (BRCP II)

OPTIONAL FORM 336 (4-86)

Sponsored by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.110

NSN 7540-01-152-8067

Issue Date: January 09, 2017 Questions Due: January 24, 2017, 10:00 am Frankfurt Time Closing Date: February 27, 2017, 10:00 am Frankfurt Time

SUBJECT: Request for Proposals (RFP) RFP No.: SOL-664-17-000001 Tunisia Business Reform and Competitiveness Project II”

To All Potential Offerors:

The United States Government, represented by the United States Agency for International Development Mission to Tunisia (USAID), is seeking proposals from qualified organizations to implement a project entitled “Tunisia Business Reform and Competitiveness Project II” (BRCP II) as detailed in Section C.

USAID anticipates awarding a cost plus fixed-fee term-type contract as a result of this solicitation, covering an estimated period of five years, comprised of a three year base period and a two-year option.

The NAICS code is 541990. The authorized Geographic Code is 937.

This procurement will be conducted under full and open competition procedures, pursuant to Part 15 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) (48 CFR Chapter 1). All types of organizations are eligible to compete. If your organization decides to submit a proposal in response to this solicitation, it must be submitted in accordance with Section L of this RFP. Offerors must also carefully review Section M - Evaluation Factors for Award. Sections B through I of the solicitation will become a substantive part of the anticipated contract with blanks to be completed by the Contracting Officer upon award. Section K - Representations, Certifications and Acknowledgements must be filled out in full by the Offerors.

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

Offerors can register and use the Interested Vendor List (IVL) on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website, so that firms can contact one another for consideration of teaming arrangements and/or small business subcontracting opportunities in response to this solicitation.

Questions and comments related to this RFP must be submitted electronically to the attention of Mr.

Seilkhan Yeleussizov at TunisiaSolicitations@usaid.gov no later than January 24, 2017, 10:00 am Frankfurt Time using the following format for the email subject line: “SOL-664-17-000001, Tunisia Business Reform and Competitiveness Project II” (BRCP II)– [Name of Organization] Questions/Comments”.

USAID may consolidate and/or not respond to questions/comments and will publicly post all responses as an amendment to this RFP. All amendments to this solicitation will be issued and posted on the FBO website. Offerors are encouraged to check this website (http://www.fbo.gov) periodically.

The Technical and Cost proposals must be separate and must be submitted according to Section L of this RFP. Only electronic proposals will be accepted in response to this RFP. The subject line for Technical and Cost Proposal submissions must follow the following format: “SOL-664-17-000001, Tunisia Business Reform and Competitiveness Project II” (BRCP II) - [Name of Offeror] [Technical/Cost] Proposal, [Email _ of _]”. Proposals must be signed by an official who is authorized to bind the Offeror’s organization.

http://www.fbo.gov/

4 | P a g e

Proposals are due February 27, 2017, 10:00 am Frankfurt Time. Proposals received after the closing date and time will be processed as late and handled in accordance with FAR 15.208

Issuance of this RFP in no way obligates the U.S. Government to award a contract nor does it commit the U.S. Government to pay any costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal.

Furthermore, the Government reserves the right to reject any and all offers, if such action is considered to be in the best interest of the U.S. Government.

Thank you for your interest in USAID programs.

Sincerely, Ms. Doanh Q. Van Contracting Officer USAID/Middle East Regional Platform

5 | P a g e

Contents

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

B.2 COST REIMBURSEMENT CONTRACT TYPE

B.3 TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE AND OBLIGATED AMOUNT

B.4 PRICE/COST SCHEDULE

B.5 FIXED FEE (CPFF)

B.6 INDIRECT COSTS (CPFF)

B.7 COST REIMBURSABLE (CPFF)

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION / SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 PURPOSE

C.2 OBSTACLES AND OPPORTUNITIES

C.3 CORE PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

C.4 GENDER AND SUSTAINABILITY

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 APPROVAL OF COMMUNICATION STRATEGY AND BRANDING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 19

SECTION E – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

SECTION F – DELIVERIES OF PERFORMANCE

F.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

F.2 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

F.3 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

F.4 LEVEL OF EFFORT

F.5 AUTHORIZED WORK DAY / WEEK

F.6 DELIVERABLES AND REQUIRED REPORTING

F.7 KEY PERSONNEL

F.8 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

SECTION G – CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

G.1 CONTRACTING OFFICER'S AUTHORITY

G.2 ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACTING OFFICE

G.3 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR)

G.4 AIDAR 752.7003 DOCUMENTATION FOR PAYMENT (NOV 1998) (CPFF)

G.5 TECHNICAL DIRECTIONS/RELATIONSHIP WITH USAID

6 | P a g e

G.6 PAYING OFFICE

G.7 ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

G.8 CONTRACTOR’S PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT

SECTION H – SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

H.1 INSURANCE AND SERVICES

H.2 AUTHORIZED GEOGRAPHIC CODE

H.3 ADS 548 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENT

H.4 ADS 547 MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES

H.5 FOREIGN GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS TO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

H.6 USAID-FINANCED THIRD-PARTY WEB SITES (AUGUST 2013)

H.7 302.3.5.22 SUBMISSION OF DATASETS TO THE DEVELOPMENT DATA LIBRARY (DDL)

(October 2014)

H.8 ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS SYSTEM

H.9 COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 508 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973, AS AMENDED

H.10 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE

H.11 752.204-72 ACCESS TO USAID FACILITIES AND USAID'S INFORMATION SYSTEMS (MAY

2016) (DEVIATION NO. M/OAA-DEV-AIDAR-16-2c)

H.12 CLOUD COMPUTING (MAY 2016)

PART II – CONTRACT CLAUSES

SECTION I – CONTRACT CLAUSES

I.1 52.252-2 CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

I.2 AIDAR CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (MAR 2015)

I.3 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

I.4 52.203-99 PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING WITH ENTITIES THAT REQUIRE CERTAIN

INTERNAL CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS (APR 2015) ((DEVIATION 2015-02)

I.5 52-217-9 OPTION TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT (MAR 2000)

I.6 752-229-71 REPORTING OF FOREIGN TAXES (JULY 2007)

I.7 AIDAR 752.7032 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL APPROVAL AND NOTIFICATION

REQUIREMENTS (APR 2014)

PART III – LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS

SECTION J - LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

PART IV – REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

SECTION K – REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER STATEMENTS

K.1 52.204-8 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS (APR 2016)

K.2 52.209-7 INFORMATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (JUL 2013)

K.3 52.222-56 CERTIFICATION REGARDING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS COMPLIANCE PLAN

(MAR 2015)

K.4 52.230-1 COST ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOTICES AND CERTIFICATION (MAY 2012) ..54

K.5 52.230-7 PROPOSAL DISCLOSURE—COST ACCOUNTING PRACTICE CHANGES (APR

2005)

7 | P a g e

K.6 52.203-98 PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING WITH ENTITIES THAT REQUIRE CERTAIN

INTERNAL CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS-REPRESENTATION (APR 2015) (DEVIATION

2015-02)

K.7 INSURANCE - IMMUNITY FROM TORT LIABILITY

K.8 SIGNATURE

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

L.1 52.252-1 SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (FEB 1998)

L.2 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

L.3 752.252-1 - 752.252-1 AIDAR SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY

REFERENCE

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

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

L.6 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

L.7 PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

L.8 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

L.9 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COST PROPOSAL

L.10 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF BRANDING AND MARKING PLANS

SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

M.1 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

M.2 GENERAL AND SOURCE SELECTION INFORMATION

M.3 EVALUATION CRITERIA

M.4 COST PROPOSAL EVALUATION

M.5 DETERMINATION OF THE COMPETITIVE RANGE AND CONTRACT AWARD

M.6 SOURCE SELECTION

8 | P a g e

PART I – THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is to obtain services as described in Section C - Statement of Work.

B.2 COST REIMBURSEMENT CONTRACT TYPE

This is a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) Term contract. For the consideration set forth below, the contractor must provide the deliverables or outputs described in Sections C and F in accordance with the performance standards specified in Section F.

B.3 TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE AND OBLIGATED AMOUNT

(a) The estimated cost for the performance of the work required hereunder, exclusive of fixed fee, if any, for the Base Period is TBD. The fixed fee, if any, for the Base Period is TBD. The estimated cost plus fixed fee, if any, for the Base Period is TBD.

(b) The estimated cost for the performance of the work required hereunder, exclusive of fixed fee, if any, for the Option Period is TBD. The fixed fee, if any, for the Option Period is TBD. The estimated cost plus fixed fee, if any, for the Option Period is TBD.

(c) 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 cannot exceed the aforesaid obligated amount.

(d) Funds obligated hereunder are anticipated to be sufficient through TBD.

B.4 PRICE/COST SCHEDULE

Base Period Option Period Total

a. Direct Costs

b. Indirect Costs

c. Fixed Fee Total Price

B.5 FIXED FEE (CPFF)

Payment of the Fixed Fee will be made in accordance upon receipt of a proper invoice and shall directly correspond to the percentage of allowable costs being paid. In accordance with FAR 52.216-8, Fixed Fee (2011) USAID will withhold 15% of the total fee or $100,000, whichever is less until the required conditions under the referenced clause have been met.

B.6 INDIRECT COSTS (CPFF)

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

Description Rate Base Type Period Indirect Cost X % 1/ 1/ 1/

9 | P a g e

Indirect Cost Y % 2/ 2/ 2/ Indirect Cost Z % 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:

B.7 COST REIMBURSABLE (CPFF)

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

In addition, the requirement and conditions concerning estimated cost and funding apply as detailed in FAR 52.232-22, Limitation of Funds, incorporated by reference in Section I of this contract.

[END OF SECTION B]

10 | P a g e

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION / SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

Tunisia Business Reform and Competitiveness Project II (BRCP II)

C.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of the Tunisia Business Reform and Competitiveness Project II (BRCP II) is to create jobs in Tunisia by providing targeted technical assistance, also called management consulting, to individual firms (hereafter “client firms”), in order to increase that firm’s competitiveness, enabling it to expand and hire additional workers. At the same time, in support of the goal of job creation, the project will assist Tunisia with workforce development and job placement as well as identify and advocate for improvements in Tunisia’s business enabling environment.

The development hypothesis is that political stability will be enhanced by participation in Tunisia’s socio-economic transformation and enabled by increased, inclusive private sector employment, which will result from an increase in demand for skilled labor where skills are matched to market needs.

The theory of change for this activity is that private sector job opportunities have not kept pace with the growing numbers of Tunisians looking for work because of constraints to growth for existing private enterprises. Firms which are able to either grow the demand for their products and services or identify new products, services or markets, will experience a concomitant need to expand their workforce. If this happens on a sufficiently large scale it will help reduce Tunisia’s chronically high unemployment rate.

USAID’s approach is to directly engage in private sector, firm level, demand driven job creation primarily by helping firms grow their businesses. This activity contributes directly to USAID/Tunisia’s Country Development and Cooperation Strategy (CDCS), specifically Development Objective 1 (“Inclusive Private Sector Employment Increased.”)

C.2 OBSTACLES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Tunisia’s political landscape has been in transition since the 2011 Arab Spring. In 2015, a new government began a five-year term with the commitment to improve Tunisia’s security and economic conditions. The Government of Tunisia’s (GoT) National Development Plan identifies employment as one of its three main priorities. Moreover, the World Bank’s Systematic Country Diagnostic identified private sector-driven job creation as a key to reducing poverty.

Historically, Tunisia has suffered high levels of unemployment in the range of 13 percent, but since 2011, unemployment has remained at about 15 percent. Unemployment among college educated youth has remained significantly higher at about 31 percent and rising to as high as 48 percent in the country’s less developed central and southern regions. Consequently, sustainable job growth particularly within the subset of highly educated youth has become a priority challenge for the GOT. High unemployment and widespread joblessness has been an ongoing source of socio-political tension, and played into the hands of extremist political groups, particularly in economically disadvantaged rural regions of Tunisia such as the central and southern regions.

For Tunisia to succeed politically and economically, it must focus on job creation. This will require enabling the private sector to grow the demand for the products and services it already produces or increasing the products they produce to take advantage of emerging markets, and thereby, stimulating job growth.

Despite high unemployment, Tunisia has many advantages that are potential drivers and enablers of stronger economic growth. Tunisia has a vibrant market development tradition and strong geo-locational advantages. Together with its educated human resource base, these factors provide Tunisia with the capacity to respond to private sector growth opportunities. Additionally, job seekers’ existing skills must be adapted to meet today’s labor market demands. Thus, the objective of this activity is to promote private sector firm-level growth that will generate job creation. In support of that goal, BRCP II will also assist Tunisia to develop a more competitive workforce and a business-friendly legal and regulatory environment that supports stronger private sector growth and drives job creation.

11 | P a g e

C.3 CORE PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The primary purpose of BRCP II is job creation, aligning with the newly-adopted USAID CDCS for Tunisia.

BRCP II’s primary approach is to work with private sector firms to identify and overcome specific business constraints to make them more competitive, generate an increased demand for their products and services and lead to new hiring. BRCP II’s second, third, and fourth objectives are subsidiary to the extent they support the primary objective and the overall activity purpose of job creation. The four objectives will be implemented in parallel in a tightly integrated fashion to achieve the purpose of job creation.

Objective 1: Create jobs by increasing the competitiveness of Tunisian client firms

The purpose of Objective 1 is to help selected client firms become more competitive, identify new sources of demand, increase their capacity to meet that demand by, for example, increasing their production, and thereby grow their sources of revenue, which should increase their demand for labor. In this way, expanded private sector activity will lead directly to creating jobs. Many factors are inhibiting the ability of Tunisian firms to grow. Private sector firms often lack a sophisticated understanding of the opportunities and requirements of markets, are inefficient in various ways, are not able to adopt new technologies and techniques to produce goods and services that meet international standards, are not able to adapt or develop the skills needed for global competitiveness, and do not establish relationships with potential buyers and suppliers for long term growth. They may also fail to identify and exploit new or emerging markets outside of their traditional European client base. Technical assistance in these and other areas can identify new markets, demonstrate new practices, technologies, or approaches that will assist the client firms in overcoming these constraints, increasing their competitiveness and allowing them to expand and create jobs.

Access to finance may be a constraint to firm-level growth in Tunisia. The World Bank 2012 Enterprise Study found that 34 percent of Tunisian firms reported access to finance as a major constraint. The report concluded that in general Tunisian banks lack competition which has made them inefficient at channeling resources to the private sector. For example, loans require a great deal of collateral and take a long time to obtain. Tunisian banks need to develop lending programs that precisely define the risk a given loan product presents to the firm enabling them to expand lending to small and medium enterprises. For example, there is an absence in the market of lending instruments able to bridge the financing gap between $50,000 to $200,000 loan principal. This may require reforms such as developing credit reporting facilities, streamlining the loan analysis process, shifting from collateral-based lending to cash flow lending [also called lines of credit] and modernizing risk management procedures. On the private sector side, firms may not be adept at preparing credible business plans to support an application for a bank loan.

The Government of Tunisia during the November 2016 investment conference (www.Tunisia2020.com) has identified nine priority economic sectors to which USAID would at a minimum like to be able to respond to opportunities for the creation of sustainable employment. There is some concern that certain sectors, for example tourism, might not be as sustainable in Tunisia as previously thought due to pressure on limited natural resources such as water. Therefore, while BRCP-I has defined “sustainable” largely in terms of self-sustaining employment opportunities longer than 2-3 years, there is an increasing interest that sustainability incorporate this resource pressure constraint such that the resources required to produce the firm’s products do not exceed the long-term cost of those resources.

Under Objective 1, BRCP II will assist a broad and diverse portfolio of Tunisian enterprises to grow their businesses, and hiring additional staff as necessary. In some cases, this will require referring or assisting client firms for accessing credit from non-project sources.

Illustrative Activities:

● Develop criteria and process for identifying and selecting client firms to receive firm-level technical assistance.

● Through technical assistance, enable firms to grow their businesses and create jobs by, for example, assisting in the identification of new products, services or markets, improving firm competitiveness through manufacturing efficiency (e.g. lean manufacturing).

http://www.tunisia2020.com/

12 | P a g e

● Assist client firms to improve their business operations (i.e., sales, profitability, and market share), maintain high quality products and services, and meet export market requirements.

● Assist client firms to increase their capabilities to access loans or equity investment.

● Assist selected banks to improve lending processes to small and medium enterprises.

● Support client firms, including services firms (e.g. training services) in identifying international markets, exportation business models, new technologies, and partners to increase their productivity and growth

● Analyze constraints to private sector expansion for use in the business enabling environment component.

Expected Results:

● Client firms improved business performance (e.g. increase productivity, improve competitiveness, increase sales) enabling them to add jobs.

● Client firms add permanent jobs attributable to USAID assistance.

● Full-time equivalent jobs created in the base period at least 38,300 full-time equivalents (FTEs).

● Full-time equivalent jobs created in the option period at least 31,700 FTEs.

● Total jobs created, base plus option periods, at least 70,000 FTEs.

● Client firms are able to obtain financing as necessary.

● Tunisians, particularly youth, are aware of the activities of BRCP-II.

● Increased hiring of women by assisted firms measured before any firm-level assistance has been provided and annually thereafter.

A job is defined as one full-time equivalent or 2,000 hours per calendar year. In order to be counted that job must be a net new job which is non-seasonal with the potential to endure beyond three years.

Full-time-equivalent job creation targets (sum of jobs created and jobs matched)

Year (12 month period) Number of FTE jobs

One (1st 12 months) 11,000

Two (2nd 12 months) 13,100

Three (3rd 12 months) 14,200

Option year one (year four, 4th 12 months) 15,300

Option year two (year five. 5th 12 months) 16,400

Five-year total 70,000

Objective 2: Improve the match between skills demanded by the labor market and the training provided by educational institutions.

This objective is to improve the employability and market skills of Tunisian job-seekers as well as improving Tunisian job placement services. Quality educational institutions and modern curricula focused on relevant labor market demands are an absolute prerequisite to advancing Tunisia’s private sector development and inclusive economic growth. Tunisian client firms cannot become more competitive without a skilled workforce. The ability to find and hire employees with relevant skills will enable Tunisian client firms to further expand productivity and grow. In order for that to happen, a virtuous circle reinforcing both the skills firms need and the training students receive at the country’s vocational education institutions must be created.

Various studies indicate that Tunisia’s educational system is not producing graduates with the fundamental skills to perform well in the labor market. The World Bank 2012 Enterprise Study reported that 39 percent of employers identified the quality of workers’ skills as a leading constraint for business. Moreover, 70 percent of employers reported that job-seekers with a professional education (such as an engineer) do not

13 | P a g e actually possess the necessary skills to practice the profession. As such, Tunisia’s labor force is does not have the skills required for work in the private sector.

Thus, there is a great need for curriculum reform in vocational education and academic institutions that will make curriculum much more relevant for employability. Curriculum redesign efforts are already ongoing within the Ministry of Vocational Training and Employment (MVTE) and Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MHESR) to develop new curriculum in labor market skill areas, including private sector skills. However, much more is needed. Major sustainable upgrades in the market-relevance of key curricula must be instituted across a network of universities as well as to Instituts Superieur des Etudes Technologiques (ISETs or Tunisian Higher Institutions of Technological Studies). This corresponds to essentially improving the feedback mechanisms between the demand (labor) market and the supply (education) system, and efficiency may require the enabling of more fully private educational alternatives particularly with regard to vocational education. For Tunisian training systems to meet global standards, they must be exposed to international competition. In this context, export of education and training services is entirely imperiled both as an export industry creating jobs as well as one serving as a strategic support for domestic human resources development.

Career counseling and job placement services are also lacking. There are currently more than thirty career counseling centers in Tunisia, most of which have been recently established through universities. This network of centers should be expanded in key faculties across the university network and centers should also network with local employers for more efficient information-sharing. These centers must also feed back into the curriculum development areas of the university or institute.

In addition, reform of regulatory guidelines on curricula reform are needed that will create greater flexibility for academic institutions to adopt market-relevant training and educational programs. Tunisia needs to strengthen the ability of universities to allocate space, equipment, and staffing that will enable curriculum reform and more modern and efficient operations. This may require the establishment of centers of excellence in teaching and administration and providing timely feedback to administrators and teachers on the value of their performance and programs. Some form of pay-at-risk in the scorecards particularly of educational administration may also be important.

Illustrative Activities:

● Identify major educational/workforce skill shortfall areas and assist vocational, technical, and higher education institutions to develop new curricula to address prioritized deficiencies.

● Develop processes for institutions to learn from the activities of their career counseling centers both in placing students but also in creating curricula which make students more valuable to employers.

● Assist in establishing additional career counseling centers and in upgrading existing career counseling centers that will serve all regions and ensure that these centers are efficiently providing career counseling and other relevant services to job-seekers.

● Provide recommendations on regulatory reforms that will enable public and private higher education institutions to operate effectively and efficiently.

● Assist programs in reaching a capacity to offer programs which could achieve some level of foreign or international accreditation.

● Measure the quality of match between trade school graduates and employer expectations/needs.

● Report on educational metrics which emphasize employment and employ-ability of graduates such as (a) percentage of graduates with a full time job 30, 60, 90, 180, and 365 days after graduation, (b) percentage of graduates employed in their area of study or a closely allied area.

Expected Results - Base Period:

● With documented input from the GoT and private-sector counterparts, develop a plan for achieving high priority curricula reforms and changes to legal/regulatory regime to support job growth.

● Strengthen feedback mechanisms between what private employers need and the students schools produce (i.e., which feed back into the curriculum development process as well as the job placement process).

14 | P a g e

● Sufficient public or private institutions are established to provide effective job matching and career development services across all regions of Tunisia as evidenced by job matching no longer being a bottleneck for finding employment.

● Job placement services effectively link job-seekers with appropriate jobs.

● Vocational education institutions provide technical training that is based on sound projections of market demand – clear link established between private sector job demand and vocational training center’s curriculum development and job placement services.

● Tunisians, particularly youth, are aware of the job related services being provided and USAID’s role in their provision (percentage over baseline).

● Tunisians are aware of efforts at improving job placement and training related services (percentage over baseline).

● Report “Financing facilitated for assisted firms (in local currency and USD)”

● Report on the barriers to finance encountered during the program as a sub-chapter in the Periodic

Assessment of Business Enabling Environment.

Expected Results - Option Period:

● Support advocacy and capacity building that could allow major curricula reforms geared toward private sector skills and/or broader implementation

● Continued growth and effectiveness of public or private career counseling centers across all regions of Tunisia

● Support adoption of a legal/regulatory regime which enables academic institutions to effectively allocate space, equipment and staff for better educational results and employment outcomes

● Expanded awareness of the new or improved job placement activities (percentage over baseline).

● Elevated prestige of training and placement services end product (e.g. degree, certifications, movement in ranking, increasing in hiring over baseline).

● Report “Financing facilitated for assisted firms (in local currency and USD)”

● Report on the barriers to finance encountered during the program as a sub-chapter in the Periodic

Assessment of Business Enabling Environment.

Objective 3: Improve Tunisia’s business enabling environment

The purpose of this objective is to improve the business enabling environment in Tunisia in selected areas, enabling the Tunisian private sector to expand, become more productive and competitive, and create jobs.

In the World Bank Doing Business Report (2017), Tunisia ranks 77th out of 189 countries reported with ranks ranging from 40 (getting electricity) to as high as 118 (protecting minority investors). This ranking indicates that Tunisia still has room for a great deal of improvement in its business enabling environment.

The decrease in “Starting a Business” from 91st to 103rd suggests that to the extent starting a business leads to employment growth, the needle is moving in the wrong direction, and protecting minority investors will be crucial in attracting foreign direct investment. Similarly, “Paying Taxes” fell from 103rd to 106th suggests a narrowing of the tax base, which puts at risk government services, but also points out a major issue in Tunisia – Public Finance and specifically the relationship between revenue and expense reform in the public sector and its impact on the private sector.

Current policies and laws that are not business-friendly inhibit the growth of Tunisia’s private sector and impede job creation. In collaboration with the GoT, key constraints to growth and windows of opportunity for reform must be identified, prioritized, and targeted for reform with the objective of facilitating the creation of and capitalization on business opportunities by streamlining the legal structures around establishing and operating a legitimate commercial enterprise. Economic regulation should consist of only that necessary to ensure public safety, social cohesion and promote competitive markets.

Potential areas of assistance include business legal and regulatory environment related reforms within the priorities of the GoT’s five year plan, annex 1, annex 2 and annex 3 including; for example, creation of a one-stop-shop regime to improve business registration and investor access to Tunisia, e-commerce, telecommunications, fiscal and macro policy, labor policy reform, access to finance, investments, and trade in the private sectors, and revenue and expenditure reform in the public sector.

15 | P a g e

Illustrative Activities:

● Based on the portal of business regulations developed for the Joint Economic Commission, lead a process of business process rationalization and optimization.

● Periodically, analyze business enabling environment based on problems encountered with assisted firms and independent research to determine possible reforms and bottlenecks to doing business as a means of prioritizing reforms along with consulting with the GoT and local business groups.

● Compiling a list of sector specific impediments to export/imports from the work under objectives one and two for coordinated action.

● Assist with drafting policy, legal and regulatory reforms.

● Assist in establishing streamlined (i.e. a one-stop shop) regimes for entrepreneurs and investors interested in investing in Tunisia and to improve the ease of doing business in Tunisia.

● Assist client firms to participate in the business environment policy-making process.

● Public outreach and advocacy as related to business enabling environment reforms.

● Assist in the establishment of integrated databases for use within the government (local, governorate, national) to enhance administrative simplicity (e.g. collecting taxes, regulatory enforcement, business licenses, etc.).

● Working with the requisite ministries on the reform of and issues related to revenue collection and expenditure management illustrated by but not limited to tax rationalization, customs system reform, identification and removal of non-tariff barriers as appropriate, systems support for financial management in government operations, etc. an illustrative result could be “establishing a simplified business tax schedule and payment regime”.

● Tunisians, particularly youth and businesses, are made aware of the activities of BRCP-II in this arena through a concerted, cross-cutting media campaign.

Expected Results - Base Period:

● Periodic assessment of priority business enabling environment reforms needed in Tunisia, including collaboration with the Tunisian government and the private sector.

● Priority business enabling environment reforms identified and initiated to the extent possible.

● Initiated business enabling environment reforms along the critical path (i.e. bottlenecks).

● Businesses and public have better understanding of importance of reforms.

● Employment related reforms accelerated through niche support of the GoT reform requests to multiple partner groups.

Expected Results - Option Period

● Advice, advocacy training, and/or other support provided for priority policy reforms to advance toward adoption and/or implementation.

● Public awareness of and support for necessary reforms expanded and increased.

● Continued support and advocacy for rationalization of business regulations and improvements in the business enabling environment (e.g. implementation of one-stop-shop for investment and business registration).

Objective 4: Communicate the initiatives and impacts of BRCP-II specifically related to job creation widely with a particular focus on youth (15-35 y.o.).

This objective will involve grassroots outreach to Tunisian youth with a purpose of providing hope that employment is available, changing attitudes about employment in the private sector (since many Tunisian youth only seek public sector employment), addressing perceptions of youth marginalization and youth exclusion, addressing unmet expectations, addressing perceptions about lack of efficacy in GOT programs. This objective offers the GOT a means by which it can collaborate with international partners to help address youth employment and inform youth about options for obtaining skills and jobs.

16 | P a g e

Outreach to a diverse group of job-seekers that consists of powerful presentations of real-life stories that inform, motivate, and drive positive behavioral change can be a powerful driver that produces positive changes in youth attitudes toward finding employment.

Illustrative activities:

● Creation of content such as youth testimonials about obtaining job skills, jobs, and job satisfaction that will be primarily appropriate for social media, but potentially also for use in TV, social media (such as YouTube), mobile channels, etc.

● Creation of benchmarks of youth attitudes, by geographic area, for topics such as perceived youth marginalization and exclusion, unmet youth expectations around economic expectations, and perceptions of injustice to youth as a result of government ineffectiveness, etc.

● Establishment of network “commercials” for air on TV, radio, social media, or on-line channels such as “YouTube”, etc. to highlight USAID work in Tunisia as well as the accomplishments of the program.

Expected results - Base Period:

● Increased awareness by Tunisian youth of advantages of private sector employment (percentage over baseline).

● Increased awareness by Tunisian youth of employment opportunities or entrepreneurial opportunities (percentage over baseline).

● Increased awareness by Tunisian youth of how to obtain marketable skill sets (percentage over baseline).

● Increased awareness by Tunisian youth of effectiveness of GoT programs (percentage over baseline).

● Tunisian businesses are aware of reforms to the enabling environment (percentage over baseline).

● Tunisians are aware BRCP-II is supported by the USG and in collaboration with the GoT (percentage over baseline).

Expected Results - Option Period

● Tunisian youth -- including project non-participants -- have increased positive attitudes toward the efforts of BRCP-II and the GoT to buoy private sector employment (percentage over baseline).

● Tunisian youth -- including project non-participants -- have increased positive attitudes toward the efforts of BRCP-II and the GoT to improve the effectiveness of career development and employment services (percentage over baseline).

C.4 GENDER AND SUSTAINABILITY

Gender aspects and implications of specific interventions, including opportunities to reduce gender-related biases or risks must be considered. Opportunities to promote the equitable professional development of women in assisted client firms and GoT institutions must be sought. BRCP-II will promote growth in dynamic sectors, promoting the hiring of women among client firms but also being aware of those sectors which are both dynamic and tend to employ women disproportionately. Data collected for monitoring and evaluation purposes shall be sex-disaggregated and surveys and other monitoring and evaluation tools shall include questions to elicit information that allows differentiation of impacts based on gender.

Sustainability is integral to BRCP II. In particular, when working with GoT institutions, reforms must command a sufficiently broad constituency to hold up through changes in administration. Approaches to implementation should be sufficiently flexible to adapt to changes in priorities or leadership within key institutions. Moreover, avenues must be sought to ensure sustainability of approaches to making Tunisian private sector firms competitive after this project ends. Jobs created under BRCP-II are defined as sustainable only if the resources required to pay salaries and benefits are derived from normal market processes and not transfers from government or non-profit actors.

The business consulting services provided by BRCP-II are presently available via other market participants. Therefore, at the conclusion of BRCP-II, the contractor will provide a sustainability plan which will among other things provide an analysis exploring the question of why the typical client firm does not avail itself of these services, such as, market information asymmetries, clearing price issues, principal-

17 | P a g e agent problems, low-trust, etc., and thereby explore the possibility of spinning-off the program into a for-profit firm.

[END OF SECTION C]

18 | P a g e

SECTION D – PACKAGING AND MARKING

D.1 AIDAR 752.7009 MARKING (JAN 1993)

(a) It is USAID policy that USAID-financed commodities and shipping containers, and project construction sites and other project locations be suitably marked with the USAID emblem. Shipping containers are also to be marked with the last five digits of the USAID financing document number. As a general rule, marking is not required for raw materials shipped in bulk (such as coal, grain, etc.), or for semi-finished products which are not packaged.

(b) Specific guidance on marking requirements should be obtained prior to procurement of commodities to be shipped, and as early as possible for project construction sites and other project locations. This guidance will be provided through the contracting officer’s technical representative (COTR) indicated on the cover page of this Order, or by the Mission Director in the Cooperating Country to which commodities are being shipped, or in which the project site is located.

(c) Authority to waive marking requirements is vested with the Regional Assistant Administrators, and with Mission Directors.

(d) A copy of any specific marking instructions or waivers from marking requirements is to be sent to the Contracting Officer; the original should be retained by the contractor.

D.2 BRANDING AND MARKING POLICY

All USAID-funded foreign assistance (including programs, projects, activities, public communications, or commodities) must be communicated, promoted, and marked as coming from the American People through USAID. Specific communications and promotion measures must be described in the “Branding Strategy” and “Branding Implementation Plan,” and specific marking will be described in the “Marking Plan” for the contract. Branding and marking under this contract must comply with the USAID Automated Directive System Chapter 320 Branding and Marking (ADS 320) at http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/320.pdf.

D.3 BRANDING STRATEGY

The name of the project:

The project name is Tunisia Business Reform and Competitiveness Project II (BRCP II)

Translations to other applicable languages must be proposed by the contractor and approved by USAID as part of the Branding Implementation Plan.

Branding: How the USAID logo will be positioned on materials and communications: All USAID logos on materials and communications produced under this contract must be positioned in accordance with the standardized USAID regulations on branding. The Contractor must use full branding and the USAID tagline “From the American People” on materials and communications, which may be translated into local languages as appropriate. Co-branding and no branding must only be considered on a case-by-case basis as considered appropriate by the Contracting Officer (CO) and Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). All requests for branding waivers require the approval of the USAID Principal Officer.

Desired level of visibility: The desired level of visibility is high. All branding must comply with the standardized USAID regulations on branding and USAID identity must be prominently displayed on commodities or equipment. In any co-branding approved by the CO and COR, the USAID brand must be at least equal in size and prominence with its partners, and other USG and non-USG entities engaged in a specific activity implemented under this contract, on all public or internal documentation and communications, commodities or equipment, publications, advertising, presentations, studies, reports, websites, brochures, and events.

http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/320.pdf

19 | P a g e

Organizations to be acknowledged: When activities occur in coordination with other USG or non-USG partners, including GOT partners, acknowledgement of the contribution and efforts of these organizations must be included in any relevant public or internal documentation, publications, advertising, presentations, brochures, etc. Project documents must not use the Contractor’s logo, but must acknowledge that the document was prepared for USAID/Tunisia.

Communication Strategy: The Contractor must develop a comprehensive communications strategy for approval by the COR that will shape the internal and external environment and atmosphere in which the activity will operate. The communication messaging will be culturally appropriate and effective to ensure that the target audience, which includes youth (< 36 years old), commercial sector enterprises and the elements in the Government of Tunisia (GoT) responsible for the business enabling environment as appropriate, can easily understand it. The internal strategy will announce the program to major commercial sector actors, the activities’ potential partners, and direct beneficiaries – small and medium size firms with rapid growth potential, business service providers and associations (e.g. Rotary International), financial institutions, etc.; as well as, other USAID and donors’ projects. It will enable the sharing of information and ideas, support interaction and create cohesion among the stakeholders. The external strategy will shape the understanding of external stakeholders, including those who play a crucial role in the development of the Commercial Sector and expanding business opportunities, including access to finance, and relevant civic partners including central and local government, courts, Parliament, religious and community leaders, and the general public. The strategy must focus on encouraging support and linking diverse players as well as minimize possible opposition to the activity’s interventions.

D.4 APPROVAL OF COMMUNICATION STRATEGY AND BRANDING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

The contractor’s Communication Strategy and Branding Implementation Plan and Marking Plan will be finalized and submitted for Contracting Officer approval prior to award. The contractor will follow the approved plan during implementation of this contract unless a waiver is requested and approved.

Guidance applying for waivers can be found at USAID Automated Directive Supplement Chapter 320, Branding and Marking.

[END OF SECTION D]

20 | P…