FRAMP_SOL-669-15-000018.pdf

Issuance Date: June 30, 2015 Questions Due Date/Time: July 21, 2015, 05:00p.m. Monrovia time Anticipated Date of Response to Questions: July 28, 2015 Proposal Due/Closing Date/Time: August 06, 2015, 05:00p.m. Monrovia time

Subject: Request for Proposal (RFP) #SOL-669-15-000018, Feeder Roads Alternative and Maintenance Program (FRAMP)

The United States Government, represented by the U.S Agency for International Development to Liberia (USAID/Liberia), is seeking proposals from qualified organizations to implement a project entitled Feeder Roads Alternative and Maintenance Program (FRAMP) as detailed in Section C.

USAID anticipates awarding a combination of Firm-Fixed Price and Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) type contract as a result of this solicitation, covering a period of four years subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance. Offerors must propose prices and costs that they believe are realistic and reasonable for the work described herein.

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. Offerors are required to complete and return Section K - Representations, Certifications and Acknowledgements in full.

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

The Technical Proposal has a strict 32 page limit. Offerors are advised that any pages exceeding this limit will not be evaluated. Offerors are reminded that the Evaluators must be able to read the proposals, so presentation and legibility are crucial. This is discussed in more detail in Section L.

USAID encourages the participation to the maximum extent possible of small business concerns, small disadvantaged business concerns and women-owned small business concerns in this activity or as a subcontractor in accordance with Part 19 of FAR. USAID also encourages the use of the Interested Vendor List (IVL) on the Federal Business Opportunities website page so that firms can contact one another for consideration of teaming arrangements and/or small business subcontracting opportunities in response to this solicitation. USAID discourages the use of exclusive agreements with international or regional/local organizations as this limits USAID’s ability to receive the best services.

Questions and comments related to this RFP must be submitted electronically no later than the question due date/time stated above to Edward S. Lamin, Acquisition and Assistance Specialist, at elamin@usaid.gov, with copies to the attention of Mary Wambugu, Senior Acquisition and Assistance mailto:elamin@usaid.gov

SOL-669-15-000018 June 30, 2015

REQ-669-15-000032

CALL

SOLICITATION, OFFER

AND AWARD

(Construction, Alteration, or Repair)

1. SOLICITATION NO.

2. TYPE OF SOLICITATION

SEALED BID (IFB)

X NEGOTIATED (RFP)

3. DATE ISSUED

PAGES OF PAGES

IMPORTANT - The "offer" section on the reverse must be fully completed by offeror.

4. CONTRACT NO. 5. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQUEST NO.

6. PROJECT NO.

7. ISSUED BY CODE CT 8. ADDRESS OFFER TO

USAID/Liberia American Embassy 502 Benson Street Monrovia, Liberia

USAID/Liberia American Embassy 502 Benson Street Monrovia, Liberia elamin@usaid.gov

9. FOR INFORMATION

A. NAME

Edward S. Lamin

B. TELEPHONE NO. (Include area code) (NO COLLECT CALLS)

SOLICITATION

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

10. THE GOVERNMENT REQUIRES PERFORMANCE OF THE WORK DESCRIBED IN THESE DOCUMENTS (Title, identifying no., date):

SOL-669-15-000018, Feeder Roads Alternative and Maintenance Program (FRAMP)

The magnitude of construction CLINS 3 and 4 is greater than 10 million.

11. The Contractor shall begin construction within __14___ calendar days and complete it within _365_ calendar days after receiving award, notice to proceed. This performance period is mandatory, negotiable.

12A. THE CONTRACTOR MUST FURNISH ANY REQUIRED PERFORMANCE AND PAYMENT BONDS?

(If "YES," indicate within how many calendar days after award in Item 12B.)

YES NO

12B. CALENDAR DAYS

13. ADDITIONAL SOLICITATION REQUIREMENTS:

A. Offers in to perform the work required are due at the place specified in Cover Letter by__1700___ (hour) local time (date). If this is a sealed bid solicitation, offers must be publicly opened at that time. Sealed envelopes containing offers shall be marked to show the offeror's name and address, the solicitation number, and the date and time offers are due.

B. An offer guarantee is, is not required.

C. All offers are subject to the (1) work requirements, and (2) other provisions and clauses incorporated in the solicitation in full text or by reference.

D. Offers providing less than ___180____ calendar days for Government acceptance after the date offers are due will not be considered and will be rejected.

NSN 7540-01-155-3212 1442-101

STANDARD FORM 1442(REV. 4-85)

Prescribed by GSA FAR(48 CFR) 53.236-1(e)

077 555 0702 / 077 677 7138 mailto:elamin@usaid.gov

OFFER (Must be fully completed by offeror)

14. NAME AND ADDRESS OF OFFEROR (Include ZIP Code) 15. TELEPHONE NO. (Include area code)

16. REMITTANCE ADDRESS (Include only if different than Item 14)

CODE FACILITY CODE

17. The offeror agrees to perform the work required at the prices specified below in strict accordance with the terms of this solicitation, if this offer is accepted by the Government in writing within _________ calendar days after the date offers are due. (Insert any number equal to or greater than the minimum requirement

AMOUNTS

18. The offeror agrees to furnish any required performance and payment bonds.

19. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENTS

(The offeror acknowledges receipt of amendments to the solicitation - give number and date of each)

AMENDMENT NO.

DATE

20A. NAME AND TITLE OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO SIGN OFFER

(Type or print)

20B. SIGNATURE 20C. OFFER DATE

AWARD (To be completed by Government)

21. ITEMS ACCEPTED:

22. AMOUNT

23. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

24. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN

(4 copies unless otherwise specified)

ITEM

25. OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION PURSUANT TO

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

26. ADMINISTERED BY CODE 27. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY

CONTRACTING OFFICER WILL COMPLETE ITEM 28 OR 29 AS APPLICABLE

28. NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT (contractor is required to sign this document and return _______ copies to issuing office.) Contractor agrees to furnish and deliver all items or perform all work, requisitions identified on this form and any continuation sheets for the consideration stated in this contract. The rights and obligations of the parties to this contract shall be governed by (a) this contract award,

(b) the solicitation, and (c) the clauses, representations, certifications, and specifications incorporated by reference in or attached to this contract.

29. AWARD (Contractor is not required to sign this document.) Your offer on this solicitation, is hereby accepted as to the items listed. This award consummates the contract, which consists of (a) the Government solicitation and your offer, and (b) this contract award. No further contractual document is necessary.

30A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTOR OR PERSON AUTHORIZED

TO SIGN (Type or print)

31A. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

30B. SIGNATURE

30C. DATE 31B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

BY

31C. AWARD DATE

STANDARD FORM 1442 BACK (REV. 4-85)

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 Purpose B.2 Contract Type B.3 Contract Ceiling Price/Cost B.4 Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee Services B.5 Fixed Price Construction Services

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 Acronyms C.2 Background C.3 Statement of Work C.3.1 General C.3.2 Objectives C.3.3 General Design Principles C.3.4 Training and Capacity Building C.3.5 Construction Oversight/Capacity Building C.3.6 Maintenance Pilot activities C.3.7 Alternative Low Volume Road Seals (ALVRS) C.4 Tasks, Results and Illustrative Indicators C.4.1 Objective 1 Specific Task, Results, and Illustrative Indicators C.4.2 Objective 2 Specific Task, Results, and Illustrative Indicators C.4.3 Objective 3 Specific Task, Results, and Illustrative Indicators C.4.4 Objective 4 Specific Task, Results, and Illustrative Indicators C.5 Program Reporting and Other Deliverables C.5.1 Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning C.5.2 Annual Work Plans C.5.3 Activity Reports C.5.4 Quarterly Financial Reports C.5.5 Monthly Progress Reports C.6 Public Launching of FRAMP

SECTION D - PACKAGING AND MARKING

D.1. 752.7009 - Marking (Jan 1993) D.2 Branding D.3 Marking and Branding Strategy D.4 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 Monitoring and Evaluation and Performance Standards E.4 Performance Evaluation

SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

F.1 Notice Listing Contract Clauses Incorporated By Reference F.2 FAR 52.211-10 Commencement, Prosecution, and Completion of Work (Apr 1984) F.3 Period of Performance F.4 Place of Performance F.5 Performance Standards F.6 Deliverables Schedule F.7 Key Staff and Qualifications F.7.1 Chief of Party F.7.2 Deputy Chief of Party for Administration and Finance F.7.3 Team Leader, Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building F.7.4 Team Leader, Engineering and Maintenance F.8 Address for Reports F.9 Submission Requirements for Development Experience Documents (Jan 2004)

SECTION G - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

G.1 Administrative Contracting Office G.2 Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)

G.3 Technical Directions/Relationship with USAID G.4 AIDAR 752.7003 Documentation For Payment (Nov 1998) G.5 Paying Office G.6 Accounting and Appropriation Data:

G.7 Modification Authority

SECTION H - SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

H.1 Notice Listing Contract Clauses Incorporated By Reference H.2 AIDAR 752.225-70 Source and Nationality Requirements (Feb 2012)(Class Deviation No.

OAA-DEV-12-01c) H.3 AIDAR 752.228-3 Worker’s Compensation Insurance (Defense Base Act) H.4 AIDAR 752.7004 Emergency Locator Information H.5 AIDAR 752.7032 International Travel Approval And Notification Requirements (April 2014) H.6 ADS 302.3.5.5 Reporting Of Foreign Taxes (July 2007) H.7 ADS 302.3.5.9 Nondiscrimination (June 2012) H.8. ADS 302.3.5.17 Limitation on Subcontracting to Non-Local Entities (May 2012) H.9. ADS 302.3.5.21 USAID Implementing Partner Notices (IPN) Portal for Acquisition (July 2014) H.10. ADS 302.3.5.22 Submission of Datasets to the Development Data Library (DDL) (October 2014) H11 Authorized Geographic Code H.12 Logistic Support H.13 Language Requirements H.14 Executive Orders on Terrorism Financing H.15 USAID Disability Policy (Dec 2004) H.16 Prohibition of Assistance to Drug Traffickers (ADS 206) H.17 Environmental Considerations H.18 Confidentiality and Ownership of Intellectual Property H.19 Disclosure of Information H.20 Gender Reporting H.21 Facilities Used For Religious Activities H.22 Standards for Accessibility for the Disabled in USAID Construction Contracts (July 2007)

SECTION I - CONTRACT CLAUSES

I.1. Notice Listing Contract Clauses Incorporated By Reference I.2 FAR 52.203-13 Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (Apr 2010) I.3 52.203-99 Prohibition on Contracting With Entities That Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements (Apr 2015) (Deviation 2015-02) I.4 FAR 52.222-50 Combating Trafficking In Persons (Feb 2009) I.5 FAR 52.227-4 Patent Indemnity--Construction Contracts (Apr 1984) Alternate I (Apr 1984) I.6 FAR 52.228-1 -- Bid Guarantee (Sep 1996) I.7 52.228-11 -- Pledges of Assets (Jan 2012) I.8 52.228-12 -- Prospective Subcontractor Requests For Bonds (May 2014) I.9 52.228-14 -- Irrevocable Letter Of Credit (NOV 2014) I.10 FAR 52.228-15 Performance and Payment Bonds—Construction (Oct 2010) I.11 FAR 52.229-7 Taxes—Fixed-Price Contracts With Foreign Governments (Feb 2013) I.12 FAR 52.229-8 Taxes -- Foreign Cost-Reimbursement Contracts (Mar 1990) I.13 FAR 52.236-1 Performance of Work by the Contractor (Apr 1984) I.14 FAR 52.236-2 - Differing Site Conditions (Apr 1984) I.15 52.236-3 - Site Investigation and Conditions Affecting the Work (Apr 1984) I.16 FAR 52.236-4 - Physical Data (Apr 1984) I.17 FAR 52.236-5 Material and Workmanship (Apr 1984) I.18 FAR 52.236-6 Superintendence by the Contractor (Apr 1984) I.19 FAR 52.236-7 Permits and Responsibilities (Nov 1991) I.20 FAR 52.236-8 Other Contracts (Apr 1984) I.21 FAR 52.236-9 Protection of Existing Vegetation, Structures, Equipment, Utilities, and Improvements (Apr 1984) I.22 FAR 52.236-10 Operations and Storage Areas (Apr 1984) I.23 FAR 52.236-11 Use and Possession Prior To Completion (Apr 1984) I.24 FAR 52.236-12 Cleaning Up (Apr 1984) I.25 FAR 52.236-13 Accident Prevention (Nov 1991)

I.26 FAR 52.236-15 Schedules For Construction Contracts (Apr 1984) I.27 FAR 52.236-16 Quantity Surveys (Apr 1984) I.28 FAR 52.236-17 Layout of Work (Apr 1984) I.29 FAR 52.236-21 Specifications and Drawings for Construction (Feb 1997) Alternate II (Apr 1984) I.30 FAR 52.236-26 - Preconstruction Conference (Feb 1995) I.31 FAR 52.249-10 Default (Fixed-Price Construction) (Apr 1984) I.32 AIDAR 752.202-1 Definitions Alt 70 Jan 1990 I.33 AIDAR 752.202-1 Definitions Alt 72 (Dec 1986) I.34 AIDAR 752.219-71 Mentor Requirements and Evaluation (July 2007) I.35 AIDAR 752.242-70 Periodic Progress Reports (Oct 2007) I.36 AIDAR 752.7001 Biographical Data (July 1997) I.37 AIDAR 752.7002 Travel and Transportation (Jan 1990) I.38 AIDAR 752.7027 Personnel (Dec 1990) I.39 AIDAR 752.7101 Voluntary Population Planning Activities (June 2008) I.40 AIDAR 752.245-70 Government Property—USAID Reporting Requirements (July 1997) I.41 AIDAR 752.245-71 Title to and Care of Property (APR 1984)

SECTION J - LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

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

OR RESPONDENTS

K.1 Notice Listing Contract Clauses Incorporated By Reference K.2 FAR 52.203-2 Certificate Of Independent Price Determination (Apr 1985) K.3 FAR 52.203-11 Certification and Disclosure Regarding Payments To Influence Certain Federal Transactions (Sept 2007) K.4 Prohibition On Contracting With Entities That Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements- Representation (Apr 2015) (Deviation 2015-02) K.5 FAR 52.204-3 Taxpayer Identification (Oct 1998) K.6 52.204-8 Annual Representations and Certifications (May 2014) K.7 FAR 52.209-5 Certification Regarding Responsibility Matters (Apr 2010) K.8 FAR 52.209-7 Information Regarding Responsibility Matters (Feb 2012) K.9 FAR 52.215-6 Place of Performance (Oct 1997) K.10 FAR 52.222-22 Previous Contracts and Compliance Reports (Feb 1999) K.11 FAR 52.222-38 Compliance with Veteran’s Employment Reporting Requirements (Sep 2010) K.12 FAR 52.223-1 Biobased Product Certification (May 2012) K.13 FAR 52.223-4 Recovered Material Certification (May 2008) K.14 FAR 52.225-20 Prohibition on Conducting Restricted Business Operations In Sudan - Certification (Aug 2009) K.15 FAR 52.225-25 Prohibition on Contracting With Entities Engaging In Sanctioned Activities Relating To Iran – Representation and Certification (Nov 2011) K.16 FAR 52.230-1 Cost Accounting Standards Notices and Certification (May 2012) K.17 FAR 52.230-7 Proposal Disclosure – Cost Accounting Practice Changes (Apr 2005) K.18 ADS 302.3.5.17 Limitation on Subcontracting To Non-Local Entities (May 2012) K.19 FAR 52.236-28 Preparation of Proposals—Construction (Oct 1997) K.20 Agreement On, Or Exceptions To, Terms and Conditions K.21 Signature

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS OR RESPONDENTS

L.1 Notice Listing Contract Clauses Incorporated By Reference L.2 52.216-1 Type of Contract (Apr 1984) L.3 52.233-2 - Service of Protest (Sep 2006) L.4 FAR 52.236-27 - Site Visit Alt I (Construction) (Feb 1995) L.5 AIDAR 752.219-70 USAID Mentor-Protégé Program (July 2007) L.6 General Instructions to Offerors L.7 Delivery Instructions L.8 Instructions for the Preparation of the Technical Proposal L.9 Instructions for the Preparation of the Cost Proposal

SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

M.1 GENERAL INFORMATION

M.2 EVALUATION OF TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

M.2.1. Technical Approach (50 points) M.2.2. Key personnel (20 points) M.2.3. Past performance (25 points) M.2.4. Performance Management Plan (5 points) M.3 Evaluation of Cost/Price Proposals

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 Purpose

The purpose of this contract is for the Contractor to support the government of Liberia to construct, operationalize and implement sustainable routine maintenance systems while piloting alternative low volume sealed road construction techniques through research & development type interventions. This contract will also provide construction oversight to already designed roads as a part of USAID/Liberia overall Farm to Market Road Rehabilitation Program (F2MRR) while providing capacity building to local construction firms, public sector engineers/planners and community based groups to implement routine maintenance programs in Liberia.

The contractor is to provide all resources necessary to provide construction and technical services (labor, materials, equipment, and services) necessary to complete the Feeder Roads Alternative and Maintenance Program (FRAMP) Project as further described in Sections C and J of the solicitation.

B.2 Contract Type

Contract type is a combination of Firm-Fixed Price and Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) Multi-Year Contract. As defined in FAR Subpart 17.103, Multi-year contract means a contract for the purchase of supplies or services for more than 1, but not more than 5, program years. A multi-year contract may provide that performance under the contract during the second and subsequent years of the contract is contingent upon the appropriation of funds. Years three and four for CLINs 001 and 002 (CPFF) are contingent upon the appropriation of funds.

Construction services, CLINs 003 and 004 (FFP) will be based on the prices and quantities indicated on the Bill of Quantities (BOQ).

Contact will be payable entirely in U.S. dollars.

B.3 Contract Ceiling Price/Cost

The Ceiling Price/Cost of this contract is To Be Determined (TBD) (US$) as broken out below.

The maximum dollar value awarded to the contractor cannot exceed the Ceiling Price/Cost. The price/estimated cost and fixed fee for the performance of work required under this contract is:

Ceiling Price Construction:

Estimated Ceiling Cost exclusive of fixed fee:

Ceiling Fixed Fee:

Total Price/Estimated Cost/Fee:

B.4 Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee Services

CLIN # Description Total Estimated

Cost Total Fixed Fee

Total Estimated Cost Plus Fixed Fee

CLIN 001 Contractor shall provide all the resources necessary to develop and operationalized sustainable feeder road maintenance systems consistent with Section C.

CLIN 002 Contractor shall provide all the resources necessary to provide feeder roads construction oversight consistent with Section C

Payment of costs shall be limited to; allowable, 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. Payments will be made in accordance with Section G.5 and FAR 52.232-16 – Progress Payments (APR 2012).

Payment of fixed fee will be made upon receipt of a proper invoice and as provided for in; FAR 52.216-8, Payment of Fixed Fee, and FAR 52.216-7, Allowable Cost and Payment.

In the event that the Government cancels requirements for services in subsequent program years under this contract, the following conditions will apply.

(a) If cancellation under the clause at 52.217-2, ― “Cancellation Under Multi-year Contracts” occurs, the Contractor will be paid a cancellation charge defined as follows:

In accordance with the Cancellation under Multi-year Contracts clause, the cancellation charge will cover only:

(1) Costs-

(i) Incurred by the Contractor and/or subcontractor;

(ii) Reasonably necessary for performance of the contract; and

(iii)That would have been equitably amortized over the entire multi-year contract period but, because of the cancellation, are not so amortized; and

(2) A reasonable profit or fee on the costs.

B.5 Fixed Price Construction Services

Attachments J.8 and J.10 is to be utilized to price CLINs 003 and 004. Payment will be made in accordance with Section G.5, FAR Clauses 52.232-5, Payments under Fixed Price Construction Contracts (MAY 2014) and FAR 52.232-27, Prompt Payment for Construction Contracts (MAY 2014).

Schedule of Construction Services:

CLIN # Description QUANTITY UNIT TOTAL FIXED

PRICE

CLIN 003 The contractor shall provide all the resources necessary to implement Pilot Routine Maintenance and Repair activities on selected roads in the target counties in accordance with Section C and Attachment J, drawings and specifications.

1 LOT

CLIN 004 The contractor shall provide all the resources necessary to construct the ALVRS in accordance with Section C and Attachment J, drawings and specifications

1 LOT

[End of Section B]

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 Acronyms

AFT-Agenda for Transformation ALVRS-Alternative Low Volume Road Seals CBO-Community Based Organizations CDCS-Country Cooperative Development Strategy EMMP-Environmental Mitigation and Management Plan EPA-Environmental Protection Agency ESMMP-Environmental and Social Mitigation and management Plan ESMMR-Environmental and Social Mitigation and Management Report ES3R-Engineering Services for Rural Roads Rehabilitation Project FED-Food and Enterprise Development FRAMP-Feeder Roads Alternative and Maintenance Program FRU-Feeder Roads Unit F2MRR-Farm to Market Road Rehabilitation Project GoL- Government of Liberia GIZ-German Technical Cooperation IIU-Infrastructure Implementation Unit LSFRP-Liberia Swedish Feeder Roads Project ME&L-Monitoring Evaluation and Learning MIA-Ministry of Internal Affairs MOF-Ministry of Finance MOT-Ministry of Transport MPW-Ministry of Public Works MPW-FRU-Ministry of Public Works Feeder Roads Unit NTPS-National Transport Strategy and Policy PEA-Programmatic Environmental Assessment PMP-Project Management Plan PCS-Project Coordination Secretariat RA-Roads Authority RF-Roads Fund RM-Routine/Repair Maintenance RMS-Road Maintenance Strategy RMU-Roads Maintenance Unit SIDA-Swedish International Development Agency TMP-Transport Master Plan USAID-United States Agency for International Development

C.2 Background

Access to markets and basic social services is a key determinant of poverty. Without physical access, rural communities face far greater obstacles in obtaining wealth, health, education, and other social services. In addition, their ability to take advantage of surplus crop production and of employment opportunities is severely constrained. The permanent or seasonal absence of road access in most parts of rural Liberia is a constraining factor in terms of providing rural communities with essential services such as education, primary health care, water supply, local markets and economic opportunities. The availability of such services and opportunities are difficult to sustain without a good quality and well-maintained rural road network.

The rehabilitation of feeder roads in Liberia over the past 10 years has covered about 1,250 kilometers

(km) of feeder roads, 300 km of which were USAID-funded projects between 2005 and 2014. Liberia plans to rehabilitate or construct another 1,200 km of roads over the next five years. Of these rehabilitations, USAID plans to provide funding for about 40 percent of the total. This would amount to approximately $100 million of investments in Liberian feeder roads over a period of 15 years.

About half of this investment stands to be lost if a sustainable, demand-driven, Government of Liberia (GoL) owned Routine/Repair Maintenance (RM) program is not established. The ultimate goal of regular and timely maintenance is to prolong the life of road investments by increasing the amount of time between systematic rehabilitations.

Some major challenges to the success of sustainable GoL owned and driven routine maintenance activities are:

• MPW and local county authorities have not been able to develop the full technical and financial capacity to own and manage RM activities initiated by donor supported projects.

• A sufficient and sustainable institutional and financial management framework to plan, design, procure, manage and fund sustainable routine maintenance activities has not been accomplished.

• The general rural transportation network to a large extent has not been in a maintainable state sufficient to generate national focus to maintenance as compared to rehabilitation efforts.

• Until the adoption of the National Policy on Decentralization, Transport Master Plan and the National Transport Policy and Strategy, there has not been a sufficient national strategic policy direction for the planning and implementation of systematic RM projects.

• The full extent of Liberia rural transport network has not been inventoried and recorded which further constrains national rural transport assets management planning and budgeting efforts.

FRAMP is well aligned with GoL policies including the Agenda for Transformation, Transport Master Plan, The Decentralization Policy and proposed Local Government Act, and also with the USAID Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS).

C.3 Statement of Work

C.3.1 General

The Contractor must achieve the overarching project goal through the implementation of several activities along with the GoL which will develop and operationalize sustainable routine maintenance systems directly implemented at the county and district levels with regulatory and oversight of Central GoL relevant institutions. Through pilot regions established in USAID focus counties Bong, Nimba, Lofa and Grand Bassa, the developed system will be tested.

The Contractor must develop and implement activities which would contribute to the achievement of the following high level results:

• Demonstrate to the GoL that the life cycle cost of roads can be significantly reduced with the implementation of a sustainable RM program and the use of appropriate alternative construction technologies;

• Working with the GoL to explore and insure availability of a dedicated and sustainable funding for rural infrastructure maintenance;

• Maintain all-weather access on piloted rehabilitated roads during the life of the project;

• Provide construction supervision for the rehabilitation for 450 km of farm-to-market roads design and contracted to local firms by USAID during the life of the project;

• Stimulate & strengthen community-based participation & ownership of feeder roads; and

• Increase household income in local communities through paid labor for the implementation of pilot activities in maintenance an alternative low volume road seals construction.

The Contractor must achieve these high level objectives by working through and with the following partners:

• Ministry of Public Works (Rural Development and Highway Engineering Departments);

• Ministry of Finance;

• Ministry of Transport;

• Ministry of Internal affairs;

• Local government (county, district and community based structures);

• Community-based groups (road cooperatives) ;

• Relevant Committee heads from the Senate and House of Representative of Public Works;

• Relevant Civil Society and Media organizations; and

• Other relevant rural infrastructure of decentralization projects

USAID as a part of the broader sustainability plan under FRAMP will execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the GOL prior to the award of FRAMP. This MOU will outline the roles and responsibilities of both the GOL and USAID in the implementation of FRAMP. It is acknowledged that full implementation of the terms and conditions of the MOU by both parties is the basis on which the sustainability of the activity can be assured and any outcome on the contrary reverses the fundamental principle on which FRAMP is designed.

The contractor shall design the formation of a Project Coordination Secretariat (PCS), through coordination with the above mentioned partners, other donors and relevant private sector participants.

The design shall include at minimum, the following:

• Coordinate information sharing, lessons learn, achievements and challenges between all stakeholders;

• Follow up on the implementation of the MOU entered into between USAID and GOL

• Follow up project other inputs vital to the sustainability of the project but not necessarily within the scope of the project;

• Serve as champions for RM propagation within Liberia;

• Support community engagement and public outreach aspects of FRAMP; and

• Provide feedback on project implementation

C.3.2 Objectives

The Contractor must achieve the following objectives:

1. Develop and operationalize sustainable feeder road maintenance systems through county-level systems under national government technical and managerial oversight;

2. Provide construction oversight for 450 km of farm-to-market roads;

3. Through Maintenance systems developed, under Objective 1, pilot RM activities on selected roads in the target counties; and

4. Construct alternative low volume road seals on 50 km of selected roads in the target counties

C.3.3 General Design Principles

The approach is that over the life of the project USAID funding of the Routine maintenance (RM) activities will experience an annual 15% reduction after year one, while Government of Liberia (GoL) funding of RM is expected to increase annually by at least 15%.

An important element in maintenance planning and budgeting is getting to understand the full value, extent and condition of the assets being maintained. A component of FRAMP is to support GoL’s effort to implement a feeder roads condition survey in the pilot region.

The Contractor must center the scope of these activities on the key principle of maximizing community participation, buy-in and ownership through the following considerations:

• That the success of sustained and successful community participation in projects depends on the identification of large homogeneous groups within the community that accrue direct benefit from having the project, such as farmers or traders;

• That the level of service of the maintained road should match the needs of a particular level of access required by the community; and

• The construction method can greatly affect the willingness of communities to participate in road maintenance. If a road was rehabilitated using large plants and machinery with a number of experts and imported labor, it disempowers the community and undermines its ability to conduct further works. In contrast, the efficient combination of equipment, labor and manual tools reduces the organization and time scale of road construction at the community level and leaves in the community skills and techniques which they can apply to their own activities.

It is inherent in the underlining assumptions for FRAMP design that early and continuous stakeholder buy-in, participation, championship and coordination at all levels is essential for ownership and sustainability. Hence the PCS is considered a core input to meeting project objectives.

The Contractor must also implement activities to support the GOL’s policy on decentralization and local governance. Liberia Decentralization Policy indicates that by the end of the decentralization period (2021) some of the following responsibilities will be removed from the MPW and devolved to Local Governments:

i) Ensure compliance with zoning laws and regulations;

ii) Construction and maintenance of water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities;

iii) Construction and maintenance of secondary and feeder roads and bridges; and

iv) Roads side brushing and maintenance, drainage cleaning and betterment

The Contractor must prepare the Local Governments to take on the new responsibilities listed above and also the MPW to provide appropriate regulations, policies and enforcement of established standards. The Contractor must support local county governments in the pilot regions to take over the above responsibilities in feeder roads construction and maintenance. Contractor interventions must be focused at the district and county levels with strategic capacity building and Technical Assistance to MPW in support of coordination, program monitoring, reporting, design and planning.

An underlying principal of FRAMP’s design is the flexibility for innovations and iterative project delivery through continuous learning and adapting. The Contractor must exercise this principal through the annual work planning sessions. These sessions are expected to include the PCS, USAID and the FRAMP implementers. Sessions will include at a minimum; annual implementation strategies, plans and schedules which draw on lessons learned from the previous year.

C.3.4 Training and Capacity Building

The Contractor’s training and capacity building approach must be implemented to support:

• The MPW Feeder Roads Unit, Regional Engineers, County Resident Engineers, District Maintenance Engineers;

• Local County Governments;

• Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in the pilot regions to understand and implement their respective roles in the sustainable maintenance program; and

• Local Engineering Firms

The Contractor is responsible for achieving at a minimum, the following capacity building activities at the various levels:

1) At the central level, capacity building will focus on strategic maintenance planning, prioritization, design, monitoring, coordination, reporting;

2) At the county and district level, maintenance supervision, measuring of works, quality control, reporting, instructing and approving works, gang management and financial management;

3) At the community level, capacity building and training will include technical support for the establishment and formalization of the CBOs, gang management trainings and labor based maintenance techniques; and

4) Maintenance implementation trainings, quality control, environmental management, gender sensitivities, productivity management, and financial management

C.3.5 Construction Oversight/Capacity Building

The Contractor must provide construction oversight and capacity building services on a total of 450 km of farm to roads located in Bong, Nimba, Lofa and Grand Bassa counties. These 450 km of roads were designed under a previous USAID activity. These roads are engineered gravel roads using the principle of basic access using the Liberian Feeder Roads design standards. Road rehabilitation works will be funded and procured by USAID directly through a separate mechanism outside of FRAMP scope. The FRAMP contractor will be required to provide some technical assistance during procurement including but not limited to pre-bid site visits, unit rate analysis and bid evaluations.

C.3.6 Maintenance Pilot activities

The Contractor must provide maintenance activities in the following order:

• periodic/recurrent on a total of 125 km of roads in four counties over the life of the project

• Routine maintenance on an accumulated total of 1,300 km of roads in four counties during the life of the activity via a local construction firm sub-contractor.

Routine Minor Repair and Maintenance refers to routine labor based activities carried out at regular intervals at least twice a year to keep the road shoulders, pavement, slopes, drainage and all other structures within the right of way as nearly as possible to their as constructed conditions and also selective periodic and recurrent maintenance on sections. These include minor repairs and improvements to eliminate the cause of defects.

Periodic repair and maintenance activities include: re-grading, reshaping and compacting the wearing course. This activity is normally planned for two years after rehabilitation.

Recurrent maintenance activities includes: re-graveling to replace gravel loss and repairing damaged cross-drainage structures. The scheduling on recurrent maintenance activities is a function of axle loads and gravel loss. The recurrent maintenance generally is planned to follow two successive periodic maintenance activities.

The term pilot as used in this context refers to a small scale demonstration of activities which is expected to be adopted as a model by the GoL and scaled up beyond the regions of the original effort.

Piloting is an iterative concept which ultimately develops a model that can be scaled-up using lessons learned and systems from the pilot phase.

To support repair and maintenance planning, budgeting, prioritizing and scheduling, the Contractor, in close collaboration with the MPW and local counties government must conduct condition surveys for all feeder roads located in target counties.

The condition surveys will at the minimum generate the following outputs:

• Maps showing the extent of the network in each county;

• Cost estimates;

• Classification of the road access level in terms of work required (rehabilitation, routine, maintenance, emergency maintenance, periodic maintenance, or recurrent maintenance, upgrading) ; and

• Order of priority of intervention with Maintenance priorities being higher than rehabilitation and upgrading priorities.

Routine Repair and Maintenance must include the following activities:

1) Inspection and Removal of Obstructions;

2) De-silting Culverts and Clearing Culvert Inlets and Outlets;

3) Clear Side, Catch-Water and Miter Drains;

4) Repair Erosion of Shoulders and Drains;

5) Repair Scour Checks;

6) Grub Roadway;

7) Fill Potholes and Ruts on the Carriageway;

8) Cut Grass and Bush;

9) Clear Structures and their Waterways;

10) Repair road pavement structures;

11) Bridges and drainage structures maintenance; and

12) Selected road sections for spot recurrent and periodic maintenance activities

Roads in maintainable states, in the pilot region, must be selected and prioritized by the FRAMP Implementer and approved by USAID/COR in consultation with MPW and local counties government based on the repair and maintenance need and cost effectiveness. Cost effectiveness refers to ratio of the cost of repair and maintenance and the population served.

C.3.7 Alternative Low Volume Road Seals (ALVRS)

The construction of ALVRS on a total of 50 km of roads in 4 counties must be implemented by the Contractor via local construction sub-contractor and through a research and development style activity. The Contractor must conduct a desk study of at least twelve available alternative low volume road seals technologies and then make recommendations of five of the most appropriate technologies to USAID for the COR’s decision. Example of technologies will include among others:

otta seals, sand seals, chip seals, concrete block pavements, various chemical stabilizers, asphalt emulsion mixture, mechanical stabilized pavements, etc.

The appropriateness of the selected five ALVRS technologies will be based on but not limited to the following:

• Cost effectiveness;

• Resilience to extreme rainfall and relatively high axle loads;

• Constructability;

• Availability of construction materials and equipment;

• Performance and best practices for designs and construction;

• Compatibility with the chemical and physical properties of Liberian sub grade soil profile; and

• Adaptability

The selected five ALVRS will be constructed in various sections of relatively high trafficked rehabilitated farm to market roads, sections of selected sub-urban/urban roads in County/district capitals of pilot regions having various vertical and horizontal alignments, under various axle loads.

The construction will happen under highly controlled conditions using various design standards, mix designs and subgrade conditions. The concept is that to fully understand the behavior and adaptability of ALVSR in the Liberian context it must be piloted and researched under various topographic, geographic, traffic and climatic conditions.

As a part of activities under the component of FRAMP, the Contractor must provide support to the GOL, through MPW to reach out to other Pan-African or Regional research initiatives in rural road maintenance and ALVRS to seek out leverages, synergies and partnerships for research.

The Contractor must monitor performance of the completed sections during the raining seasons, under peak traffic conditions and the resulting defects and performance documented. Findings should be used by the Contractor to improve subsequent designs, throughout the life of the project.

The Contractor must develop a final report, including design manual, specifications, and construction methodology for the top three performing, technically and economically suitable technology and submit to USAID for review and then the final version to the GoL.

The Contractor must also developed, validate, and publish maintenance manuals for the top three ALVRS based on the standard developed.

C.4 Tasks, Results and Illustrative Indicators

C.4.1 Objective 1 Specific Task, Results, and Illustrative Indicators

Objective 1

Develop, operationalize, and implement sustainable feeder road maintenance systems through county-level systems with technical and managerial oversight of national government.

Specific Tasks

Task 1.1:

Under this task, the Contractor must provide technical assistance and support to the (MPW to operationalize the RM strategy at the county-level. This will be achieved by providing support for the development of an implementation plan which will stream line the implementation of the RM strategy at the county-level.

The Contractor must take the lead on the development of the implementation plan which will jointly be written by the Contractor and MPW, MIA, MOF in consultation of the PCS. The roles, members and scope of operations of the PCS is detailed in section C.3.1.

The implementation plan must be written in a manner which allows the GoL to assume responsibility for all RM activities in the pilot region over four years. The implementation plan must also include guidelines and steps to roll RM activities over a period. This task also includes the facilitation of consultative meetings, workshops with relevant GoL ministries and agencies (including MOF, Ministry of Transportation (MOT), MIA, MPW, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), legislators, and other donors.

The Contractor is responsible for completing the following activities under this task:

• Establishment of the PCS; The PCS must be involved in annual work planning sections and will meet at least once every three months to follow up project implementation and give feedback of project deliverables and implementation.

• Coordination with the MPW, MIA, and MOF to identify a sustainable governance framework through which RM activities can be implemented using county-level systems with technical guidance from MPW, as well as financial and management oversight from MIA and MOF, consistent with the National Policy on Decentralization and Local Governance;

• Ensure public outreach messages at the national, county, district, and community level to promote RM and its importance to reducing life cycle cost, increasing household incomes, sustaining investment, creating jobs, and increasing citizen’s ownership of the rural transport infrastructure; and

• Promote local ownership of feeder roads assets through public outreach, messaging and town hall discussions with community project beneficiaries at all levels.

Task 1.2:

Under this task, the Contractor must support the institutional strengthening and capacity building of the county-based project implementation units, MPW-FRU, County Resident Engineers, District Maintenance Engineers, the county’s project planners, and the county’s development engineers to enhance their ability to coordinate the implementation of the feeder roads maintenance strategy and implementation plans. The Contractor is responsible for achieving this through the following activities:

• Training of MPW designated feeder roads engineers, County resident engineers, and road maintenance technicians in the planning, design, and management of routine maintenance activities;

• Implementation of the processes leading to the identification, organization, formalization, and training of two community based organizations (CBOs) in each administrative district in Bong, Nimba, Lofa and Grand Bassa County Counties to implement RM activities; and

• Provision of basic RM tools, equipment and logistics to MPW maintenance technicians, and CBOs to implement road maintenance. Equipment such as motorcycles, laptops, cameras, GPS and measuring equipment will be issued under this subtask for the MPW/district maintenance engineers, while equipment including plate compactors, hand rammers, camber boards, drain templates, assorted hand tools, record books, safety gears, etc. shall be considered for the CBOs.

Each training activity must include classroom sessions, mentorship, and field demonstration exercises.

The training and capacity development to stake holders at various levels must be targeted to achieve the following specific goals:

The Ministry of Public Works: The Contractor must train Ministry of Public Works engineers at the district, county and central levels in maintenance planning, prioritization, Classification & Budgeting, procurement, road assets maintenance project management, quality control, inspection and instructing maintenance contractors. Trainings in the repair and maintenance of ALVRS must also be provided for the MPW staff. Contractor training will also include exposure to maintenance planning tools and software. Basic equipment and tools including motorcycles, Computers, GPS, cameras, measuring equipment must be provided by the Contractor to facilitate the training and support the institutional strengthening.

Local county Governments: The Contractor must provide training in financial management, procurement, maintenance planning, prioritization and budgeting, Environmental and Social management. The focus of Local county government trainings shall be county development engineers, project planners, county inspectors, and county financial officers. Trainings shall clearly define the roles of local county officers, MPW and CBO in the implementation of RM consistent with Liberia’s decentralization policy and platform. Collaboration with other donors, other relevant USAID funded projects in support of decentralization and local governance and Civil Society must be initiated by the Contractor as required to fully achieve the goals under local government capacity development.

Community Based Organizations: The Contractor’s capacity development of CBOs must include support to legalize these organizations, work force management, routine maintenance implementation techniques, book keeping, reporting and accountability, maintenance of tools and equipment. Basic hand tools and pedestrian compaction equipment must be provided by the Contractor to the CBOs for the implementation of RM activities. These properties should be handled in accordance with the title to property clause.

Local Engineering Firms: The Contractor’s activities with local engineering firms must involve mentorship, construction oversight and quality control of rural roads rehabilitation. This will be implemented with firms who would be otherwise engaged as sub-contractors to FRAMP either to support construction oversight or road condition surveys. Training in quality control, inspection and instructing maintenance contractors must be provided by the Contractor along with construction and maintenance of ALVRS and minor repairs as necessary.

Training, institutional strengthening activities, project & financial management efficiency skills, business development skills and technical/engineering skills required to capacitate stakeholders at the various levels of the a decentralized RM program must be provided by the Contractor through technical class room trainings, field demonstration exercises, public outreach, provision of equipment and tools and mentorship.

Two community based organizations per county administrative district in the pilot region will be identified by the Contractor, then trained and supported to be able to implement routine repair and maintenance activities. The selected and trained CDOs will be required to have the capacity to move within the sub-district levels to engage in repair and maintenance activities and community mobilization.

Results Objective 1

At the end of the activity life, the Contractor must achieve the following results:

• The establishment of a Project Coordination Secretariat, which will provide a medium through which efforts towards a national roll out of decentralized RM activities, can be coordinated;

• Sustainable RM system implemented by CBO through local county systems with funding, technical, and managerial oversight from the GoL;

• A demonstrated increased in the sense of ownership and participation of communities in the pilot regions in the management of their local roads networks; and

• The establishment and training of two CBO per administrative district in each county

Illustrative Indicators Objective 1

The following illustrative indicators will be used to measure results:

• Number of CBOs organized trained, and equipped to implement RM activities;

• Number of public outreach events, coordination meetings, consultation meetings, and maintenance strategy planning workshops at the community, county, and central level;

• Number of community members showing up for public outreach events and road maintenance discussions;

• Number of individuals at…