RFP SOL-674-12-000001 and Attachments.pdf

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roviding method of Restricting )(3)(i) and act or subcontr ns of South Afr t residents of S itizens of the S non-s are also f n services will b Work under the rposes: providi mance is all IQCs is and cannot be Task Orders contracts awar ract, is rica or outh

South be e ing e until rded, the number of Task Orders that any one firm will receive or the amount of money each contactor is entitled to beyond the minimum monetary amount stated in the anticipated Request for Proposals (RFP).

USAID’s preference is that Task Orders will be awarded on a firm fixed price basis.

Issuance of this solicitation and the submittal of a proposal do not constitute a commitment on the part of the U.S.

Government nor USAID to make an award; neither does it constitute an obligation for any costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal. Award will be subject to funds availability following the proper completion of required USAID internal processes. Further, the U.S. Government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received. To this end, this RFP is being issued and consists of this cover letter and the text of the attached request for proposals (RFP). All offerors are cautioned to carefully review this cover letter and the contents of the RFP.

The details associated with the submission requirements for offerors’ proposals are outlined in Section L of this solicitation. Proposals must be signed by an official who is authorized to bind the organization and are to be submitted to USAID no later than the closing date stated above. Late proposals will be handled in accordance with FAR 15.208. Facsimile submissions are not authorized and will not be accepted as valid.

The preferred method of proposal submission will be electronic. See Section L. of the solicitation for instructions.

Offerors are instructed to pay careful attention to Section K - Representations, Certifications and Acknowledgements of the accompanying Request for Proposals. Offerors are now expected to comply with FAR clause 52.204-7, Central Contractor Registration, and complete the annual representations and certifications electronically via the Online Representations and Certifications Application website at http://orca.bpn.gov.

You are strongly encouraged to submit any comments or questions concerning this RFP no later than the above deadline for “Questions Closing Date.” These should be directed by email to Mr. Eric Strong, Acquisition & Assistance Specialist at email address estrong@usaid.gov with copy to Ms. Fatima dos Santos at fdossantos@usaid.gov.

The required closing date and time for receipt of proposals is outlined above as “RFP Closing Date” and “RFP Closing Time.” Point of required receipt is USAID/Southern Africa and not USAID offices in Washington, D.C. or any other location. Offerors should take account of the expected delivery time are responsible to ensure that proposals are received at USAID by the due date and time specified.

Pre-Proposal Conference to be Held in Pretoria, South Africa

USAID/Southern Africa is planning on holding a pre-proposal conference in Pretoria, South Africa. This pre-proposal conference is for informational purposes only. At the conclusion of a presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions. The presentation and all questions and answers from the pre-proposal conference will be posted to this notice after the conference. The pre-proposal conference is scheduled for Wednesday, January 11th, 2012. Interested eligible organizations are requested to let USAID know of their interest in this procurement and if they plan to attend the pre-proposal conference by sending an email to the following individuals:

Ms. Fatima DosSantos at fdossantos@usaid.gov and Mr. Eric Strong at estrong@usaid.gov.

The organization’s email should include the names of individuals whom they expect to attend. Due to high interest and space limitations, participation is limited to two (2) representatives per organization.

Organizations must send their email and submit attendees names no later than January 1st, 2012.

Pre-Proposal Conference Details

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

10 AM to 12:00 PM (noon)

Exact Location: To Be Determined – (Please refer back to this solicitation/posting after January 1st, 2012 to find the exact location in Pretoria where the conference will be held) Pretoria Gauteng Province South Africa

Oral explanations or instructions given before the award of the contract will not be binding. Furthermore, the U.S.

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. Award of a contract under this RFP is subject to availability of funds and other internal USAID approvals.

Thank you for your interest in working with USAID/Southern Africa.

Sincerely, /s/

Deborah R. Miller Regional Contracting Officer

1. THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED ORDER RATING PAGE OF PAGES

UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700)

2. CONTRACT NUMBER 3. SOLICITATION NUMBER 4. TYPE OF SOLICITATION 5. DATE ISSUED 6. REQUISITION/PURCHASE NUMBER

SEALED BID (IFB)

NEGOTIATED

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

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

9. Sealed offers in original and _____________________________ copies for furnishing the supplies or services in the Schedule will be received at the place specified in Item 8, or if handcarried, in the depository located in until local time _______________________ (Hour) (Date)

CAUTION - LATE Submissions, Modifications, and Withdrawals: See Section L, Provision No. 52.214-7 or 52.215-1. All Offers are subject to all terms and conditions contained in this solicitation.

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

AREA CODE NUMBER EXT.

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

PART I - THE SCHEDULE PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSES

A SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

X X X

X X

X

X X

X

X X

X X

I CONTRACT CLAUSES

B SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACH.

C DESCRIPTION/SPECS./WORK STATEMENT J LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

D PACKAGING AND MARKING PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

E INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

F DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

G CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA L INSTR., CONDS., AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

H SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS M EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

K

REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER

STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

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

12. In compliance with the above, the undersigned agrees, if this offer is accepted within _120_______ calendar days (60 calendar days unless a different period is inserted by the offeror) from the date for receipt of offers specified above, to furnish any or all items upon which prices are offered at the price set opposite each item, delivered at the designated point(s), within the time specified in the schedule.

13. DISCOUNT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT 10 CALENDAR DAYS (%) 20 CALENDAR DAYS (%) 30 CALENDAR DAYS (%) CALENDAR DAYS (%)

(See Section I, Clause No. 52-232-8)

14. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF AMENDMENTS AMENDMENT NO. DATE AMENDMENT NO. DATE

(The offeror acknowledges receipt of amendments to the SOLICITATION for offerors and related documents numbered and dated:

CODE FACILITY

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

ADDRESS

OF OFFEROR

(Type or print)

15B. TELEPHONE NUMBER 17. SIGNATURE 18. OFFER DATE

AREA CODE NUMBER EXT.

15C. CHECK IF REMITTANCE ADDRESS IS DIFFERENT FROM

ABOVE - ENTER SUCH ADDRESS IN SCHEDULE

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

22. AUTHORITY FOR USING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION: 23. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN ITEM (4 copies unless otherwise specified)

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

24. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 7)

25. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BYCODE CODE

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

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

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

(REV. 9-97)

10. FOR INFORMATION CALL:

11. TABLE OF CONTENTS

STANDARD FORM 33

SOLICITATION, OFFER AND AWARD

SOLICITATION

OFFER (Must be fully completed by offeror)

AWARD (To be completed by Government)

1 76

SOL-674-12-000001 December 9, 2011 X

Office of Regional Acquisitions and Assistance USAID/Southern Africa 100 Totius Street

Pretoria Guateng South Africa

See Section L

Item 7 12 noon January 31 2012

Deborah R. Miller 27 012 452 2173 dmiller@usaid.gov

See Attached Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENT ........................................................................... PAGE

PART I – THE SCHEDULE ................................................................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.

SECTION B ‐ SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS ............................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.

B.1 PURPOSE .................................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE AND SERVICES .............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

B.3 MINIMUM OBLIGATED AMOUNT ............................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.

B.4 MAXIMUM CONTRACT CEILING

B.5 OBLIGATED AMOUNT, ESTIMATED COST, FIXED FEE

B.6 INDIRECT COSTS

B.7 CEILING ON INDIRECT COST RATES

B.8 CEILING ON FIXED FEE

B.9 LABOR

B.10 OTHER DIRECT COSTS

B.11 TASK ORDER LIMITATIONS

SECTION C‐ DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

C.2 PROGRAM OVERVIEW AND BACKGROUND

C.2.1 INTRODUCTION

C.2.2 BACKGROUND

C.2.2.1 USAID SOUTH AFRICA’S BI‐LATERAL PROGRAM PORTFOLIO

C.2.2.2 SOUTHERN AFRICA REGIONAL PROGRAMS

C.3 EVALUATION SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED

C.3.1 GENERAL

C.3.2 REQUIRED PERSONNEL SKILLS

C.3.3 WORK REQUIREMENTS

C.4 STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE

SECTION D ‐ PACKAGING AND MARKING

D.1 MARKING, AIDAR 752.7009 (JAN 1993)

D.2 BRANDING AND MARKING POLICY

D.3 BRANDING STRATEGY

SECTION E ‐ INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

E.2 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.3 RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL

SECTION F – DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

F.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

F.2 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

F.3 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS E

F.4 REPORTS AND DELIVERABLES OR OUTPUTS

F.5 TASK ORDERS

F.6 FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO BE CONSIDERED

F.7 KEY PERSONNEL

F.8 CONTENTS OF TASK ORDERS

F.9 752.7005 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT

EXPERIENCE DOCUMENTS (JAN 2004)

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

SECTION G ‐ CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

G.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

G.2 CONTRACTING OFFICER

G.3 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE (COTR)

G.4 PAYING OFFICE

G.5 ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

G.6 CONTRACTOR'S PAYMENT ADDRESS

G.7 TECHNICAL DIRECTIONS/RELATIONSHIP WITH USAID

SECTION H ‐ SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

H.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

H.2 AIDAR 752.7004 EMERGENCY LOCATOR INFORMATION (JUL 1997)

H.3 752.7007 PERSONNEL COMPENSATION (JUL 2007)

H.4 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONNEL COMPENSATION

H.5 752.228‐70 MEDICAL EVACUATION (MEDEVAC) SERVICES (JULY 2007)

H.6 AUTHORIZED GEOGRAPHIC CODE

H.7 LOGISTIC SUPPORT

H.8 LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

H.9 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: PRECLUSION FROM

IMPLEMENTATION CONTRACT (Design Services) H.10 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: PRECLUSION FROM FURNISHING CERTAIN SERVICES

AND RESTRICTION ON USE OF INFORMATION (Indefinite Quantity Contract) (Evaluation Services) ... 37

H.11 EXECUTIVE ORDER ON TERRORISM FINANCING (FEB 2002)

H.12 FOREIGN GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS TO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES (JAN 2002)

H.13 INTERNATIONAL TRAVE APPROVAL……………………………………………..……………………………..……………….. 38

H.14 REPORTING OF FOREIGN TAXES (JUL 2007)

H.15 USAID DISABILITY POLICY (DECEMBER 2004)

H.16 SUBCONTRACTING CONSENT

H.17 PROHIBITION ON THE PROMOTION OR ADVOCACY OF THE LEGALIZATION OR PRACTICE OF

PROSTITUTION OR SEX TRAFFICKING (ACQUISITION) (APRIL 2010)…………………………………………………40

PART II – CONTRACT CLAUSES

SECTION I ‐ CONTRACT CLAUSES

I.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

I.2 52.209‐9 UPDATES OF PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY

MATTERS (Jan 2011) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 45

I.3 52.216‐18 ORDERING (OCT 1995)

I.4 52.216‐19 ORDER LIMITATIONS (OCT 1995)

I.5 52.216‐22 INDEFINITE QUANTITY (OCT 1995)

I.6 TAXES‐‐FOREIGN COST‐REIMBURSEMENT CONTRACTS (MAR 1990)….………………………………………….. 47

I.7 PERIODIC PROGRESS REPORTS (JUL 1998)

I.8 COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 508 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973, AS AMENDED (CIB 01‐21) 48

I.9 752.7101 VOLUNTARY POPULATION PLANNING ACTIVITIES (JUNE 2008)

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 OF OFFERORS

K.1 NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

K.2 ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS, FAR 52.204‐8 (May 2011)

K.3 FAR 52.209‐5 CERTIFICATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (APR 2010)

K.4 52.209‐7 – INFORMATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS (Jan 2011)

K. 5 INSURANCE ‐ IMMUNITY FROM TORT LIABILITY

K.6 SIGNATURE

SECTION L – INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

L.1 NOTICE LISTING SOLICITATION PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

L.2 52.216‐1 TYPE OF CONTRACT (APR 1984)

L.3 52.225‐20 PROHIBITION ON CONDUCTING RESTRICTED BUSINESS OPERATIONS IN SUDAN –

CERTIFICATION (AUG 2009)

L.4 SERVICE OF PROTEST (SEP 2006)

L.5 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

L.6 DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

L.7 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

L.8 TECHNICAL PROPOSAL CONTENT

L.9 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE COST/BUSINESS

PROPOSAL (CPFF) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….64

SECTION M ‐ EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

M.1 GENERAL INFORMATION

M.2 TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA

M.3 PRICE/COST EVALUATION

M.4 DETERMINATION OF THE COMPETITIVE RANGE AND CONTRACT AWARD

M.5 SOURCE SELECTION………………………………………………………………………………………………………....…………….73

SECTION ATTACHMENTS

ATTACHMENT J.1 – IDENTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL GEOGRAPHIC CODE NUMBERS

ATTACHMENT J.2 – USAID FORM 1420‐17 ‐ CONTRACTOR BIOGRAPHICAL DATA SHEET

ATTACHMENT J.3 – SF LLL ‐ DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES

ATTACHMENT J.5 – ONLINE REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS TUTORIAL

ATTACHMENT J.6 – CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE REPORT

ATTACHMENT J.7 – LABOR CATEGORIES AND DAILY CEILING RATES

RFP NO. SOL-674-12-000001

SECTION B

PART I - THE SCHEDULE

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICE/COSTS

B.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is to provide services that fall within the scope of the work specified in Section C for Evaluation Services. USAID Task Order Contracting Officers (TOCOs) will request the work through the issuance of task orders during the ordering period as specified in Section F of the contract.

B.2 CONTRACT TYPE AND SERVICES

This is an Indefinite Quantity Contract (IQC). The Government will issue task orders that are either Cost-Plus-Fixed Fee (CPFF) or Firm Fixed Priced. The Contractor must perform the services set forth in task orders at prices consistent with section B of this contract.

B.3 MINIMUM OBLIGATED AMOUNT

The basic contract includes an initial obligation of funds in the amount of $10,000.00 to cover the minimum order guarantee. USAID is required to order and the Contractor is required to furnish the minimum order amount of services.

Following this initial obligation, individual task orders will obligate funds to cover the work required under that task order.

B.4 MAXIMUM CONTRACT CEILING

This is a multiple award Indefinite Quantity Contract for with an overall ceiling price of $5,000,000. The maximum aggregate dollar value of task orders awarded to all contractors cannot exceed the contract ceiling. This ceiling is not being subdivided among the number of awardees nor is it being multiplied by the number of awardees.

B.5 OBLIGATED AMOUNT, ESTIMATED COST, FIXED FEE

(a) Obligated Amount. The basic contract includes an initial obligation of funds in the amount of $10,000.00 to cover the minimum order amount.

(b) The Total Estimated Cost Plus Fixed Fee for each task order must be negotiated in accordance with the terms of the IQC contract. In no event may the indirect rates or fixed fee for a task order exceed the ceilings set forth in Section B.7 and B.8 of IQC contract. The U.S. dollar costs must be limited to reasonable, allocable, and allowable costs determined in accordance with FAR 52.216-7, Allowable Cost and Payment, and FAR 52.216-8, Fixed Fee, A-21 (for universities), and A-122 (non-profit).

(c) Fixed Fee Payment. For any task order issued under this contract, at the time of each payment of allowable costs to the Contractor, the USAID paying office ordinarily pays the Contractor a percentage of fixed fee that directly corresponds to the percentage of allowable costs being paid. Two exceptions to paying fixed fee in this manner apply:

(1) If the TOCO determines that this method results in paying a disproportionately higher ratio of fixed fee than the percentage of work that the Contractor has completed, then the TOCO may suspend further payment of any fixed fee until the Contractor has made sufficient progress to justify further payment, up to the agreed percentage.

(2) Because the clauses entitled "Allowable Cost and Payment" (FAR 52.216-7) and "Fixed Fee" (FAR 52.216-8) are incorporated into this contract, the terms and conditions of these clauses apply after total payments of fixed fee reach eighty-five percent (85%) of the total fixed fee.

B.6 INDIRECT COST

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

Description Rate Base Type Period

1/ 1/ 1/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 3/ 3/ 3/

1/Base of Application:

Type of Rate:

Period:

Source:

2/Base of Application:

Type of Rate:

Period:

Source:

3/Base of Application:

Note 1: Contractors are allowed to recover applicable indirect costs (i.e., overhead, G&A, etc.)

on other direct costs (ODCs), if it is part of the contractor's usual accounting procedures, consistent with FAR Part 31, and Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA).

Note 2: While Subcontractor indirect cost rates are not incorporated above, subcontractor indirect cost rates as indicated in Note 1 above may be included in task order proposals, and are subject to approval of the TOCO in accordance with FAR 52.244-2, Subcontracts.

B.7 CEILING ON INDIRECT COST RATES

(a) Reimbursement for indirect costs shall be at the lower of the negotiated final or predetermined rates, or the following ceiling rates:

Description Rate Base Type Period

1/ 1/ 1/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 3/ 3/ 3/

1/Base of Application:

Type of Rate:

Period:

Source:

2/Base of Application:

Type of Rate:

3/Base of Application:

Period:

Source:

(b) The government shall not be obligated to pay any additional amount on account of indirect costs above the ceiling rates established in the contract. This advance understanding shall not change any monetary ceiling, cost limitation, or obligation established in the contract.

B.8 CEILING ON FIXED FEE

For any CPFF task order issued under this IQC, the TOCO and Contractor agree to negotiate a set dollar amount for fixed fee. In negotiating the fixed dollar amount for fee, the TOCO must consider the policies and factors for establishing fee in FAR 15.404-4 as well as any applicable

USAID policy on establishing a fixed fee amount. In no event, however, may the amount of fixed fee in any individual task order exceed percent (Offeror proposes ceiling percentage) of the task order's estimated cost, excluding fee.

B.9 LABOR

Compensation of personnel under this contract or any resulting subcontract must be in accordance with AIDAR 752.7007 Personnel Compensation, the full text of which is in section H.

Central management costs will be handled through the following method:

The Contracting Officer has determined that a key technical manager is not necessary or required to administer the basic IQC. Contractors will not be authorized to bill USAID directly for IQC management costs under this IQC or under task orders. Contractors should propose a centralized management structure that allows for recovery of IQC management costs as part of its indirect costs.

All locally hired national personnel and other non-U.S. expatriates shall be paid in accordance with rates negotiated between the contractor and the cognizant USAID TOCO. The negotiated rates for individual locally-hired personnel and other non-U.S. expatriates shall be based upon a combination of factors including, but not limited to, prevailing in-country salaries for the professional category being negotiated and consideration of the individual's education and salary and/or consultant rate history over the most recent 3-year period. Annual salaries will be converted to daily salaries by dividing the annual figure by 260 workdays per year, except for annual salaries at the current approved maximum level, which shall not exceed the established approved current daily rate.

B.10 OTHER DIRECT COSTS

Other allowable direct costs necessary for the performance of the work, including, but not limited to, such costs as DBA and Medevac insurance, travel and transportation, lodging and subsistence expenses may be authorized in the task order. Any cost elements included in the Contractor's indirect cost rate pools shall not be charged in other direct costs. Lodging and subsistence costs may be authorized for locally-hired national personnel, if the terms of the task order require travel, in accordance with the clause of this contract entitled "Travel and Transportation (JAN 1990)", AIDAR 752.7002. Costs for U.S. expatriate travel/transportation to perform services overseas may be authorized by the TOCO or designee in accordance with the same "Travel and Transportation" clause.

The TOCO shall make the determination whether or not other direct costs are allowable, in accordance with the applicable federal cost principles (i.e., FAR 31.2 and AIDAR 731.2 for commercial (for profit) organizations, FAR 31.3 and AIDAR 731.3 for educational institutions, or FAR 31.7 and AIDAR 731.7 for other not-for-profit organizations).

B.11 TASK ORDER LIMITATIONS

(a) Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) Task Orders. When issuing CPFF task orders, the TOCO must state in the task order the total estimated cost plus fixed fee, which is the total amount of the task order and the maximum amount the Contractor may be paid without the advance written approval of the cognizant Contracting Officer. This maximum amount represents the negotiated mix of the prime contractor's and subcontractors' professional labor categories and salaries, an estimated number of workdays, other direct costs, and fixed fee.

(b) Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) Task Orders. When issuing FFP task orders, TOCOs must state in the task order the firm-fixed-price, which represents the total amount of the task order and the maximum price the contractor may be paid to perform the services, reports, or other deliverables in the task order.

(c) Minimum Order. When USAID requires services or reports and other deliverables covered by this contract in a Task Order in the amount of less than $10,000.00, the Contractor is not obligated to accept an order to furnish those services or reports and other deliverables under this contract. However, if the Contractor agrees to furnish services or reports and other deliverables required by USAID in an amount of less than $10,000.00 and is awarded a Task Order to do so, the Contractor is required to provide said services and reports/deliverables in accordance with the Contract's terms and conditions.

(d) Maximum Order. When USAID requires services or reports and other deliverables covered by this contract in a Task Order amount of more than $2,000,000.00, the Contractor is not obligated to accept an order to furnish those services or reports and other deliverables under this contract. However, if the Contractor agrees to furnish services or reports and other deliverables required by USAID in excess of $2,000,000 and awarded a Task Order to do so, the Contractor is required to provide said services and reports/deliverables in accordance with the Contracts terms and conditions.

(e) Notwithstanding the above, if issuance of a task order to, and acceptance of a task order by, the Contractor would: (1) result in the Contractor (or its personnel or its subcontractors or their personnel) having an organizational conflict of interest for which restrictions would be placed on the Contractor's (or its personnel’s or its subcontractors’ or their personnel’s) future activities; or

(2) violate the provisions of the Procurement Integrity legislation, i.e., Section 27 of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 423), as amended by Section 814 of Pub. L. 101-189 the Contractor, after written notification to the cognizant Contracting Officer, is not obligated to furnish those services or reports and other deliverables under this contract, and USAID may acquire the supplies or services from another source.

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF

WORK

C.1 Executive Summary

USAID/Southern Africa Evaluations Indefinite Quantity Contracts (IQCs) will create solutions for client missions that seek innovative approaches to address evaluation, assessment, and performance monitoring needs. The IQCs will ensure that evaluations conducted under these mechanisms will serve two primary purposes: 1) providing accountability to stakeholders and 2) learning to improve aid effectiveness. All evaluations conducted under the Southern Africa Evaluation IQCs will be unbiased in measurement and reporting; relevant in terms of linking evaluation questions to specific future decision to be made by USAID leadership, partner governments, and other key stakeholders; based on best practices; oriented toward building local capacity; and transparent with a commitment to full and open disclosure of findings.

The objective of the regional IQCs is to strengthen the region’s evaluation system to

1. Provide evaluation services for USAID/Southern Africa, which includes the USAID’s Bilateral and Regional Programs; the Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland programs in a manner that permits timely access to appropriate evaluation expertise.

2. Support client missions in above-mentioned countries with an accessible evaluation mechanism.

South Africa has a large pool of well-trained and technically competent organizations that are capable of delivering the services required under the Regional Evaluations IQCs. In the past, USAID/Southern Africa has contracted with a number of local organizations and has received quality products and services. Additionally, utilizing local organizations may reduce language and culture related evaluation data quality problems which can bias the results. In addition to the above benefits, the use of local organizations are 1) consistent with USAID Forward reforms to engage local organizations, 2) more efficient in terms of time, administration and resource utilization and 3) can be more cost effective.

C.2 Program Overview and Background

C.2.1 Introduction

USAID/Southern Africa seeks to establish IQCs to provide evaluation services to USAID-funded programs in South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. The multi-award IQCs will have a term of three (3) years from date of award and have a maximum ordering limit $5,000,000. The maximum ordering limit applies across all IQCs and cannot be exceeded in the aggregate. The services to be provided under this IQC include strategic analysis, evaluation case studies, impact evaluations, meta-evaluations, cross-sector and multi-country evaluations and other evaluative studies to USAID/Southern African countries listed above. Contractors shall provide these services through the execution of task orders, which will describe the type evaluation services required in detail along with specified performance benchmarks for achievement of objectives.

While evaluations may focus on specific sectors and development fields, they may also cut across sectors and technical areas identifying lessons learned; innovative and challenging development interventions. Much of the work will involve broad policy and strategic issues, such as institutional development, mainstreaming gender in development assistance, benefit sustainability, policy dialogue, private sector development, crisis prevention, and public-private partnerships. Contractors shall undertake preparation of task order proposals that may include:

1) Problem diagnostics and analytics

2) Problem identification

3) Program/project/task design

4) Analysis and assessment

5) Program/task recommendations

6) Strategic planning at the level of the:

a) Implementing partner

b) Public or private institution

c) Government ministry

d) Regional organization

7) Technical Evaluations (Health, Democracy and Governance, Economic Growth, Environment, Education)

8) Big picture Strategic Objective/ Development Objective evaluations

9) Evaluations in aid effectiveness and implementation of the Paris Declaration

10) Contractor/ recipient performance evaluations

11) Impact evaluations

12) Partnership evaluations

13) Development of metrics

14) Performance monitoring and data quality assessments

15) Assessments

16) Provision of logistical support for task implementation teams

C.2.2 Background

USAID/Southern Africa was established in 2007 by the merger of the two USAID missions in Gaborone and Pretoria, South Africa. Today USAID Southern Africa has responsibilities for bilateral programs in South Africa, regional programs throughout Southern Africa, and limited presence countries of Lesotho, Swaziland, and Botswana

USAID has recently established a new evaluation policy that sets higher standards for evaluation practice, while recognizing the needs for a diverse set of approaches. Based on USAID’s tradition of evaluation, this policy recommits USAID to learn as we do, updating our standards and practices to address contemporary needs. With this new policy and its requirements in place, USAID/Southern Africa anticipates a surge in evaluations to be conducted. In response to this requirement, USAID/Southern Africa is strengthening its evaluation system to support programs it implements in Economic Growth, Health, Education, Democracy and Governance, Environment and Climate Change. Consistent with USAID procurement reforms that include competitions restricted to local entities in certain circumstances, the IQCs will be limited to South African organization that meet the eligibility requirements as described herein.

The purpose and use for evaluation services is twofold. First it is to provide accountability to stakeholders. USAID stewards public resources to promote sustainable development on behalf of the American people, host country governments as well as the beneficiaries for whom these programs are intended. Secondly, evaluations allow USAID to learn as we do, to enable the agency to update standards and practices to address contemporary needs and improve aid effectiveness. All evaluations conducted under the Southern Africa Evaluations IQC will be unbiased in measurement and reporting; relevant in terms of linking evaluation questions to specific future decisions to be made by USAID leadership, partner governments, and other key stakeholders; based on best practices; oriented toward building local capacity; and transparent with a commitment to full and open disclosure of findings.

Successful evaluations will make USAID better able to identify areas where the agency is more capable of achieving development results and those with less success and therefore require improvement. USAID will use evaluation findings to strengthen development assistance and sharpen decision making. With the use of local evaluation organizations, USAID will benefit from the use of local indigenous knowledge and expertise which will stay and benefit the region in the long run. USAID anticipates that with the use of high methodological standards that are clear from the design stage, there will be a step change in the quantity and quality of evaluation findings that inform USAID strategies, program design, and resource allocation decisions. In the end, USAID will contribute to the donor community novel, simple and rigorous knowledge.

C.2.2.1 USAID South Africa’s Bi-lateral Program Portfolio

USAID is in the process of developing a new, five year Country Development and Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) will focuses on sustainable interventions to consolidate past development efforts, empower the South African government to deliver effective services, and growing the economy while protecting the environment. Once completed (by August/ September of 2012) the CDCS will be shared with all IQC holders. As the CDCS is developed, old programs will be discontinued and new ones will be developed to be part of these IQCs for evaluations.

South Africa bilateral program historically focused on strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises, creating employment and working with the South African Government (SAG) to address the skills gap, gender based violence, and health systems in dealing with HIV/AIDS and TB. Since South Africa and the United States share development objectives throughout the African continent, USAID supports various SAG development initiatives in other African countries through its trilateral assistance programs.USAID works in five key Development Objectives: Health, Economic Growth, Education, Democracy and Trilateral Assistance.

Governing Justly and Democratically Gender Based Violence: USAID works with the SAG, to address women’s rights and access to justice. Specifically, USAID increases access to justice and integrated support services for rape and sexual assault survivors through expansion of and support to the Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) network. With USAID’s support, 40 rape crisis centers will be established by 2012. The model works to ensure that rape victims do not experience secondary trauma while seeking justice and/or medical treatment. Access to justice is also increased through better integration of victim support with criminal investigation and court processes.

Trilateral Assistance: USAID has been cooperating with the South African Government (SAG) on the Trilateral Assistance Program (TAP) since 2009. Funds are programmed to further support the SAG’s efforts to assist African countries in post-conflict settings and address economic and social development needs on the African continent. Funding will also be used to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of the activities and provide valuable lessons learned as South Africa begins the process to establish its own development agency.

Investing in People: Health

A five-year Partnership Framework (PF) agreement was signed between the SAG and U.S. in 2010, providing a path for transition from emergency assistance to sustainable care activities under the PEPFAR program. The focus areas under the PF are to intensify prevention efforts, to progressively transition cost-effective care and treatment services to SAG, to increase focus on systems strengthening (community structures, M&E for decision making, human capacity development and research and innovation).

Tuberculosis: The USG collaborates with NGOs to strengthen their capacity to deliver TB services. USAID/Southern Africa assistance responds to the needs of the SAG to enhance the capacity of health workers to deliver TB services efficiently and effectively in order to reduce their reliance on external technical support. Specifically, activities focus on strengthening the management capacity at all levels to effectively plan, implement, and monitor the performance of staff involved in TB and integrated TB and HIV activities.

Family Planning and Reproductive Health: Family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) programs provide healthier outcomes for women and children by allowing women to control the timing and spacing of their births. USAID’s strategy for FP/RH is to integrate FP into the USG’s successful PEPFAR program by supporting the goals of reducing unintended pregnancy and promoting healthy reproductive behaviors of men and women in order to reduce maternal and child mortality and morbidity. These goals are also in line with the Millennium Development Goals of reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, and preventing HIV infection.

Economic Growth and Environment

Financial Sector: The financial sector program supports activities that promote access to financial services and lower financing costs for Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through reforms of the legal and regulatory framework affecting the financial sector and business environment and improvements to the commercial viability of lending to historically-disadvantaged SMEs in South Africa. The ultimate aim is to mitigate market credit risk leading to increased SME access to a range of quality, affordable financial services.

Private Sector Competitiveness: The South African International Business Linkages (SAIBL) Program supports the US Government’s Economic Growth Functional Objective for the USAID bilateral assistance program for South Africa. The SAIBL Program improves the competitiveness and capacity of historically marginalized black small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and increases their prospects of entering mainstream domestic and international markets.

SAIBL is scheduled to end March 2012.

South Africa Supplier Diversity Council Capacity Building: USAID assistance builds capacity for the newly established South African Supplier Diversity Council (SASDC), which has been formed with USAID and private sector funds as a corporate led organization to promote accelerated procurement from black enterprises and to investment in their development. A capacitated SASDC will be able to: establish and maintain a database of certified bona fide black suppliers for members to access; share knowledge, experience and best practice in supplier diversity; and support member commitments in growing procurement and development opportunities for black-owned suppliers

Agriculture/ Feed the Future Strategic Partnership: In response to food insecurity in Southern Africa, USAID supports regional and country-led Agriculture development plans and programs.

Building South Africa's Capacity for Low Emissions Development (SA-LED): USAID supports a new three year program to build the capacity of the South African Government to refine and implement lower emissions development strategies. USAID promotes the government’s partnership with other stakeholders, including private sector investors and civil society, to advance these initiatives through capacity building, training, direct technical assistance and exchanges with other innovative low emissions partners around the world. USG assistance deepens analysis and creates policy, financial and social incentives to promote greener, more climate friendly practices and investment within priority sectors.

Vocational Education: Since 2009, USAID has been supporting the South African government vocational education sector in its efforts to capacitate the Further Education and Training colleges.

USAID’s assistance to South Africa focuses on creating and sustaining career-enhancing education and training program that are responsive to current and future labor needs of employers through support of the Further Education and Training sector. In partnership with the Department of Basic Education (DBE), USAID aims to support organizations and interventions that are closely aligned to the DBE’s strategic goals. A key output of the program will be to build the capacity of selected local organizations by funding the expansion, refinement and evaluation of their interventions in preparation for broad scale-up by the government.

Energy: South Africa plays a dominant role in the region’s energy sector as a major exporter of electricity to other Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) member countries.

Through USAID’s Africa Infrastructure Program (AIP), significant structural reformation is being undertaken. The most important developments have been AIP’s contribution to the drafting and promulgation of the Establishment of an Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO) Bill and the roll-out of the Renewable Energy-Independent Power Producer (RE-IPP) activity. ISMO and RE-IPP activities will result in the introduction of 3,755 MWs of private sector IPP-generated RE in a first tranche and approximately 18,000 MWs by 2030. Also, as a major element of this assistance, there has been the development of the related regulatory and procurement framework.

Basic Education USAID is expanding its bilateral programming in basic education in South Africa through a new program aimed at increasing learner achievement in South African schools by building teacher effectiveness and strengthening classroom and school management. By working in partnership with the Department of Basic Education, USAID aims to support organizations and interventions that are closely aligned to the DBE’s strategic goals. A key output of the program will be to build the capacity of selected local organizations by funding the expansion, refinement and evaluation of their interventions in preparation for broad scale-up by government.

C.2.2.2 Southern Africa Regional Programs

USAID/Southern Africa is working towards a more integrated region for an improved quality of life for Southern Africans. As a regional mission, our comparative advantage is the ability to provide regional analysis and approach to development challenges. Our goal plays upon this advantage by strengthening the regional enabling environment, developing the regional capacity through networks and institutions, and building upon already successful regional program such as the Southern African Trade Hub (SATH).

In the Southern Africa region based on the agency’s overall agency strategy and goals, USAID/Southern Africa implements projects in the following focus areas:

Mitigate the prevalence of and enhance treatment for those with HIV/AIDS;

Assure food security through agriculture support and economic growth by facilitating regional trade;

Democracy and governance;

Protect the environment while meeting human needs through programs in the areas of water supply and sanitation, clean energy, natural resource management, biodiversity, and climate change mitigation; and

Reduce risk of and improve response to disasters through humanitarian assistance work.

The following results framework represents USAID/Southern Africa’s regional program portfolio:

Table 1: USAID/Southern Africa Regional Program Results Framework

Evaluation firms with expertise in one or more of the sectors in which USAID works(mentioned above) are encouraged to apply. Broadly, the contractor shall provide evaluation services in the following development fields: economic growth, agriculture and trade; environment; education and training; global health; democracy, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance; and cross-cutting programs (conflict management, private and voluntary cooperation, transition initiatives, urban programs, water, women in development and nutrition).

C.3 Evaluation Services to be Provided

C.3.1 General The new evaluation policy requires USAID/Southern Africa to use evaluation as part of its planning and management of development assistance. The Mission needs to assess USAID strategic and program results (per ADS Chapter 203) to:

1. Evaluate the performance of the Mission’s program portfolio and the extent to which the programs feed into the attainment of Development Objectives;

2. Identify best practices that can be incorporated into future programs and activity design;

3. Evaluate projects involving untested hypotheses or demonstrating new approaches that are expected to be expanded in scale or scope through USAID development assistance or other funding sources will, if feasible, undergo an impact evaluation;

4. Determine whether conditions for sustainability exist;

5. Conduct performance and or impact evaluation to determine the results achieved; and

6. Document and distill lessons learned to inform future application of mechanisms as development instruments

The following represent general categories of illustrative generic deliverables that contractors shall be capable of producing during the period-of-performance of the IQC:

a) Strategies, assessments and analyses for identified sectors in the USAID program portfolio;

b) Background research and analytic expertise to assist USAID/Southern Africa to carry out evaluation studies and related results-oriented program planning;

c) Implementation planning, including team planning meetings, and research designs for proposed studies;

d) Formative evaluations of program and project implementation and summative evaluations of program and project results (including experimental and quasi experimental designs and case studies) requiring primary data collection in the field;

e) Drafting, revising, editing, and preparing for publication evaluation reports, impact evaluations, meta-evaluations, syntheses, and other publications related to evaluation, such as newsletters, brochures, and workshop and seminar reports;

f) Logistical and administrative support for field evaluations conducted by USAID missions;

g) Personnel to organize and implement workshops, meetings, conferences, and seminars to disseminate study findings;

h) Logistical and administrative support for Agency-sponsored evaluation training at third party institutions, such as conferences, institutes, the South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association, AFREA, and others; and

i) Experts to conceptualize and implement a balanced mix of hard copy, electronic and other media for documentation, dissemination, and utilization of evaluation findings, conclusions, and recommendations, including, but not limited to, tracking systems for evaluation recommendations;

Knowledge management and dissemination activities;

The contractor shall provide evaluation services in following development fields: economic growth, agriculture and trade; environment; education and training; global health; democracy, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance; and cross-cutting programs (conflict management, private and voluntary cooperation, transition initiatives, urban programs, water, women in development) and evaluation methodology, design and training.

C.3.2 Required Personnel Skills The Contractor shall furnish the services of individuals with the necessary education and/or relevant experience as required in each task order.

To meet the requirements under this IQC, skills in…